Five Truths I Learned Editing Hundreds of Books That Might Change Your Life

As a Book Coach and developmental editor, I work on hundreds of books with writers each year, in full or in part. I give feedback on drafts, debuts, and nearly polished manuscripts written by writers tackling their third, fourth, or even tenth book. Because I follow the journeys of so many writers, I’m in a unique position to share some universal truths I see over and over again that will change the way you think about the book you’re writing.   

Writers typically seek me out when they want to know:

• Is my writing “good enough” to publish?
• How does my book’s draft stack up to what others are working on?
• Am I making the same typical mistakes that all new writers make?
• Is there really any benefit to continually revising my book’s draft? Am I making my book better, or worse by continually revising?

If any of these questions sound familiar, you deserve the answers. The first thing you need to know is that no writer is born knowing how to write an effective book. The skills to write a book that readers will love are learned, and in my experience, every story in the world can change the hearts and minds of readers, if the writer is willing to put in the work. 

Truth # 1: I can’t tell from a writer’s first draft if that book is going to be a breakout bestseller or it’s going to die on the vine

Of all the truths on this list, this one surprised me the most a few years ago when I realized it while chatting with colleagues, sharing why I don’t turn new writers away from my coaching and editing services, which many do. It’s pretty common in the writing industry for professionals to assess a sample of a writer’s work, and decide if the writer has enough “talent” for their book to make an impact, and choose who they work with based on that assessment.

But here’s the thing I’ve discovered: there’s no such thing as writing talent. Sure, some things like spelling and grammar come more easily to some brains than others. That’s not what I’m talking about, because if spelling and grammar aren’t your strong suit, you can work with meticulous editors and grammar checkers to support this aspect of your work. I’m more interested in your story, how you tell it, and your desire to connect with readers. The rest I can teach.

In fact, when I first sat down to write a book, my solid spelling and grammar didn’t help me much, because I hadn’t learned to develop my plot or my characters, and hadn’t learned the very specific techniques of show, don’t tell that drag readers into a book’s pages so that they feel like they’re really there. These took me years of trial, error, and research to figure out, but now I have down to a science, and teach these techniques to every writer I work with.

When I was a new mom, my favorite stage of my children’s development was when they learned to talk and could finally express with their words what was going on in their head the whole time. I learned that my son was just as funny when he learned to talk as I imagined when he’d giggle to himself as a baby, making up his own puns (that were actually funny) by two years old. My girls were just as inquisitive and kind as I knew they would be. Because they’d put together the skills to get what was in their heads out into the world.

Nailing the techniques of writing yields the exact same results, and it’s my absolute joy to help writers find the skills to express their incredible thoughts with the written word. If first drafts are a black and white sketch, then the drafts writers produce after we work together are at first watery watercolors, then bloom into technicolor rainbows. I feel blessed that I get to witness this transformation over and over again, seeing the night and day difference applying writing technique can make.

No matter the state of a writer’s first draft, if they feel strongly about their book idea, and are willing to learn and try, I am confident that their final draft will wow me.

Truth #2: Writers need to give themselves permission to splash their Point of View all over the page

If you haven’t given yourself this permission yet, I’m giving it to you now.

If you want your book to have an impact, be yourself when you write, and don’t strive for perfection. No book is “perfect”, it’s just uniquely you. Only you can write your story, your way, and in this age of AI creating “art”, creating an endless supply of grammatically correct writing with no soul, your human touch is what readers are craving.

Consider this: If I gave you the outline to my next book, and commissioned you to write your version of it, while I worked on mine, we could meet back in a year to see what we’d each written, and not one line would be the same. The same events could happen, the characters would have the same names, and the plot twists would happen the same way. They’d even both have the same satisfying ending – sort of.  

The difference would be the point of view, or lens you brought to my story. The details that came from your imagination, and the emotion you poured into it from your experience will affect the way readers experience the same events.

So, give yourself permission to find your voice. Splash your ideas, your personality, and your quirky characters all over the page. If it feels too big, or too weird, you’re probably on the right track, so don’t be scared, trying to sound professional all the time. You can always dial it back once you’ve found your mojo if it’s over the top. But don’t try to write like your favorite bestseller, or emulate a smart writer you met. You can certainly get inspired by writers you admire, but there’s only one you.

The world needs your story.

Truth #3: It all has to get done

So many times, writing coaches or forums are focused on things like productivity, or word count while drafting a first draft. They teach to write every day, and clock the words that you get down. But there’s a lot more to writing a book than just getting that first draft done, and if that’s the only thing you’re counting, you’ll have a huge shock waiting for you when you finish your draft.

