Thanks EC.
That helps a lot. I think the whole comma thing has been holding me up for such a long time. I guess it sounds stupid, but I was always told that if something isnt perfect (commas n' all) then they would reject me even if the story was solid.
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Professional Editors?
News, views, and reviews on books and graphic novels for young adult.
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- cw gortner
- Bibliophile
- Posts: 1288
- Joined: September 2008
- Location: San Francisco,CA
- Contact:
Divia, as you can see, three otherwise fabulously talented, glamorous and exciting authors here are as comma-impaired as you. As I said, don't fret. The agent doesn't care; what they want is a story that doesn't quit, characters that leap off the page, and ambiance, ambiance, ambiance. Focus on those and as EC says, if you're still nervous about the ms. presentation after it's polished to high gloss, hire a freelance copy editor to review for grammar and punctuation.
THE QUEEN'S VOW available on June 12, 2012!
THE TUDOR SECRET, Book I in the Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles
THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI
THE LAST QUEEN
www.cwgortner.com
THE TUDOR SECRET, Book I in the Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles
THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI
THE LAST QUEEN
www.cwgortner.com
- Catherine Delors
- Avid Reader
- Posts: 399
- Joined: August 2008
- Location: Paris, London, Los Angeles
- Contact:
Well, Rowan, you'll be happy to know that I use a professional editor. She is very affordable, and she is very, very tough in her assessment, which is just what I want.
Truth is, an agent doesn't have time to edit. She likes your manuscript, or not. "Editors" at big publishing houses, ditto. Their job is to purchase new stuff, and the title "editor" is just a remnant of times long gone, like the vestigial tails of tadpoles. The people who do edit are line-editors. That comes very late in the process, or not at all. I am currently reading "The Hemingses of Monticello" which is a GREAT book, but unfortunately not line-edited. The difference really shows.
So will I go on using my own editor? Oh sure.
Truth is, an agent doesn't have time to edit. She likes your manuscript, or not. "Editors" at big publishing houses, ditto. Their job is to purchase new stuff, and the title "editor" is just a remnant of times long gone, like the vestigial tails of tadpoles. The people who do edit are line-editors. That comes very late in the process, or not at all. I am currently reading "The Hemingses of Monticello" which is a GREAT book, but unfortunately not line-edited. The difference really shows.
So will I go on using my own editor? Oh sure.
catherine, it sounds like that's working great for
you. i have heard a lot of mention while querying for
agents regarding the fact that they all want very polished
and perfect manuscripts. and of course, editors, too.
because they don't have the time to edit anymore.
from what i've seen on various writing forums, writers
are indeed revising manuscripts with their agents. i would
say it seems at least 80% of them are doing this. and
sometimes, very extensively.
personally, i feel fortunate that agent bill wanted
very few changes to my novel. (i will admit that this
made me a little nervous, too. was it ready to sub?
since i bumbled through the whole novel writing thing.)
BUT my editor at greenwillow has been very tenacious
and thorough with her edits. and i love her for it. there
is nothing better than a great editor who loves your novel
and is constantly nudging you to write better, to take your
story to another level.
i *just* finished my fourth revision with her.
the first three were full revisions, including line
edits and plot, character, story, everything! the fourth
one was a mini-one, addressing dangling issues.
and since my editor happens to be the publisher
and vice president of the imprint, i also thought
(at first) maybe
she wouldn't have the time to spend with me on this.
or that i'd be passed off to another editor. but not so.
she put as much of herself into the comments and edits
as i did for these four revisions.
perhaps the trend is going to more perfect manuscripts.
but i wanted to offer that this isn't so in *every* case.
and for all writers to take heart. if an editor loves your
story, they will work on it with you to make it better!
i got the okay on monday and SILVER PHOENIX is
now in copyedits. yay! =)
you. i have heard a lot of mention while querying for
agents regarding the fact that they all want very polished
and perfect manuscripts. and of course, editors, too.
because they don't have the time to edit anymore.
from what i've seen on various writing forums, writers
are indeed revising manuscripts with their agents. i would
say it seems at least 80% of them are doing this. and
sometimes, very extensively.
personally, i feel fortunate that agent bill wanted
very few changes to my novel. (i will admit that this
made me a little nervous, too. was it ready to sub?
since i bumbled through the whole novel writing thing.)
BUT my editor at greenwillow has been very tenacious
and thorough with her edits. and i love her for it. there
is nothing better than a great editor who loves your novel
and is constantly nudging you to write better, to take your
story to another level.
i *just* finished my fourth revision with her.
the first three were full revisions, including line
edits and plot, character, story, everything! the fourth
one was a mini-one, addressing dangling issues.
and since my editor happens to be the publisher
and vice president of the imprint, i also thought
(at first) maybe
she wouldn't have the time to spend with me on this.
or that i'd be passed off to another editor. but not so.
she put as much of herself into the comments and edits
as i did for these four revisions.
perhaps the trend is going to more perfect manuscripts.
but i wanted to offer that this isn't so in *every* case.
and for all writers to take heart. if an editor loves your
story, they will work on it with you to make it better!
i got the okay on monday and SILVER PHOENIX is
now in copyedits. yay! =)
- Catherine Delors
- Avid Reader
- Posts: 399
- Joined: August 2008
- Location: Paris, London, Los Angeles
- Contact:
At Littlebrown UK my books are read by a commissioning editor who will read and make suggestions - although usually these are few. My agent will be reading and commenting at the same time.
The novel then goes forward to an interim freelance editor who does the job that the commissioning eds used to re commenting and checking. I have Richenda Todd, who used to edit Dorothy Dunnett and has edited Sharon Kay Penman and Helen Hollick. She's a medieval historical novel specialist. She's my regular and we've been together since around 2000 now.
Once Richenda has done with it and I have worked through her suggestions (one always listens to Richenda) the novel goes back into Little Brown's system for line editing in-house. Of course that's for commissioned work, not pre-submission.
The novel then goes forward to an interim freelance editor who does the job that the commissioning eds used to re commenting and checking. I have Richenda Todd, who used to edit Dorothy Dunnett and has edited Sharon Kay Penman and Helen Hollick. She's a medieval historical novel specialist. She's my regular and we've been together since around 2000 now.
Once Richenda has done with it and I have worked through her suggestions (one always listens to Richenda) the novel goes back into Little Brown's system for line editing in-house. Of course that's for commissioned work, not pre-submission.
Les proz e les vassals
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard nI chasront
'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'
Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal
www.elizabethchadwick.com
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard nI chasront
'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'
Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal
www.elizabethchadwick.com
- Catherine Delors
- Avid Reader
- Posts: 399
- Joined: August 2008
- Location: Paris, London, Los Angeles
- Contact: