Comment

Comment by Diane O'Connell on January 10, 2012 at 2:46pm

@Lisa, it really is important to find an editor who "gets you." When shopping for an editor, you can tell a lot by the way she replies to your email or converses with you. You want to make sure you both "click." Short story: When I was a senior editor at a major magazine, we had a regular contributor who was truly funny and a bit snarky. Well, the ed-in-chief totally didn't get his humor and edited his pieces to the point where they were as bland as a slice of Wonderbread. Eventually, we lost that writer who went where his writing was better appreciated. There's no hard and fast rule about finding a good editor; it's really more about checking out the editor's credentials and seeing if you get a good feeling about him or her. I've actually turned down potential clients whose work I felt I couldn't click with. Ultimately, this was better for the writers who found editors who did understand what they were doing.

Comment by Zetta Brown on January 10, 2012 at 2:44pm

I'm an editor and edit other people's work for a living. I'm also an author and I know I need an editor. I'm not so vain to think that I don't. Pobody's nerfect.

Comment by Nella Freund on January 10, 2012 at 3:20am

Editing is vital - there is nothing more off-putting than an un-edited, badly punctuated, rambling manuscript with spelling mistakes. As for promotional signs or boards, Cape Town is rife with them, many very funny. Even newspapers have their headlines on lampposts with spelling mistakes (always that damn apostrophe).

Comment by Marie Cruz on January 9, 2012 at 7:20pm

I agree completely!!

Comment by K.L. Gore on January 9, 2012 at 7:03pm

As an avid reader, I completely agree. I don't mind an occasional error; even traditional publishing houses have editors who miss something once in a while. But so many of the self-published books I've purchased have been written by authors who don't seem to understand basic grammar or punctuation. It makes it difficult to read, even if the characters and plot are interesting.

Comment by Lisa Mae DeMasi on January 8, 2012 at 11:06am

Hi Maria, great post. I will soon be looking for a creative editor for my creative nonfiction memoir. It is written with sarcasm and wit, and I'll need an editor with the same frame of mind...

Comment by Alyson Miers on January 7, 2012 at 4:53pm

One of the cool things that happened with me in 2011 is that I asked She Writes to match me up with a creative editor, and they introduced me to Christina. I spent the next several months working with her advice on my debut novel, and sure it was tough, but as you say, better to hear it from a trusted friend/professional now than from lots of readers who wonder why they paid for the book. 

Comment by Mary L. Holden on January 7, 2012 at 11:25am

The category "creative editor" intrigues me. I think I've been doing something like this for my clients, only my goal is to help them best express themselves through their own voice. It's a little like coaching---I used to coach my daughter's softball team because I was lucky to have had good coaches when I was a young player. I am in the process of evaluating the way in which I contract to do business with authors and the idea of "creative editing" is a new concept that I will mull and discern. This is an incredibly valuable website and I am appreciative!

Comment by Juliet Greenwood on January 7, 2012 at 11:21am

Totally and utterly true! 

I found I learnt an incredible amount through the creative editing process. It made me a much better writer and gave me the courage to be far more ambitious and dig deeper, especially in emotional scenes. I've never worked so hard or been challenged so much. But it was worth it. 

I've just finished copy-editing my book - my goodness, that was an eye-opener. The eye sees what it thinks is there, especially after being over the same thing again and again. 

I wish I'd learnt all this before I found a publisher - all those years running round in circles. Hmm. 

But better late than never .....

Comment by Catherine McNamara on January 7, 2012 at 6:15am

I have just spent six months on and off with a creative and copy editor on my debut novel. I had no idea it would be so tough! I don't know how many times we went through the book and there always seemed to be something I couldn't believe I had overlooked. I think it is near impossible to prepare your own work for publication. Best, cat

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