Over the years, I’ve worked with many makeup artists. Some truly saw me.

Others, though well-meaning, turned my face into their personal canvas. Some added blush in a shade I would never wear. Some applied lashes so thick that it felt like I could sweep the floor with them. Each time, I walked away not recognising myself.

It’s an odd analogy, but editing your book can feel a lot like that. You sit down, trusting someone to bring out the best in your words, only to feel that your story no longer feels like your own. You wonder: Is this still my voice, or someone else’s idea of what my voice should be?

Just last month at a conference, I had a free makeup session. The artist was a lovely woman, but when I went to the bathroom afterwards, I felt mortified. A heavy panel of blush spread across my cheeks in a shade I would never choose. That was just one experience. Over the years, I’ve also had makeup artists who insisted on “correcting” what didn’t need correcting.

I already have naturally full lips, but some would draw a dark liner around them to make them look overfilled, almost as if I had implants.

And underneath it all, I could no longer see myself.

You see, I have some very real flaws. A few pigmentation marks scatter across my cheeks from my pregnancies. And, horror of horrors, half of my eyebrows have turned grey. When I look in the mirror, it looks as though I have bald spots. I usually tint them to balance, but they are still my actual eyebrows.

So here is what I want. Makeup that lasts through a photoshoot. Something that shows my actual eyes. Makeup that makes me look like me, not like someone else.

And that is exactly how I feel about editing.

Editing is crucial. This is the quality-control part of writing a book. Some sentences need smoothing and some paragraphs need tightening. Sometimes, entire chapters require reshaping to achieve a smooth flow and clarity. But the goal is never to erase who you are. The goal is to reveal you more clearly, more confidently… and most of all, authentically.

Over the years, I’ve helped authors unlock their authentic stories. I guide them through the writing process, offering coaching and self-publishing support. I help them find clarity and confidence while preserving their unique voices. And one common thread emerges with every author I work with. It is the fear of losing themselves in the process of enhancement.

Editing, like makeup, should enhance what’s already there. Poorly handled edits can cover your natural voice, your quirks, your humour, or your unique phrasing, making your story look “perfect” on the surface but hollow underneath. The right editing brings out the truth of your story, just as the right makeup can highlight your features without masking them.

Over time, I’ve learned that authenticity in writing comes down to three key practices:

1. Know Your Non-Negotiables

Every writer has elements of their voice, style, or perspective that are essential to their story. Maybe it’s the way you structure sentences, the rhythm of your paragraphs, or the tone you use in dialogue. Maybe it’s the vulnerability you show in sharing personal experiences or the humour that colours your voice. These are non-negotiables.

When I coach authors, I help them identify these core elements. We make a list of the things that must stay intact, no matter how much rewriting occurs. Knowing your non-negotiables gives you the confidence to receive feedback without feeling lost or silenced. It allows you to recognise when an edit truly improves your story versus when it’s masking your unique voice.

Just as I learned to ask makeup artists to respect my natural features, authors need to define their own boundaries. What cannot change without compromising the story’s authenticity? What is sacred to your voice? Knowing this gives you control, even when collaboration and feedback are involved.

2. Embrace the Power of Feedback Without Losing Yourself

Editing often involves critique. Sometimes it is gentle and sometimes it can feel blunt. It can feel personal because your words are personal. But constructive feedback is a tool to help your story shine, not a weapon to turn your voice into someone else’s.

I coach writers to receive feedback with discernment. Not every comment is a mandate. Every suggestion is a rule. Instead, consider each one: Does this serve my story? Does it enhance my message? Does it serve the reader? Does it honour my voice? If the answer is yes, integrate it. If not, leave it.

Feedback can feel like a heavy hand, especially when you’re already doubting your work. But authentic writing isn’t about perfection. It’s about truth. Your editor’s role, like a skilled makeup artist, is to amplify the truth of your words, not overwrite them.

3. Edit to Reveal, Not to Hide

Every story has its flaws, just like every face has its marks and greys. The goal of editing isn’t to erase quirks. You have to erase glaring errors that will feel jarring to your reader. But good editing also brings out the beauty in your quirks. Your sentence fragments, unusual syntax, or quirky phrasing can carry your unique meaning and voice.

When we edit, we must ask: Does this change bring the story closer to its core, or does it dilute the personality of the writing? Are we highlighting what makes the story compelling, or are we smoothing it into a generic shape that could belong to anyone?

Editing, when done right, enhances your story without hiding your essence. It makes your voice stronger, smoother and more confident. It allows readers to connect with the real you… the human behind the words… rather than a sanitised version designed to appeal to a broad audience.

Practical Tips for Authors

Here are a few things you can do to protect your voice while embracing the editing process:

• Send a sample chapter first. Watch how the editor handles your voice. Does it feel like you, only stronger? Or does it feel foreign?
• Highlight your quirks. Tell your editor about what makes your voice unique, whether it’s humour, sentence rhythm, or storytelling style.
• Be clear about your boundaries. Share what is non-negotiable in your writing, so edits enhance rather than erase your identity.
• Take time to review. Don’t rush to accept every change. Step back and ask whether each edit serves your story or someone else’s idea of “better.”

When authors embrace these practices, editing becomes empowering rather than intimidating. It transforms from a source of anxiety into a tool for amplification, helping writers tell their stories as they were meant to be told.

Over the years, I’ve helped authors navigate this delicate balance. I’ve seen the same pattern: those who safeguard their authenticity emerge with work that resonates. Their stories connect because the words are theirs… raw, real and unmistakably authentic.

The metaphor of makeup might seem trivial at first glance, but it captures the essence of what I believe about storytelling. Just as makeup should enhance, not erase, so should editing. It should reveal what’s already there. The subtle details, the character, the quirks. Let’s let them shine.

Your words, your story and your voice are your personal brand. They are your legacy. And just like the face you show the world, they deserve care, attention and protection. You don’t need to be smoothed into someone else’s idea of perfect. You need to be revealed in all your authentic human complexity.

I encourage every writer I work with to see editing as a partnership, not a surrender. It’s a collaboration aimed at lifting your voice, clarifying your message, and delivering your story in the strongest, most authentic way possible.

Whether you’re self-publishing for the first time, coaching yourself through your second draft, or preparing for a launch, remember this… Editing should enhance, not erase. And your authentic story is always worth protecting.