Comments on: What Every Self-Publisher Ought to Know about Editing http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2010/01/what-every-self-publisher-ought-to-know-about-editing/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-every-self-publisher-ought-to-know-about-editing Practical Advice to Help Self-Publishers Build Better Books Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:27:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ian Anderson http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2010/01/what-every-self-publisher-ought-to-know-about-editing/#comment-18744 Ian Anderson Sun, 08 Jan 2012 13:31:13 +0000 http://www.thebookdesigner.com/?p=2792#comment-18744 Wow, great tip for avoiding the "not seeing the wood for the trees" syndrome when reading soooo familiar words forwards. Bit like the other tip of reading the words out loud which is difficult for the self conscious! Great website Joel, learning loads! Wow, great tip for avoiding the “not seeing the wood for the trees” syndrome when reading soooo familiar words forwards.

Bit like the other tip of reading the words out loud which is difficult for the self conscious!

Great website Joel, learning loads!

]]> By: David Colin Carr http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2010/01/what-every-self-publisher-ought-to-know-about-editing/#comment-18107 David Colin Carr Sun, 11 Dec 2011 17:14:49 +0000 http://www.thebookdesigner.com/?p=2792#comment-18107 That's a common misunderstanding, B.C. - and it's one that many writers seem to hold. I have heard (from potential clients too many times) of editors who have taken a writer's work and rebuilt or rewritten it without consulting - until the editing is complete - with the person whose name will be on the title page. Sadly, most people approach their editors the way they approach their doctors - with awe and trepidation. They are afraid to say, "This isn't what I wanted." Or, "I don't want to pay for something that doesn't serve my intention." Remember, you are hiring a service - you need to stand up for yourself if it doesn't meet your needs. I always give my clients a chapter or two to approve before I proceed into the depth of the editing process. And I invite my clients to collaborate in the process as much as their time and capacity allow. Some are not interested, others are delighted to experience their writing from an editor's perspective - they become better writers through their participation. It's much more fun for me to have my clients very involved in a project. And I'll arm wrestle them till they appreciate my input, but I'll always give them what they want. One thread I perceive within your comment is that self-publishing is about the writer. My perspective is that writing practice is about the writer and as Natalie Goldberg says, Don't be afraid to write the worst crap in America. But writing practice and self-publishing are two different attitudes for writers. Any writer intending to go to publication needs to consider their likely audience (who will pay for their writing, not who needs their writing) and approach them with content of interest in a language/voice they can understand. Once you, as writer, have an audience in mind, you'll understand the importance of bringing an editor into the process. That’s a common misunderstanding, B.C. – and it’s one that many writers seem to hold.
I have heard (from potential clients too many times) of editors who have taken a writer’s work and rebuilt or rewritten it without consulting – until the editing is complete – with the person whose name will be on the title page.
Sadly, most people approach their editors the way they approach their doctors – with awe and trepidation. They are afraid to say, “This isn’t what I wanted.” Or, “I don’t want to pay for something that doesn’t serve my intention.” Remember, you are hiring a service – you need to stand up for yourself if it doesn’t meet your needs.
I always give my clients a chapter or two to approve before I proceed into the depth of the editing process. And I invite my clients to collaborate in the process as much as their time and capacity allow. Some are not interested, others are delighted to experience their writing from an editor’s perspective – they become better writers through their participation. It’s much more fun for me to have my clients very involved in a project. And I’ll arm wrestle them till they appreciate my input, but I’ll always give them what they want.
One thread I perceive within your comment is that self-publishing is about the writer. My perspective is that writing practice is about the writer and as Natalie Goldberg says, Don’t be afraid to write the worst crap in America. But writing practice and self-publishing are two different attitudes for writers. Any writer intending to go to publication needs to consider their likely audience (who will pay for their writing, not who needs their writing) and approach them with content of interest in a language/voice they can understand. Once you, as writer, have an audience in mind, you’ll understand the importance of bringing an editor into the process.

]]> By: Planning Your Book | BookWhirl.com http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2010/01/what-every-self-publisher-ought-to-know-about-editing/#comment-15332 Planning Your Book | BookWhirl.com Fri, 05 Aug 2011 02:39:03 +0000 http://www.thebookdesigner.com/?p=2792#comment-15332 [...] What Every Self-Publisher Ought to Know about Editing An Unabridged List of the Parts of a Book Self-Publishing Basics: Book Chapters and Subheads Self-Publishing Basics: The Copyright Page 6 Copyright Page Disclaimers to Copy and Paste, and Giving Credit [...] [...] What Every Self-Publisher Ought to Know about Editing An Unabridged List of the Parts of a Book Self-Publishing Basics: Book Chapters and Subheads Self-Publishing Basics: The Copyright Page 6 Copyright Page Disclaimers to Copy and Paste, and Giving Credit [...]

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