Articles

How to Start a Blog

January 27, 2021 By LDSPMA 2 Comments

By Oakli Van Meter

Knowing how to start a blog is one of the hardest things, at least for me. My junior year at BYU, one of my professors said that we all should start a blog. She said it would be a great portfolio tool later on. I went home that day and started a blog. I wrote on and off for a while, then life happened. At the end of my senior year, I revived the blog for a class assignment. It felt great to have a required weekly post. Then once again, life got in the way and Wise Ole Oak is sitting quietly in the corner waiting for me to get back to it.

Why, you ask, does anyone care about my sad excuse for a blog? Why does it matter? Because I’m a classic case of “what not to do.” That being said, I feel prepared to share my advice on how to start a blog—advice sown from the fields of my failure.

First, choose a hosting platform.

Do you research, but don’t overstress it. There are plenty of free platforms that are virtually the same. Choose one that’s easy to use. My personal favorite is WordPress, but there are plenty of other good options that you can learn about here or here. Keep your site simple but professional. You don’t want text boxes of filler text from the template still lurking, but you don’t have to fill everything up with stuff.

Second, decide what your blog is going to be about.

You want to focus on what would benefit your potential clients. Editors could focus on writing or self-editing thoughts. Social media gurus could post about how to use social media. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something you’re passionate about. Something you can write about pretty much every week.

Third—and this is crucial—make a plan.

When to post, how often to post. (Hint: Monday mornings are a great internet traffic time.) Without a plan, you’re going to struggle to keep up. Trust me, I know. Create a spreadsheet with dates and topics. Set reminders. If you can, write several blog posts over the course of a few days. Then you don’t stress-write two hours before you want to get it posted.

Speaking of posting, make sure you’re sharing your blog posts to your social media channels. (And if you don’t have any of those, create some!) If you have an email newsletter, include the link there. Anywhere that your desired audience could see it, post it.

Finally, write. And enjoy it.

Blogging shouldn’t be stressful. It should be an additional, fun way to engage with your audience or clients. If it’s becoming stressful, step away for a bit. The inspiration often comes away from the keyboard.

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Oakli Van Meter is a wife, mother, and a freelance editor, writer, and blogger.

Acting with Juice Boxes: Exploring Indian Breathing Techniques

January 20, 2021 By Brittany Passmore 2 Comments

I certainly don’t consider myself a professional actress by any means, but I cherish the memories I have from participating in school and community productions. Because we have so many talented and aspiring actors and actresses in our membership, I wanted to talk about a breathing technique I learned from my high school theatre teacher about rasa boxes.

Rasa Boxes

My director taught me and my peers this Indian breathing technique during one of our many play rehearsals. He explained to us that rasa was an Indian word that could be translated as “breath” but also “the juice of life.” We joked that the rasa box technique could also be called the “juice box” technique.

The technique can be illustrated with a three-by-three square. Each box represents a different state of emotion, such as sadness, pleasure, anger, and so on.

raudra anger, frustration, rage	bhayanaka fear, terror	karuna sadness
sringara pleasure, bliss	shantra beyond emotion	hasya mirth, laughter
bibhatsa disgust	vira gallantry, heroics, courage	adbuda wonder, awe

Shantra is in the centermost box because it is “beyond emotion,” or a neutral state that can lead to all other emotional states.

The main idea behind rasa boxes is that your breath can be used as a tool to embody these various emotional states. Once you “activate” or engage the breath properly, you can better feel and portray the actual emotion throughout your body.

The Exercise

My teacher led us through an exercise to try out the technique. We would always start with shantra, a calm and even breath. There, we would re-center ourselves before and after we attempted other emotional states.

We would pick one of the rasa boxes—like vira, for example, the breath of gallantry, heroics, and courage—and try to activate that breath. We measured the intensity of our breath (and thus the emotion) on a scale of one to ten, one being the weakest and ten being the strongest. Then we would work our way up and down the scale to explore the breath—not necessarily to get all the way to a 10 but to see how our breath influenced our body language. After playing with the breath at different intensities, we would go back to shantra, recenter, and choose another rasa box.

