Writing Wednesday
On Wednesdays I like to share information I picked up on my journey to being published, marketing my first book, editing and preparing to be published again. Information that I wish someone would have shared with me, back then…
If you like the information I hope you will share it!
It’s the first Wednesday of the month so it’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. I encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs.
Our awesome co-hosts today are Julie Flanders, Murees Dupé, Dolorah at Book Lover, Christine Rains, and Heather Gardner!
For more information, A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT and to sign up…
http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com
Professional Editing
You have created an outline, a proposal, plotted your story, developed your characters, and written your first draft, edited, revised and ended up with a second draft. You had that draft read and critiqued and wrote your third draft. You are sure that in this draft:
You have used few if any adverbs
Removed the word ‘very’ from the entire MS
Taken out every word, sentence or phrase that is not relevant to the story and your critique partner says the story flows nicely, the points are clear and concise and the story is interesting. You have polished and feel confident (even if just a teeny bit because writers are not known to be the most confident type.) Congratulations you are ready to hire a professional editor!
Do I need a professional editor? Yes you do.
I can’t afford a professional editor? If you want to make writing your career then you must treat it like a business. When starting any new business financial investment is necessary for success. It is the same in the book business.
Where do you find a professional book editor? Ask your Facebook or other social media friends, do a Google search or ask other writers. Once you receive a couple of referrals they will probably ask you for a few chapters of your MS to do a sample edit for you. They will return it with suggestions and offer you a contract or they will pass. Before signing a contract make sure it includes time frame (both ways,) charges and how they are calculated and the editor’s method.
How much will it cost? If you are a starving, new writer you may be able to find a starving new editor who will be more than willing to negotiate a great price for you and do a great job for you in exchange for a reference. The average rate is $30-$65 an hour (10 pages per hour, a page being 250 words.) Well established editors with a client list of best sellers will charge much more. This is why you want your MS in the best shape you can get it before it goes to the editor. The fewer changes needed equal less time and that means less money out of your pocket.
What exactly does an editor do? Besides suggesting corrections for grammar, punctuation, technical elements and spelling your editor will organize your MS for the greatest impact and clarity. They will make sure all of your conclusions are supported and that you did not overuse certain words. A good editor knows what publishers are looking for, what readers expect and is able to balance that with what the author wants to say. A good editor will enhance your work and challenge you as a writer.
Your path from writer to successful author will be much shorter with a good editor in your tribe.
Happy Writing,
Doreen
Write Drunk, Edit Sober.~Earnest Hemingway
40 thoughts on “To Editor or Not…”
Love this, as always Doreen. I am definitely a member of the Insecure Writers’ Club because I need to be! Thanks to all who started it.
Your tips and tidbits are enormously helpful and I thank you for sharing them. You have a big heart to be so generous.
Thank you so much Cathy! Cannot wait to see you again!
I wouldn’t dare publish a work without an editor going through it first. It takes a team to put out a good product and readers remember the best and worst. I’d hate to put myself on the worst list because I wanted to save some money. The cost would be too high. 🙂
Anna from Elements of Writing
If we believe in ourselves we must invest in ourselves.
Exactly. An editor is a necessity, to provide the distance writers do not have on their own work.
It is so hard if not impossible sometimes to see our own mistakes.
Great tips and agreed. Silver Jay Media was a recommendation given to by an author who made her living at it for last 30 years traditionally and self-publishing. I found the prices reasonable and services offered well lined out. I plan to go with them. I know several who have used them and are very happy with them. I have looked at many others and I liked this one best so far. I’m still looking and always open to recommendations too. Happy IWSG day!
Juneta Writer’s Gambit
If you can find an editor you work well with it is magic!
Great tips! It helps to know what type of editing you want too–big picture developmental, or the whole deal with line edits. I paid for developmental editing with a newer editor and it was on the lower end. I really wanted a professional eye on how the story read and what would make it more marketable. That had nothing to do with typos or word choice, but on the content. Many new writer don’t understand that editing is not just proofreading. Thanks for enlightening us!
