Importance of Editors

I've touched on this topic before. With the recent increase in self-published material, it is a important subject to discuss. All readers expect quality in the work they purchase. While it's true books will usually have a typo or two (or possibly more), less is certainly more. Several top selling authors have been flamed recently regarding the lack of edits in their work (one most notably is a huge author, at one of the large New York Publishers, who had an entire scene missing from her book due to a miscommunication during edits). Readers are starting to notice the lack of editing, and they are becoming more vocal about it.

Which is why I feel having an editor is damn important.

As I've stated before, all of my editors are different. Each has his or her own way of doing things. I'm fine with that, as I learn during the process. Some experiences are better than others. I love having an editor who enjoys my story, believes in it, and wants to make the manuscript all it can be. However, there have been occasions when I've had to relinquish control and change a story into something I didn't originally envision. It's part of being published. You listen to those far more knowledgeable than you and trust they'll make your story shine.

I cannot stress just how much I need an editor. As a writer, I don't see the mistakes in my work. Even if I wait a month and return to the book, I'll skip right past an improperly used word (it's been proven if a word begins and ends with the same letter this occurs often), fail to notice repetition in word choice, etc. That's why I rely on an extra pair of eyes to pinpoint what I cannot. Yes, I'm an author who needs an editor. I'm not ashamed to admit it. Without one, my stories would be too wordy, too lengthy, and probably a pain in the ass to read.

I recently stumbled across an interesting Amazon thread discussing a very popular author and the fact she has written a "no-edit" clause in her contract. The notion baffled me. Who wouldn't want to have an editor to clean up grammatical mistakes, search for holes in a story, and make sure you don't land on your face because you call a character the wrong name (something I'm guilty of, I confess) or forget to dress a character after a love scene. Not me, that's for sure.

So yeah, I'm all for pimping my editors. Skyla Dawn (Mundania), Mary and Serena (Loose Id), and Ann (Ellora's Cave) you rock my world. Thanks for making me a better author, for helping me hone my craft, and for inspiring me to create bigger, better stories. My books wouldn't be the same without you.

Now for your weekly eye-candy. Happy Hump Day!

Write for YOU

Recently I had a long conversation with Madelyn Ford about writing and the way becoming published changes you. When an author signs his/her first contract, it's an unbelievable feeling. It's almost as if you've become validated. All those hours of writing, all of the time you've spent creating characters and stories, has finally paid off. However, once it comes to release day and your book starts circulating, things can and will change.

Allow me to explain.

My first book was a creation I didn't expect to do well. Not that it's a bad book, rather it was at a smaller publisher and I didn't expect high sales. Then, out of the blue, WHAM. It took off. I was stunned, to be honest. I never expected it. What occurred as a consequence was a fear I never expected.

For the first time, I was terrified to write.

Before, it was about "me." I wrote what I wanted to write, what I enjoyed. If the story took a dark turn, it was fine because it was just for me. Now, it's not so simple. Once I would have gladly sat at my PC and pounded away at the keys. More often than not, the time I spend now consists of me staring at the screen, torn between what I want to do and what I "think" I should do. That can be hell.

I've come to the realization that you can't do that. If you allow your readers to dictate what you create, then you're not really creating anything at all. You're a ghost writer of sorts, doing what others expect, and that defeats the entire purpose. When you create a story or stories, you have to be true to your vision. This is your work, coming from your muse. You can't hamper it by expectations or the fear that you won't please everyone. The truth is, you never will. No matter how hard you try.

So write for you. Write what brings you joy. Do what makes you happy. When you do that, the book will reflect your emotions as you wrote it. It's a tough pill to swallow, but it's something I believe all authors face.

Until next week, here is your eye-candy. Happy Writing!

So You Want to Write a Novel

There are a lot of misconceptions out there when it comes to being a writer. I have heard an array of horror stories from a variety of authors. One of the most common seems to be epublishing is so easy to get into anyone can do it. All you have to do is write something.

For those of you who know how false that statement is, here's a little bit of humor (or cause for major depression, you choose:)I found on YouTube.

The same word!

It occurred to me that many times we’ve mentioned editing, proofing and polishing but there hasn’t been a great deal of pointers diving a little deeper into it.  I am not fabulous at self-edits, so anything I suggest in this area I have learned the hard way in the last few years.

