How To Find And Work With A Professional Editor
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- Опубликовано: 1 авг 2024
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I love editors and proofreaders! They make our books better! If you are self-publishing, you need to edit your book pre-publication, if you are aiming for a traditional publishing deal, you want to submit the best book you can, so using an editor to improve your craft can be well worth it.
In this video, I cover:
- How a professional editor will improve your work
- How you can't see your own mistakes as a writer - my experience with editing the Penny Appleton books www.PennyAppleton.com
- Learning about the writing craft and my experience with Stone of Fire jfpenn.com/book/stone-of-fire/
- How an editor makes the best of your work - IF you work with the right editor who loves your genre e.g. don't work with a literary fiction editor if you write vampire erotica :)
- Addressing new writers' concerns about editors or proofreaders 'stealing' their work and how to best protect yourself. I also recommend Helen Sedwick's book, The Self-Publisher's Legal Handbook around copyright and contracts
- The main different types of editor - content/ developmental edit ,technical editor, line edit/copy edit, proofreading,
- Costs of editors - depending on the type of edit, your book length, your experience and their experience
- Why beta readers are different to editors
- How I used beta readers for cultural opinions on Risen Gods (set in New Zealand with a Maori male protagonist) - jfpenn.com/book/risengods/ and also with Destroyer of Worlds, set in India - jfpenn.com/book/destroyer-of-...
- For non-fiction, we used medical professionals to check The Healthy Writer - www.thecreativepenn.com/healt...
- Why you need to book editors in advance
- Recommendations on how to find a professional editor.
Check out my list: www.TheCreativePenn.com/editors
- How the process works - Track Changes
- The mindset issues around fear of criticism and the knock to your writer's ego after you get back an edit :)
It is their job to make your work better so don't expect a pat on the back!
In regards to the plusses and minuses of beta readers, that was one thing a creative writing degree was useful for: sifting through feedback and figuring out who's providing useful feedback that resonates and who isn't. If someone does use beta readers, I'd offer two pieces of advice.
First, it's okay to ignore the feedback if it doesn't resonate. It's your story. Do what you want. The feedback that's most useful is from ideal readers for your story about feeling X on a section where you were going for Y... and you can see what you did wrong and how you want to fix it.
My second piece of advice is deals with editing out voice. Readers often approach a piece like they're trying to fix what's wrong with it. You might see one person have a problem with a tweak here, someone else with something small there, and fix all of those things and realize that your work is becoming technically better but actually less interesting. The first thing you should ask your beta readers to do is to mark the things they love, the characters and moments that excited them, and the things they want to make sure you don't change. If twenty readers loved a line and didn't say anything, but one reader didn't care much for it and you changed it, you've done more harm than good to your manuscript. Readers can't help but find the bad. Double down up front on making sure they know to mark the good so you're not editing out your voice.
And definitely give ice cream to the beta readers that are your ideal readers and give good feedback. It's cheaper than paying $2k-7k for a developmental editor.
It's really difficult, finding the right editor. It's more than just choosing genre-specific people, you have to find the right combination of personality and care in the craft. If someone is just looking for payment, they aren't going to "care" that much about your work. Another great video, Jo!
It is hard - and a bit like dating. You have to try a few before you find the right fit ... and then you'll probably need a new one at some point in the future when your writing has matured :)
Cheers Joanna. After seeing Ricardo on your podcast, I've been using Reedsy to find copy editors, which seems to be working well, so far. It's a bit pricey and a little nerve wracking, but you're paying for vetted professionals, so it's probably worth it. For someone like me with a strongly independent mindset, I realised that putting a monetary value on my work also puts a psychological value on it, too. A financial stake in doing it right and making my book a success is a better driver than personal pride alone!
You'll also be learning every time which makes your writing better with each book!
Thank you for this! I'm enjoying the flow of the first draft and not looking forward to editing as it seems like a lot of work and like it will take more time. Hopefully I'll enjoy that process as well
Thanks for the advice! 😁 Always good to see your videos.
Outstanding information. Very detailed, and helpful.
You have so much helpful info, Joanna! I appreciate your channel and blog so much. (And I’m not even a blog reader!)
I'm so glad you like it - and part of the reason for doing videos is to reach people who don't read the blog :)
Excellent. Thanks.
Great information! Thank you!
Thank you! Video was stacked with such good info
A wealth of information as usual!
Glad you enjoy the show :)
It is an excellent video with tips and advice for new writers starting out. Thanks
Glad you found it useful :)
I will forever need an editor for my commas. That's probably what I have the hardest time with.
Me too. I also have trouble with colons and semicolons.
that's why I use Grammarly first :) commas are my nemesis!
I'm doing an exchange editing with a friend writer (I know it's not the best, but we write in Italian and I don't like any of the editors I've seen around) and it's impressive how many mistakes I see in her writing while I know I'm doing the same ones 😂😂😂
Also, thanks for the advices on how and when read the edited file, it helps a lot, when you see your manuscript butchered 😂
It's always easier to see mistakes in other people's work :) great way to learn!
OMG! I was worried about that too, as a new writer until now I didn't trust anyone with my manuscripts, so I need copyrights for sure 😅
It's a very common worry for new writers, but once you get into it, you realize it's not a big issue!
The Creative Penn 🙂👍
This is very handy, thank you!
Is it necessary to write in American English, to sell to the American market? I'm a South African born Australian, so British English would be fine, but I'm not sure I could get all the Americanisms, if I tried to adapt my writing for that market. But, obviously I would want to be able to sell my books in the US!
You get to choose :) There are no rules.
Now, if you are translating a book. Is the editing process different? Or should i go through the same steps?
You still need an editor.
Your editor shouldn't be telling you "Yeah in chapter five it a little slow so add a ninja attack."
especially if it is a regency cozy mystery :)
It always cracks me the hell up when people think editors are going to steal their manuscript. It's like, Jesus Christ, please do steal it! Let me know when you make it a bestseller so I can sue you for it, k thnks
It still surprises me how often I get emails about that very thing! It's a very common worry amongst new writers.
It's not editors that you need to worry about doing this, it's other writers. I don't take location-based writing classes anymore, because I've had material stolen every time I take a class. Literally, every time.
Does an editor help actually write a book. Sounds silly I know. I have a raw draft. I'm seeking someone to help me write it. I'm not quite sure whom to seek out.
No, an editor won't write it for you - they will help to improve your manuscript when you have finished. You can hire a ghostwriter if you want someone to write it for you.
@@thecreativepenn I am in Africa. You know our style is slightly different. Can I get an editor through you to work on my drafts?
Any recommendation for a professional editor by a name ? 😅
You have to find one yourself :) but here's a list of names for starters: www.thecreativepenn.com/editors
The Creative Penn thank you so much 😀
Editor basically fixes your writing and makes it look professional?
They help improve your work so it is a better experience for the reader. But your job is still to make it the best you can before submission.
We provide editing services of all kind including:
Proofreading
Fact checking
Copy editing
Line editing
Developmental editing
Our turnover time is 14 days
We take payment only after the author is satisfied with the service
My qualifications are as below:
M.phil English Literature
And currently i am doing PhD English literature
I have experiences that can be provided on demand.
Our prices are as below and are negotiable
Proofreading= 0.50 USD/page
Fact checking= 0.50 USD/page
Copy Editing= 1 USD/page
Line Editing= 1.5 USD/page
Developmental Editing= 4 USD/page
Discount on collective services available
We will provide
A final edited file
A file with highlighted changes and notes that why we changed it
And any documentation or thing you will require
Regards
Muhammad