Five Tips To Make Editing Less Painful

By Rebecca Bloomer

I was an English teacher before I took up writing. I was a really good English teacher; so good that not only did I get to teach overseas, but a university actually let me teach future teachers. You can imagine then, how much I love being edited. Not much at all, actually.

The first time I was properly edited, I fumed, I cried and I seethed for hours (I kid you not, hours). In bed after my first ever round of edits I harangued my poor husband. “If they don’t like my work, why did they buy the book? Did they just need and Aussie author in their stable? If they wanted an Aussie, why then, are they changing my spelling and my slang? I think they’re going to ruin my book. And she said I head-hop. Like that’s a bad thing. Nora Roberts head-hops continuously, I bet her editor doesn’t hassle her!”

My litany of complaints continued, until my forbearing man reached his limit. He sighed and said “Darling, you’ve written one book so far, how many do you think your editor has edited?”

Hmmm. This was a lesson for me, so I’m using it as a teachable moment for you:

If you’re signed with a publisher, it is entirely possible that your editor has seen more manuscripts than you’ve seen roast dinners. Writing is your specialty, editing is theirs, let them do their job. I promise it will make you look good (on so many levels).

Once you’re picked up by a publisher of any kind (traditional, Indie, or ebook) the book is no longer yours, it’s theirs. They paid good money for it and they’re unlikely to do anything that will make the book worse.
Money Talks. It’s unlikely that proven ‘sellers’ are edited as brutally as newbies. In my (humble) opinion, this is why it’s easy to see the quality of some bestsellers’ work drop. People are too afraid to tell them they need to change.

Have a wine before you go to bed, it makes you less likely to whine when you’re in bed.

Following those first demoralising experiences, I picked myself up and learned to really appreciate the work of my editors. I produced a further three romances and four YA novels. Each one was progressively easier and less traumatic than that first edit. As I’ve progressed, I’ve stumbled upon a few hints and tips that would have made that first experience a lot less painful.


Tip 1 - Love Thy Enemy

Editors are essential. Don’t hire your mother (or your son) to do the job for you. If you’re self-publishing, hire a professional. Look through the acknowledgements pages of books you’ve enjoyed or go to the governing body for editors in your state or country. There you will find great editors. When I say great, I don’t mean friendly or fun. Great editors are usually mean. They lay out the problems with your books and writing like they enjoy cutting out your heart (indeed, they probably do). By being your meanest reader, a great editor is protecting you from other, more public mean readers. Editors don’t post their criticisms on Amazon, or Smashwords; other critics will. Mean editors before publication are always better than honest critics after, so get yourself an editor.


Tip 2 - Get A Critique Partner

While it might seem like masochism for someone who hates editing to insert a preemptive editing step before the book goes to the publisher, it’s actually a form of self-preservation. Approach a writer who writes in your same genre. Ask them to read your manuscript and make comments. Offer to do the same for them in return (my crit-partner and I do this via email using track changes). Crit-partners can tell you things like which characters don’t ‘ring true‘, which words make them cringe, and whether anything jolts them out of the story. Crit-partners are partners not panderers. They won’t soft-soap you but they’ll tell you what they love as well as what they hate. That’s a good thing.


Tip 3 - Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff

The placement of every single comma and whether or not to use a particular conjunction, is not your department. Publishers and publications all have their own style guide and they’ll work your manuscript over until it fits. As long as the meaning of the sentence or story isn’t affected, let it go. Writers are very good ‘big picture’ people, we know how the story should ‘feel’. By the time we’re done with the story, we’re reading what we think we see, rather than what is actually on the page. For this reason, I suggest not getting into protracted arguments with editors regarding tiny details. Free yourself from the minutiae. Better you should spend time making ready for the next story.

Tip 4 - Maintain A Spine

Editors know a lot, it’s true. Some ‘baby’ editors though, don’t realise they’re not the author. Editing should never change essentials like character, voice, tone, theme or plot (unless they spot a hole or inconsistency therein). They’re allowed to ask you to justify decisions you’ve made about these things and you’re allowed to defend said decisions. PLEASE NOTE: This Tip does not apply to magazine or newspaper articles. With those, as soon as you sign the contract, they can do whatever they want with your work and you need not approve of their changes, they don’t care.


