Editing a novel can feel like the most daunting task in the world. Don't worry, though, because we've all been there or will be there very soon. You are not alone, and we are here to help guide you on this mission, so don't throw out that book quite yet or start erasing to start over. Revising and editing are more than a rewrite. 

Welcome to Ask An Editor. My name is Eliana or @eliana_elf and I have written this book because I think self-editing is important. As someone who learned to edit through their own work and now edits professionally, I think it's important to teach writing tools and  editing is often overlooked even though it is one of the most important parts of the writing process. 

I also really wanted to create a space where people are unafraid to ask questions and ask for help. Sometimes, it's hard to know what is right. Grammar rules have a lot of exceptions, but revising and editing is more than just fixing commas or following a style guide. We will talk about that, too, but I want to focus on elevating our writing and really talking. The comments of this book are designed to ask questions and shoot out ideas. I will try to answer any specific questions about grammar or style, so feel free to ask them as they arise.

A few things about me: I live with and am friends with multiple editors. I mostly work on contemporary, romance, fantasy, and sci-fi books. I also occasionally ghostwrite, but I have a degree in literature and professional writing. I edit my own work, but eventually, I will seek outside help because, like all editors, I make mistakes, especially when it comes to my own writing.

Feel free to introduce yourself in the comments. I want to know your experience with revising and editing and what you hope to learn. Thanks for reading. I hope you learn something and we all work together to improve our writing skills. If you have a question or a topic you want me to cover in this book, tag me in the comments. 

If you are ready to learn how to self-edit like a pro, please tag two friends and post this book on your profile. The bigger we make this community, the more we can help each other. I want to help as many people as I can make their books amazing.

Thanks So Much,

The Elf Editor