It wasn’t an easy exercise. I struggled at first to know how to portray an emotion like vira—after all, how do you breathe heroically? My director encouraged us to just keep focusing and projecting the emotion through our breath. He warned us to not overthink the exercise and let go of whatever held us back, and I found myself understanding the technique more as I tried other breaths.

A young woman sitting crosslegged with her hands in front of her diaphram, breathing.

Takeaway Lessons

I learned from this exercise that how I breathed could actually influence how I felt and how my body reacted. I wasn’t an expert at applying this technique in all my high school acting, but I think it helped me better portray the role of a simple countrywoman going into shock after experiencing a driveby shooting.

And although I don’t usually remember all of the Indian names for the different rasa boxes, I’ve become more aware of how my breath is related to my everyday actions. I’ve learned that focusing a little control on my breathing can truly influence my attitude and the results I see in my life.

Try out this breathing technique in your acting (or everyday) pursuits! Remember that the point is not to overthink the process and get each emotion perfect on every number of the scale. The point is to explore what your breath does to your emotions and body so you can be more aware of the power your breath has and discover new ways to portray various emotions.

***

Brittany Passmore graduated from BYU with a major in editing and publishing. She works as a freelance editor specializing in science-fiction and fantasy. When she’s not reading, writing, or editing, Brittany loves to be a stay-at-home mom to her 18-month-old son and dabble in her musical hobbies of piano, flute, guitar, and singing. Oh, and of course, she loves practicing yoga.

Website: https://brittanympassmore.wixsite.com/passmoreedits

A photo of the author of the post, Brittany Passmore.

So You Want to Be an Artist? Here are 3 Secrets You Need to Know.

January 13, 2021 By Brittany Passmore 3 Comments

By Anna King

In this post, I’m going to let you in on the three most important secrets to being an artist.

Number 1: Make Time to Create.

To be an artist, you must create art. It’s that simple.

“But I just don’t have time! I’m a student. I’m a parent. I have a full time job. What’s the real answer?”

My friends. You will never make art if you don’t make time.

For those of you who are discouraged, don’t worry. You don’t have to turn your life inside out in order to make time for art.

Start by writing down exactly how you spend your time. You might discover that you have to spend less time on Netflix or making TikTok videos. You might even have to tell your friends you can’t hang out sometimes.

Making time for your art is a signal to yourself that it is important to you. You’re giving yourself the mindset that you are an artist. And you get to create what you love! Start small. For instance, you might start with one sketch a week, then grow to sketching an hour every day. Do what works for you consistently.

The more you create, the better you will get. You won’t be able to help but get better.

So create!

Number 2: Talk Back to Self-Doubt and Criticism.

You’re never going to be rid of that voice in your head that points out everything wrong with your art. And at the end of the day, that voice can help you get better if you learn how to deal with it.

Whenever you’re on social media or with a group of other artists, there is always going to be someone better than you. You’re going to see people that are worlds away from where you’re at, and that can be discouraging.

But it doesn’t have to be.

When that voice compares your art to theirs, you have to talk back to it. Here are some ways you can:

Yes, they may be better than you, but use that to inspire you to become better. It does not mean you aren’t a great artist.

Take some time away from social media and make art for you.

Reach out to that person who is amazing and let them know. Connecting with others can help you remember that they are just people too! Complimenting others also helps you turn that voice away and allows you to focus on the good.

Do some master copies. Copy what you see, and you’ll be amazed at what you find.

Number 3: Be Clear About Your Goals.

Once you’ve finished reading this, write down a “success statement.”

What does success look like to you? Is it to have hundreds of Instagram followers? Is it to illustrate a book? Or is it to put some part of you into your art? Look up some examples of other’s success statements and then write your own. Knowing what you want from and for your art will help you ignore things that don’t matter.

