Reedsy

Finding the right book editor

The romantic myth of an author sitting alone in their room and emerging with a finished book is just that: a myth. Writing is a tough skill to master. Good books are the product of talent, craft, revision and more revision. Like all creative arts, writing requires critique from knowledgeable professionals who can make suggestions and provide direction from a perspective most writers can’t obtain on their own. From developmental editing — with advice on story and structure — to copy editing and proofreading, working with a range of book editors is absolutely crucial when writing a book.

But where can you find the professionals with the right experience in your genre to take your story to the next level?

Designers that have got your book covered

Your book doesn’t need to look good — it has to look great. A striking, brilliant design is a fundamental element in your book and is central to your marketing efforts. All of the designers on Reedsy can help you create that beautiful book, both inside and out. We have managed to source some of the finest and most decorated book designers working in publishing today.

On the Reedsy marketplace you will find talented and experienced book cover designers, illustrators and typographers, who have dedicated their careers to creating beautiful books.

Why work with a professional book marketer?

If you’ve published a book, you probably know that authors are expected to take on the lion’s share of marketing efforts, regardless of the publication path. The most successful independent authors admit to spending a large part of their day marketing their books rather than writing.

For some authors, marketing is enjoyable — a chance to promote their work and interact with readers. For others, it can be a real burden. The hard truth is that marketing is a skill, just like writing, editing, or design. If you’re not prepared to spend hours learning about it and improving on your efforts — testing and iterating — then your writing career might be better served in the hands of someone who already possesses those skills.

But where can you find a knowledgeable marketer with the right experience in your genre?

What is a publicist going to do to help sell my book(s)?

In the strict sense of the word, a publicist’s role is to secure media coverage for your book. While the emergence of digital and social media marketing strategies have prompted many publicists to diversify their offering, their first and foremost value add lies in their media network and their ability to “sell your story”.

It is worth noting that this “story” is not necessarily your book’s story. It can be your own personal one (“why I wrote this book”, “how I became a best-selling independent author”, etc.) or a more general one that you fit in (“the rise of ‘indie’ zombie fiction”, for example). Similarly, there is a wide range of media that your publicist can potentially pitch your story to. Depending on that story and on your genre, those can be national newspapers, niche magazines, online publications, fiction blogs, or even radio or television programs.

The impact of a publicity campaign on your book will depend on two major factors: the quality of your publicist, and the quality (or “sell-ability”) of your story. Of course, both are intertwined, since certain publicists will be better at selling certain kinds of stories than others. But where can you find a professional publicist with the right network and expertise to get you the coverage your book deserves?

What to look for in a ghostwriter

Ghostwriters are the unsung heroes behind thousands of bestselling books — from celebrity autobiographies to business books and even works of fiction. If you have an important story to tell, but don’t possess the writing skills (or the time) to put it down on paper, you can hire a ghostwriter to write that book for you.

Ghostwriters are rarely the official “author” of the book, though they are sometimes mentioned as a “co-author” in a book’s Acknowledgments. Some ghostwriters prefer the term "collaborator" as they see the project as a partnership with the author. More often than not, however, they are bound by confidentiality clauses that prevents them from revealing which books they have ghostwritten.

But where can you find that dream ghostwriter, who’ll be able to capture your voice and tell your story the exact way you want it told?

Lay the foundation of your writing career

Your website is the hub for all your book marketing activity. It’s where you can attract new subscribers with the promise of great free content; it’s where readers can get in touch with you; and it’s the place where you can engage your existing fans by sharing exclusive snippets and a behind-the-scenes look at your journey.

More so than your book’s cover, your website will define your brand as an author. When visitors land on your site, they will immediately understand if you’re a writer of contemporary horror, historical romance — or simply an author who hasn’t bothered to replace that “under construction” message on your homepage.

But where can you find a talented web designer with the right experience in your genre? Where can you find someone who can create that author website you’ve always dreamed of?

Always at your service

Give us a call at (+44) 20-3108-9367 and we will be glad to serve you.

If you have a general question for us, just drop us an email at service@reedsy.com. We’ll get back to you right away.

If you’re just learning how to publish a book, please feel free to ask us anything you like, or say, “Hi,” on our blog. We won’t bite!