Why You Need Support With Your Book

You deserve help with your book — and that support can go beyond your editor at a publisher. If you are an entrepreneur, expert, or creator pursuing a traditional nonfiction book deal, having a literary agent, a publisher, and an in-house editor can be invaluable. But a collaborator can help you navigate the personal, intense work of actually getting the proposal or manuscript done.

Hiring help with your book is not a weakness. It can be a strategy for creating the best book proposal or manuscript possible.

Traditional publishing may notice you because you are sharing ideas and creating real impact. A literary agent may reach out, an editor may see one of your videos, or someone from the publishing world may slide into your DMs. But getting a book deal is only the beginning of a process that requires writing, revision, deadlines, production, and emotional resilience.

A collaborator can provide support in addition to the work of your literary agent and in-house editor.

How Is a Collaborator Different From an In-House Editor?

An in-house editor’s job is to edit your completed draft and help in-house teams produce the book. Editors care deeply about the books they work on and often do detailed, thorough editing that makes the book better.

But editors have limited time and many responsibilities. Helping an author project-manage the delivery of a manuscript is not actually an editor’s job. The days when an editor’s primary job was sitting somewhere with a red pen working on a manuscript are long gone. Much of that editing happens on nights and weekends.

A collaborator can provide deeper, more hands-on support throughout the writing and production process: helping you structure the book, manage timelines, complete assignments, incorporate revisions, and navigate copyediting and design proofs.

A First-Time Author’s Book Journey

In 2015, Kyle went viral after she posted an activity from her third-grade classroom. She handed students index cards with the prompt, “I Wish My Teacher Knew,” then shared their answers on Twitter. The activity led to national attention, including NBC News, and eventually a literary agent reaching out.

Kyle got a book deal, but as a busy third-grade teacher she did not know the first thing about writing a book.

She wanted to write the book herself, while also getting help navigating the process and managing timelines. The solution was an assignment-by-assignment approach: Kyle would write an assigned section, then the work would be edited and shaped into a chapter.

Book structure is a puzzle. Whether an author writes chapter by chapter or shares what needs to be known verbally with someone writing on their behalf, the work involves fitting bits and pieces together into a whole.

After the first draft was complete, Kyle’s in-house editor reviewed it. Revisions were incorporated, and the process continued through copyediting and reviewing full design proofs. The same process happened again on her second book, I Wish for Change, with the same publisher, literary agent, and editor.

Three Reasons to Get Extra Help

1. In-house editors are busy

Editors care, but they cannot deeply support every part of an author’s process. They need to prioritize what only they can do: edit completed drafts and guide the book through their publishing house.

If you need help managing your manuscript, organizing your ideas, or staying on track before a draft is delivered, extra editorial support can make a meaningful difference.

2. Many literary agents are not deeply editorial

Literary agents have major responsibilities: negotiating contracts, managing money and publisher payouts, navigating traditional publishing, and supporting dozens or even hundreds of clients.

Some agents will get deeply involved in a book idea or proposal. Others prefer authors to work with a professional collaborator to develop a strong proposal or manuscript.

That is not personal. It is about time, energy, and staying in the right lane. Your agent should be able to focus on being your agent: handling your contract, communicating with your publisher, and selling foreign rights.

3. You deserve support

Most entrepreneurs, experts, and creators write one book — maybe two. Writing and publishing a book, or even trying to get a book deal, is an intense and personal process.

A collaborator who understands the publishing industry and the people involved can make writing your book less stressful and more fun. Even if you are doing the heavy lifting of writing it yourself, having someone to answer questions, help with structure, or talk through an emotional moment can save time and be well worth the investment.

You deserve as much support as you want, need, and can stand: an editor, a literary agent, and a collaborator who has your back.

What Authors Can Gain From a Collaborator

As Kyle put it:

“Meghan was an amazing collaborator. As a first-time author, she walked me through every step of the publishing process. She helped me find my voice, communicate my ideas clearly, and structure my book. Some people have a gift for supporting and encouraging others; Meghan is one of those people. Combine that with her experience in publishing and her expertise as an editor and you have one amazing partner.”

A collaborator can help you:

• Find and communicate your voice

• Structure your ideas into a cohesive book

• Create and complete a writing plan

• Manage manuscript deadlines

• Prepare for editorial revisions

• Navigate copyediting and design proofs

• Feel supported through an intense creative and professional process

If you are deciding whether Meghan Stevenson Books is the right fit for your vision and your book, visit meghanstevenson.com/quiz.

Questions Answered in This Episode

• How is a book collaborator different from an editor at a publisher?

• Why do entrepreneurs, experts, and creators need help beyond an in-house editor?

• What does an in-house editor do after an author gets a book deal?

• Why might an editor be unable to deeply support an author throughout the manuscript process?

• Are literary agents responsible for editing a book proposal or manuscript?

• Why do some literary agents prefer authors to have editorial support?

• How can a collaborator help a first-time author write a book?

• What does assignment-by-assignment book development look like?

• Can an author write their own book while working with a collaborator?

• How can extra support make the traditional publishing process less stressful?

• Is hiring help for a book a weakness?

• What types of support can help create a stronger book proposal or manuscript?