Be patient with yourself, put in the work, and love the journey.

Anna King graduated from BYU in 2019 with a BA in Illustration and minors in creative writing and editing. She’s currently working as a freelance illustrator in Utah. She’s been the illustrator for two self-published books and is currently the illustrator for a superhero webcomic. When she’s not drawing, she’s writing novels or watching movies—unless it’s a perfect day outside, in which case you’ll find her dancing in the rain.

Instagram: @aoking_draws
Current Project: Webcomic – Variant Heroes

Latter-day Profiles

January 3, 2021 By Trina Boice 2 Comments

Latter-day Profiles is a collaborative effort of students, faculty, and staff at Brigham Young University-Idaho. The program features in-depth interviews with noteworthy members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Guests range from leaders in business and industry to educators, to musicians and authors to volunteers. All have stories to tell that are interesting, informative, and thought-provoking.

Latter-day Profiles is produced by students in coordination with faculty and staff advisors. That means the students research the guests, schedule the interviews, run the cameras, and edit the programs.

BYU-Idaho Communication faculty, Brian Howard, hosts the program and works closely with the students in the production process. Currently, Latter-day Profiles airs Sunday afternoons at 2:35 Mountain Time on BYUTV. Twenty-eight new episodes are produced every year.

We thought you might be interested in seeing the schedule for the first quarter of 2021!

LDPRF_39_01 / Carmen Rasmusen Herbert / Speaker, Singer & Author

Airs January 3^rd2021 / February 28^th 2021

Carmen Rasmusen Herbert was a Top 6 finalist on the second season of FOX’s “American Idol” in 2003. She has appeared on many talk and entertainment shows including David Letterman, the Today show, MSNBC, and Good Morning America.

LDPRF_39_02 / Ed Sexton / Dean, College of Business and Communication at BYU-Idaho

Airs January 10^th 2021 / March 7^th 2021

Ed Sexton is the dean of the College of Business and Communication at BYU-Idaho. He has served in the Sixth Quorum of the Seventy and as a bishop, high councilor, mission president, stake mission president, stake president’s counselor, and stake president.

LDPRF_39_03 / Meg Johnson / Speaker & Author

Airs January 17^th 2021 / March 14^th 2021

Meg Johnson is a founding partner for Jumping Turtle LLC and Our Turtle House. Her work as an influencer has touched many on a local, national, and international level, and Meg is a recipient of the Athena Leadership Award. Meg was a ballroom dancer and professional party planner. Then a weekend trip changed it all, and Meg was paralyzed on March 6, 2004, when she was hiking in Southern Utah.

LDPRF_39_04 / Joel Bishop / Speaker & Actor

Airs January 24^th 2021 / March 21^st 2021

Joel Bishop is the president of Rise to Your Challenge, which offers speaking, training, and consulting services. Joel is an accomplished actor, speaker, and presenter.

LDPRF_39_05 / David Christensen / Author

Airs January 31^st 2021 / March 28^th 2021

David Christensen is a senior advisor to the non-profit organization Mentors International. David is an author and has served as a mission president in Chile and as MTC President in Guatemala.

LDPRF_39_06 / Trina Boice / Author, Podcaster, BYU-I Instructor & Entrepreneur
Airs February 7^th 2021 / April 11^th 2021

Dr. Trina Boice is a #1 best-selling author of 31 non-fiction books. She is an author coach at FromBooks2Business.com and creates online courses at LifelongLearningEducation.com. Trina also writes movie reviews at MovieReviewMom.com. A popular international keynote, she has gone on many speaking tours around the world.

LDPRF_39_07 / Sharla Goettl / Author
Airs February 14^th 2021 / April 18^th 2021

Sharla Goettl is the author of “Spiritual Resilience: Leading Our Youth to Go and Do.”

