Finding an Editor

One mistake I see ALL the time is authors who think they have a brilliant, flawless manuscript and only come to me because they read somewhere - an advice blog or something -- that they "should have an editor". But they always approach it with, "This is solid. You really just need to make sure there aren't typos. And then I read dialogue like this:

He said, "What are you thinking?" he wanted to know as he looked at her intently with a stare that would make even a drunk person feel uncomfortable. "Nothing," she shouted under her breath!

He answered, "It's not nothing?" He wanted to know what it was, and was mad that she said nothing. He was always mad that she said nothing. It almost made him like a feral cat.

And all I can do is roll my eyes, because I know that I have three hundred pages of this "flawless" manuscript.

I don't care how wonderful you think your book is -- I don't care if it actually is wonderful -- you need an editor. Today, we're going to examine what editors do, a few tips for finding an editor to help you get your book publisher ready...and I'll also throw in some tips to help you self-edit (so that your actual editor doesn't have to deal with the dialogue above).

Why Should I Consider Hiring an Editor?

Hiring an editor can enhance the clarity, coherence, and overall quality of your writing. An editor provides a fresh perspective, catching errors and inconsistencies you might have/probably overlook. He or she can help refine your voice and ensure your message resonates with your audience. Whether you're working on a novel, article, or business document, an editor's expertise can elevate your work, making it more professional and polished.

What do Editors do? Editors play a crucial role in the publishing process, serving as the gatekeepers of written content across various mediums, including books, magazines, newspapers, websites, and academic journals. Their primary responsibility is to ensure that the text is clear, coherent, and engaging for the intended audience. This involves a multifaceted approach to editing that encompasses several key tasks.

Firstly, editors review manuscripts for overall structure and flow. They assess whether the content is organized logically, ensuring that ideas are presented in a sequence that promotes understanding. This may involve rearranging paragraphs, suggesting the addition of transitional phrases, or even recommending the removal of sections that do not contribute to the main argument or narrative. By focusing on the larger picture, editors help writers refine their messages and enhance the readability of their work.

Secondly, editors are responsible for line editing, which involves a detailed examination of the text at the sentence level. They scrutinize grammar, punctuation, and syntax to ensure that the writing adheres to standard language conventions. This meticulous attention to detail helps eliminate errors that could distract readers or undermine the credibility of the work. Additionally, editors may suggest revisions to improve word choice, making the text more vivid and impactful.

Lastly, editors often engage in fact-checking. This process requires them to verify the accuracy of the information presented, ensuring that all claims are substantiated with credible sources. By doing so, editors uphold the integrity of the publication and protect it from potential misinformation or legal issues. As a sidenote, though most people only consider fact-checking in non-fiction contexts, novels often need it, as well.

In summary, editors are essential to the creation of polished, professional, and impactful written works. Their diverse responsibilities encompass structural and line editing, fact-checking, content development, style maintenance, and project management, all of which contribute to the overall quality and success of the publication.

Development vs. Content vs. Line Editing

When it comes to the intricate process of writing and refining a manuscript, convention separates editing into three types: development editing, content editing, and line editing. Each of these stages plays a crucial role in shaping a piece of writing, ensuring that it not only resonates with its intended audience but also maintains clarity, coherence, and stylistic integrity throughout.

Development editing, often considered the first step in the editing process, focuses on the overall structure and framework of the manuscript. This phase involves a deep examination of the plot, character development, pacing, and thematic elements. Development editors work closely with authors to identify strengths and weaknesses within the narrative, suggesting significant changes that can enhance the story's impact. This might include restructuring scenes, enhancing character arcs, or even rethinking the narrative voice. The goal of development editing is to ensure that the

manuscript is engaging and compelling from a broader perspective, laying a strong foundation for the subsequent editing stages.

Content editing delves deeper into the substance of the manuscript. This stage is concerned with the clarity and effectiveness of the content itself. Content editors focus on the specifics of the narrative, assessing how well the ideas are articulated and whether the arguments presented are logical and well-supported. They may suggest adding or removing sections to improve flow, enhancing descriptions to create vivid imagery, or ensuring that the dialogue feels authentic and contributes to character development. Content editing is almost like putting a puzzle together, moving pieces around to make sure they fit in the right spots. It is essential for refining the message of the manuscript.

Finally, line editing represents the last phase of the editing process, meticulously concentrating on the finer details of the text. Line editors scrutinize the manuscript for grammar, punctuation, syntax, and style consistency. Line editing also looks at enhancing sentence structure, ensuring that the writing is not only correct but also fluid and engaging. At this stage, the editor may also check that the author’s voice remains intact.

However, though we may intellectually separate the three, in reality, editing tends to work with a combination of all three over numerous drafts. They are interconnected processes, and collectively contribute to the creation of a polished and professional manuscript. And while each phase requires a different focus and set of skills, many professional editors work with all three.

