Why You Need A Professional Editor BEFORE You Try To Sell Your Novel by Victory Crayne
By Jerry D. Simmons | August 29th, 2007 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
You pour your heart and soul into writing this novel. You believe in it. But why can’t you get an agent or publisher to help you? And if you chose self-publishing, why can’t you sell more copies? You know you enjoyed writing it. Why aren’t more people interested in reading and enjoying it? You’ve read that the odds are long and that persistence is the key to your writing success.
But darn it, why aren’t more people interested in it?!
The reason why could be staring you in the face. Maybe, just maybe, your novel needs some professional help.
Those who self-publish desperately seek a solution and may think it lies in paying for a publicist or marketing. But the main reason it fails to sell to an agent, publisher, or buyers may be that the story is weak and poorly told.
Hundreds of thousands of people are writing novels these days. Almost all of them start with what they think is an interesting concept. They spend months, sometimes years, writing the novel. To help them finish, they cling to the daydream of becoming a well known and highly successful author. In their mind, they see their book in the major bookstores. They picture themselves signing autograph copies for smiling buyers.
You hold on to your dream while you finish your story. You write a query letter and synopsis and send off dozens of letters.
Then reality sets in. Nobody seems to want it. You even give copies to some friends and ask them to read it. But they tell you the next day it was “interesting” but not the kind of book they like. Do you give talks and book signings, but end up taking most of your books home? Again?
This is not turning out to be like your dream, is it?
Instead of trying harder with the same manuscript, how about getting a professional editor to look at it? Learn why you are having so much trouble selling it. You may need two types of editing.
1. Copy editing
Copy editing marks or fixes spelling, grammar, punctuation, excessive use of adverbs and adjectives, weak or wrong word choice, typos, etc. In other words, the “English” of your writing.
For this, you can use someone who has a keen eye for English, such as a college graduate in English or literature, a journalist, or an editor of a magazine, newspaper, publishing company, etc. It is better if you can use someone with experience in copy editing and who understands the rules of English writing that the publishing industry follows. Your brother-in-law may not be good enough.
2. Content (or “developmental”) editing
This type of editing focuses on the story and how you wrote it. This is what you may need the most.
Content editing will point out such things as:
- A slow start of your story
- A lack of tension and conflict
- Too much or too little description of the settings of scenes
- Weak characterization of the main characters
- Telling of emotions and descriptions instead of showing
- Lack of emotion
- Point of view errors (”head hopping”)
- Excessive number of characters
- Credibility of your dialogue
- Whether you’ve used a strong author’s voice or not
- Is your protagonist compelling?
- Is your antagonist credible and strong enough for tension?
- And much more.
In addition—and the most important—is feedback on your plot.
- Is it compelling?
- Does it grab and hold readers?
- Do you have too many subplots?
- Do the stakes increase and culminate in a tense crisis and resolution that satisfies the reader?
- Or is the ending too predictable?
- Do some chapters and scenes slow the story down too much?
- Is your protagonist compelling?
- Is your antagonist credible, strong enough, and likely to beat your protagonist so the reader experiences tension until the resolution?
- Is your story a page-turner or a put-downer?
Have you written a story that best allows your reader to enjoy escaping his/her own world? That’s the main reason why people buy novels, isn’t it? It may have been exciting to you to write it, but is it exciting to read? You may have described the movie in your head, but did you write it so your reader can see the same movie? And get excited about it?
A good professional editor can help you see the weaknesses in your story and its writing and can help you improve on them. Sometimes it is even better to learn that your first novel cannot be rescued and you’d be better off working on another one.
Why beat yourself up with your lack of success? Learn what you did wrong or weak and how to do a better job. Hire a good professional editor.
Victory Crayne is an independent professional fiction editor and writing coach/mentor. Visit her website at www.crayne.com for the answers to many of your questions. Then email her at victory@crayne.com.
Interviewing an Editor: The 7 Questions You Need to Ask by Lauren Hidden
By Jerry D. Simmons | August 22nd, 2007 | 1 Comment » (Click to add yours!)
Maintaining editorial control is one aspect of self-publishing many authors love. However, some authors equate “editorial control” with “I edited it myself” or “My friend the high-school English teacher edited my book.” But just as mainstream publishers employ professional editors, so should independent authors. If done well, an independently published book should be indistinguishable from a traditionally published one—inside and out. This includes a catchy title, an attractive cover, and most importantly, flowing, logical, and professionally edited text.