LDPRF_39_01 / Charlie Bird / Author

Airs February 21^st 2021 / April 25^th 2021

Charlie Bird was Cosmo the Cougar at Brigham Young University from 2016 to 2018. He received national acclaim for his multiple dance performances with the BYU Cougarettes. As Cosmo, he performed across the country, including on the ESPN College Football Awards and on America’s Got Talent. 2017 was dubbed “Year of the Mascot” by NBC Sports in honor of Cosmo’s character and performance. Charlie was born and raised in Southwest Missouri and served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Redlands, California. He graduated from BYU in 2018. Charlie is an active LBGTQ advocate and is involved with multiple nonprofit LGBTQ organizations nationally and across Utah.

A Reflection of 2020 and the LDSPMA Virtual Conference

December 30, 2020 By Trina Boice Leave a Comment

By Mike Judson

By now, your recollections of the first virtual LDSPMA annual conference may be fading a bit, so we decided to jog your memory with reminders about what a fabulous conference it was. As a friend used to say, “That’s one in a row!” and indeed it was one worth remembering.

COVID-19!

The big news this year was that COVID-19 forced the conference to take place online. The prospect of putting on a virtual conference was scary and daunting at first, but not as much as canceling the conference altogether, which nobody wanted to do. As plans came together, things began to look more and more doable. Speaking from a completely neutral viewpoint (yeah, right!) I’d say the result was not too bad for a first try. Here’s a mix of comments both applauding and lamenting the online format.

“I really liked the virtual conference. It keeps the conference affordable—no travel, car rental, nor hotel expenses.”

“I would not have been able to attend an in-person conference, so I really appreciate being able to view the session on my own time schedule.”

“I only wish we could have sat and had a meal together, and I wish we could have had the book signing thing that has been done before.”

“I’m not sure I’m a fan of prepared PowerPoint presentations in Zoom. The personal interaction was better.”

“I think this presentation style actually led to better Q&A sessions. The biggest drawback was the limited networking potential within the sessions and the necessary decrease in organic teaching with the prerecorded sessions.”

Survey Results

A post-conference survey revealed some positive, and somewhat surprising results. For example:

More than 300 people attended online, the most of any LDSPMA Annual Conference to-date.
Half of those responding to our post-conference survey were first-time attendees.
People attended from 24 states and 3 countries.
A majority of survey respondents rated the conference as “highly worthwhile.”
There were just as many views of the recorded sessions after the conference ended as the live sessions. In other words, people really took advantage of the opportunity to continue watching the sessions long after the actual conference ended. That’s a huge perk of having a virtual conference!

Spiritual Focus

This year’s conference had a decidedly spiritual focus that made it that much better for many attendees. Here’s what some had to say:

“This was the most spiritual conference I have ever been to.”

“I attend a lot of writing conferences, at least three a year. I think what LDSPMA offers me that others do not is the unique LDS flair.”

“I come back every year because I feel the Spirit at the conference. And every year I forget that that is why I love it. Then I come back and there it is again.”

“I attended two years ago and again this year and both times I was blown away. The spirit of the Holy Ghost is strong with LDSPMA. I have attended similar conferences over the years and often notice the void of not feeling the Spirit.”

One comment from attendee Lynn Steen particularly caught our eye:

“Wow! As a writer, I loved the Conference! I’m a Nobody in the middle of Nowhere but had the opportunity to feed on so many things! The presenters, those selected to speak, and the subjects I was able to choose, all of that came together with precision with a wealth of information in the mix. I’m still trying to follow up on my notes. Added to that, everyone was LDS. That painted everything: the goals, and attitudes, the advice. I didn’t need to worry about whom to trust as we might do in other situations. The world is too caught up in making the money, not in “how” to do it the Lord’s way. Thank you!!”

Keynotes

All of the keynote sessions rated exceptionally well in our survey.

“Bonner Family, Brandon Mull, Hafens, Hilary Weeks—all inspirational and practical.”

“I loved the keynotes. They were inspirational.”

