If you’re a writer, you’ve probably been told to “Show, don’t tell,” and along with that, to “Murder your darlings.” However, as an editor, I never give this advice, and here’s why.

“Beta reader” is a term that often comes up for writers. But what is a beta reader and what can they do for you? Here, we talk about how to find a good reader, some questions you can ask to determine a good fit, and suggest a few things to consider when you’re thinking about inviting beta readers into your process.

You’ve probably encountered a dozen different terms for types of edits in your search for an editor. Here, we walk through the main categories of edits and provide questions to help you accurately determine what kind of support your book needs.