4. Editor
– this you can and should hire someone to do for you. But if you write badly,
it will cost you wayyy too much. Therefore, you must learn to edit yourself first. (See blog post Jan 8th, What have I gotten myself into?)
I hope you understood what I meant by this comment.
Because a huge error a number of Indie authors have made in the past and are
probably still making is insufficient
editing. I have been a culprit myself way back in the beginning and the reviews
from the readers who caught me still sting. Not because they’re untrue—but because
they are.
Because a huge error a number of Indie authors have made in the past and are
probably still making is insufficient
editing. I have been a culprit myself way back in the beginning and the reviews
from the readers who caught me still sting. Not because they’re untrue—but because
they are.
Before I explain, I want you to know, that anyone
who thinks their work is “good enough” and they don’t need a professional
editor is a fool. Not only are they gambling with their reputation, they’re taking
a chance on losing a discerning reader who could be a potential fan and most important of all, they’re passing up the opportunity to learn from an
expert.
who thinks their work is “good enough” and they don’t need a professional
editor is a fool. Not only are they gambling with their reputation, they’re taking
a chance on losing a discerning reader who could be a potential fan and most important of all, they’re passing up the opportunity to learn from an
expert.
Now that we’ve gotten that straight, let’s go back
to my comment. When I said that you must learn to edit yourself first, it’s
exactly what I meant and with the emphasis on the word “first”. In our long list, this is the next occupation
you have to take on in this career as an author.
to my comment. When I said that you must learn to edit yourself first, it’s
exactly what I meant and with the emphasis on the word “first”. In our long list, this is the next occupation
you have to take on in this career as an author.
If you’re one of those writers who like to zip
through the first draft and not stop to make any corrections, then your work is
obviously in sore need of a keen eye and lots of revision. This is where you come in. By the time you’ve finished
the book and go back, you should be reading the beginning with fairly fresh eyes
that can see the obvious mistakes easily.
through the first draft and not stop to make any corrections, then your work is
obviously in sore need of a keen eye and lots of revision. This is where you come in. By the time you’ve finished
the book and go back, you should be reading the beginning with fairly fresh eyes
that can see the obvious mistakes easily.
Therefore, it’s up to you, the author, to revise the
book to a level as clean as you can make it. Sometimes that means two, three
and even four passes through the work to pick up all the corrections necessary.
If that’s the case, do it!
book to a level as clean as you can make it. Sometimes that means two, three
and even four passes through the work to pick up all the corrections necessary.
If that’s the case, do it!
In the long run, it will save you time later on
during the editing stage. It can keep down the charges because some editors
base their fees on how long it takes them on the corrections. And… the cleaner that
manuscript is when you send it away, the better the chance you’ll end up with an
almost flawless product.
during the editing stage. It can keep down the charges because some editors
base their fees on how long it takes them on the corrections. And… the cleaner that
manuscript is when you send it away, the better the chance you’ll end up with an
almost flawless product.
I say almost because I have two wonderful editors, a
fantastic proof-reader and my own three passes through the material and there’s
still times when someone I consider an angel will point out mistakes we’ve all
missed.
fantastic proof-reader and my own three passes through the material and there’s
still times when someone I consider an angel will point out mistakes we’ve all
missed.
***I would ask a favor from you, please. If you have
a minute, would you sign up for my newsletter? I send them approximately once a
month, I don’t promote as much as share my news and I consider them letters to
friends more than a business blurb. Also… be assured that I would never pass on
your information.
a minute, would you sign up for my newsletter? I send them approximately once a
month, I don’t promote as much as share my news and I consider them letters to
friends more than a business blurb. Also… be assured that I would never pass on
your information.
Hugs, Mimi
