What is your biggest dilemma as an editor?

[Diane]

There seems to be so many. I'll start the discussion off with the problem I see and hear most - writer's reluctance to edit their works.

I've had many authors tell me that they chose to self-publish because they were afraid that a traditional publisher would edit or change their words. While this may be a possibility, it is definitely not a reason to withhold submissions. Your editor wants your book to be successful, s/he is not taking this opportunity to turn your idea into their own. Besides depending on your contract, you should have some say in the final product.

[Donna Marie Williams]

I've found that if you can develop a long-term relationship with writers, they'll begin to trust that you have their best interests at heart, and some of that fear will disappear.

My biggest dilemma is finding time to write my own books. Editing is so time and labor intensive that when I'm done with one project I'm too mentally drained to work on my own!

[Diane]

I can agree with that! By the time I'm finished with the short read-throughs, submissions, and the acquisition readings - I am done! I write every day, but rarely get to finish a project. My dream is to be able to hire more freelance editors to take the burden of of myself.