One thing to watch for beyond the spelling mistakes and comma mishaps is over using the same words.  It might seem completely necessary to use the word ‘smile’ as often as you do or ‘look’ while you’re writing the story but when it’s finished it distracts or possibly bores the reader to see the same words close together.

A quick way to check for this in MSWord when going through your manuscript is to do this:

Click Ctrl F and then type in your word.

 Put a check in the box that says “Highlight all items found in:”   

Click <More>

Check the box that says “Find whole words only”

Click <Find All>

Choose a highlight color on the top right of your menu.  

Close your Find box and look through your document to see how often you have used the same word.

I was completely thrown the first time I did this.  After proofing the ms ten times I thought surely I’d found all the words that appeared too often.  I was wrong.  

   

Putting it together - formatting.

Okay we’ve got the dreaded synopsis all finished and polished up; we’ve found a publisher (following the great advice of Madelyn) not what?  The next step to sending this is of course reformatting according to the publisher’s guidelines.  You want the manuscript to be laid out the way the editors want it to be.  If they want Times New Roman 12pt, double spaced, no indents at the start of paragraphs and one inch margins with no blank lines after scene breaks, than that’s exactly how you need to do it.

Make sure you send it in the format they prefer as well.  In most cases this is DOC or RTF, a simple ‘save as’ in your writing program takes care of that.

This is a tedious process, I know, but a very necessary one.  The submissions editor will be constantly distracted from what they are reading if they are stopping to grumble about a writer that can’t follow simple instruction.  I have done some submission reading and it is really hard to follow a plot when one chapter is double spaced with perfect indentation and then the next is single spaced with no margins at all.  I’m sure the writer was wrestling with the reformatting, and I understand that part having done that at few times myself – but will the editor understand when they have many submissions to get through?

Another way to grasp what I’m saying is, if you ordered a burger with no ketchup, lettuce or mustard and asked for the salad instead of fries and upon getting home and opening the bag you found french fries and a burger with only ketchup, lettuce and mustard on it ... how likely are you to enjoy eating it?

Follow the guidelines.

Things I've learned

Since Jaime mentioned Romance Divas, I'm going to jump in with this. This was a thread started over there. I've changed it around a bit and added my own, cause I think they can be helpful.

1. Don't give your hero/heroine a pet. I did this once, the hero's opening scene was with his dog. About halfway through the book, I realized I'd never mentioned the dog again. Oops.

2. Be careful mentioning specific days or dates because there is a good chance you will forget. But I can guarantee someone else won't and they'll call you out on it.

3. Remember where you've put you're secondary characters. You can't send the hero's best friend out of town only to have him appear in the next chapter.

4. On a continuing thread to #3., why have secondary characters at all if they are only going to disappear in the second chapter? I've seen this happen far too frequently and wonder why bother.

5. A good critique partner is worth her weight in gold. Seriously. Writing can be a very lonely business and while your family can sympathize, they can't truly understand. Your crit partner will not only make you a better writer, she will be your lifeline, your bitch buddy, and if you are lucky, your best friend.

6. Your editor is always right. Well, not always right, lol, but she is not your enemy. If she is asking for changes, there is probably a reason. Listen to them and if after, you still think she is wrong, calmly explain why. Your editor wouldn't have agreed to work with you if she didn't love the manuscript and she is only trying to make it better.

7. Always be professional. Not everyone is going to like your story. Telling them why they are wrong (even if they are) is only going to bite you on the ass.

8. Readers are allowed their opinions. You are not. I know this doesn't seem fair (and sometimes, especially when it's your work being trashed, it's not), but it's the way this business works. It's always best to just shut your mouth and smile.

9. Sometimes readers just don't understand the industry. I got some flack with my last book because it wasn't long enough. What most didn't understand was there was a word restriction, I was only allowed a maximum number of words. I see readers complain about sex scenes being too graphic in erotic romance, complaining about the pricing of e-books, book covers, blurbs, book formatting, editing, where it is being offered, etc. Many of these things are beyond an author's control, so back to #5. You can commiserate together. :)

So what have you learned in this business they call writing? I'd love to hear what you have to say so add it to the list.