Editors
I am totally incapable of producing a perfect manuscript. I tried to do it here and you can bet any entry that has no typos, misspellings or missing words has been edited.
There was a post on one of my writers’ loops saying that there is a missing word in the second line of Tom Clancy’s latest. I’m sure you have found errors in books by well-known authors. Where are the editors?
I buy most of my books at an independent bookstore and was talking to the owner, who is himself an editor. It had been clear to me that while the more famous writers had been edited early on, at some point the editors disappeared. BSO said that yes, editing was cut to a minimum for fear the author would switch publishers. One well-known author did switch houses because they were NOT editing his work. Good for him.
Editors come in two varieties. One edits for story elements, flow, awkward sentences, characters acting out of character. The second edits for errors in the word structure. I am lucky enough to have an editor who does both.
So my most heartfelt thanks and best wishes for happy holidays to my editors, Ramona, Greg, Kaye, and especially Betsy who makes all right with this blog.
There was a post on one of my writers’ loops saying that there is a missing word in the second line of Tom Clancy’s latest. I’m sure you have found errors in books by well-known authors. Where are the editors?
I buy most of my books at an independent bookstore and was talking to the owner, who is himself an editor. It had been clear to me that while the more famous writers had been edited early on, at some point the editors disappeared. BSO said that yes, editing was cut to a minimum for fear the author would switch publishers. One well-known author did switch houses because they were NOT editing his work. Good for him.
Editors come in two varieties. One edits for story elements, flow, awkward sentences, characters acting out of character. The second edits for errors in the word structure. I am lucky enough to have an editor who does both.
So my most heartfelt thanks and best wishes for happy holidays to my editors, Ramona, Greg, Kaye, and especially Betsy who makes all right with this blog.
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I haven't found a book lately without at least one minor error. I don't mind a missing quote mark or two, but sentences that don't make sense because of the poor editing do make me see red!I agree, too, that things can slip by several pairs of eyes, but good editors don't let that happen often.
The Shepherd's Notes
Combining Living History and writing historical mysteries.
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If it makes you feel better, though, sometimes an error can make it into print past 3 or 4 pairs of eyes. Naturally, the reader spots it immediately. Never mind how I know this. :)