What makes an editor qualified to work on historical fiction?
Azahara MarcosDeLeon
A recent post on the social media app Threads got me thinking about what makes an editor qualified to work in a particular genre or even on a particular manuscript. The original post was by an editor that was fixing a manuscript that had been through a round of editing with someone who as a poor fit for the genre.
This type of experience is exactly why so many writers are worried about working with an editor. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The key is to find an editor that understands your writing goals and readership. It’s nice if you also connect and share some values, but a good editor can help even if that is not the case. So how do you know if an editor is qualified to work on your manuscript? Start by making sure you are connecting to an editor who knows what your readers want and is comfortable working in that genre.
Deep knowledge of reader expectation
For me, it is not just that I read widely and deeply in a particular genre but also that I have taken the time to think about how books in the genre are written, what elements are necessary, and what rules can be bent. I also make sure that I understand the readership and market for each book I edit. Reader expectations change depending on what genre they are reading and writers who don’t meet those expectations risk receiving poor reviews. An editor should be able to help a writer catch any issues related to reader expectations and make sound judgements on how to address them.
In my case, I read much a much wider diversity of books than I am willing to edit. For example, I enjoy reading memoir and have read quite a lot in that genre. But I have not spent any time trying to discern how it is written, what writers usually struggle with in that genre, and how to make a story unique while still meeting reader expectations. If someone comes to me with a memoir I am going to point them in the direction of colleagues who are able to support their needs.
Understanding the historical fiction genre
My specialty is historical fiction which is an extremely diverse genre with a lot of subgenres. In fact, the theme of the upcoming Historical Novel Society Conference is Celebrating Historical Fiction Genres. They have listed sixteen subgenres as a starting point. There are many more than that! Editors who work with historical fiction need to understand the balance that exists between getting the facts right and creating a fictional story no matter what subgenre they are working in. In addition, they might need to have knowledge of subgenre expectations. For example, historical romance must have a happy ending, historical mysteries must have a mystery that is solved, and so on.
Many storytelling elements carry over between genres and so while any editor can provide some relevant feedback on most manuscripts, they will be missing some of the key aspects that helps a story connect well with its target audience.
What do I edit?
Because the historical fiction genre is so diverse, there are some manuscripts that would not be a good fit for me even if they are historical. I don’t read or work on horror, erotica, or highly technical military history. It also means that I can edit a number of genres that are outside historical fiction, even though it is not my primary focus.
The best way to find out if an editor is a good fit for your manuscript is to request a sample edit. It allows the editor and the writer to test out the editing relationship and ensure they are both on the same page. In my case, if I don’t feel like I can provide the writer with the kind of feedback they need, I am going to suggest finding another editor. And if a writer feels my feedback style is not right for them, I absolutely think they should find another editor who does provide what they are looking for.
Think I might be a good fit for your project? Reach out to me for a sample edit!
