Christi McGuire

Helping Your Author Clients Build Their Platforms

Articles for Freelancers, PEN Tips ,

Helping Your Author Clients Build Their Platforms

By Christi McGuire

You’ve helped polish your client’s manuscript, and she’s sent it off to an agent in hopes of getting representation and a publishing deal. Now what? Don’t say goodbye to your client once your editing of her manuscript is complete. Offer services that will continue to benefit the writer while she is waiting for feedback from her submissions. She can focus on building her platform and social media presence. Here are some ideas to help your client in this way:

  • Help your client brainstorm a blog series based on the topic of the book.
  • Offer to edit blog posts (or write them for the client).
  • Offer to help search for copyright-free images to go with blog posts.
  • Read up on how to build blog traffic and advise your client on how to do it.
  • Help your client develop a newsletter (and edit it for her).
  • Create a list of social media posts for the client to put on her social media networks: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, etc.
  • Create a flyer for your client to promote her speaking services.
  • Read through the client’s manuscript and pull out parts that could be used for blog posts or short social media posts.
  • Create a list of 140-character tweets about the book for the author to use once it is published.
  • Set up an online party for the author to draw interest and then offer to “host” it.
  • Send the client resources to read and learn from while waiting for feedback. Always encourage authors to continue studying the craft of writing.
  • Help the author publish elsewhere, such as magazines or online blogs, in order to grow her publishing credentials.
  • Encourage your client to network with other authors to see how they have found success and what creative marketing ideas they may have.

You can also encourage your client to dig into her next project. Maybe her first project isn’t the one that will sell, but another idea of hers will be the one to get published. Perhaps an agent says no to the first submission but is interested in the writer enough to ask what other projects she might have. Encourage the author to think long term about future projects and begin outlining them or researching them.

The goal is to offer more services than editing in order to service the client long term. You don’t want to say goodbye once the editing is finished; instead, become that author’s publishing consultant and assist her through the entire process.

After all, a happy client is a long-term client!


Christi McGuire is a freelance editor, writer, and consultant. She is also the co-owner of the Christian Editor Network, director of The PEN Institute, and director of the Christian Editor Connection. Her first book, When’s It MY Turn? A Collection of Short Stories and Temper Tantrums was released in January and is available on Amazon.

Understanding Rejection Letters

PEN Tips , ,

Understanding Rejection Letters

By Christi McGuire

Is your job complete once your client submits a manuscript? No, it doesn’t have to be!

Unfortunately, it is not likely for an author to nab agent representation or a publishing contract in the first round of submissions. For most authors, it takes many submissions and much patience. Being rejected is difficult, but you can offer encouragement through this process. Help your client understand that rejection is part of the process and is necessary for him to grow and learn as a writer.

Some agents send nothing in return if the answer is no. Their guidelines may say they only respond if they are interested in the project. This is frustrating for authors because a “no” is better than hearing nothing.

Other agents send a form letter. Most likely, it will contain one or some of the following phrases:

Cannot use it/accept it at this time

Didn’t pique my interest

Doesn’t meet our needs

Doesn’t fit our plans

Have to pass on this

Isn’t resonating with me/us

Isn’t something we’d like to pursue
No room for more clients (unless truly compelling)

Not a right fit

Not exactly what we’re looking for

Not for us

Not suitable for us

Not quite right for this list/publication

We are not certain we could be effective in placing your work

We do not have a place/room for this


If your client receives a rejection letter that is basic/generic (with no personal notes), then advise your client to cross that agent/agency off his submission list. Don’t let him revise the proposal/manuscript and try again. Encourage him to move on to the next agent. (However, if he wants to submit a completely different project to this agent, he could do that.) Realize that this type of form letter is simply a nice way of saying, “No thanks!”

Some agents send a personal rejection letter. It is unusual in today’s busy world of publishing, but there are a few who include a personal comment about the submission. If your client receives a personal rejection letter, let him know this is special and to take the comments and suggestions to heart. Even if it is a critique of the project, the agent saw enough potential to take the time to give a comment or suggestion to help the writer in his career.

If the agent has suggested ways to redo the project, the author may resubmit to this agent (unless the agent has specifically said otherwise). Advise your client to be sure to include the comments from the original rejection and explain that the client has reworked it.

Some agents give an invitation to resubmit the project. In this case, work with the author on revamping the project per the agent’s suggestions and then submit it again.

When you keep in touch with a client after he submits a manuscript, you are likely to be asked to edit his next project.