Though it may be tempting to save money and do it yourself, self-editing is not a good substitute for professional editing. Having an objective, experienced eye to evaluate and edit your work is worth its weight in gold. A good editor won’t just fix your grammar and usage oversights, but will let you know what sections in your book need to be expanded, clarified, or removed. In fiction, an editor will also make sure your story stays consistent, not just in tone, but in plot and “voice” as well. Your editor will let you know about all the problems you (or your friend the high-school English teacher) weren’t aware of.
Once you’ve accepted that you need an editor, the next step is to choose the right one. Putting your “baby” in someone else’s hands can be a little scary. And, as with any profession, there are good editors and not-so-good ones, so do your homework. Reputation carries a lot of weight in this field. Ask other authors and industry gurus (agents, book publicists, publishing consultants, etc.) for recommendations. Another good source to find independent editors is in the acknowledgements section of other self-published books you like—good editors usually receive glowing praise.
Once you’ve come up with names of potential editors, it’s time for the “interview.” Send an email or pick up the phone. Then use these 7 questions to evaluate whether or not the prospective editor is a good fit for you:
- 1) “What genre(s) do you specialize in?” Editing a book written for 4 to 7-year-olds requires different knowledge and expertise than a “how to” book on financial planning. Make sure the editor you’ll be working with is experienced in the type of book you’re writing.
- 2) “What is your editing process?” Editing can be a very time-intensive process. Your editor might describe an initial read-through to get an overall “feel” for the book, another sweep for a content edit, a return to you for input and reviewing of changes, another copy edit, and a final proofread or two. Whatever the specific process, you should be satisfied that your editor will dedicate the appropriate time and energy to your manuscript.
- 3) “What are your rates?” Editors will charge by the project, by the word, by the page, or by the hour. Do you prefer a flat, all-inclusive rate, or one that is open-ended? If an editor asks to see your manuscript before giving you a project rate, don’t be alarmed. Editors that set custom rates need to see what they’ll be working with to give you a fair price.
- 4) “What are your payment terms?” Does the editor require payment in advance? Fifty percent down and fifty percent at completion? Three equal payments? What forms of payment does the editor accept? If you need to pay by credit card and the editor only accepts cash and checks, it’s better to know that upfront.
- 5) “Will you complete a brief sample edit for free?” Most editors will agree to edit a few pages for free. It’s better for both of you to know up-front if your styles match. Keep in mind though, the editor does not have the complete perspective of the book and the sample edit may vary from the final one. It should, however, give you an idea of their editing style.
- 6) “Will you be doing the actual editing?” Sometimes the person you’re speaking with during an initial consult will not be the person editing your book. Ask who your editor will be and why that person was chosen. A good company will match you with the editor that is the best fit for your manuscript.
- 7) “What is your turnaround time?” Since many editors only work on one book at a time, talented editors often have a backlog. Make sure they can deliver your book within the timeframe you need. If they can’t, ask for referrals to other editors they know and trust.
If you have additional questions, go ahead and ask. I’ve been asked about my favorite author, my favorite book, my muse, etc. If it’s not overly personal, it’s fair game! The main goal is to feel comfortable with your editor. Ask for referrals, ask the right questions, and then go with your gut. Working with your editor can be an intense (though short-lived) relationship, so make sure your editor is someone you will enjoy working with. Once you’ve made a decision, be sure to get your agreement in writing, outlining all the expectations and terms on both sides. A good editor will have a fair work agreement or contract.
Finally, enjoy the editing process. You will be thrilled to see your editor take your manuscript from good to great. When you see the changes, you’ll undoubtedly think, “Why didn’t I think of that?” And you can rest assured that your finished book will be a joy for your readers, and an accomplishment you can be proud of.
Lauren Hidden is the owner of The Hidden Helpers, a ghostwriting, editorial services, and book design firm. She is the co-author of Write It Right, The Ground Rules for Self-Editing Like the Pros and Entrepreneurial Freedom: How to Start and Grow a Profitable Virtual Assistance Practice. For more information, visit The Hidden Helpers on the web at http://www.thehiddenhelpers.com, or email your seven questions or more to Lauren@thehiddenhelpers.com.
