Blog

I dare say, working with a book editor should be simple. Straightforward. Rewarding, even. Like getting from Point A to Point B. Base camp to the summit. Not to say that editing a book isn’t hard work. It most certainly is, for both writer and editor. The brain power involved in revising your manuscript or considering this addition or that deletion… it can be all-consuming, up-at-2am-with-a-lightbulb-moment, hard work. But without a doubt, you should feel like you and your book editor are a good fit. Like Bonnie and Clyde. Or Kanye and Kim, before things got weird.

So… you’ve poured yourself a congratulatory glass of wine. Or coffee. Or wine in a coffee mug. You’ve told three friends, your dog, and that one chatty barista that you’ve “finished your book.” And now you’re staring at that big, shiny “publish” button like it’s going to sprout legs and run away. I get it. You’ve lived with this manuscript for months, maybe years. You’re excited, and you’re so ready for the world to see it. But here’s the truth no one wants to hear:

So, you just tied up the loose ends and landed on the perfect title. Congratulations! Time to pop the champagne—or maybe just crawl out from under the pile of snack wrappers and existential dread. Either way, you've done something huge: you finished a manuscript. Now comes the part no one warned you about... the what-the-heck-do-I-do-next phase.

As a freelance book editor, I’ve had a lot of “a ha” moments over the past year. If you’re a fellow editor or entrepreneur, hopefully some of my a-ha’s might resonate with your early days in the biz.

Copy editing (which isn’t the same as copy writing, by the way) is a pivotal part of the editing process. A copy editor’s goal is to ensure correctness, accuracy, consistency, and completeness. Words are their jam! Editors are skilled at making sure your words are as correct as possible. So how can a copy editor take your writing up a notch? Here’s a quick overview...

Your book manuscript is finished. Hooray! It’s time to celebrate! But... now what? You need an editor, but you’re not sure how to find one or what to expect from the process. I understand where you’re coming from. Not so long ago, I was new to editing and unaware of the four editing stages...

Creating effective website content is tricky. How do you give your audience clear, concise content that’s easy to digest? And how do you ensure you’re getting the best ROI you can from your lovingly crafted web content? I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks along the way. Here are five simple ways to make your web content more scannable...

Full disclosure: I’m not always what my friend Alex would call “an action girl”. I can procrastinate with the best of ‘em.‍ I attended a wonderful fundraising event, Rhythm & Hope Ssubi 2022 in Calgary. And what our host and main organizer of the initiative (Philip Ndugga) shared with the audience was poignant and it struck a chord in me...