On References

Well, it's happened again. A writer I know went online today to complain that she'd paid an editor to review her manuscript and when she received the finished product, the errors and typos were out of control. In this case, the edited version was now littered with improper punctuation, incorrect dialogue tags, and spelling changes that reflected a European style while this book was intended for an American audience.

I really can't stress enough how important it is to know what you're getting before you pay an editor to work on your story. A true professional will not be insulted if you ask about punctuation placement, his/her stance on the Oxford comma (I'm a big believer, by the way), or if (s)he knows the difference between "affect" and "effect." 

Ask questions, my friends. Ask for references--not just the names of authors (where you might just get the editor's buddies who'll tell you what a fabulous product they received) but titles of books you can review for yourself. Ask more questions. Ask for a contract. Ask more questions. Be absolutely sure you and your prospective editor will see eye to eye on the majority of your concerns before sending your money.

Publishing is a business as well as an art. Put the left side of your brain in gear before hiring anyone to do work that will affect your bottom line!

Ask the Editor: When Do I Hire an Editor?

Kevin D. sent me the following question: I've written the first hundred pages of my story (the other 200 or so are still in my head). Is it okay for me to take advantage of your Introductory Special to make sure I'm not wasting my time? Thanks in advance for your reply!

My answer? That depends on how much money you have to throw around and how serious you are about your story. To be honest, my "introductory special" is so successful, I don't see how I could stop offering it any time soon. And of course, even if it's not advertised, any writer who wants to make sure (s)he and I will see eye to eye on edits prior to hiring me to take on a larger project will always be welcome to send me a sample and I'll be happy to provide the sample price.

Here's the thing. Sure, you've got the story written in your head. But I strongly suggest you get it written on paper before you contact an editor. Why? Because a lot of times what's in your head doesn't translate to paper and you wind up with an entirely different story than what you'd originally envisioned. Because lots of people start a story and even write a hundred or a hundred fifty pages, then quit. Because it's more difficult for an editor to perform a structural edit on an incomplete manuscript.

The Internet's a wonderful thing and the sudden growth of self-publishing is grand. But it also means that people are in more of a hurry than ever to get their book "live"--often before it's polished and ready. Take a deep breath, put your head down, get those fingers on the keyboard and finish the story! Then revise and polish. Once you've done all that, contact me. I'll still be here and your story will benefit in the long run. I promise.

Are You Ready to be a Writer?

Last month, I asked if you were ready for an editor. But this past week, I've had cause to wonder exactly who out there is publishing. There's more to writing than having a great story idea--particularly if you plan to self-publish. So now I feel the need to ask: Are you ready to be a writer?

Over the last several days, I've witnessed conversations among (self) published authors who didn't know proper punctuation, the difference between a noun and an adjective, or the necessity of chapters in a full-length novel. One author (whose book I purchased) spent a weekend announcing her book for sale, then had to tell everyone who acquired a copy to contact her to download a corrected copy after she began receiving complaints from customers regarding the proliferation of errors. She claimed she "uploaded the wrong version." Guess what? I didn't contact her. I'll read the version of her book that I bought and review it based on that same edition. Sound harsh to you? Maybe. But we're not talking about changing a cover or finding that the last chapter was missing. We're talking about laziness, carelessness, and ignorance.

Now, I understand that not everyone knows everything, and the occasional misplaced comma happens to us all. But if you plan to put your work out there for public scrutiny, either learn most of the basics or hire a mighty fine (and probably expensive) editor. Don't go it alone. And for God's sake, review your files before you make them available to the public! All the self-publishing platforms allow you a chance to re-read the work you've uploaded before you hit "Publish." On KDP, you get the opportunity to read it exactly as it appears on various versions of Kindle, CreateSpace will send you an actual print version (for a fee) or allow you to read the printed version online (for free) and Smashwords lets you download a pdf. So if an author tells you (s)he "uploaded the wrong version," (s)he either, (a.) didn't review the work before hitting that all important "Publish" button, or (b.) didn't know any better and didn't pay for an editor. Either way, you, the reader, suffers.

Maybe I'm pulling down the curtain, revealing the magician's secrets, but I'm not just an author, I'm a consumer. And I resent plunking down my hard-earned cash on a shoddy product. I may not always like a story for its plotline or its characters, but that's personal taste. I shouldn't dislike a product because it's poorly edited, poorly researched, or poorly written. That's like buying a new car and discovering that the engine inside only has enough working parts to take you a mile from the dealership.

There will always be crooks and get-rich-quick schemers and publishing has its share of sharks on both sides of the business. But if you're a true writer, you will learn your craft and do everything you can to provide the public with a quality product.