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Christi McGuire is co-owner of the The PEN Institute and the Christian Editor Connection. Her first book, When’s It MY Turn? was released in January 2017 and is available on Amazon.

The PEN Institute

Articles for Freelancers, PEN Tips , , , ,

The PEN Institute

By Christi McGuire

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The PEN Institute, a new entity of the parent company, Christian Editor Network LLC, has launched! It is an online educational institute for Christian editors to encourage and equip them along their editing journeys. The online courses were a part of The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network, which began in 2004 when founder Kathy Ide had a vision to create a community for Christian editors. All of the courses were taught by PEN members and conducted via Google groups. Over the last twelve years, the number of courses and students has increased so much that education developed into its own entity, The PEN Institute.

The PEN Institute courses offer instruction in topics such as editing, grammar, business, and publishing. Currently, all courses are offered as Group Instruction. Soon we will offer three options for most courses: Lesson Pack (instant download without instructor feedback), Group Instruction (scheduled throughout the year and taught via forums), and Individual Mentoring (one-on-one learning with the instructor).

These courses are now open for registration on our website:

More courses will be scheduled soon. Some features of the website are still in development. The website will be updated continuously with information and new features. Check back often!

We are always open to ideas about what kind of courses you would like to see offered in the future. If you have suggestions, please e-mail Director@PENinstitute.com.

Members of The Christian PEN will continue receiving discounts for all courses. To register for a course, all students must create a profile before adding a course to your shopping cart. On the website, click on Login, then Register, then follow the instructions to create your profile.

Visit the site and take a look around. Check out the team of Instructors, FAQs, Courses, and more.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Christi McGuire, the Director of The PEN Institute, at Director@PENinstitute.com.

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Christi McGuire, freelance editor, writer, and consultant, has been in the Christian publishing industry for over fifteen years. Formerly an editor at LifeWay Christian Resources, Christi has published over one hundred magazine articles, dozens of children’s devotionals, and ten years of VBS curriculum. She is also the coordinator for the Christian Editor Connection, an organization that matches authors with professional editors. Currently, her primary focus is partnering with authors in the creative process to polish their manuscripts and book proposals and help them navigate the path to publishing. Visit her website at www.ChristiMcGuire.com.

Sing Your Song

PEN Tips , ,

Sing Your Song

by Christi McGuire

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I’m sitting here editing … another book proposal, one of my favorite things to do … and I hear a song. The song of a bird, high atop one of the massive pine trees that congregate in our back acreage.

Out the window, I can see the lone bird, nestled and content. It’s so loud, so strong, I think to myself. Surely there is another bird joining in.

Nope. Just one bird. Singing for anyone—or no one—to hear. Singing because it can. Because that’s how God created it.

“The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches” (Psalm 104:12 NIV).

This bird has a beautiful song, and I sit and listen, enraptured by its melody. One bird. One song. One moment that brings so much joy and peace, even if it’s only for me.

No matter what the weather, no matter what the other birds and animals are doing, no matter that no other creature joins in … this bird sings its song.

Do you sing your song? Do you do what God created you to do?

Regardless of the weather, your emotions, what others are doing, what social media posts, whether others join in or understand or appreciate?

Editors don’t often get the glory. Our names aren’t on the book covers, and we’re rarely thanked in the acknowledgements. Not many people know what we do or even realize we exist. But we do. God gave editors a special job—to impact all of the words, all of the messages, all of the books, magazines, newspapers, flyers, and newsletters that exist in the entire world.

Now that’s quite a job, eh? That’s enough to sing about. Dear Editor, sing because you can, because you love to, because you were born to—whether everyone or no one knows about it. Because that’s how God created you.

So whoever you are, whatever you do, wherever you are … sing your song.

“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth” (Psalm 96:1 NIV).

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Christi McGuire, freelance editor, writer, and consultant, has been in the Christian publishing industry for over fifteen years. Formerly an editor at LifeWay Christian Resources, Christi has published over one hundred magazine articles, dozens of children’s devotionals, and ten years of VBS curriculum. She is also the coordinator for the Christian Editor Connection, an organization that matches authors with professional editors. Currently, her primary focus is partnering with authors in the creative process to polish their manuscripts and book proposals and help them navigate the path to publishing. Visit her website at www.ChristiMcGuire.com.

You Might Need an Editor If . . .

Articles for Freelancers, PEN Tips

You Might Need an Editor If . . .

