You deserve help with your book — and that support can go beyond your editor at a publisher. If you are an entrepreneur, expert, or creator pursuing a traditional nonfiction book deal, having a literary agent, a publisher, and an in-house editor can be invaluable. But a collaborator can help you navigate the personal, intense work of actually getting the proposal or manuscript done.
Hiring help with your book is not a weakness. It can be a strategy for creating the best book proposal or manuscript possible.
An in-house editor’s job is to edit your completed draft and help in-house teams produce the book. Editors care deeply about the books they work on and often do detailed, thorough editing that makes the book better.
But editors have limited time and many responsibilities. Helping an author project-manage the delivery of a manuscript is not actually an editor’s job. A collaborator can provide deeper, more hands-on support throughout the writing and production process: helping you structure the book, manage timelines, complete assignments, incorporate revisions, and navigate copyediting and design proofs.
Three Reasons to Get Extra Help
1. In-house editors are busy: Editors care, but they cannot deeply support every part of an author’s process. They need to prioritize what only they can do: edit completed drafts and guide the book through their publishing house.
2. Many literary agents are not deeply editorial: Literary agents have major responsibilities: negotiating contracts, managing money and publisher payouts, navigating traditional publishing, and supporting dozens or even hundreds of clients. Your agent should be able to focus on being your agent: handling your contract, communicating with your publisher, and selling foreign rights.
3. You deserve support: Most entrepreneurs, experts, and creators write one book — maybe two. Writing and publishing a book, or even trying to get a book deal, is an intense and personal process.
A collaborator who understands the publishing industry and the people involved can make writing your book less stressful and more fun. Even if you are doing the heavy lifting of writing it yourself, having someone to answer questions, help with structure, or talk through an emotional moment can save time and be well worth the investment.
You deserve as much support as you want, need, and can stand: an editor, a literary agent, and a collaborator who has your back.
If you are deciding whether Meghan Stevenson Books is the right fit for your vision and your book, visit meghanstevenson.com/quiz.
Traditional publishing expert Meghan Stevenson blasts open the gates of the “Big 5”—Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, and Macmillan—to share what every entrepreneur and expert needs to know about landing a book deal.
In episodes released every Monday, Meghan shares wisdom and stories from 20+ years in publishing as well as interviews with authors, literary agents, and editors. She also answers questions from listeners like you.
Whether you are an experienced entrepreneur with an empire, or are just starting out—this podcast will help you understand what you need to do in order to turn your dream of being a bestselling author into real life.
Have a great idea for a book but don't know where to start? MeghanStevenson.com/quiz
