can't stop editing...

[Denise]

I know you're supposed to be a stickler for a "perfect book" before you launch. My problem is I've had the first of 2.5 I've already written in a cozy mystery series edited, twice by professionals and once by a talented daughter-in-law, and still I'm going through and finding things to fix. I became so frustrated with the process I've put it down for about 6 weeks (while I work on digitizing a poetry book I had published in 2001). Now I'm ready to get back to it. Any suggestions on how to know if you book is ready for prime time?

[[deleted user]]

I hear you. I had an editor work on my project, editing each chapter as I wrote it, about once a week for 2 years. Then he resigned from the project, then I had another editor work with me for another 2 years. I rewrote this thing it seems, a hundred times. Then I published. Feedback comes in. edit more. more feedback. more edit. more feedback. After 10 years, my fourth editon was complete. Like the prosecutor of some trial says, "I rest my case."

At some point I shall finish volume two, the edit, publish, edit, republish, then edit and republish again.

You are not alone.

Morris

[Denise]

Morris wrote: "I hear you. I had an editor work on my project, editing each chapter as I wrote it, about once a week for 2 years. Then he resigned from the project, then I had another editor work with me for anot..."

So I wonder how these prolific Indie Authors do it... We are supposed to crank out at least two books per year. Some write two series at a time. How do they do it???

[Micah]

Denise wrote: "How do they do it???"

They give up before you do.

Nothing is ever perfect and at some point everyone involved just has to say "good enough."

[[deleted user]]

Denise wrote: "We are supposed to crank out at least two books per year. Some write two series at a time. How do they do it???..."

I don't know...I'm lucky to crank out one in a year. I edit ad infinitum too, and still miss a typo or two.

[HKelleyB]

What kind of editors were they? Sounds like you needed a developmental editor but may have hired copy editors or line editors.

Also, did you use beta readers before hiring any editor? Or, did you get a manuscript evaluation?

Did you hire a proofreader after the edits were done?

No editor is going to do ALL these jobs unless you contract with them to do so. They will do the job for which they are hired.

Some will point out what additional things are needed after their edits are done. Some will not, for fear of being accused of 'price gouging'.

Always be clear about what you are asking for. If you are not sure what to ask for, ask the editor what is needed.

Request different types of sample edits(developmental, line, copy). Ask the editor to explain why each may be needed and to use examples.

That's my two cents.

Good luck!

[Martin]

The perfect is the enemy of the good...

[Micah]

Martin wrote: "The perfect is the enemy of the good..."

...but so is the hasty.

(Finished that for you!)

[Martin]

Micah wrote: "Martin wrote: "The perfect is the enemy of the good..."

...but so is the hasty.

(Finished that for you!)"


So very true.

[[deleted user]]

The reason I worked on it so hard, is that it is the first and foundational part of a trilogy. I don't want the foundation crumblimg that the second is resting on. I have much more confidence now in the project overall, and don't expect to take 10 years to complete it.

Morris

[Paul]

Sometimes you have to remember what The Dude says:

"Fuck it."

Also what Farmer Hoggett says:

"That'll do, Pig."

[Christina]

Keep in mind that the more you futz about with it,the more likely you are to mess with something that isn't broke to begin with. I did this with my first book and I can't tell you how many mistakes made it to print.

According to the definition being thrown about, I'm a "prolific" indie and Micah is correct, I give up before you do. I do a full content edit after i finish my draft and then I read to see if it makes sense. At that point, I will tweak awkward phrasing. Then I do one read through with the kindle reading to me to catch typos. I send it to beta readers, take their issues into consideration, do another full read through with the Kindle to catch leftover typos, and send it on its way.

[Michael]

I usually plan on four edits, with about six weeks between each edit. By the time I reach the last edit, the story's where I want it to be.

Of course, I'm always on the look out for typos and spelling errors that get by spellcheck.

[R.]

I find that after a time I reach the "Editing Plateau" where the quality of the book is no longer going uphill, merely going around in circles on a high mesa.

