A while back, Laurie Boris gave us a very helpful and comprehensive overview of what you should consider when choosing and working with an editor. While I see no need to amend her concise guide, we here at IU did think it was time to take this a bit further. What can you do to make the overall experience of working with an editor better? What can you do to make sure you are getting your money’s worth — but not paying for things you don’t need — and creating a productive and enjoyable relationship with your editor? Here are a few things to consider. Continue reading “Working with Editors”
Tag: Editing
Editing — Not for the Faint of Heart
So you’ve poured your life’s blood onto the paper and you’ve got a book you think is good. What’s your next step? Most likely, finding an editor. Lucky for you, IU has an extensive list of steps you could take and ways you can find the help and support you need. But giving your “child” over to an editor is a scary prospect. What if they don’t like it? What if they say you’re no good? I know; been there, done that. You’ve put your heart and soul into this and now you’re going to hand it over to someone who might well tear it to shreds. It’s frightening. But necessary. Here are a few things to remember that might make it a little easier for you. Continue reading “Editing — Not for the Faint of Heart”
Featured Service: Paige Duke, Independent Editor
You’ve done the hard work of planning, writing, and revising, and now you’re ready for editing. Trusting your book to someone else can be a daunting prospect. How will you find an editor who will respect your voice and vision, yet still do wonders for your book?
I’m Paige Duke, an independent editor, and I’d love to take a look at your book. We all know that grammatical errors and inconsistencies in a manuscript can undermine an author’s credibility and turn readers off to a great story. So, I enjoy working with authors to help them create polished and professional books that stand out in the market. Not only do I work hard to get a book’s grammar and punctuation in great shape, I edit for consistent style conventions so that your manuscript meets industry standards. Here are just a few tips to give you an idea of the kinds of style issues I look for: Continue reading “Featured Service: Paige Duke, Independent Editor”
Don’t Shoot the Editor
We all love to complain, especially when those complaints are generic. It fills a certain need, I think. Perhaps it gives a sense of belonging, of oneness or agreement with others. Among writers some of those darts are aimed at editors.
Those who do not write, I think, mostly read for pleasure and tend to be more forgiving of a certain number of editing errors in what they read. As long as the book flows, holds their attention, and entertains them, they are willing to overlook some weaknesses.
That changes when readers become writers. I know, because it happened to me. Other writers tell me it is the same for them. We notice every spelling error, every bit of missing or incorrect punctuation, every overused word. While we disagree on what we enjoy reading, the one thing we do tend to agree on is that books must be well (read perfectly) edited before being offered to the public – to readers, including us. Continue reading “Don’t Shoot the Editor”