“The keynote addresses were all fantastic! The Hafens were so humble about having worked to produce a wonderful biography about Elder Maxwell. Hilary Weeks emphasized her seeking to honor Christ through her music and give him credit for her new marketing strategy. The Bonner Family members were so refreshing with their commitment to the faith. Brandon Mull’s entire presentation told how he was led by Christ to be where he is today—even when times were challenging. Well done, team, in selecting such meaningful presenters.”

Brandon Mull’s presentation received the most comments and the most enthusiastic comments.

“I loved the session with Brandon Mull. It was inspirational to me to hear of his journey from childhood and how he eventually became a successful writer.”

“I was grateful to hear of Brandon Mull’s journey as an author. It was incredibly relatable to my own experience, and it encouraged me to ‘press forward in faith.’”

“Brandon Mull was wonderful and informative about what he had to do to get going. That was so useful and good to hear.”

“I loved hearing about the spiritual side of Brandon Mull’s career. That isn’t something I’ve had the experience to hear him share in public.”

“I have so many thoughts about the conference, but the session that has stayed with me the most is the Brandon Mull Keynote Session. His message blended the best of the professional and spiritual sides of the work. I loved it.”

The really good news about Brandon Mull’s address is it is being made available to LDSPMA members soon and to those they invite to join the Association! You will see a special access link near the top of our home page on the website starting in January. Tell your friends and co-workers to sign-up so they can enjoy Brandon’s powerful message too!

What Lies Ahead?

Plans are already underway for our 2021 conference. Will it be in person? Online? A combination of both? Time will tell. One thing is certain, you won’t want to miss it!

Here’s proof I’m not the only one who loves the idea of a hybrid conference model. Another member recently wrote:

“I love that it is online. I would never have been able to attend otherwise. I also love that all the material is available to watch for a month afterward–so helpful! Whatever you do, I hope you keep the online capability–whether that means live-streaming it or recording it and archiving it after the fact. For an LDSPMA member like me who lives abroad, it was a goldmine.”

We want to hear what YOU think, so please fill out the survey you were emailed last week. All of the decisions the Board and the Conference Committee make are based on your preferences. We want to offer the tools and resources that can best help you share your creative talents with the world!

Thanks for attending this year’s conference. Here’s to another great one in 2021!

In case you missed out on some of the fun, here are some links to some of the sessions you can check out that we uploaded to our LDSPMA YouTube channel:

The Bonner Family were keynoters and spoke and sang about “Bringing People to Unity in Christ through Music”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h84dUQ-N57I&feature=youtu.be ).

In the Lifetime Achievement Awards Ceremony, Dean Hughes, Emily Watts, and Christopher Robbins were honored and spoke about their lives and careers, with Carole Mikita as the emcee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOy_RNgQlZk&feature=youtu.be

And here is a link to view the Praiseworthy Awards Ceremony that gave out publication awards in about a dozen categories, with Amanda Dickson as emcee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Uj4sA-YT_w&feature=youtu.be

Merry CHRISTmas!

December 17, 2020 By Trina Boice Leave a Comment

We want to thank you for making LDSPMA a part of your busy life by being a member and sharing your creative talents with others.

This year has been a pretty crazy one, so the light you shine in the dark world has been especially important. We’re constantly amazed by all of the things you’re doing to make the world a better place.

We hope you feel our love for you as we create events and services to help you grow your professional talents and business. More important, we hope you feel the Savior’s love during this Christmas season.

We have some VERY exciting new developments for 2021 that we’ll tell you about in January! Until then, we wish you a very Merry CHRISTmas and a Happy New Year!

The LDSPMA Board

A Quick Primer on Starting Your Own Home-Based Business

October 5, 2020 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

By Amy Collett

Entrepreneurship is a lofty goal, but one many aspiring business owners can easily reach by starting small with the home-based business. By getting your venture established in this manner, you can maximize flexibility and minimize overhead. But how do you get started? Is it really possible to market yourself and make money? Answers are found below.

