Editor, ghost writer Laura Anne Ewald helps writers release better books

     The writing process begins with the writer but will include others as the work progresses. Choosing the appropriate editor can mean the difference between a ho-hum volume and a successful book. 

Ewald working at her desk

     Editor and ghost writer Laura Anne Ewald knows how important the editor’s role becomes in the birth of a book. She is a published author herself. When a writer entrusts a manuscript to the former academic librarian, the resulting book or story delivers a more polished version, but true to the author’s vision.

     In 2011, Ewald left academia to pursue a full-time freelance career. She began with book indexing, the process of creating those handy indices at the back of books to help readers locate references within the volume. From there, she moved into abstracting, including work as a subcontractor to a big publishing house. By 2013, she was referred to Elance*, an online employment service, as a place to find more indexing jobs.

     “I didn’t find indexing jobs but I did find editing jobs,” she says. Her subject matter has included short stories, children’s stories, science fiction novels and personal memoirs. She finds her clients all over the country and in her own neighborhood.

     “Fiction, I think, I like best,” she responds when asked about her favorite genre to edit. “Nonfiction is easier, in the sense that you’re just looking at grammar and syntax.” But Ewald enjoys working in other people’s characters and universes, a joy which shows as she discusses assignments. Fiction poses the extra challenge of staying in the authors voice, one of Ewald’s strengths. Another strong point is her ability to follow the thread of the stories through the volume and recognize bumps or weak spots which need work.

     “I know a lot of authors are afraid of using editors,” she notes, fearing their work will be “swallowed up” or changed beyond recognition by the editor. Ewald’s strength in preserving the author’s voice provides her a special place in the editing world. 

     While editing involves polishing another author’s work, ghostwriting means writing from scratch as someone else. As a ghostwriter, Ewald receives assignments of particular subject matter, time frames and length. Some jobs include detailed instructions as to the theme of the finished piece while others are more general. An aspect of her ghost writing is the research required to complete the assignments.

     “The reason I became a librarian in the first place is, I love research,” Ewald admits. Her ghostwriting jobs give her the direction to follow with the research and the target of the finished article or book. Her clients get a completed work for whatever use they wish.

     Ewald prefers to work on short assignments, such as articles, short stories or novellas. Her work includes Old Order Amish romance stories, children’s books and historical fiction. Some of the jobs are for publication by the person who contracted the job. Others are destined for a family member or special group.

     She bases her fees on a per-word basis for both editing and ghostwriting. Contact Ewald through her website or by email (LauraAnneEwald@gmail.com) for quotes on assignments. Her availability varies according to her workload, but she welcomes hearing from new authors about their needs.

*Author’s note: Elance has since merged with Upwork.

This article originally appeared on Examiner.com. Also available on The Entrepreneurs blog.

Writers need reviewers and here are ways to find them

Every author needs reviews of her work to help future readers make the decision to read her book. The big question becomes, where can an author find reviewers to write those reviews? Here are some ideas of where to track down reviewers.

Even before the book is published, check review sites online. An internet search for “book reviews of [genre]” will provide a strong starting point. Sites already publishing those types of reviews will be likely resources to find reviewers. Some sites, such as RT Book Reviews, specialize in providing reviews in a genre. Approach the review writers listed there and ask if they are available and interested in reviewing your book. Read the fine print on the site; some sites charge to review your book.

Are you member of a writing group or book club? Ask fellow members to read and review your book for you. People you know will be more likely to follow through for you than strangers.

Donate a copy of your book to the local library and ask the staff to review the book for you. How about your local independent bookseller?

Have you met fellow writers at a writing conference? Contact them as potential reviewers.

Check your social media connections for people who will be likely candidates. A blanket post requesting reviewers may get names of interested readers, but evaluate them as to appropriateness before handing over your manuscript. Just because a reader is willing doesn’t mean he’s a good match. Is the book in his area of interest or expertise? Have you seen other reviews he has written?

