WHAT IT'S LIKE WORKING WITH AN EDITOR
After years of writing The Conductor’s Game in solitude, I finally took the plunge and hired a professional editor. The first of several. Developmental Editor is up first.
I thought I was ready. I thought my manuscript was polished. I thought I knew what I was doing.
I was wrong on all counts.
The Reality Check
Getting that first editorial letter was a rollercoaster of emotions. My editor started with genuine praise—highlighting the world-building she loved, the character relationships that worked, and the scenes that she enjoyed.
Then came the “but.”
“Throughout, the story relies on telling, instead of showing.”
“Some elements of the story feel a little too convenient.”
“I love this relationship, but could there be more?”
Each piece of constructive feedback was spot-on, delivered with kindness but impossible to ignore. It wasn’t that my manuscript was bad—it was that it could be so much better.
The Humbling Truth
Here’s what no one tells you about working with an editor: they see your story more clearly than you do. I knew every character’s backstory, every world-building detail, every subplot connection—but I’d forgotten that readers don’t have access to the encyclopedia in my head.
My editor showed me all the places where I’d left gaps that only made sense to me.
The most valuable feedback was also the hardest to hear. She identified some of my favorite aspects of the story—the ones I was most proud of—and gently explained how to improve them.
It was painful to know that I had a lot more work ahead of me, but I also knew I couldn’t ignore her feedback.
What I’m Learning
Working with an editor is teaching me things I never learned while solo writing:
Objective distance is invaluable. I was too close to my own work to see its flaws—or sometimes even its strengths.
“Good writing” and “good storytelling” aren’t always the same thing. Some of my most polished prose was actually slowing down the story.
Every scene needs to earn its place. If it doesn’t advance plot, develop character, or enhance theme, it probably doesn’t belong—no matter how beautifully written.
The Surprising Joy
Despite the slight ego bruising, I’m loving this process. Seeing my story become clearer, tighter, and more engaging is incredibly satisfying. It’s like watching a photograph come into focus in a darkroom (yes, I’m old enough to remember those).
The manuscript that emerges from this collaboration will be so much stronger than what I started with. But it’s taken an editor’s fresh eyes to help me sculpt it into its final form.
What’s Next
More editing and book cover design!