Tip 5 - Say Thank You

A good editor will, without fail, make your book better. After eight books I’m still amazed by the way my editors take what I thought was a perfect manuscript, and make it better (I swear it’s some kind of voodoo they do do). No matter how hard they work your book into perfection, editors don’t usually get their name on the front cover. For this reason, you should be grateful and polite. You should also say ‘thank you’, be it in a letter of reference or in the acknowledgements section of your book, it will make a difference.

Now, I realise that with all this, I might sound like a bit of a sell out. I’m not. I’ve been edited as a freelancer, a romance writer, a YA writer and an academic. Because of this, I know the difference an editor can make and I wish, whenever I put down (unfinished) a good story full of editorial glitches, that everyone else did too.

If you’re one who’d like to know more, just let me know, I’d be glad to throw some more light on the subject.

Indie Insider - Marie Harbon

How many words do you write a day? Where do you do it?


I have no set target for word count as such; I tend to aim for writing a particular scene, which may only be 500 words or more than 1000. This way, it keeps the action, dialogue or emotional content in my head so it’s more consistent. I feel like I’m living that scene in its entirety. Writing is produced at home, as it’s important for me to control the environment and its ambience.


Do you think that people judge a book by its cover? Who makes yours?


The task of a book cover is to draw the eye, to persuade a reader to read the blurb and look inside, in the same way that food packaging entices the shopper to consume the product. If a book cover doesn’t excite the reader, then it isn’t doing its job so I would have to say people do judge a book by its cover. It’s all about drawing the eye and arousing interest. My cover was designed by Richard Crookes, a British artist living in Thailand who has produced numerous book jackets and even movie posters. He’s a very skilled and intuitive designer and I’m thrilled with ‘Seven Point Eight’s cover.


What do you do when you get writers block?


I find creativity has a natural ebb and flow so there are times when I don’t feel the words. When this happens, I put a story aside and concentrate on something else for a while, such as stitching or designing something. The writing urge always returns in its own good time, or I may find the solution to a tricky part of the story comes to me after waking up.


How much time do you spend on social media per day? What do you concentrate on?


Sometimes too much! I check emails, facebook, twitter etc over breakfast and return to them again in the evening. If I’m working on my laptop during the day, sometimes I’ll flick between what I’m doing and social media sites. I have quieter days as well as interactive days though.

Which narrative form and tense do you think is the most difficult and why?


Like most writers, I find working in the past the most straightforward and in most cases, it serves its purpose. In my book ‘Seven Point Eight: The First Chronicle’, the narrative switches between third person and first person from two journals written by a few of the characters. I like to explore different perspectives and angles, it makes their experiences seem more personal and it better firs the non-linear aspect of time that I’ve touched upon later in the book.


Do you use a professional editor, critique partners, or beta readers? What is your process?


I’m a big fan of readers and critique buddies, gathering an initial feel for the story and some analytical feedback about what works and what doesn’t. I like to hear the nuts and bolts through the eyes of a reader. I’m very strong on my grammar and structure, so with my self editing, critique buddies and readers, I find all the angles are covered.


How important is it for an indie author to use a professional editor?


I think it depends how strong that writer’s literary skills are, whether they can pick up on any continuity, grammar or narrative issues. All writers should at least have several sets of eyes and ears to read the story, as different people will pick up any issues with narrative, technical details, literary fluency etc….


How long does it take you to create a book from start to finish?


‘Seven Point Eight: The First Chronicle’ took four years from start to conclusion, mainly due to working pretty much full time throughout. More pieces of the puzzle dropped into place as I progressed through it, with the overall title for the series and underlying theme of the number that connects it all together dropping into place in the last six months. Because it’s so complex, in plot, characters and research, and also as I’m a perfectionist, the first book was a steady marathon. I’ve already started the second book, which I expect to release late spring/early summer of 2012.

Please list three unique blogs or web sites for writers that you read on a regular basis.

