On the importance of Help
No book gets written alone. That's just a fact of life. Writing is a lonely job, but it isn't really a solitary job. There's the support of your family and friends and their helpful (and gentle) comments about your manuscript. There's the beta readers that you met on a writing website who point out (not as gently) the flaws in your writing. Possibly, there's a cover artist who helps you put on your best face. Then there's the big one, the editor.
Even the best of us (which I am not) needs a good editor. It's difficult to turn off your writer's brain and turn on your editing brain. Many times, writers just end up glossing over some mistakes; our brains refuse to see them. This doesn't happen because of arrogance or stubbornness. It happens because our brain is really great at filling in information. We know what we want to say and we see it on the page, even if it isn't there.
The great thing about being a traditionally published writer is that an entire team is provided for you. Including an editor. Self-published authors have to find their own team.
As indie authors we are forced to don many hats, but the one thing it is a mistake to do for yourself is editing. You can be your own first editor, but you can't be your last editor.
The problem is that editors cost money. Indie authors very often don't have much money. Indie's find it difficult to shell out $2,000 when they're working a 9 to 5, writing in the evening and spending whatever free-time they have marketing the book.
I wish there was a solution, but there isn't. You've got to find an editor. Someone who knows what they're doing. If you're serious about writing, there is no other choice. Shop around, get a friend who's an English major, find some way to do it, because if you don't, you'll find out the hard way (like I did) that a self-editor has a fool for a client.
Even the best of us (which I am not) needs a good editor. It's difficult to turn off your writer's brain and turn on your editing brain. Many times, writers just end up glossing over some mistakes; our brains refuse to see them. This doesn't happen because of arrogance or stubbornness. It happens because our brain is really great at filling in information. We know what we want to say and we see it on the page, even if it isn't there.
The great thing about being a traditionally published writer is that an entire team is provided for you. Including an editor. Self-published authors have to find their own team.
As indie authors we are forced to don many hats, but the one thing it is a mistake to do for yourself is editing. You can be your own first editor, but you can't be your last editor.
The problem is that editors cost money. Indie authors very often don't have much money. Indie's find it difficult to shell out $2,000 when they're working a 9 to 5, writing in the evening and spending whatever free-time they have marketing the book.
I wish there was a solution, but there isn't. You've got to find an editor. Someone who knows what they're doing. If you're serious about writing, there is no other choice. Shop around, get a friend who's an English major, find some way to do it, because if you don't, you'll find out the hard way (like I did) that a self-editor has a fool for a client.
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