The Concierge (Blog)

I’ve worked with a number of book publisher and book packager clients over the years and I’ve found a few basic rules help ensure that I complete each project satisfactorily. You may find them helpful, too. #1. Understand your role. If an author has asked whether the plot entertains you and you tell them they…

Every now and then a topic comes up that gets a fair amount of discussion in freelance editor groups. One of these is the question of authors thanking their editors in the acknowledgments section of their book. And there are a lot of editors out there trying to convince indie authors that they have to…

In the interest of full disclosure, I have to point out that I’m the kind of person who has an optimistic view of the nature of risk, which is why I’m not a financial advisor and you wouldn’t want me to be. But I also think we are too certain that some actions are “safe”…

I’ll get to the sad truth right away: to be considered for freelance editing work for traditional publishing companies and related organizations (hybrid publishers, book packagers), you need to have experience. And so the age-old conundrum rears its head: how do you get experience if you need experience to get experience? Three things can help…

I’ve freelanced in various capacities for a lot of publishing companies over the years, and overall, it has been a rewarding and happy experience. However. There are some yellow (and red!) flags to watch out for if you want to work as a freelance editor for publishing companies. The following are the most common. Edit…

Over the course of my career, I’ve work as a freelance developmental editor for a number of publishing companies. This has been a good way for me to get regular work without having to stress too much over marketing. But there are some differences among the types of publishing companies that hire freelance editors. A…

When I was a romance acquisitions editor, I learned that one of the biggest problems writers struggle with is creating a believable conflict, or series of conflicts, that will sustain the novel its entire length. Conflict is the core of any work of fiction – it’s what makes your readers keep turning pages. The Purpose…

A couple of years ago at the ophthalmologist’s office, I got the “Do you need a doctor’s excuse for work?” question again. I’m always shocked at this question. There are jobs where a GROWN ADULT has to provide a permission slip from Mommy? I mean the doctor? Are you kidding me? No, I don’t need…

Anyone can say, “Hire me, I’m great!” But not everyone has the kind of testimonials and references that can help prove it. As a freelance editor, you may think, “Hey, I’m not asking for a staff job, why do I need references?” The answer is that you need to provide context for people to make…