My Rant: Is Editing Ever Elective?

Earlier this month, Diana Hurwitz posted a great article entitled "Do You Need an Editor?" Supporting her contention that all writers do, she wrote, “Errors are speed bumps that affect the reader’s enjoyment of the ride you are taking them on.” She's absolutely right.

Aren't editors expensive? They can be. See the industry standard prices posted at The Editorial Freelancers Association? Sadly, though, big bucks don’t guarantee excellent editing. How do you find a good editor—the right one for your project? Ask fellow writers who they used. Were they satisfied with the result? Get recommendations at bookstores. Request references from any editor you are considering; the good ones shouldn’t object. Read a book or two they’ve edited. Are the characters lifelike, three-dimensional people? Does the story move smoothly forward? Whose POV is it told in? Do you always know who’s talking? Is the action realistic? Does the ending satisfy you, or does it leave you hanging? Does the punctuation (or lack of it) confuse you about the meaning of some sentences or paragraphs? Is the editor you’re considering mentioned in the acknowledgements? Request contact information for the writers they’ve work with and ask those writers about their experience with that editor. Then look at price. Remember that not all good editors are expensive; in fact, some are very reasonable.

Suppose you have no budget for an editor. Find alternatives! Purchase a grammar/punctuation book if you are lacking in those areas—and use it. (See Elle Neal Carter's article "Sharpen Your Editing Skills with Noah Lukeman" posted September 16.) Read the reviews of grammar books on Amazon to find one that has been helpful to others and that fits your needs. As an editor, I rely on The Chicago Manual of Style, but this big book can intimidate beginning users—opt for an easier one unless you already have significant grammar skills. Do you know good writers you could barter with? ("You read and critique my manuscript, and I’ll do the same for you.") Did you have a good relationship with your former English teacher/professor? He or she might be willing to look over the mechanics of your work. Does someone at your local library know of a writers’ group in your area? If not, check out online possibilities for critique groups. Read comments posted by current members or those who have belonged in the past. Does the group get positive feedback? Create a list of beta readers—people who love to read, will recognize a great story, and will give you honest criticism on your book’s strengths and weaknesses. Remember that editing is never elective. Sometimes we have to think outside the box to get it done.

Rant: Too many self-published writers do not take the steps necessary to create professional-level works. Unfortunately, the ripple effect of their sub-standard books impacts those of us who also self-pub and who strive diligently to put out great stories. Why? Because writers who don't take quality seriously have collectively earned a reputation as second-rate rejects from the big houses—unworthy of publication—and that spills over on the rest of us who self-publish. We have an uphill battle to overcome that reputation. However, we can do so by always remembering that effective editing in some form is a must in every book we publish.

What types of editing do you use? If your circumstances don’t allow you to hire an expensive freelancer, how to you turn your story into a well-polished final product that will please your readers?
 

Linda Lane and her editing team mentor and encourage writers at all phases of the writing process. To learn more about what they do, please visit them at www.denvereditor.com.