Of course I’m not going to call out any names. That wouldn’t be fair. What I can say is that there are those few authors who just know what they are doing. They take their writing on professionally and take responsibility for the elements they want in their books, and they’ve thought about the reaction they want to get from their audience. I immediately fall in love with these people and become a raving fan. What kind of books do these authors send in?

  1. The kind where complete sourcing is provided
  2. The kind where the author understands the dilemma of using copyrighted material and has already sought permission and print licensing
  3. The kind where the paragraph style is normal and the font is twelve-point New Times Roman throughout
  4. The kind where all the stories involving real people are obscured or are composite sketches AND they have provided signed release forms for each person
  5. The kind where edit time or costs are not an issue; I just keep reading and editing
  6. The kind that shares practical, doable, and uncommon answers for common questions
  7. The kind that change my life
  8. The kind that make me want to edit well
  9. The kind that I talk about outside of work
  10. The kind that cause me to roll up my sleeves and call up some previously shelved talents—I like to get a little dirty (which can sometimes negate all of 1 through 9)
It may seem far-fetched but, yes, I have edited books with all these characteristics. I am not sure who makes authors who write books like these, but they are a joy and a refreshing treat. I love to read and learn from them. I love to edit for them. I love that I can have a hand in helping these books blossom. I love to see others love these books the way I do.

But the very best books to go through the editing process sometimes tank in the market. Mechanics, sourcing, and print licenses are the least of some buyers’ worries, and what characterizes a book as life-changing or conversation-starting is subjective.

However, one thing is undeniable: the author’s confidence in their message and their authenticity when reaching out to their intended audience. It just shows in every step of the process, and, even more importantly, it comes out in the manuscript.

I think we can all understand that not every book will hit the New York Times bestseller list and that every book can't fit into my "perfect" little list. What we can’t deal with deep inside is a writer who didn’t give their all or a writer who wrote for themselves and tries to pass it as a generous rendering of life.

Writing is not easy, and anticipating the needs of an editor seems absurd when the creative juices finally get to flowin’. But there are those times when that certain level of consideration is taken and both writer and editor are able to meet at a professional juncture that just catapults the relationship to another level. This increases both the editor's and writer's expectation for the next project. 

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