We often celebrate the authors and illustrators of books, but behind every published book is the result of a team effort by incredibly talented professionals who bring the book to life.
Editors play one of the most crucial and influential roles in the success of a book. They work closely with the author and often act as our guiding light, providing a second opinion when we feel lost or unsure. They work quietly behind the scenes, supporting each author and creator. While most readers are familiar with the names of the authors or illustrators of their favorite books, they might not know the editor behind the scenes or their vital role.
“I think the most important thing is really listening, asking a lot of questions and finding out in this story, but also in life. What is the motivation of this person? What is the motivation of the characters that they have written? What is this world like? And specifically, what are each of the characters in this world doing? How are they interacting?” ~ Maria
Today, I'm thrilled that my dear friend and the editor of Marshmallow and Jordan, Maria C. Ludwig, has generously agreed to share her editing experiences and tips for creators looking to develop their graphic novels.
Before working on Marshmallow & Jordan, Maria was the editor of Black Cloud, created by authors Jason Latour, Ivan Brandon , and Greg Hinkle and illustrated by Paul Reinwand, and Matt Wilson, published by Image Comics.
If you like to watch the interview, I've also uploaded the original Zoom video recording.
“I want to have that more in-depth personal relationship that it's not always just about the writing that's on the page. It's about the subtext. It's about the denotation, not just the connotation.” ~ Maria
Looking for some cool comic books or graphic novels to check out? Here are some of Maria's favorite comic recommendations!
Wonder Woman (especially Greg Rucka & Nicola Scott, as well as Kelly Sue DeConnick & Phil Jimenez & Gene Ha & Nicola Scott)
Stumptown GR, by Matt Southworth, Lee Loughridge, also Justin Greenwood
Black Magick
Bitch Planet
The Coldest City, by Antony Johnston & Sam Hart
Umbral, by Antony Johnston & Christopher Mitten
Bandette, by Colleen Coover
Catwoman: Lonely City, by Cliff Chiang (and literally everything else Cliff Chiang does, especially Paper Girls, with Brian K Vaughan)
Monstress, by Marjorie Liu & Sana Takeda
Captain Marvel & Ms Marvel, by G Willow Wilson
Emma Rios, by Pretty Deadly, ID, & Mirror especially
“Whether I'm beta reading for a friend or I'm editing something, I'm always thinking of the way to say it that will help the person the most to get to the best version of what they're creating. Because that's all we all want is to get to the best version so that what gets published is something that not just is good, but is good in a way that touches people.” ~ Maria
Follow Maria on social media!
Instagram - @solusandra
Click the link to read all Marshmallow & Jordan postings.
Interview with editor Maria C. Ludwig