Editing
I’ve spent the last two weeks editing a book. It’s a sub-contract deal, so the details are not mine to share, but it was one of the more challenging tasks I’ve undertaken in a while.
It’s been a good relearning experience too. I can promise you that, regardless the amount of attention you feel like you’ve paid to your manuscript, errors have crept it. Some funny, some that feel as though they should’ve been glaringly obvious, and some that will shock you. On top of that, a fresh set of eyes can help to find awkwardly worded sentences and lines that don’t seem to fit into the paragraphs they’re in.
So, here it is, and I say this not just because you can pay me to do it, if you are writing, you need an editor. You need multiple editors really–one to do line edits, one to keep track of the overall flow of the manuscript, one to proof the line edits, and one to keep everyone coordinated. I’m sure I’m missing a couple more. And of course, you need the editorial assistant to get coffee for the editors. Definite key to the whole shebang.
Seriously though, it was good for me to sharpen up again. I think it’ll help me to see some more errors in my work. But I’ll never catch them all. And that’s why I’ll endeavour to have professionals working with me to make my manuscript the best it possibly can be.
“And of course, you need the editorial assistant to get coffee for the editors. Definite key to the whole shebang.”
Definitely sounds like a must. Where can I get myself one of those?