![]() My manuscript has to be written once, the reading and editing have gone on over and over. So, what is the best approach to editing? I have been hearing other writers processes for editing. Some seem to do it many times and some seem to do it only a few times. Some writers have an editor and some don't. To date I have had three people edit my book...mainly for typos but the first also did many over-all transitions and plot line comments. The second did mainly proofing and the really nitty gritty of style and the third did more about anything in the plot line that seems wishy washy or not real enough. I took all into account and of course, made changes based on their suggestions. A few times if it didn't seem relevant or where I wanted to go, then I didn't use that suggestion. Simple. My manuscript and I have the final say which is very nice. I believe quite different than if an outside editor does in when you have a contract with a publishing house. I shall be going to hear two authors debate about which is better, online publishing or self publishing. As someone who has approached with children's books and come very close to being published, I am well aware of the expense of going this route. The simple truth is I simply cannot afford an agent or the expense of approaching authors so I am very happy and grateful to have publishing on demand and on line publishing. And it isn't like the old vanity press, it is much easier and far cheaper but you still can get a book out there. And Amazon is the biggest bookstore/search engine for books out there I believe. So what the hell. I may not make much money, but at least I can say and hold a book I wrote. That is the great thing about it. It gives anyone the opportunity to get something out there even if they aren't rich or have contacts. As for the editing, I am going to settle with one editor now that I know more about the whole writing process and what there is to look for in a story since before I was just fumbling around in the dark. I think now, instead of three read throughs, I will do one in the beginning and then an editor, then another read through, print off and review. As it stands now I shall have had three different edits, I have read through twice and will have to go over again and proof my hard copy proof so oh joy oh bliss! This is not a mistake I shall make again. My latest run through has been to make style choices on internal verses external dialogue and whether I will italics or put anything in quotation marks, indeed what I will put in quotation marks and if anything will be in large print or italics. This all may sound easy, however there is a lot of nitty gritty things like a titbit or a tidbit. The first is British and the second Canadian and American. Who knew? Canadians spell some words with a "z" while others spell it with an "s". And so on. Decisions, decisions. Questions like which words get hyphens and which words don't and which words are compound. Of course, those decisions are usually made by the editor of a publishing house, however if you are just folks learning and doing, it means coming up with steadfast and consistent rules. Now that I have made up my mind on style, it is much easier to be consistent and do research on the style when you need it. My problem is, I didn't know enough about the different styles to know which one to choose so my main editor couldn't be consistent. Now we both have learned things. That is the fun part of working with an editor who is also growing. She may not be professional anymore, but she is still getting current and good. Which means she is also flexible. It makes me feel like I have some say in the editing process. Now though, since we both have discovered what is required to be consistent, next book will go much faster and I am determined to have fewer run throughs. Choosing Canadian may seem the logical choice but who said anything about logic when your a writer? Getting there but now time to pull it all together. As an visual artist I learned a long time ago, having an idea is great, getting it on the canvas and blocked in is wonderful, but the real work comes with pulling it all together, and it is, as I am finding, no different when writing a book. This can be a stage that many writers can fall down with...so they write a book and spend 25 years editing it! I have heard this! So keep on, Yes it takes time, but it is just part of the process and one every writer has to deal with.
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June 2024
AuthorArtist, Buddhist, Educator, Traveller, Cabinet Maker, kayaker, etc and now writer! |