| I recently read something that leads to me to | | | | work. But I also make it crystal clear, if a writer is |
| feel that the field of professional book editing | | | | serious about having material considered by a |
| needs to be covered in more detail. | | | | major royalty publisher, at some point the draft |
| Editors in the U.S. have a Poor Reputation Abroad. | | | | will require a professional review. |
| Really? | | | | Here is What Editors Do |
| I happened upon an Internet message board for | | | | Professional editing is not about correcting |
| writers on which someone was asking if hiring an | | | | grammatical errors, punctuation, and syntax |
| editor to critique a novel was a good idea. When I | | | | issues, even though certainly anything a writer |
| read a little further, I noticed the person was | | | | might have missed will be identified. Editing at a |
| specifically asking about me and my company. | | | | professional level entails considering a work related |
| This was certainly okay, as I always strongly | | | | to its publishability in the current literary market; |
| recommend scrutinizing any potential editor, agent | | | | and specifically what it will require to polish a draft |
| or publisher. But what really piqued my interest | | | | so it will be accepted for review by a respected |
| was a reply from a person from Great Britain | | | | royalty publisher. Depth of characterization, quality |
| who said that editors were respected in his | | | | of the characters, character arcing, transitioning of |
| country--but that their contemporaries in the U.S. | | | | the exposition and dialogue, dialogue quality, |
| did not enjoy the same standing! | | | | dialogue rhythm, story pacing, the pitch of the |
| Rationale that Defies Logic | | | | scenes, lack of contrivance, point-of-view |
| There were no comments one way or the other | | | | consistency, redundant words and phrases (this is |
| on the man's query regarding me or my services, | | | | a bigger deal than most amateurs think), the |
| but it was mentioned that book editors had been | | | | strength of the story, and the overall readability |
| the source of a number of recent threads, so I | | | | of the narrative, are just some of the issues an |
| decided to venture further into the site. Two | | | | editor must address. |
| hours later I pushed back from the computer, | | | | An Amateur Can't Know What the Industry is |
| aghast at what I'd read. With few exceptions | | | | Looking for |
| (very few), there were dozens upon dozens of | | | | For many experienced writers, this is the |
| posts vociferously denouncing editors. One of the | | | | number-one reason to employ a professional |
| site's apparent gurus firmly stated that it would | | | | editor, since he or she will know what is working |
| be of no value to hire an editor, because if a | | | | in the business at a given point in time--and what |
| publisher sent a manuscript back to an author for | | | | isn't. The professional editor will also know where |
| correction, if an editor had been used, what would | | | | and with whom agents are placing work. This is |
| the writer do, since the person (sic, independently) | | | | particularly important because there are |
| would be incapable of properly making the | | | | sometimes esoteric happenings in the publishing |
| requested modifications. | | | | industry of which only an editor and other insiders |
| If Professional Editors are Such a Bad Idea, Why | | | | will be aware. |
| do so Many Best-Selling Authors Praise them? | | | | A Professional Editor can Save a Writer a lot of |
| Logic like what I'd just reported doesn't deserve | | | | Money, Time, and Aggravation |
| the compliment of rationale opposition, to quote | | | | It doesn't cost a lot of money to have a |
| Jane Austen, but let me at least provide a little | | | | professional editor read a manuscript and provide |
| help for those who universally defamed | | | | a critique. For even some of the most competent |
| professional editing. As one lone brave contrarian | | | | editors, it's usually around a buck per |
| who responded to the thread stated, if editors | | | | double-spaced page. Isn't it a lot better to find out |
| are such a horrible idea, why do so many | | | | from a professional if a work has a chance, |
| best-selling authors, in their respective | | | | rather than to send out queries and submission |
| Acknowledgements, extol the value of those who | | | | packages with no idea of the true caliber of the |
| edit for them? To step farther onto this cold | | | | material? Over the years I've read an inordinate |
| deck, I'd like to see a list of best-selling authors | | | | number of drafts from writers who have spent |
| who say they don't use an editor. I even noticed | | | | years promoting work that has no chance of |
| a piece the other day from a man who has | | | | being published in the condition in which I received |
| edited for both Stephen King and John Grissom. | | | | it. And what unfortunately happens is that this |
| Both of those authors must surely need to have | | | | sort of often-rejected writer becomes disillusioned |
| their head examined for employing this fellow in | | | | and at times even bitter. |
| the past. | | | | Having a Work Professionally Edited is a Means to |
| There is a Time when Amateurs Critiquing other | | | | an End |
| Amateurs Doesn't Work | | | | For the overwhelming number of writers who are |
| I facilitate writing workshops sponsored by the | | | | with major royalty publishers, professional editing |
| local library system, and at times I encourage | | | | is not only a means to reach a satisfactory result, |
| workshop participants to critique each other's | | | | but the only way. |