Here are the 22 crucial questions to ask before hiring a book editor, based on a thorough questionnaire a prospective client sent me that covers major considerations when vetting professional editors for your self-published book.

The fundamental questions covered in this episode include: genre expertise, comparable books edited, and what excites editors about your manuscript, though many ghostwriters have NDAs preventing public client lists.

Voice preservation questions are critical, including how editors maintain your voice while strengthening clarity, pacing, and story structure. My process involves onboarding sessions, listening to podcasts if available, editing chapter one, then meeting to make corrections before continuing to ensure I capture voice accurately. This prevents the devastating mistake where authors hire editors, don't see them until the book is finished, then discover their book isn't what they wanted, requiring complete rewrites.

Practical business questions address turnaround time, flat fee versus hourly rates, availability, contracts, NDAs, communication preferences, and references. I work on flat fees including two passes and three 30-minute meetings, typically book two to three weeks out, provide contracts through client intake forms, sign NDAs since confidentiality is key, stay available via text for quick questions and email during standard work hours, and provide references once prospects shortlist me.

The dealbreaker question reveals what makes editors turn down projects. I'm easy to work with as a fellow author and creative who gives clients final say in their books, preserving voice while offering professional advice they can accept or decline because the author always has the last call on which content stays in their book.

Until next time, keep writing, dreaming, and creating—your book is waiting to be born!

I recently had another podcaster in a coaching group ask me about how to break down the overwhelming process of writing a self-published book into manageable, smaller goals. The core problem: the thought of writing a book paralyzes aspiring authors because it's an undefined goal with no clear starting point, creating blank page paralysis compounded by comparing themselves to finished books with bestsellers and awards rather than focusing on next steps.

The critical mindset shift I teach is moving from "I need to write a book" to "what is my very next step?” Our brains want to resist undefined, enormous tasks but respond well to small, clear milestones, where you can see measurable progress and celebrate small wins!

Stop thinking about bestseller lists and awards—simply focus on why you want to write your book and how you'll get there one step at a time. Your goal isn't finishing the entire book. Your goal is to complete your next milestone. Whether that's your chapter outline, brainstorming topics, creating a mind map, or writing 15 minutes three times weekly.

Establish a realistic writing schedule by honestly assessing your available time and protecting the time you are blocking off to write. And fiercely protect that time! Unprotected time ends up going towards our life’s daily tasks, only pushing off what we really want to do: completing our self-published book.

Complete your first draft by writing one chapter at a time, but you don’t have to write them in order! Start with whatever chapter feels easiest and save your introduction for last, since it will likely change after developmental editing.

The absolute non-negotiable milestone is hiring a professional editor—never hire friends or family members as one client hired her 18-year-old niece and it sounded like a high schooler wrote her book, requiring complete re-editing at an additional cost to her.

I’ve seen unprofessionally edited books getting called out in Amazon book reviews, with one author receiving four reviews specifically mentioning she clearly didn't hire a professional editor. Complete all editing before formatting and use a book formatter who doesn't work in Word.

Until next time, keep writing, dreaming, and creating—your book is waiting to be born!

Podcast Resources

Ready to write your authority-building book? Book a discovery call and take the next step to moving one step closer to writing and publishing your book!

Get the support you need for self-publishing your book in my community, Publishing for Leaders. Join today while membership is still free!

Unsure where to start when it comes to writing your book? Download your Book Clarity Blueprint today!

Disclaimer: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared by the host, guests, and any affiliates is not intended to substitute for professional legal or financial advice or any professional advice specific to your situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional with any questions you may have.

The opinions expressed on the show by the host or guests are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Publishing Company. Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, guests, and affiliates are not responsible or liable for any decisions made by listeners or actions taken hereto based on the information discussed in this podcast. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree to release Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, affiliates, and guests from any liability.

Dr. David Gruder, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of eight books and award-winning psychologist, shares his four secrets to never experiencing writer's block.

David's unique writing gift came from childhood when his father, an accomplished technical writer, and his mother, a published poet, mercilessly edited his homework with input that drove him crazy but ultimately gifted him the rare ability to write with precision yet poetically. Learning that books serve as front-ends for deeper engagement, he shifted his approach to say less while delivering huge value, leaving readers wanting more.

David cured any possibility of writer's block as executive editor of his college newspaper when he consistently had 20 minutes before drop-dead deadline to write his weekly column with zero prep time, teaching him to write final copy without the luxury of writer's block.

One of David’s secrets he reveals is marathoning rather than sprinting, where David goes into seclusion for week-long writing sessions from wake to sleep because marathoning keeps everything fully present while sprinting causes him to lose connections between details. I’ve marathoned my own book on a two-week Atlantic cruise sitting poolside.

David's wife uses sprints and data dumping information onto sticky notes, clustering themes together which reveals chapters and sequence, creating a literal paper trail.

Writing becomes much easier through flow state, where all effort vanishes and content channels through, using the criterion that if what comes through isn't smarter than him, then it goes in the trash.

David triggers flow state by uttering his favorite four-letter word "help" and surrendering to ask higher resources to channel through him, or by playing and listening to music, always using soothing instrumental background music like light jazz, classical, or new age when actually writing since vocal music with words prevents the brain from processing writing efficiently.

I recently discovered lo-fi music acts like a metronome for your brain helping regulate brain waves, particularly beneficial for neurodivergent individuals by calming the brain for deeper flowstate.

Until next time, keep writing, dreaming, and creating—your book is waiting to be born!

Ready to write your authority-building book? Book a discovery call and take the next step to moving one step closer to writing and publishing your book!

Podcast Resources

Looking for support to self-publish your book? Join me in my Skool Community filled with leaders who are adding “author” to their bio.

Unsure where to start when it comes to writing your book? Download your Book Clarity Blueprint today!

Get a Free Copy of the first two books in Dr. David Grueder’s SPARC Trilogy!

Disclaimer: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared by the host, guests, and any affiliates is not intended to substitute for professional legal or financial advice or any professional advice specific to your situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional with any questions you may have.

The opinions expressed on the show by the host or guests are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Publishing Company. Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, guests, and affiliates are not responsible or liable for any decisions made by listeners or actions taken hereto based on the information discussed in this podcast. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree to release Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, affiliates, and guests from any liability.