Misty Bourne – Editor

What does your book need next?

A beta reader? A copy edit? A book proposal? An agent? A sacrificial offering to the publishing gods?

If you've found yourself staring at a list of publishing services thinking, "I have no idea which one I need," or "What do those words even mean?"...

Welcome to publishing. The jargon is messy and confusing. Different people use different terms for the same things, and there's very little consistency about what a particular service actually includes. You shouldn't have to learn a whole new language to make smart decisions about your book.

I've spent twenty years editing manuscripts, helping authors find their core message and shape their books, and managing the book production process from start to finish. I know the process because I've lived it for two decades, and that's why I know how confusing it feels to folks who haven't.

You came to my profile looking for an "editorial assessment," but what does that even mean? Depending on who you hire, you might get a list of big-picture observations, a detailed editorial letter, or something else entirely. But if you feel confused by the jargon, or you know what the words mean but don't know what your book really needs, you need more than an "assessment." You need a translator and someone to empower you to take the next step.

Let me help you understand where you are, what needs to happen next, and how to confidently find the right person to help you get there.

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My version of an "editorial assessment," an Editorial Roadmap, is a holistic manuscript evaluation that looks at both your book and you: your goals, intentions, definition of success, concerns, priorities, and boundaries. Basically, what's important to *you.*

We'll talk, I'll read your entire manuscript as an experienced editor and from the perspective of a reader, and I'll translate what I find into a clear plan for what should happen next.

Your roadmap will tell you:

*Where your manuscript stands now

*What it needs next (and in what order!)

*What you don't need to spend money on

*What kind of professional you need next

*The right language to find them

*What to look for and what questions to ask before you hire them

The goal is to give you clarity about what to do next and why, the words to use to find the right service, and the confidence to choose the right person to help you take that next step.

I want to use my years in the depths and nuances of the publishing process to put you on a clear, efficient path to get a book you're proud of out of your mind and into your hands.

If you're ready to stop guessing and figure out what comes next, I'd love to help.