Look for bloggers in your genre. The blogger may be interested in reviewing your book for the blog. Read the content for several posts to make sure the blogger’s tastes and views parallel your own. If the two of you have dramatic differences of perspective, your book may not get a fair consideration.

Don’t overlook print media. Your local newspaper may provide a venue for book reviews. Regional magazines, newsletters in related industries and organizational magazines can all provide potential reviewers. Choose outlets with an interest in your genre for best results.

Does your publisher have a place for reviews on the company website? Check there for names of potential reviewers. Ask your editor or publicist for names. They have a stake in getting reviews for your book and should be able to provide at least a few names.

Is your book on online sites? Make sure your author information there lets readers know you appreciate their reviews. Tell them how important their reviews are to you and ASK for the review.

Check with other authors in your genre. A mention from someone in the field can carry a lot of weight. Who do you respect in your genre? Who do you read? Contact those writers and ask if they would be interested in reviewing your book. If they say yes, great. If not, thank them nicely and ask if they can suggest someone.

If you sell the book in person, be sure to ask each purchaser to leave a review at his site of choice. Explain how precious his opinion is to you.

People willing to give you a review may not know where to put it. Remind them of the bookseller sites and various book-oriented sites such as GoodReads and Shelfari. If they aren’t willing to post on those sites, offer to post it on your own website or social media page, with their permission. 

Always ask for the review. In every interview you give, article you write and presentation you give, remind people how important reviews are to writers.

Above all, make sure to acknowledge the people who provide you with a review. A comment on an online review or a thank you note or email will let the reviewer know you saw the review and appreciated the time invested there.

In Defense of Moderation - my guest blog for Jennifer Walker

Jennifer Walker has made the mistake of turning me loose on her blog (http://www.jennifersbookreviews.blogspot.com/). That may be a little bit dangerous because I have a lot of strong opinions!

Today I’d like to use this soapbox to address the issue of moderation in writing. In fact, I’d like to argue in its defense. As a reviewer, I read dozens of books each month. Few things can numb a reader faster than overuse of any tool. From language to brutality to yelling in all caps in email, extensive repetition lessens the impact.

Writing, like science, can be a balancing act.

Remember Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind” and the uproar over Rhett Butler’s final line? If Butler had been cursing throughout the book, his parting shot would have been weakened to triviality. Mitchell’s moderation made the line a devastating slap in Scarlett O’Hara’s face. In my opinion, she made the right decision.

Gore falls into the same situation. I recently finished Bob O’Connor’s Civil War novel “A House Divided Against Itself.” Much of the action takes place at Gettysburg-a bloody, gory day if there ever was one. O’Connor handles the event with great discretion. He focuses on a handful of characters and what happens to them. The reader can better absorb the horror on the personal level; his moderation allows the reader to feel throughout the book. 

SEX! That got your attention, didn’t it? Human beings engage in sexual behavior on a number of levels. Not all of those levels end up in tangled bodies. If every encounter your characters have ends up in bed, you’ve lost some sexual punch. Try thinking “sensual” as an alternative to “sexual.” Throwing in a bedroom scene every few pages doesn’t make up for a poor storyline. A little discretion about sex can change the impact the act delivers.

Ask yourself these questions about the language, violence and sex you’re putting in your story:

1. Is this a natural progression for the character(s)?
2. Does this advance the plot or slow it down?
3. What else might I use in this situation?
4. Is this appropriate for the audience I’m trying to reach?

Even descriptions can go overboard. If you’ve just spent three full pages describing a flower, your reader may have given up on the book unless you’re writing a botanical guide. Find a good editor or critique group to help you stay on track with your narrative. “Show, don’t tell” doesn’t equate to “Beat them over the head with it.”

As writers, we have freedom of self-expression. Some writers use that as an excuse for excess. The good news about freedom-that we have the freedom to moderate our own writing-gets lost in the discussion. I’m in favor of expressing. I’d just like to encourage you to get the most impact for your expression by using moderation.