JoEllen Nordström hosts the Publishing Power Podcast for authors. She is the chief word wizard and owner of First Editing. As a fellow publishing enthusiast, JoEllen co-authored her first two books as an authorpreneur in 2005. As a progressive leader, JoEllen is recognized by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) as an elite National Pioneer Award winner. JoEllen's professional online editing company has helped over 50,000 writers with their words.
Are you tired of spending hours on editing your book with no tangible results? Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed and frustrated by the lack of professional guidance you need to make your book truly shine? Discover the essential role of professional editing and how to find the perfect editor that can help you produce a flawless, captivating read.
Editing is an art, just like writing, and it requires a specific talent and skill. – JoEllen Nordstrom
This is JoEllen Nordstrom's story:
JoEllen Nordstrom's journey in the world of editing started when she realized her own self-bound book needed a professional touch. After joining First Editing, she poured her energy into developing a division that caters to authors looking for the perfect editor. With thousands of manuscripts under her belt, JoEllen's passion for editing continues to grow, as she believes it's an essential step in producing a polished book that can compete in today's market.
In this episode, we talk about:
The importance of professional editing in creating impeccable books.
Choosing the right editor who can provide valuable input while honoring your author voice.
The comprehensive editing process, including developmental, line-by-line, and copy editing.
Fine-tuning your communications skills to build a successful partnership between authors and editors.
Absorbing the techniques to develop a supportive community and foster valuable connections within the publishing realm.
The Importance of Editing
Editing is crucial for authors who want to present a polished, error-free book that stands out in today's crowded market. A professional editor not only focuses on the technicalities of grammar and punctuation but also provides valuable insights on pacing, structure, clarity, and the overall readability of the manuscript. The editor can help refine the story and make it more engaging, ultimately increasing the chances of the book's success. In this episode, JoEllen emphasizes the importance of hiring a professional editor. She mentions that even bestselling authors have errors in their work, highlighting the need for expert editing to stay competitive. She recommends authors to be open to critique and collaborate with a reputable editor who can provide constructive criticism while respecting their work, goals, and unique authorial voice.
Key Takeaways
Consider hiring a content editor, story coach, or book coach to help with developmental editing, ensuring important elements are present in your book.
Look for an editing service that offers certified story coaches and vetted book coaches, such as First Editing, to ensure quality and consistency in your editing process.
Begin your editing process with developmental editing, focusing on the concept, idea, and presentation of your book.
Move on to line editing, ensuring the flow, tone, consistency, and presentation of your book aligns with your genre's expectations.
Complete the editing process with copy editing, focusing on grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, transitions, and voice.
Don't forget the importance of proofreading, checking for formatting errors and ensuring nothing was lost during the editing process.
Utilize software and artificial intelligence tools to help streamline the editing process and improve overall quality.
Memorable Moments:
00:09:09 – Levels of Editing, JoEllen breaks down the different levels of editing, starting with developmental editing for both nonfiction and fiction, moving on to line editing, and finishing with copy editing before formatting. 00:13:11 – Importance of Line Editing, JoEllen emphasizes the importance of line editing, as it ensures consistency in tone and presentation while also adhering to genre expectations.
00:20:13 – Choosing the Right Editor, It's important to work with an editor who is a good fit for you and your book. Companies like First Editing offer a free editing sample to match you with the best editor for your needs. Freelance editors can be hit or miss, so it's essential to do your research and find someone who has the right qualifications. 00:26:03 – First Editing Services, First Editing offers a wide range of editing services for fiction, non-fiction, academic, and research writing. Their website also features thousands of author testimonials and resources, including a podcast and educational videos. As a company, they prioritize professionalism, quality, and timely delivery to ensure that authors can focus on their creativity.
Every author needs an editor. No matter what you’re writing, no matter how great your prose is, having an editor is a must.
But hiring an editor can be complicated. Where do you find one? How do you figure out a working relationship? How do you know they really know what they’re talking about?
My friend JoEllen Nordstrom founded FirstEditing to make writers’ lives easier. She understood the importance of finding the right experienced editor to authors at all stages of their book and in their career, and she created a simple, elegant solution to connecting them.
I’m so grateful that FirstEditing has again joined the Women in Publishing Summit as a silver sponsor. We love their company for creating a more connected world, and we appreciate their support!
What does FirstEditing do?
FirstEditing is a one-stop shop to connect writers with editors. Rather than needing to search out your own editor on the dozens of freelance websites out there, First Editing makes hiring the right person for your work simple.