Thank you for reading Stephanie!
I wish I could afford to have an editor for everything I write.
Oh Patricia so do I but I absolutely save up and use them for the important stuff, the stuff I want to get paid for.
Unless it is your hobby, writing IS a business! Investing in it is crucial. And there is no better investment than an editor. Always enjoy your reads. Thanks for that!
Amen to that. If you want to make money you must invest!
Editors are a necessity and non-negotiable. Hell, I need one for my blog. My friend is a former editor and sends me her input all the time, and I cringe at what she finds even after I have read the articles 17 times…lol
LOL I wish I could afford one for my blog! She does let me know if she sees something pretty bad.
They will also champion your work and encourage you in your strengths. Great thoughts. Editors are worth every penny.
The absolutely are!
Editing is a very special talent…and I’m grateful to all my editors out there. They always make me sound better and see things I sometimes miss.
I love editors too. We should have an editors day!
I’m a DIY girl from way back. But one thing I don’t do myself is edit my work. I am so grateful for the fine editing my free-lance editor does. I may not like all her suggestions, but in the end I know she makes my work better. As you said, this is a business. Professional editing is an expense I don’t scrimp on. Same with cover design. I have zip artistic talent. That’s another thing I don’t do myself.
Best wishes,
Diane IWSG #95
I agree Diane. I like to believe I can do it myself but I cannot see my own mistakes.
Excellent post! You definitely need an editor. I’m very lucky that one of my critique partners is one. Thanks for visiting my blog today!
Thank you too Christine!
Your advice is always helpful. As an editor myself, I pretend I don’t need no stinkin’ editor! 😀 So untrue. You remind me of that important fact… and likely key to success. Thank you!
So true! Our own eyes do not see our own mistakes.
Great advice! Editing is crucial to a good book. At a certain point we always need another pair of eyes (or several) to make sure what we’ve got is actually what we’ve got. An editor can help spot problem areas. It’s worth mentioning that there are several types of edits and that also changes the cost.
Our own eyes do not see our own mistakes.
I read a lot of debates about this in writers groups, and I’m amazed it’s open to discussion. With my next novel, I will have a copyeditor look at the MS again after my editor and I finish our revisions. I want to put out my best possible effort, and I appreciate having the insights of an editorial team.
I am doing a final read through of my next book and have found two errors in the first 4 chapters. Me, 3 editors and 2 betas later. I can’t stress how important it is to be diligent about this stuff.
Great advice! No matter how good a writer is, they still need a professional editor to go through their work! That is not the place to try to save money.
So many of us learn the hard way.
Definitely, definitely hire an editor. I hired an old college friend who is an acquisitions editor by day and freelancer by night. So she did the copyediting for my novella, which had already been looked at by a few betas beforehand. I don’t know why a writer would go ahead without an editor.
I don’t know why they would either, it makes no sense.
Great advice. I saved up my money until I could afford an editor. I am too insecure to publish my work without an expert looking at it first. My editor is amazing. Thank you for sharing these tips with us.
Thank you so much for reading.
Excellent advice. I’ve always known I would use the services of a professional editor, prior to querying. I’ve narrowed it down to three and I’m extremely happy with the work of all three. Too bad I can’t save up for all of them. It’s a hard choice. Thanks for the advice. Many non writers look at me like I am bonkers we I tell them about this step. They assume that someone out there just does that for you, free of charge or that it is your agent’s job.
Take care.
Melissa Sugar
http://melissasugarwrites.com
Twitter @msugar13
There are writers that think editors should work for free, unbelievable!
I’ve never gone to an editor, but turned to my beta readers for suggestions before I submit. I wouldn’t dare self-publish without and an editor though. 🙂
Anna from Elements of Writing
I depend so much on my beta readers too, love them!