At the moment, I visit numerous sites as I’m scouting out the best ones to use on a regular basis. I tend to visit Goodreads, Librarything and Smashwords the most, in addition to social networking media sites.


Is there anything else you would like to share?


My first novel ‘Seven Point Eight: The First Chronicle’ begins a science fiction opera with a vast scope; covering quantum physics, mysticism, alternate realities, psychic powers, twentieth century history and culture, and a little romance. It’s in the initial stages of adaptation to a movie.
You can read the blurb, sample chapter and a collection of reviews so far at www.marieharbon.com, plus a collection of author interviews.

You can also grab a copy at Amazon US, Amazon UK or Barnes & Noble, as a paperback and Kindle/Nook book, plus through Smashwords as an ebook in the most popular formats.

Indie Insider - Tracy Falbe

How are your book covers designed?

For Rys Rising: Book I my newest release I hired the company AvatarArt.com to development a scene featuring two major characters. After getting the art, I added in the title and author name with Adobe Illustrator and then exported the image in the formats and resolutions I needed for various digital and print uses.

What do you do when you get writer’s block?

If I’m having trouble deciding what to write next, I spend time reading and editing chapters I’ve already written. There’s no shortage of editing and proofreading and contemplating that needs to be done. These activities usually get the juices flowing for writing again.

How many hours a week do you spend writing? Editing? Procrastinating?

Between writing and editing, I put in a consistent 15 to 20 hours a week unless those pesky “life issues” get in the way. I don’t really do much procrastinating. My time to focus on these tasks is restricted because I’m raising small children. So when it’s my time, I don’t waste it. Anyway, I love writing. It’s what makes me feel good. Why would I put it off?

How long does it take you to create a book from start to finish on average?

My novels are very long, ranging from 150,000 to 220,000 words. Including writing, reading, and editing, each one roughly represents two years of effort.

Where do you get your ebooks formatted?

I do all of my own ebook formatting. I recently obtained Sigil, which makes creating an epub very easy. I use the Mobipocket creator software to make my Kindle versions. I have Adobe Acrobat professional and with that I make pdf files out of either Microsoft Word or Adobe InDesign. I always teach myself as many technical skills as I can. I need the money I make from my novels for living expenses. I have to be careful about throwing it away on services. As any businessperson can tell you, there are always many vendors out there ready to take your money. I only outsource when I feel I can derive real value from it, like with my recent audiobook production of another novel Union of Renegades.

Do you use a professional editor, critique partners, or beta readers? Briefly describe your process.

I go over every word of my novels numerous times. I read my work. I edit it. I rewrite it. I proofread it. I once estimated that I spend from 10 to 20 hours total on each chapter. Part of my process is to read my work from the point of view of a reader. I’m capable of wearing many hats. I can sit back and relax and just consume the story, and I then I can become an editor and deeply analyze every paragraph. I’ve never sought beta readers. My novels are long and it would seem like too much of an imposition. Also I’m not really interested in a bunch of feedback from some committee. How would it be my novel if I was making adjustments based on other people’s opinions? That sounds too much like a job.

As for an actual editor, the thought of someone cutting a word or adjusting anything in my manuscript is horrific to me. An editor might cut a phrase thinking it’s extraneous without realizing that it adds meaning hundreds of pages later. I’ve considered every word and detail in my novels carefully. That’s my purpose as a novelist. I know you’re thinking that my novels are long and need editing, but I assure you I’ve cut thousands of words from each manuscript before publishing. My novels are long because I write epics with dozens of characters, multiple races, and two or three separate civilizations. I very much take to heart the advice in the little book The Elements of Style. Just the other day I changed the phrase “failed to hit” to “missed.”

I also very much enjoy editing my novels. They are born of my deepest thoughts and feelings, and I need to be the one attending to the details. I am qualified. I have a journalism degree that trained me as a writer and copyeditor. I always got A grades in writing courses in high school and college. I’ll grant that there are probably a few errors within every hundred thousand words, but I can live with that. I put my name on my novels and accept the judgment of the public. I stand by my work and some people enjoy my novels very much and ask me to write more.