But what really sets this company apart is that every editor on the team has been vetted – they’ve got the professional credentials, AND they can back it up. So you’re not just getting a self-proclaimed “expert,” but someone who’s been proven and screened to be an effective industry professional.
You can even get a certified story coach, who brings expertise on the 38 story elements to evaluate your novel. You’ll get actionable feedback on your story arc, structure, characters and so much more.
In addition to traditional editing, FirstEditing offers academic editing as well. This means they have subject matter experts with the verified educational credentials to help prep your work for journals, nonfiction publication and peer review. So even if your work isn’t fiction or creative nonfiction, you can still find an editor who can dig in and make sure your final work is as good as it can be.
What kind of author needs FirstEditing?
Any author in search of editing support will benefit from working with FirstEditing and their team of trained industry experts. No matter your genre of publication goals, every author deserves a great partner in a qualified, experienced editor. First Editing can make that happen for you.
How can I learn more about FirstEditing?
Head to the FirstEditing website to learn more about the services they provide for authors.
Every author needs an editor. No matter what you’re writing, no matter how great your prose is, having an editor is a must.
But hiring an editor can be complicated. Where do you find one? How do you figure out a working relationship? How do you know they really know what they’re talking about?
My friend JoEllen Nordstrom founded FirstEditing to make writers’ lives easier. She understood the importance of finding the right experienced editor to authors at all stages of their book and in their career, and she created a simple, elegant solution to connecting them.
I’m so grateful that FirstEditing has again joined the Women in Publishing Summit as a bronze sponsor. We love their company for creating a more connected world, and we appreciate their support!
What does FirstEditing do?
FirstEditing is a one-stop shop to connect writers with editors. Rather than needing to search out your own editor on the dozens of freelance websites out there, First Editing makes hiring the right person for your work simple.
But what really sets this company apart is that every editor on the team has been vetted – they’ve got the professional credentials, AND they can back it up. So you’re not just getting a self-proclaimed “expert,” but someone who’s been proven and screened to be an effective industry professional.
You can even get a certified story coach, who brings expertise on the 38 story elements to evaluate your novel. You’ll get actionable feedback on your story arc, structure, characters and so much more.
In addition to traditional editing, FirstEditing offers academic editing as well. This means they have subject matter experts with the verified educational credentials to help prep your work for journals, nonfiction publication and peer review. So even if your work isn’t fiction or creative nonfiction, you can still find an editor who can dig in and make sure your final work is as good as it can be.
What kind of author needs FirstEditing?
Any author in search of editing support will benefit from working with FirstEditing and their team of trained industry experts. No matter your genre of publication goals, every author deserves a great partner in a qualified, experienced editor. First Editing can make that happen for you.
How can I learn more about FirstEditing?
I’m excited to introduce you to JoEllen and her business at a FREE webinar titled “Your Editing Journey: How to Navigate Your Story Edit, Copy Edit and Professional Edit” on December 7 at 1pm EST – you can register by clicking right here, and we’ll send you a recording, if you can’t watch it live! She’ll be joined by ProWritingAid’s Lisa Lepki and Fictionary’s Kristina Stanley. You won’t want to miss it!
Editing is essential to publishing, so we have brought in experts to help you. Fictionary, ProWritingAid, and FirstEditing have combined editing forces to help authors tell powerful stories.
Fictionary’s game-changing writing & editing software, ProWritingAid’s state-of-the-art copy editing platform, and FirstEditing’s certified StoryCoach editors are redefining the editing landscape. These women combine the newest, state-of-the-art techniques with professional publishing experience to create the most advanced and objective quality editing available.
Learn what the different stages of editing are in order to publish a book that sells. In this session, you learn what story editing and copyediting are, and you’ll learn how to choose and work with a qualified, professional editor.
You'll walk away with the knowledge you need to edit successfully and pursue the publishing path that best suits you.
ProWritingAid is our Silver Sponsor for the 2022 Women in Publishing Summit!
Fictionary, ProWritingAid, and FirstEditing have combined forces to help the world tell powerful stories. Fictionary’s game-changing creative editing software based on natural language processing, ProWritingAid’s state-of-the-art copyediting software, and FirstEditing’s professional editors have redefined the writing and editing landscape.
With the explosion of self-publishing, writers need to understand what the different phases of editing are in order to publish a book that will sell. In this session, you learn what story editing and copyediting are, and you’ll learn what is means to work with a professional editor. This will give you the knowledge you need to choose the publishing path that suits you.
