How do you self-edit your books before submitting or
publishing? What sort of feedback do want for from an editor when you use one?
How has an editor improved your writing in the past?
Another interesting topic and one I’m sure we have all
gone through. It might also be of interest to readers to see how we try and publish
the best possible book. The process for my self-editing starts by writing the
first draft. I usually write the book without editing as I go. Then I go back
and read through it and make changes. When I finish the second writing, I run it
through spell-check. After that I use Autocrit to pick up more spelling, grammar
and formatting errors. Then I read it
through, out loud for most of it. After
that I send it to an editor for her critique and input. When she returns it, I
go through and make all the corrections and send it off to my beta reader who
does a critique for spelling and grammar. I make the corrections when she sends
it back and that’s it.
I do use an editor. I’m looking for concept and any major issues she sees – telling instead of showing, character’s eyes change color part-way through the story, anything that might pull a reader out of the story, obvious punctuation errors I may have missed, and her general comments about the flow of the story, characterizations, etc. Basically I’m looking for anything that will make my book better for my readers.
Often an editor will include a sheet of editing tips
which I review, and it does help as I self edit and review my story.
Looking forward to reading and learning how authors
handle this.Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/
Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/
Anne Stenhouse http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/
A.J. Maguire http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/
Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-1yE
Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com
Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog
Judith Copek http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/
Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobincourtright.com
A fresh set if eyes is always a good idea. No matter how many times we edit our own work, there always remain things we didn't see. Even when I've gotten it back from a copy editor, I've found mistakes they didn't catch. It's a hard job for anyone.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, Skye. And then when it's published someone always finds one more we didn't catch.
DeleteIt took me some time to accept that my writing was not perfect and I needed other sets of eyes to put me on the right path! Bless my critique partners, they are gold.
ReplyDeleteCritique partners are wonderful. I used to have a couple, but they moved on.
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd posted earlier, but obviously didn't press the right buttons. You are right about reading the manuscript aloud, sound often clearly marks the mistakes. Good post, thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by, Rhobin.
DeleteYes reading aloud is a must. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Connie. Glad you dropped by.
DeleteHi Beverley, How brave to do that first draft without editing as you go. I've only managed it, and partially, once with Bella's Betrothal. It did give the book a lot of energy, but I found it hard to ignore all the red! anne
ReplyDeleteLOL! I'm not sure it's brave. When I start writing I find I want to keep moving ahead and finding out where the story is going. If I edit, the flow stops.
DeleteThanks for the tip abut Autocrit. I have never used it but will give it a try. You obviously think hiring an editor is worthwhile. Not sure I can afford one, but will think harder about it. Good post.
ReplyDelete
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