How to Select an Editor

Selecting an editor can be tough, especially with the prevalence of freelance sites like Upwork and Fiverr, where available editors number in the thousands. So, what do you look for? Well, obviously, experience is preferable, but what you want is someone who will fit with your writing style. If you've written a fantasy novel, you probably don't want a cookbook editor with no fantasy experience. If you tend towards the funny side, you probably don't want someone who's about as funny as a funeral.

This means searching for editors who work in your particular genre and then reading their work. Look through their portfolio and read the articles they've edited, or check some of their books out of your local library. Drop a few dollars and put a book on your Kindle...whatever it takes. Just get a feel for his or her work to see if it matches your style. And, obviously, budget. Start setting aside small amounts of money at a time until you have a decent amount set aside. Excellent editors with experience can charge you upwards of $0.03/word. So your 100,000-word manuscript could run you $3,000. There are cheaper ones out there, of course, but sometimes you get what you pay for. So shop around, and vet potential editors thoroughly.

How to Self-Edit

"But Charles, I can't afford to hire an editor!" No worries, my friend, I'm going to give some tips for self-editing. And while having another set of eyes on your manuscript is always a better idea, self-editing can still help your novel or other work become polished and tight. It's also useful even if you do hire an editor, because it helps make the project more presentable, more complete, and will help cut the time your editor spends on the project (which may help, in turn, to cut the cost of hiring your editor).

From a larger, wide-angle view, the process of self-editing involves reviewing your work critically and making revisions to enhance clarity, coherence, and overall quality, just like hiring an editor would do. However, understanding what is very different from understanding how. Here are several key steps and strategies to effectively self-edit your writing.

First and foremost, take a break after completing your initial draft. While it seems counterproductive to do nothing at all in the first step of editing, it's actually very important. This pause allows you to return to your work with fresh eyes, making it easier to identify areas that require improvement. Ideally, you should wait at least a day, but for longer works, I would recommend several days (if not weeks). Again, you want to come in with a fresh perspective, removed from the initial excitement of finishing the draft. Strong emotions will often cloud our objective judgment, and one of the easiest traps to fall into is approach your work with clouded judgment. So the first step is to take as much time away as you can afford to.

Once you're ready to edit, start by reading through the entire piece without making any changes. This initial reading helps you grasp the overall flow and structure of your writing. Pay attention to the main ideas and how they connect; this will help you identify any gaps in logic or areas that may need further development.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating: read your work out loud. Oftentimes when we write, the words we put on paper sound vastly different when we hear them aloud, or even think them. And your readers are going to be "hearing" the narration in their heads, so reading out loud helps you identify areas where the flow and structure don't work, where the word choices are repetitive, and where dialogue sounds forced and unnatural. Therefore, for this initial read, read it out loud.

Next, focus on the content. Are your arguments well-supported? Do your characters' choices make sense? Are their motivations consistent with their actions? Ensure that your writing is not only

informative, but also engaging for your intended audience. If certain sections seem weak or unclear, consider rewriting them for better impact.

After addressing the content, shift your attention to the organization of your piece. Check that your ideas or story are presented in a logical sequence, and that each paragraph transitions smoothly to the next. If necessary, rearrange sections or paragraphs to improve the overall coherence of your work.

Then, turn to the language and style of your writing. Look for repetitive phrases or words, and strive to vary your vocabulary to maintain the reader's interest. Additionally, consider the tone of your piece; it should align with your audience and purpose. A formal tone may be appropriate for academic writing, while a conversational tone may be better suited for blog posts.

Grammar and punctuation are also critical components of self-editing. Carefully proofread your work for any spelling errors, typos, or grammatical mistakes. Tools such as grammar checkers can assist in this process, but they should not replace a thorough manual review. This is where reading your work aloud can once more be particularly helpful in catching errors that you might overlook when reading silently.

Finally, consider seeking feedback from trusted peers or mentors. A fresh perspective can provide valuable insights that you may not have considered. Incorporating constructive criticism into your revisions can further refine your writing and elevate its quality.

Remember, self-editing is an iterative process that requires patience and diligence. By following these steps—taking a break, reviewing content and organization, refining language and style, proofreading for errors, and seeking feedback—you can significantly enhance your writing, transforming your initial draft into a polished and compelling piece of work.

Conclusion

Editors offer fresh perspectives, catch errors, and refine your voice to resonate with your audience. They are essential in the publishing process, ensuring written content is clear and engaging across various mediums. Editors review manuscripts for structure, perform line editing for grammar and style, engage in fact-checking, and collaborate with authors to develop ideas. They maintain the voice and style of publications, and manage projects efficiently.

Still, I know that hiring an editor can be expensive, especially when you are a beginning author. This is where self-editing can become crucial. Learn to look at your work with a critical eye, have a clear concept of who your characters are so you can spot inconsistencies, and be certain to enlist the help of someone who will be honest. Success is difficult as it is, especially for a writer. So give yourself the best chance you can, and work towards a manuscript that is the best it can possibly be. If you'd like to reach out for a free consult, feel free to email me at charles@charlesmartinjr.com.

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