Q&A With Hayley Rushbrook

My favorite part of my book blog is doing Q&As with authors and different people in the publishing world whether it’s publicists, agents, book marketers, publishers or editors. Without these people, we wouldn’t have our favorite books out in the world. I am delighted to be doing this Q&A with editor and proofreader, Hayley Rushbrook! 

Q: Hayley, where did your love of reading come from when you chose a career in editing & proofreading? 

A: Thanks for having me, Bianca.

I wasn’t much of a reader as a child. I couldn’t seem to find a book that gripped me or motivated me to read more. But, at the age of 18, I discovered the queen of murder mystery, Agatha Christie, and I haven’t stopped reading since.

I was so in awe of her ability to weave a complex narrative around the red herrings and solid clues the reader required to unearth the culprit without making it obvious.

It blew me away, and I knew there and then that I wanted to be a part of creating something that could make a reader feel the way I did.

Q: To be an editor & proofreader, did you go to college to get a specific degree or apply for an internship? I want to know what your journey was to become an editor and proofreader. 

A: My journey to becoming an editor and proofreader started about 15 years ago.

Having fallen in love with reading, and the mystery genre as a whole, I began looking for courses that would teach me the skills needed to provide those services to a quality standard.

Courses weren’t so abundant or easily accessible back then, and the course I chose left me feeling a little overwhelmed.

Back then, I was extremely shy and lacked confidence, and my dream of becoming an editor went on the back burner.

When COVID hit, many of us got to review our lives and situations, and I ended up revisiting the idea. 

This time, there were many more courses to choose from. I found a fantastic course that was extremely in-depth and broken down into manageable modules, so I didn’t feel I was being bombarded with too much information all at once.

For me, having professional training is really important so the authors I work with know the advice and suggestions I offer are based on industry standards and not personal preference.

Anyone can say they proofread or edit, but until they’ve taken professional courses, they honestly don’t know the half of it. I learnt so much during my training and know I offer a better service for it.

Q: What is your advice for anyone wanting to become an editor & proofreader?

A: Don’t think you know it all. You don’t.

As mentioned above, getting professional training will show you just how much you don’t know. And even when you’re 99.9% sure of something, check it. People are coming to you for accuracy, and styles and conventions will also change over time.

Q: What are the correct steps for aspiring authors to take if they want you to edit and proofread their work, so it is ready for publication? I, myself, would love to know because I have dabbled in different things, including a murder mystery story, so if I ever finish writing it, I would trust you to look over it. 

A: I like to make the process of working with me as simple as possible.

I would always suggest getting a sample edit done first. This gives the author a chance to see my approach to editing and for me to get a feel for the client. This sample should always come from midway through the manuscript, as it better reflects the quality of the work, and I can send an appropriate quote based on the level of intervention required. 

Once an author has decided they’d like to work with me, I’ll send an invoice for the deposit to book them into my schedule. This will be a percentage of the total price and will vary depending on the length of the project. I’ll also send a contract for the author to sign that outlines the brief and what we’ve discussed during our initial chat(s), and what the author shall expect from me. A copy of the signed contract is to be returned for my records.

Then, at least 24 hours before work begins, the author will send me a copy of their manuscript so I can ensure there are no issues opening it, etc. and can get to work on it as agreed.

After that, the author sits back and lets me look after their words. And I do truly mean that. I don’t go crashing in with a sledgehammer, crushing their work to pieces. I read through every line, every word, every letter, to ensure it works correctly in the manuscript, and if something seems off, I’ll politely query it in a comment while offering a suggestion for the author to consider or think about revising.

Unlike other editors who often work on multiple projects at a time, I prefer to dedicate my attention to one project, meaning my focus isn’t distracted and I can respond quickly if an author has a question for me. Communication is key to a great editor-author relationship, so I’m always happy for authors to contact me during the editing process. Similarly, I like to keep authors updated while I have custody of their work. It can be daunting for an author to hand over their hard work, so I aim to make it as comfortable as possible for them.

When I’ve completed the edit, I’ll return it to the author along with an invoice for the outstanding balance. If the author has any questions once they have reviewed the manuscript again, they are free to contact me.

Q: What are your favorite genres to read? What were your favorite books you’ve read this year so far? They could be books you’ve edited & published or books that are already out. 

A: This is a very good question.

Hands down if I’m on the hunt for a new book to read, my go-to genre is mystery. I love anything with a twist. I don’t want to see the end coming. Or something psychological, where it plays with your mind, and then there’s a big reveal at the end. Quite bizarrely, I like using my brain when I’m reading. I like to decode and decipher what’s going on as I try to unravel the mystery before the narrative gives it away.

Having said that, I’ve worked on some excellent YA fantasy novels this year. One was The Book of Lost Spirits by Yun Johnson. It’s a fabulous tale that encompasses grief, friendship, a little romance, and ghosts, all set in a haunting manor house. I recommend this one to any YA fans.

Q: What important lessons have you learned in your career as an editor and proofreader that you would love for authors and any of us to know?

A: An important lesson I’ve learnt is that there’s a time and place for everything when it comes to writing.

Grammar rules and conventions can be broken, especially in fiction.

The real art is knowing the correct way to use it and how and when to ignore it. It’s that distinction that can make your writing look sloppy or well-written.

Q: If you ever became an author, what would your book be about? Would you edit and proofread your book, or would you have someone else do it for you?

A: I’ve started writing a few books in the past, but they’ve never had legs and just been attempting to get an idea down.

I do have another I’ve been rolling around my head for a while now and really should start getting it down as I’d like to think this one might be a bit more successful. It, of course, falls into the mystery category. It would have that reveal at the end, which if executed well, would be a surprise.

I would 100% get someone else to edit and proofread my book.

My role would have changed, and as with any writer, I would be too close to it to be objective. I would know what I wanted it to say and become blind to the errors. Similarly, just because something makes sense to me, it doesn’t mean my readers would understand it.

That second set of eyes is invaluable.

When an author truly cares about what they write and the readers they are writing it for, editing and proofreading should never be skipped. They are doing themselves and their audience a massive injustice, and both deserve more respect.