What Are Editors Good For?

I’ve written here before about editors…

And, many writers have some interesting relationships with them.

But, first, it’ll be good to decide what kind of editor we’re talking about.

Here are a couple links that describe various types of editors:

NetRead

CareerBear

GoodReads

I gave you three because different people have different ideas about not only what kind of editors there are but also what the different editors are supposed to do…

I sincerely hope a few readers of this post who are writers and have experience with editors will weigh in on this topic in the Comments.

For those who have no experience, reading the info at those links may give you enough to make a comment or two but I have another idea.

A video with Joel Friedlander interviewing a Developmental Editor, Alan Rinzler. who’s quite well-known in the United States.

By the way, whether or not you’ve had experience with an editor, please don’t believe everything Mr. Rinzler says.

Just like I’ve warned readers about “Rules” for writers, I must warn about “Musts” with editors.

Watch the video, perhaps check the links, think about it, and I’ll meet you in the Comments :-)

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This Editor Needs An Editor . . .

Short post today…

I’ve written a number of posts about editing and editors here.

I had one editor for my last book, as well as a few folks who read various incarnations of the manuscript.

After it was published, I found eight typos and a few other small errors.

My next book will have eight Beta Readers and two editors…

So, there’s this post I read recently on another blog by an editor—one who presents himself with many credentials:

“I’ve been a publisher, a developmental editor, a line (or substantive) editor, a copy editor, a proofreader, a fact checker, a print layout and ebook designer, a rights-and-permissions researcher, a cover designer, an audiobook producer… and even an author.”

I’m just an Indie author living on a small pension, very lucky to have a group of people check my work without having to pay them.

This man is putting himself out as a total Pro…

Here’s the post’s link (the basic info is reasonably good): 7 Deadly Myths and 3 Inspired Truths About Book Editing.

The following sentence is from that post…

“If the changes or suggestions have to do he or she was most likely trying to make the prose in your manuscript consistent with a standard.”

Sure, it’s only a blog post.

Sure, everyone makes mistakes.

Yet, surely, a final read-through of that post should have caught such a malformed sentence…

Authors do need editors.

Apparently, some editors also need editors…

Sure hope there aren’t any typos in this post :-)
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Should Writers Fear Editors?

Some writers rely on editors to raise the value of their work; some seem to cast the editor as the nemesis to free expression.

I’m heading into the writing of two new books with much anticipatory joy because I’ll have two editors for each book…

Alan Rinzler is a seasoned consulting editor; and, you can even view a list of some of the authors Mr. Rinzler has worked with.

Alan, in his article, Fear of Editors, delves into the Realities of the Author/Editor relationship by clearing up the following, common Perceptions:

“I’ll lose control of my own creation.”

“I’ll be intimidated, and won’t be able to resist making changes that I think are wrong.  I worry that the book will lose my voice.”

“I can’t tell if an editor is any good or not since there’s no rating system, license, or industry standard.”

“Agents won’t take on my book if I’ve worked with a private editor.”

“If I do get an agent or publisher, I won’t be able to produce another book as good as the first one without help.”

“An editor will produce a new manuscript and I won’t be able to restore the original if that’s what I decide to do.”

“I’m already in a writer’s critique group and don’t need any other help.”

“I won’t be able to have a close working relationship with an editor since I haven’t found one who lives nearby.”

“Developmental editing is expensive. Is it really worth the investment?”

Then, after his rectifications of those misperceptions, he gives a link to another article, Choosing a freelance editor: What you need to know.

Have you worked with a developmental editor?

Do you have author friends who have?

Did you/they have a good, bad, or mixed experience?
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