We have a really collaborative and supportive writing community on social media. I only tend to use X in all honesty, and sometimes dabble on Threads, though rarely, and there are some hugely talented and lovely authors within the platform. Most of my clients have found me via X, and others by word of mouth and recommendations, so it’s very important to me to have this connection online.
There is a downside to social media writing circles however, and I’ve been noticing this more recently…
No matter how you decide to publish your book, it’s vital to make sure it’s polished, edited, proofread, and at its absolute best before you either hit the “Publish” button, or prior to submitting it to an agent/publisher. Now don’t get me wrong, should you find representation with a publisher, they will have their own team of editors and proofreaders and will work with you to make those all-important changes and/or amendments that your book may require. But they might also make suggestions about changing areas you really don’t want to change; characters, a scene you feel fits perfectly, colloquial dialogue that you’ve spent tireless hours getting just right for a character who adds much to the story – and other things, too. At the end of the day, a publisher will only publish your book if they are sure it will sell, and sell well. If they’re in any doubt, chances are they will reject it.
So moving on to the less savoury side of writing communities, some authors don’t think it’s important to have a manuscript edited, they talk editors down, and for want of a better word, “lecture” other authors on not spending money by hiring professional services. If you’re an author and don’t want to use editorial assistance, that’s absolutely fine. It’s your decision and your prerogative. But what these anti-editor authors should always remember is that just because they might have had a negative experience in the past or because they think their own book is up there with Stephen King and CS Lewis, all books, when traditionally published, go through a rigorous editing process. This is important for all books. No one wants to read a badly-written book they’ve paid good money for and then wish they hadn’t bothered because it hasn’t seen an editor or a proofreader and is filled with errors. Unfortunately, not all authors can just write a book and hit publish then sit back and watch their review ratings roll in – 5 stars, 4 stars, 5 stars. When trying to put someone off hiring a professional service, you are not only damaging the business (one you might decide to work with in the future), but you are also being very unhelpful to the author who might really need to work with an editor to improve their book.
Maybe you hired an editor a while ago and you didn’t feel you got the result you were hoping for. It happens. But that isn’t then a reason to persuade others not to hire editors by tarnishing them all with the same brush. You might have worked with someone who wasn’t the best fit for your manuscript and didn’t do it the justice it deserved, but there will always be someone else out there who will be a better fit and will be perfect for you. It’s all about shopping around, getting to know editors, following them on social media perhaps, and interacting with them. Many of my clients interact with me on X, and direct message me to ask for advice. Then often, a few months down the line, sometimes even a year later, they come back with a manuscript they want me to edit. I’m not the type of person to push myself on people – I find cold DM’ing, if you like to call it that, quite vulgar in all honesty. So it’s a great feeling for me when someone makes contact in the hope we can work together and I then go out of my way to help them.
I think those who don’t want to work with a service provider, be it an editor, proofreader, typesetter or cover designer, should just get on with doing what they do and stop “telling” other authors what they should do. It really is that simple. I wish all authors the best of luck and every success with their books, however they choose to publish and whether or not they choose to hire a professional. Just enjoy the experience and always remember it’s your work, no one else’s, and if you feel you need to, or if you simply want to, work with someone like me, then do. I love my job with a passion, and there’s nothing more rewarding for me than to see a book I’ve worked on out there in the big wide world, getting the recognition it deserves.