In the Beginning

One of your first steps before applying for your business license or putting up a website is to determine what you want to do and what type of business structure you’ll have. Most home-based businesses are run as sole proprietorships. However, if you need to protect your personal assets, you may want to establish yourself as an LLC.

Next, take a look at your funds. When you do not want to dip into your savings, you have plenty of options from the Small Business Administration Bridge Loan program to raising funds via friends and family. Financing your business venture can give you working capital to buy inventory or equipment. Further, by not dipping into your personal nest egg, you won’t be quite as stressed out about money, and you’ll have cash in hand to reach your professional goals. There are non-governmental funding sources available as well, and Zen Business notes that many larger companies have even taken it upon themselves to provide grants for SMBs.

Getting Started

Now that you are ready to go and have the funding to do so, you may want to look into hiring a helping hand as you establish yourself as a leader in your industry. The type of assistance you need will depend on what you do. If you are a book writer, for example, you’ll want to find an experienced editor, and the Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association notes that you can start by looking for recommendations from other writers.

You might also need help with administrative, technical, or other tasks outside of the scope of your expertise. In this case, hiring a freelancer may be a smart choice. First, an independent contractor will cost you less overall, even if you have to pay slightly higher hourly rates. But more importantly, you will have access to a global platform of people with the types of experience you need. There are downsides, however, and it makes sense to review the pros and cons of hiring freelance help before you recruit.

Customers Are Key

One of the most intimidating aspects of running your own business is putting yourself out there and finding customers. It requires a high level of confidence, and you have to be ready for rejection. Start by developing a plan, which might include scouting for potential clients on social media or sponsoring local events to draw attention to your business. Make sure to price your products or services competitively, taking into account everything from your local economy to the value that you bring. You do not necessarily have to be the least expensive option but the one that provides the very best for the money.

Once you begin bringing in customers, remember the importance of customer service. No matter what you do, there will always be competition, and if they are perceived as more customer-centric, you can bet that is where consumers will go. Focus on quality, and remember that getting things right the first time is the best way to make a good impression. This, in turn, will convince your customers to tell their friends and family about you, which equates to more revenue.

The above tips can help you get started. Ultimately, however, the success or demise of your business is something only you can determine. It might be a daunting endeavor, but entrepreneurship is one that comes with many benefits—ones that you have to experience for yourself to appreciate.

7 Steps for Hiring a Good Editor

April 6, 2020 By LDSPMA 3 Comments

By Victoria Passey

Understand the different types of editing.

There are several types of editing: content/developmental editing, substantive/deep-line editing, copyediting, and proofreading, as well as edits for style guides and fact-checking. Together, they create a funnel of sorts, progressively narrowing down to your finished, publication-ready manuscript.

Since there are many different terms for the different phases of editing, we’ll simplify them into four major categories so you can determine the type of editor you need for each phase of your project.

Content editing takes a big-picture look at your manuscript. This stage reviews your manuscript’s major strengths and weaknesses regarding plot issues, organization, pacing, structure, etc.

Substantive or deep-line editing looks at your writing. The primary goal at this stage is to address the artistry, clarity, word economy, voice, and emotional impact of each sentence and paragraph (which can include any last little issues with the developmental points above, like pacing, dialogue, and rhetoric).

Copyediting is that final, fresh set of eyes where the editor catches any last issues that might trip up readers. This stage includes all the fine details, from clarity, to grammar and mechanics, to consistency issues and typos. Generally, it’s also concerned with style-guide issues, like bringing things in line with The Chicago Manual of Style.

Proofreading is a second quality control round and, depending on whether you are traditionally or self-publishing, will happen before or after a book is in the galley stage—when the interior layout is completed and it looks like a “real” book. You may also want a separate or related galley proofread, which addresses the aesthetics and consistency of your book’s typography.

Understand your budget and goals.

