Get help self-editing or become a professional editor
Written by Gary Smailes
Hi,
I don’t often send out self-promoting emails, so forgive me for the intrusion.
I am just excited to share two new ways I can help: a self-editing course launching in August and one-to-one developmental editor training that is open throughout the year.
I have been a full-time developmental editor for more than twenty years. When I first started editing, Amazon KDP was not even a thing. All my work was with traditional publishers. Then, as self-publishing became more popular, I saw a real chance to help writers produce great books that would otherwise have been stopped by publishing ‘gatekeepers’.
That’s pretty much been my career to this point. I’ve helped countless writers, and I’ve edited close to a thousand books.
In recent months, I have been thinking more and more about my workload and how I could edit less but still help writers. I have always played around with the idea of expanding my editor training but never really nailed down how to do it.
Well, last month, I was on a twelve-hour train journey from Bar in Montenegro to Belgrade in Serbia. By the way, it’s a stunning trip. Google it if it’s your thing.
During the ride, I got talking to a passenger in my carriage—twelve hours is a long time, and you soon run out of things to talk about. I mentioned that I was looking for a new challenge in my work. He asked if I had any ideas, and I mentioned training.
The seed was sown.
You see, over the years, I have trained several editors, mostly for them to work at BubbleCow, so the idea of teaching was not alien. In fact, I already had a stack of notes and training material.
The planted seed grew, and today I’d like to announce both the August self-editing course and my new Fiction Developmental Editor Training. The editor training has no fixed cohort or application window; if your application is accepted, we’ll agree on a start date and any planned breaks before you begin.
Self-Editing
Let’s start with self-editing. This is a month-long course run by me. The cost is $200, split into two payments. I am only taking on ten writers. I just don’t have the time or bandwidth for more.
The course will teach you how to self-edit like an editor. It will show you how to lift yourself out of a writer’s mindset and adopt the mindset of a developmental editor. It will show you what you don’t know you don’t know.
You will get a sample manuscript that we’ll use to demonstrate the skills you will learn. At the end of each week, there’ll be an hour-long video tutorial. It will be recorded if you can’t make it.
Oh… and the last module will be about line editing, so you can fine-tune your grammar and formatting skills.
The Self-Editing course page is no longer available.
Fiction Developmental Editor Training
Next, I have a training course I’ve been building in my mind for about ten years. I had always planned to train more editors when time allowed, and it seems that now is the time.
This course is run by me and delivered one-to-one over 13 teaching weeks. Each week includes PDF lessons, practical editorial work, one combined assignment and a private 30–45-minute tutorial. The exact dates and any planned breaks are agreed with you before the course starts.
You will learn an evidence-based method for diagnosing fiction, prioritising recommendations and writing a professional editorial report. You will also complete an assessed capstone project, define your freelance service and create a practical marketing plan.
The training is built from what I have learned during more than twenty years as a developmental editor and from running BubbleCow. It is practical professional training, not a formal accreditation or a promise of clients or income.
The cost depends on whether you pay in one, two or three instalments, but it is somewhere around $2,500. Applications are open throughout the year.
You can find out more information HERE: Become a Freelance Fiction Developmental Editor
Anyway…
Thanks for sticking with me.
I’ll still be editing books, but I am taking on fewer titles. If you need a good editor, you know where I am.
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