How?
We’re one of your first readers whether with your publishing house or hired as your freelancer. Any changes to your series or writing styles we’ll see it first. And yes even as editors we get involved in your characters. Kill one off and we’ll be surprised – may even try to talk you out of it.
However, there are relatively few, if any, ways you can scare an editor. We are invested in your success and whatever you decide in your writing we’re right there beside you.
Now with that said one of the few ways you can scare an editor is with the story you’ve written. We’re human and are moved just as much as your readers will be. I still shudder over one story for its creepiness. And I love creepy dark fiction. Then there’s scaring us by changing genres. Changing and expanding your style. This is always a good scare. Watching an author expand their writing is exciting.
But the true method to scare an editor – maybe just me – keep writing. I’ll keep editing and every moment I send the edits back to you know I’m sitting on the other side of the computer screen scared as all Hades waiting for your reply.