Professional Editors?

Divia · Post by **Divia** » Wed October 22nd, 2008, 10:09 pm

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.

Rowan · Post by **Rowan** » Wed October 22nd, 2008, 10:14 pm

A little humour for the comma and semi-colon challenged among us....

cw gortner · Post by **cw gortner** » Wed October 22nd, 2008, 11:20 pm

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.

Catherine Delors · Post by **Catherine Delors** » Thu October 23rd, 2008, 8:21 pm

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.

xiaotien · Post by **xiaotien** » Thu October 23rd, 2008, 8:34 pm

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! =)

Catherine Delors · Post by **Catherine Delors** » Thu October 23rd, 2008, 8:38 pm

Sounds like you are very fortunate with your editor/publisher, Cindy. What I like about my "own" editor is that she points out things I already know, but don't want to know. She is a mind-reader.

xiaotien · Post by **xiaotien** » Thu October 23rd, 2008, 9:19 pm

catherine, i feel very fortunate!

i want this type of experience for every
writer!! and i hope it's more the norm
than the exception...

EC2 · Post by **EC2** » Thu October 23rd, 2008, 9:28 pm

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.

Catherine Delors · Post by **Catherine Delors** » Thu October 23rd, 2008, 9:36 pm

Wow, EC2, this Richenda person sounds a bit scary.

Do you feel she is always right?

xiaotien · Post by **xiaotien** » Thu October 23rd, 2008, 9:36 pm

EC2, thanks for sharing your experience.
gosh, i'd love to be published in the uk. my hub's
family is from there, and i visit every year.
headed there for x'mas this year.