There is so much that goes into publishing a book, and the first phase involving editing and production carries some of the most challenging circumstances, obstacles, and distractions.

I’ve been editing a project when all of a sudden Microsoft Word shut down and I lost thirty pages of edits—never recovered. I had to redo all of it. I’ve been editing a project when my hard drive just up and died. I have been in the midst of an edit and cannot for the life of me figure out what the author is talking about, where they want to go with an idea or principle, or I’ve lost my train of thought on how to increase the intensity of a passionate appeal to the reader. If you quiz a few more editors, the stories of what happens behind the publisher's closed doors may actually scare you straight into the nearest prayer closet, sanctuary, or temple.

So, of course, I pray for myself that God will allow my mind to be sharp and enable me to imagine beyond the author’s words and into their heart. I also pray for the author as I am editing, because I know they are out there somewhere writing, speaking, traveling, and impacting people with hope, encouragement, and life-changing solutions. They are out there promoting their upcoming book. They are making connections and contacts. I know that they could benefit from divine help, so I pray for them.

There are things that work against our progress, but as a person who believes in the power of God, there will be none of that. The opposition will not win.

So I challenge the authors out there, who have faith, to pray for their editors. We are very much a part of your success and there are all kinds of things that try to get us off track from making your message everything it was meant to be.

Here’s how you can pray:

  • Pray that your editor is able to focus.
  • Pray that your editor will have positive interactions with their team members.
  • Pray that your editor will have peaceful and quality interactions with their family and friends.
  • Pray that your editor is inspired with the same passion you had as you wrote your piece.
  • Pray that your editor will have limited distractions—both technological and mental.
  • Pray that your editor’s financial needs are met.
  • Pray that your editor will have success in other editorial or acquisition endeavors.
  • Pray that your editor will have open doors and ears when they go to bat for you on key issues. They are your in-house advocates.

I believe every point listed above plays into how an editor is able to engage in an edit successfully.

What are some other ways to circulate positive synergy in the author-editor relationship?

5 Comments