Your budget, goals, and publishing path will drive what kinds of editing will serve you best and how many rounds of editing your manuscript will go through. Sending your manuscript through each of the phases is the ideal for traditional-pub quality, but if you can’t afford it, at a minimum, you’ll want a developmental edit, followed by a solid copyedit. An experienced developmental editor can discuss the industry, market, and which editing phases would make sense for your genre and individual work.

Search within your community.

Though it may be tempting to rely on online searches to find an editor, word of mouth is your best bet. Ask your writer friends (writing groups or other communities you’re a part of) for recommendations for editors.

Your editor should be vetted by the writing community. Look for strong reviews and community recognition or involvement.

Know the qualities of a good editor and of good feedback.

Your developmental editor should have a solid understanding of writing craft, particularly story structure, pacing, and character arcs.

Your line or copyeditor should be very familiar with The Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary because these are the standard guides for style and usage within the publishing industry. It’s also important that your copyeditor respects your authorial voice and has an impeccable understanding of modern grammar and usage.

The ideal editor will provide firm, honest, kindly phrased feedback—not just empty praise.

As an author, you want feedback that helps you improve your manuscript by giving you a candid look at its strengths and weaknesses. Empty praise may inflate your ego, but it won’t help you grow and improve as a writer.

Understand a developmental editor’s genre specialty.

It’s important that your developmental editor understand your chosen genre, especially as you progress in your writing career.

Any good content editor can edit and give feedback on general story structure and craft, which can be beneficial for writers who are just starting out, but as you progress in your writing career, an editor who understands your genre is increasingly important.

An editor who understands your genre also understands the tropes, audience expectations, and what’s already been done (what you’ll look cliché for doing) within that genre.

For example, if you want to become a well-known romance author, an editor who isn’t an expert in romance plot structure and doesn’t know the difference between romance subgenres isn’t the right fit for you.

Get a sample edit before moving forward.

Before you decide on an editor, ask for a sample edit of a short selection from your manuscript. A sample edit will help you understand the editor’s skill level, as well as how they’ll approach your work and your feelings as an author. Make sure to compare the different sample edits you get from all the editors you are considering. Price is not a good comparison point—if you don’t get a quality edit, you’ve wasted your money, regardless.

By the way, most editors use Track Changes in Word to record their line edits and comments. Understanding this feature will ensure that you can view your editor’s notes and accept or reject their changes.

Discuss details.

Once you’ve decided on an editor, be sure to discuss the details of your project. Laying out the details (in a written contract) early on will save both of you many headaches later.

Some of the details you’ll want to discuss are deadlines, costs, payment arrangements, and a work-for-hire contract where your work is protected and the editor is under an NDA (nondisclosure agreement).

You should be able to discuss these details over the phone—either with someone in the company you’ve hired, or the editor themselves if they are an individual freelancer. And make sure you get it in writing!

Getting a manuscript ready for publication is a collaborative effort based on a mutual love of books, respect, and creative effort. If you and your editor respect each other’s time, effort, expertise, and vision, the resulting product—and partnership—will amaze you!

A few editorial recommendations to get you started:

Eschler Editing: This award-winning, experienced team of editing and publishing/promotion professionals has editors for most every genre and every type of editing—specializing in fiction and nonfiction (plus poetry, dissertations, essays, web content, etc.) Find them at EschlerEditing.com.

Joshua Essoe: Joshua is a skilled content editor who does sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, YA and adult, and their subgenres (but no lit fic, romance, or children’s/MG). Find him at JoshuaEssoe.com.

Suzy Bills: This editing professor works with all genres. Find her at [email protected].

Josh Vogt: Josh is a highly experienced editor who can work with most fiction genres (though maybe not super-literary fiction, as he prefers plot-driven works); he also does gaming lit and loves speculative fiction. Find him at write-strong.com or [email protected].

Precision Editing Group: This experienced team of editors and best-selling authors tackles many genres. (They just don’t do poetry or dissertations.) Find them at PrecisionEditingGroup.com or [email protected].

The Manuscript Dr.: A team of story-savvy fiction editors. Find them at TheManuscriptDr.com.