When writers are myopically focused on their first draft, they often publish too early, sharing a draft that isn’t ready for prime time yet, with the mediocre reviews rolling in to prove it.  

The little phrase, it all has to get done, can change your whole experience of getting a book ready for readers. And shifting your mindset will make a huge difference in the quality of the book you eventually share with readers. Because when you put all the other tasks (other than new words!) that need to get done on your list, such as:

• Thinking and planning
• Brainstorming through plot holes, character flaws etc.
• Reading your own work back
• Revision layers
• Line editing
• Proof reading
• Researching and pursuing publishing options
• Building your author presence in the world
• Planning for marketing efforts

You’ll see at a glance everything that needs to happen for your book to be successful and find its way into readers’ hands. And guess what? Writing your book is actually pretty hard in and of itself. It takes an immense amount of concentration, willpower, imagination, and time.

Tracking all the parts of the writing process, not only rewarding yourself for new words means you’ll celebrate each time you check a very necessary task off your list. With your list, whether you have ten minutes to work on your book, or two hours, you can look at the tasks and see what’s doable in that moment, based on your level of creativity or energy.

Check the list. Do the task. Check it off the list, and celebrate that you’re one step closer to holding your book in your hands, even if the task you complete isn’t new writing every day.

Truth #4: There are good and real skills to learn

When I work with a writer, the first things I ask them are:

• Why are you writing this particular book, at this particular moment in your life?
• What conversation are you looking to start with the world?

But it’s equally important to flip the script, which we do in short order, to focus on the reader:

• What do you want the reader to take away from your book after they’ve read it?

The writing techniques I’ve developed and teach focus on allowing your writing to connect with your reader’s brain. Because readers’ brains work a certain way, and you can tickle their minds with your writing to get through to them. When you’ve done this correctly, they will like your writing more, even if they don’t notice your technique, or have no idea why they’re so engaged.

When you get feedback from readers, or even editors, agents, or publishers, it’s rarely as subjective as most writers imagine. Sure, personal taste on the genre or subject matter comes into play, but they are more likely responding to the ways you’ve expressed your ideas and creativity, and there’s technique behind each and every expression you put on your pages.

• You can affect how immersed they are in your words.
• You can affect how much effort they need to exert to understand what you’re trying to say.
• You can affect how their emotions respond to what’s happening on your pages.

It takes practice, but the result is worth it—consistent engagement and involvement. 

Truth #5: Writing your book will change your life

Truth number five brings this list full circle, and I can’t even write about this one without my eyes welling up with emotion, thinking of the hundreds of books I’ve had the privilege to support getting out into the world. Because writers come to me, all asking the same questions that they want to validate:

• Is my writing good enough?
• Can I make it as a writer?

And some writers, not all, also secretly want to know (whether they admit it or not):

• Can I make a million dollars?
• Will I sell five million copies?
• Will I be able to speak on big stages once my book is published?
• Will my book become a Hollywood movie?

If you have these questions too as you read, I’ll point you back to Truth #1, where I started.

I can’t tell from a writer’s first draft if that book is going to be a breakout bestseller or it’s going to die on the vine.

Because honestly? I don’t know.

I can’t tell from a first draft if your book is going to be “successful”, whatever that means to you.

What I can tell you is that every single writer that I have ever worked with, whether their book became a bestseller, started a solid independent publishing career for them, or they made the very real, but difficult decision not to publish their personal memoir, even though they finished it (yes, this happens), I get the same feedback across the board:

“Writing this book changed my life.”

And I am confident that the process of writing a book will open doors for you too that you haven’t even thought of yet. I’ve seen writers:

• Launch speaking careers around their topic
• Work through complex thoughts they didn’t even realize they were writing about
• Change the way they view themselves, their relationships, and the world
• Boost their confidence
• Apply their new writing skills in other areas of their lives, opening even more doors

Writing changed my life in ways I didn’t expect, too. My plan was to write books on the side, keeping my executive career. But once my books came out and my conversation with the world was started, a path opened up that led me to support the writers who have taught me these five very valuable truths about writing a book.

You never know what amazing future is in store for you if you keep writing, and keep an eye out for the doors that are about to open. Because the process of writing your book just might change your life.

If you enjoyed this blog post, Suzy has an accompanying episode on her podcast, including more stories and examples of these 5 truths. Join her weekly for writing technique, insights on writing life, and behind the scenes looks at the careers of successful writers. 

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The Bookshelf Muse is a hub for writers, educators and anyone with a love for the written word. Featuring Thesaurus Collections that encourage stronger descriptive skills, this award-winning blog will help writers hone their craft and take their writing to the next level.

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