Over the past months, I’ve been doing an increasing amount of book coaching with an increasing number of clients. In fact, many of the clients who initially reach out to me for another service, such as developmental editing or manuscript evaluation, end up choosing book coaching in the end. In the age of artificial intelligence, I suspect many of us increasingly understand the value of direct human connection.

But one of the difficulties of forming a book coaching relationship is that clients often don’t know what book coaching is. And that’s no surprise: It’s a lot of different things!

One crucial but often ignored truth about being a writer? Getting your first book published is just the beginning of your journey. There’s no “happily ever after” when you sign the publisher’s contract, press the Publish button on KDP, or open that first box of books with your name on all the front covers. These are moments to celebrate: most writers never get this far. And yet authors are often blindsided when they discover the challenges waiting for them on the other side of the finish line. One of the culprits? Bad reviews.

As an editor, not every book you work on is right up your alley—and that’s fine. Some of the most rewarding projects I’ve tackled involve books I would never have read if a publisher hadn’t assigned them to me. There’s something special about an editing project that starts off as a chore but ends as a delight.

And then there are projects you love instantly. D.P. Clarence’s The Paper Boys was one of mine.

What makes an author successful? Is it money? Fame? Quality of the work? Something else? And how do successful authors achieve it?

So you’re a copyeditor looking for work from a publisher or packager, and they ask you to take a copyediting test. You’re probably nervous, especially if you’re new to the game or haven’t taken an editing test in a while. If you’re looking for some specific tips for approaching the test, you’ve come to the right place!

Are you a copyeditor seeking to work with publishers or packagers? You may be asked to take an editing test, even if you’re an experienced editor. And if you’re accustomed to working directly with authors, or if you’re a newer editor or haven’t sought a new client for a while, you may be worried about what approach is expected and what the test grader is looking for. Let me help you out by sharing my insights as a test grader.

You’ve probably seen people say it: with all the new AI tools available, a human copyeditor has become an unnecessary luxury. Copyediting focuses on grammar and spelling, and AI tools have become good enough to catch and correct these errors. Right?

Well, I don’t think so—as this blog post’s headline probably made abundantly clear. But why?

Are you wondering whether it’s okay to hire the same editor for multiple types of editing? Conflicting information abounds, leaving many aspiring authors confused and worried about wasting their hard-earned cash. So what’s the deal, and why might you have heard conflicting advice?

Are you an editor considering joining a professional association? Confused about which you should join and whether they’re worth it at all?

I’m frequently asked about whether I’ve found my memberships helpful and which organization I’d recommend. Read on for my thoughts.