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Nancy LaFever’s Pro Editing Tips Featured on Entertaining Insights

September 27, 2021 by Nancy LaFever Leave a Comment

“Armed with a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University and the skills of a therapist, professor, and researcher, clinical psychologist Dr. Nancy Berk weaves her traditional training into a unique brand of insight and humor that has made her an audience favorite.” 

My good pal/colleague Nancy Berk’s bio doesn’t give her talent and versatility enough credit, in my humble opinion. Writer, standup comic, and intuitive interviewer for her unique podcast, Entertaining Insights, she asked me for some editing tips for the second segment of her latest celeb interview with comedian and new author, Dan Naturman. 

  • Timing is everything – don’t give me your barely edited first draft; it’s not ready for a professional edit. It will be a waste of your money and our time. Conversely, futzing with a solid, ready-for-the-editor draft is counterproductive. Stop it and hand it over!
  • Yes, you do need an outline/structure –Your story needs a structure to hang on. Don’t tell me it interrupts your creative flow! If the work isn’t organized, the overall product will suffer. Just do it.
  • Read! – I’m amazed at authors who tell me they don’t read! Really, not even your own genre? That’s nuts. Never underestimate your readership; they’ll call you out when you step outside a familiar formula. And if you only read thrillers and are thinking of writing a memoir? Nope. 
  • You’ve hired an expert – So use that expertise. If you hired an experienced editor, you’re ahead of the game. I want clients to trust my skill set, but I also view the relationship with an author as a partnership. They’re your words. My job is to polish them and make the best cohesive product we can build together. We won’t always agree, but be selective about pushback…it makes me cranky.
  • Stop soliciting feedback from EVERYONE – In the midst of an edit, I want all your attention. Don’t pass your manuscript out to your aunt who took a writing class, a bestie, or your partner. Not at this point; it’s counterproductive. Do that before you hire me.

Now, check out episode 555 of Entertaining Insights.

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About Nancy LaFever

I love interviewing my authors about their writing process and showcasing their unique talents. You’ll also find editing “secrets” and other tips on my blog.

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As a first-time author, I came into our professional relationship with a lot of insecurities about my abilities. Nancy’s background in counseling certainly came in handy! I asked her to be tough on my work – and I was very pleased when it came back full of “red marks.” She delivered her critique with a lot of encouragement and with a wonderfully dry sense of humor. Oh, I have absolutely loved working with Nancy.

— Lisa Weldon, author of “Twenty Pieces, a memoir: a 30-day walk through my past and into my future”

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I’m a professional book editor specializing in developmental editing – helping you craft your story. But I also work in all editing levels, in addition to author coaching.

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