Which is the most important social media platform and why? Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, LinkenIn, or any other one you use.

I wish I knew! Personally I enjoy Twitter, so that is the one I use the most. I suspect that Goodreads might be the most valuable to authors because everyone there actually reads books. I should do more there. I honestly don’t know what to make of Facebook. I’m on Facebook but don’t have any clue if it accomplishes anything for me. In general I don’t have any advice about social media. It seems like it could be useful but I’m not sure how to use it.

What are three resources/websites that are indispensable to authors?

Indispensable:

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com

Kindle Direct Publishing http://kdp.amazon.com/

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I’ll be brief and just quote AC/DC…

“It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock’n’roll.”

I invite readers to discover my epic fantasy. I am the author of two series: The Rys Chronicles and Rys Rising.

Free samples at Brave Luck Books

Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I

http://www.falbepublishing.com/braveluck/free_ebook.html

Rys Rising: Book I

http://www.falbepublishing.com/braveluck/free-fantasy-ebook-rys-rising.html

Also see all my titles at these retailers:

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/braveluck

Amazon Kindle http://www.amazon.com/Tracy-Falbe/e/B002BLWI3S/

Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/tracy-falbe

Apple iBooks http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/tracy-falbe/id365797627?mt=11

Sony Reader Store http://ebookstore.sony.com/author/tracy-falbe_160285

Is Writing A Book Like Following A Recipe?

It depends. Of course it does. It depends on many factors. It also depends on what kind of a cook you are. If you’re the kind of cook that never follows a recipe and just adds things as you go, then the chances are that’s just how you’ll write your book too. Good luck!

Me? I’m a little more organized than that. In my work life I’m a project manager, and project managers have to be well organized and structured. They also have to be able to react to change and manage risks and things that may (and do) go wrong. I think it’s pretty good training for writing a book!

So how exactly do I write a book? Let’s start at the beginning (and I want to add a comment here that due to the fact this is a blog post, the following process has been summarized). First off I have an idea for a story. It’s usually something really simple, and there are a few characters involved; the protagonist and the antagonist. Oh, and some kind of setting and back-story too. I usually write this down – a few bullet points – and then I let it sit and bake for a while. I come back to it from time to time and then add a few more notes. Eventually there comes a time when I’m ready to structure the story properly. I decide on the length I want it to be (80k – 120k depending on audience, genre, etc.), and I also decide on the number of chapters I want to write. 

This is where my project management experience kicks in. I know from personal experience that for every plot point I create, I will write somewhere between 400 and 600 words of story. This means that if I want to write an 80k word book, I’m going to need about 160 plot points. That’s a lot of things happening in a story!  My first job – before I write a single word – is to create at least half (preferably two thirds) of those plot points. This gives me a firm basis and direction for my book and also allows me to add other storylines as the book develops and gets ‘its own life.’ Then I write the book.

Okay, easy part done! Next I like to let my newly written manuscript sit for a while (just like letting bread prove). I don’t touch it for at least a month – preferably two – so that I can mostly forget about it. Then I come back to it anew and re-read it, editing as I read. It’s easy this time through to spot parts that don’t work or need changing somehow. After this is done the manuscript is ready to send out to a team of pre-readers (as I call them). These are people who are prepared to read through my manuscript at least three times, looking for different things including plot and character inconsistencies, grammar, spelling, parts of the story that don’t work, and all sorts of other things. I require my pre-readers to give me written reports that follow a strict template.

Next comes the final edit. I take all the feedback I have received and decide which I want to take and which I don’t (it’s still my story after all), and then I make my edits. One final reread and the manuscript is probably good to go. This just leaves covers, book blurb, pricing, marketing, press releases, advanced reader copies (ARCs) – for reviews - and all that great stuff to organize.

End to end timing? Wow, that’s a tough question. It depends on the actual writing part. I try and allow a month to let the story grow inside me, then a further week or so to flesh it out before I write. Then I write it. This usually seems to take about 3 months. Then a month to let it sit, a week to make edits, another month to get feedback from pre-readers, a week to make final edits and another couple of weeks to finalize all the other details. 