I know this has happened when I want to reverse a change I've made previously. Once I've got to the plateau that's it, I stop.

Getting to the plateau can be a long, hard journey. There's one chapter in Run From The Stars that I tore up and started again FIFTEEN times. Now it's the best bit in the book.

[Owen]

The process of editing itself creates errors. I've never encountered a book that was error-free. At some point, you have to say, "Good enough."

Putting the book down for 6 weeks is a good idea. My suggestion would be (given the works that already gone into it), read it once more (I'm a big fan of reading aloud or having it read aloud) and fix any lingering issues you find. Then pull the trigger.

BTW: Reviewers are not to be trusted when it comes to comments about editing. Some have a poor grasp of grammar and others use it as a cheap shot (at times without even reading the book). Some people say that simply because they don't care for the book and they note you are an indie author and decide to "pile on" (we see a lot of this).

So keep that in mind that if you get the odd review complaining about "poor/lack of editing" and don't take it to heart without clear and definitive proof.

[Pavan]

Denise wrote: "I know you're supposed to be a stickler for a "perfect book" before you launch. My problem is I've had the first of 2.5 I've already written in a cozy mystery series edited, twice by professionals ..."

I also feel editing it the hardest part, I have written my book left it for it 4 weeks came back to it the edited it again, I then found a beta to read it and see what they could find, once they gave it back to me I edited again.
I have 3 people look through my story, I felt if I have to many people they will all tell me different thing and I would end up changing my whole story.
And not matter how perfect the is they will always be people that say the needs editing, you just can't please everyone xxx

[[deleted user]]

Denise wrote, " edited, twice by professionals ...""

My aging aunt wrote a book and paid a university professor good cash to edit it. I looked at the first 20% of the book and found serious formatting/editing errors. At her age she could not get her head wrapped around the fact that I could fix the issues he left behind, because the was an English professor at a university and I am not.

It is my opinion that nobody catches everything in an edit. I was watching "Pawn Stars," and how they know it is a genuine first edition is they can find mistakes in it. Ever notice how many edition/printings old books have had? You can bet that subtle changes were made between print runs based on what has been found by readers.

Morris

[Denise]

Paul wrote: "Sometimes you have to remember what The Dude says:

"Fuck it."

Also what Farmer Hoggett says:

"That'll do, Pig.""

Thanks, Paul. You made me truly LOL.

[[deleted user]]

Morris wrote: " At her age she could not get her head wrapped around the fact that i could fix the issues he left behind, because the was an English professor at a university and I am not...."

Age really has nothing to do with it. Close-mindedness begins in youth, and if the mind doesn't expand with age it retains the dogmas of the past. Your aunt had an appreciation for positions of rank that she acquired in her youth, and nothing could shake that. Frankly, my dogma is that I feel exactly the opposite. Somewhere in between, there is a happy medium.

[Denise]

A big THANK YOU to all who have replied. I've been working on this series for about five years now. I am going to do that final reading of book one and then get it formatted and pull the trigger. It's time!

[Erin]

A writer could theoretically edit forever, but at some point, he or she needs to stop. Esp if it's not making any improvements. I've gotten into editing/rewriting loops that lasted years. Was the book better for it? I'm not sure.

I have a professional editor who does both developmental and copyediting. And she does an awesome job, but has missed things, most of them small. I think it's because after we've read/edited something for so long, you miss things. I have yet to find a perfect book with no grammar issues or typos. I don't think it exists.

[Phillip]

Owen wrote: "The process of editing itself creates errors. I've never encountered a book that was error-free. At some point, you have to say, "Good enough."

Putting the book down for 6 weeks is a good idea. M..."

You will never get rid of errors. I just had a reader kindly send me a list of errors he found in my book. He wasn't razzing, he just knew it was an eBook that could be corrected and wondered if I wanted to know. I thanked him and said yes. The joy of eBooks and Print on Demand is that we can always fix errors.