Saturday, February 18, 2012

Your Editor is Your Partner

An editor is someone who makes your work more readable, more salable – better. An editor doesn’t change the voice or direction or meaning of your words.

Your editor is your partner. Everyone needs an editor. Doesn’t matter whether you’re going the self-publishing route or signing with a regional or small publisher. At some point, an editor will need to look at your manuscript. Even if you sign with an agent who liked it enough to add you to her stable, she will probably suggested changes or edits. Then when one of the major publishers takes you on, they will have an editor go through it. Getting to that point, though, is a long road. Hiring your own editor BEFORE you send it to an agent or publisher will up your chances of getting your book in the queue with both.

If you’re self-publishing, either in print or e-form or both, you’ll need that independent editor even more because that will be your one chance to get it right. People may be reading more and more e-books, but they haven’t changed their standards. They still want a well-written book and while they may skip over two or three mistakes, they won’t buy your next book if your first has too many mistakes.

Yes, editors cost money, but they pay off, too. In the short term, you have a much better book that reads smoothly. In the long term, you learn from seeing what the editor did to improve your manuscript. I’ve known authors who have said that hiring an editor was like taking a one-on-one class in writing.

What are your experiences working with an editor?
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Disclaimer: I don’t often post about editing. Mostly because, as a lot of you know, I’m a freelance editor and I didn’t want my blog posts to sound like I’m trolling for clients. Now, however, I feel I can write a post about editing every now and then since I’m no longer taking on new editing clients. Since taking over as the Coordinator for Story Circle Network’s Editorial Services, I’m only working with existing and returning clients.

15 comments:

  1. I love working with editors. I just worked with Robb Grindstaff on a couple of stories for an opening anthology and it was like taking another writing class. I can honestly say I agreed with him99% of the time.

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  2. An editor should be a writer's best friend. They are completely necessary.

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  3. I am nigh on ready to embark on the journey with an editor by my side.

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  4. An editor is a must! No, a good editor doesn't change your voice or story. The problem for indie writers though, is finding the good one. Just as many bad books are now being published, there are many bad independant editors out there suddenly pressing their version of a good story onto an unsuspecting client - all because they can spell well. :) It takes some effort to find a reputable one but obviously worth it.

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  5. I'm an editor myself but I wouldn't dream of putting my own work out there for public view without having an editor do her part first. Editorial assistance is a must-have for the serious writer. And not just copy editing either, but someone who can help you see the plot holes, the characterization flaws, the boring parts and the messy writing that we too easily overlook when we review our own work.

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  6. My publisher's editor is really nice! She's been very easy to work with and even sends me personal emails of encouragement.

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  7. My editor has been invaluable. Comprehensive editing is a must-do for me.

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  8. I have had worked with some great editors and one that I found very difficult to connect with. I'm no longer working with that company so I don't have to deal with her any more.
    The others taught me alot.

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  9. I'm an editor, and I still work with an editor for my own writing.

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  10. Like KarenG and Helen, I am editor who knows I need an editor for my own work. As an editor friend of mine says, "I can catch everyone's mistakes but my own."

    The editor should be a good fit with the author. If you're looking for the right editor for your book, get sample edits and interview several editors until you find the one with whom you're comfortable and confident.

    I tell my clients that after editing, their work should sound exactly like them--only better!

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  11. My editor is wonderful! Crystal is a friend as well as my editor.

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  12. Also an editor who knows she needs one!

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  13. Good thing I got in when I did!
    You did a great job on the two books you edited for me.

    Morgan Mandel
    http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

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  14. I had the good fortune to have an editor who not only helped to prepare my manuscripts for prime time, but also encouraged me to get 'er done ... a great lady, Carol Atkins ... and I appreciate this opportunity to acknowledge her:

    http://hall.michiganwomen.org/honoree.php?C=0&A=238~239~241~240~235~237~236

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  15. I've worked with four editors. One was very good but I could sense that he didn't like my work so I didn't ask him to edit it any more. One wasn't very good, she confused the names of the characters in one simple test chapter. So I've dropped her immediately.

    I love working with the other two. It's expensive, especially for the last book. It's over 90K of words and cost a lot of money. But I think the editing made it a much better read. And I'm happy to say that the sale has earned back the editing cost.

    The Spinster’s Vow

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