All in all, it’s about a 7 month process, end to end for an 80k novel. I’m sure some people can do it quicker and some people take longer. Just remember, you get one shot at your reader, so don’t rush the process – it will show through in the final product. We all want to start earning money off the book tomorrow, but a book is on sale forever and can generate revenue for years. Think about that when you come to the editing process. Spending quality time before the book goes on sale in order to create a better book is well worth it. Good luck!

John Cox

Tel: 206-228-6006

"This world is not my home; I'm just passing through"

Follow me on Twitter: @jcx27

Read me online at: http://pauldorset.blogspot.com

Books available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords

Indie Barter Zone

Indies helping Indies. Let's trade services, exchange skills and help each other out!


Book Covers, Editing, Design, Beta Readers, Critique Partners, Social Media, Formatting... you name it....let's do it.


Please state what you need and what you can offer in exchange... (please have the talent to back up your offer!) :)

Professional Editing Is A Must!

Lynn O'Dell of Red Adept Reviews has now ventured into editing!  Here she is to tell us all about it...

We know a lot about your reviewing side but what about your editing side.  How did all that come about?

I think I have always wanted to be an editor. When I began reviewing, I would be most irritated with those books I read that had terrific story lines, but poor editing, causing me to have to lower the star rating.

I soon realized that part of the problem was a lack of inexpensive editing services available. I knew that I could edit for a lower fee than most, as I am an extremely fast reader.

Also, it was my dream job. When I started editing, my boyfriend commented that people were paying me for doing something I loved. He said, “That would be like someone paying me to sit around and drink beer all day.“ 

How important is it to have a book professionally edited?

It is extremely important. Nothing can take the place of a good editor. Beta readers are nice, but they don’t catch every grammatical issue. Friends and family will usually not be as honest as they could be in a misguided effort to not hurt the author’s feelings.

How long does it take you to do an edit normally?

It varies from book to book, depending on the error rate. I can edit anywhere from 25,000 to 40,000 words per day.

Your editing fee is very low, how can you afford to eat? :)

Well, for one thing, I live with my boyfriend. Also, currently, my prices are very low in order to build my portfolio. I have raised them a miniscule amount, and I do expect to raise them a little more around the end of the year. However, I hope to always keep my prices ‘below the norm’ to ensure that Indie authors can afford editing.

Many authors don't know when to stop tweaking their book and get it out to an editor and beta readers?  Any advice?

Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of experience with that end of the process. I have many clients who send their books to beta readers prior to editing and some that engage betas after the editing process, but most consider editing to be in place of beta readers. With so many Indies publishing these days, it’s difficult to find beta readers.

Mostly, I think it is up to the author to decide when their manuscript is ready for an editor. I have had to turn a couple of projects down as they simply weren’t ready. However, I did offer them some commentary and advice, so hopefully it was not a bad experience, but a learning situation.

Do you prefer reviewing or editing work?

I prefer editing by far. With reviewing, I simply have to report problems and errors. With editing, I get to assist the author in fixing the problems.

What are your favorite genres?

That answer changes all the time. I am finding that I enjoy books across almost all genres. The more I am exposed to different genres, the larger my list of “favorites” becomes, to the point that I really have no favorite.

Any other contests coming up?

I have a Scavenger Hunt Contest running currently. I do hope to have many more in the future. Fortunately, ad sales continue to support these.

Any advice to new Indie writers?

If you are working on a book, schedule time with an editor long before you complete it. Many editors are booked months in advance, including myself. You wouldn’t call a carpenter and expect them to come build an addition to your house the next day, would you? Treat requesting an edit of your novel the same way.

Is there anything else you would like to talk about?

My editing services offer an additional perk that many freelance editors don’t. I have a proofreader, Jim Chambers, on my staff. Having a book read by a second set of eyes to catch those little errors that crop up during the editing process is invaluable. Jim is excellent at this. Also, he feels the same way I do regarding keeping prices low so that every Indie can afford editing.

Thanks Lynn, best of luck!

Patricia