By Christi McGuire

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Trying to get published without the help of experts in the publishing industry is like trying to sell your house without a realtor. Can it be done? Sure. But will you face more obstacles along the way without the guidance of someone who knows the market? Yes. Are there tips and tricks and industry pointers experts know that you don’t? You betcha. Is the paperwork more daunting? Yep. Would you be taken more seriously and find better success if you hired a professional?
 
Definitely.
 
The same is true in the world of publishing. Professional editors know what the “biz” is all about—and they can help you navigate your way to success.
 
If you are seeking publication, you might want to consult an editor if …

  • You don’t understand what the term “industry standard” is. You didn’t realize publishing was an industry, nor do you know what its standards are.
  • You are still double-spacing between sentences.
  • You believe having your mom proofread your manuscript is good enough.
  • You think Chicago Manual of Style refers to the local fashion talk show.
  • You write, “This book is going to be the next Harry Potter!” in your query letter or try to convince the literary agent that you will be the next J.K. Rowling.
  • You do not research or request writer guidelines before submitting a query letter.
  • You don’t know what writer guidelines, query letter, or proposal mean.
  • You tell the literary agent that you were “born to write” or that you are positive that “God wants you to tell this story.”
  • You pitch your ideas (not a specific manuscript) to a literary agent.
  • You pitch many book manuscripts (not just one) to a literary agent.
  • Your query is addressed to “Dear Agent” or “Dear Ma’am or Sir” or “To Whom It May Concern.”
  • You write the word “very” 587 times in the first 50 pages of your manuscript.
  • You blind copy your email query to several agents.
  • You have written a first draft and have not rewritten, edited, rewritten, edited, deleted, started over, written, rewritten, edited … you get the drift, right?
  • You query an agent with a genre he/she doesn’t represent.
  • You don’t know how to format your manuscript according to industry-standard format (there’s that term again!).
  • Your only publishing credit is having your poem in 5th grade published in Mrs. Smith’s monthly newsletter.
  • You confuse affect/effect and its/it’s and their/there/they’re and who/whom.
  • You are not sure about the difference between single spacing and double spacing.
  • You love to use italics, all caps, and bold font—ALL THE TIME!
  • You write in your query that Kate Hudson or Ryan Reynolds could star in your novel-based movie script.
  • You capitalize a, an, and the in your book title (and they are not the first words).
  • You lowercase the word Internet in your book manuscript.
  • You’ve never heard of an em dash or en dash but think they might be Olympic sports.
  • You don’t know what a word count is or how to do it—but you are hoping every word does indeed count.
  • Your proposal is in Comic Sans font because it’s your favorite font—it is cute, after all!

If you are passionate enough to put your heart and soul into a manuscript to submit for publication, then take the time to consult a professional to help you along the way. The publishing industry is competitive! The Christian publishing industry is rapidly growing and becoming just as competitive as the secular industry. Agents and publishers want to know why your manuscript is different from others, how you can assure success as an author, and how you can guarantee sales.
 
Bottom line: the publishing industry is a business. A business’s goal is to make money. If your manuscript looks unprofessional, is filled with grammar mistakes, and has not been submitted according to industry standard, you will not stand out among the thousands of others wanting to get published, too.
 
Seek professional expertise—an editor is worth the investment in your publishing career!

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Christi McGuire, freelance editor, writer, and consultant, has been in the Christian publishing industry for over fifteen years. Formerly an editor at LifeWay Christian Resources, Christi has published over one hundred magazine articles, dozens of children’s devotionals, and ten years of VBS curriculum. She is also the coordinator for the Christian Editor Connection, an organization that matches authors with professional editors. Currently, her primary focus is partnering with authors in the creative process to polish their manuscripts and book proposals and help them navigate the path to publishing. Visit her website at www.ChristiMcGuire.com.

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Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons

A Beginner’s Guide to Your Editing Business

Articles for Freelancers, PEN Tips , ,

A Beginner’s Guide to Your Editing Business

By Christi McGuire

“Be intentional about growing your business

When I started my freelance business, I didn’t even know I was doing just that—starting a business. I only saw it as doing what I loved—editing—and getting paid for it! After a couple years, I realized that I should be intentional about maintaining and growing my freelance business, and I also realized all the mistakes I made along the way. It seems that I’ve learned by doing the wrong thing before learning the “right” way to do it. Nowadays, when I consult with clients about starting and growing their freelance businesses, I am armed with tips so they don’t make the same mistakes I did.

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