From a Card Game to a Boxing Match

Last week I talked about writing being a game for me. But what happens if, while playing a game other players start tearing up your cards in order for them to win.
Wasn't it just a game? When did it turn from a game of cards to an all out boxing match?

As a writer I work and socialize with other writers, but when some of those writers start to stomp all over me in order to build themselves up, how do you tell them, "I don't want to work with you any more?"

I'm the first to admit that I have room to grow and learn, of course there's always room for improvement. But supporting other writers instead of squashing them should be every writer's alternative ambition.

It's been my experience to find more supportive editors and agents than fellow writers while muddling through the process.

So in order to inform and support my fellow writers. I'm going to explain the difference between jobs and what they each do.(There's a whole alternate world when it comes to writing and publishing. And we need to know all about the process and how things work.)


1. A writer- Someone who uses words to tell a story.(You & me.)

2. Writing Coach- A person/professional who helps instructs, tutors, trains, and cheers on a writer with the writing process.(If you understand the concept of beginning, middle, and end. Know how to build character, can structure sentences, and have an outline/plot. Have written over three drafts and did a major rewrite on you story. You probably don't need a coach.) Other names: Developmental editor, Bookdoctor.

3. Proofreading Editor- A professional who corrects, identifies, standard grammar, punctuation, and usage in a completed manuscript. (You've written a solid story. It has all the components of a story and now needs a polish in order to make it shine brighter.)

4. Copy Editor- A  professional who proofreads, checks for grammar, spelling, syntax, word usage, styles, formatting, consistency, and clarity. They cross-check references made in the manuscript. (It's a second polishing.) AKA; LineEditor

5. Agent- a person who represents an author in dealing with a publisher.(The professional we send our query letters to.)


6. Publisher- A person/company who prints and distribute printed material. (The almighty one.)

So there we have it. It's all about the step by step process when it comes to writing and we all work at our own pace. My hope is that we support each other in our endeavors and when we can't - be quiet.

Holly Lisle quoted, "If you're doing what you love and you're happy doing it, no one else's success affects you at all."