Another Sense Makes Sense and Saves Cents

I’ve been reading a discussion on an apparent lack of editing in traditionally published books. According to the comments, errors abound in at least some of the works that come out of the big houses. This is disturbing because a lot of us who choose to self-publish look to traditional publishing as a model. On the other hand, it opens a door of opportunity for us to leave our mark on the reading public. Whether we’re going for the hard-copy market or running headlong into the e-book age, we who self-pub can control the quality of our books and build a fan base that appreciates an error-free, great story.

In the past, we’ve discussed the importance of self-editing as the first step on the road to publication. That importance is even more essential now as poor quality books seep into the marketplace from previously revered publishers. Typically, self-editing is accomplished by careful reading and rereading of our manuscripts to find errors. The downside of this method is we know the story so well that we tend to read what we think is there rather than what may actually be on the page (or monitor).

The sense we employ in self-editing and proofing our work is sight, which, of course, is the obvious choice. However, we can at least double our effectiveness by adding another sense—sound. Recording our words, playing them back, and listening carefully provide an effective way to gauge flow and hear areas that need tweaking. An even better option is to have someone else record our words. Why? Another person will avoid the downside noted above by reading exactly what’s on the page because he or she doesn’t know the story. (Be sure to choose a good reader; one who stumbles through the reading will not give you an accurate depiction of the way your work will be perceived by your audience.) While this step may be time-consuming, it’s well worth the effort—even if you have to pay a modest fee for an outside reader to record your book. You will no doubt recoup your investment in the reduction of editing fees, as well as the cost of reprints after errors are discovered in your published book and in the reputation you will earn as an excellent writer.

Have you ever recorded your manuscript—or had someone else record it? Do you use other means to eliminate mistakes and polish your story? How do you react when you read a book that’s filled with errors?

Linda Lane and her editing team work with writers to translate mediocrity into excellence. The best story in the world will succumb to error-filled pages and miss out on the accolades and fans it should have if it is not polished to a high shine. Writing a book is an investment in time, effort, and money. Making it the best it can be only makes good sense. Visit her at www.denvereditor.com.