On Editing
You might think that once you’ve completed the first draft of your manuscript, the hard part is over. Nothing can be further from the truth. We all have our own method of creating the final product. I do a lot of editing as I go. Often, while I’m in the creating mode, I will start the writing day by first re-reading what I wrote the previous day before starting with my new thoughts. Changes can be made every time I look at what I’ve written.
Once I’ve completed the manuscript I go back over it again, and again. I have another author who writes the same genres I do. I pass my work along as I go. She will read and return with comments and suggestions. It’s up to me whether I agree or disagree.
At the point I believe the manuscript to be perfect I send it off to the publisher for acceptance or rejection. If accepted, she will assign an editor to work with me. This means looking at grammar, punctuation, spelling, and content. Not all editors have the same pet-peeves, so you have to be prepared for what they prefer. They may decide that scenes you’ve worked hard on, and love, are surplus to the story and tell you to remove them. This is the point where you decide whether or not you agree. Do you have a good argument for keeping the scenes in? If not, let them go. If you want to argue the point, assemble your reasons. Always be prepared to lose in the final round. They work for the publisher, not you. This process can take up several rounds, back and forth.
I’ve found most editors to be reasonable and tend to look at your work objectively. They can point out things you might overlook. I can think of examples where two editors suggested I tone down a character to make her less objectionable. I have also had editors who comment on the ending of a novel; with the result I have tweaked the final scenes.
Once everyone has had their go at the manuscript, it is formatted into the final form, with cover and dedications and all the trimmings. Now it is time for the line edits. I receive the work back with a deadline to give it a final going-over before publication. This usually means I read the entire novel through slowly, at least three times, and one of these in reverse. By reading the manuscript in reverse I avoid getting caught up following the story and can concentrate on the details. No matter how many times I have gone over a project, I always find pages of things, some obvious, some not, that need to be changed or corrected.
Writing and story-telling is the part I enjoy the most, yet editing is of high importance. Since being involved with that part of the process I often find myself discovering errors in almost every book I pick up to read for pleasure. Self-published books and volumes put out by vanity presses are often the worst offenders and so can give those industries a bad reputation. Take very good care with the editing process; no matter the method of publishing. This is your hard work and your reputation you are playing with.
Once I’ve completed the manuscript I go back over it again, and again. I have another author who writes the same genres I do. I pass my work along as I go. She will read and return with comments and suggestions. It’s up to me whether I agree or disagree.
At the point I believe the manuscript to be perfect I send it off to the publisher for acceptance or rejection. If accepted, she will assign an editor to work with me. This means looking at grammar, punctuation, spelling, and content. Not all editors have the same pet-peeves, so you have to be prepared for what they prefer. They may decide that scenes you’ve worked hard on, and love, are surplus to the story and tell you to remove them. This is the point where you decide whether or not you agree. Do you have a good argument for keeping the scenes in? If not, let them go. If you want to argue the point, assemble your reasons. Always be prepared to lose in the final round. They work for the publisher, not you. This process can take up several rounds, back and forth.
I’ve found most editors to be reasonable and tend to look at your work objectively. They can point out things you might overlook. I can think of examples where two editors suggested I tone down a character to make her less objectionable. I have also had editors who comment on the ending of a novel; with the result I have tweaked the final scenes.
Once everyone has had their go at the manuscript, it is formatted into the final form, with cover and dedications and all the trimmings. Now it is time for the line edits. I receive the work back with a deadline to give it a final going-over before publication. This usually means I read the entire novel through slowly, at least three times, and one of these in reverse. By reading the manuscript in reverse I avoid getting caught up following the story and can concentrate on the details. No matter how many times I have gone over a project, I always find pages of things, some obvious, some not, that need to be changed or corrected.
Writing and story-telling is the part I enjoy the most, yet editing is of high importance. Since being involved with that part of the process I often find myself discovering errors in almost every book I pick up to read for pleasure. Self-published books and volumes put out by vanity presses are often the worst offenders and so can give those industries a bad reputation. Take very good care with the editing process; no matter the method of publishing. This is your hard work and your reputation you are playing with.
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