Over at Blogging Authors, guest columnist Chris Hoole has a very important post on editing. I’ve talked about this before in the context of self-editing (April 19, 2011), so it’s nice to see a professional validate my experience as an author and editor. While Hoole’s own view might seem a little harsh, I think he’s spot on: “Editors are stock and trade to the publishing industry. While creative writing can break some of the rules out there, it’s important to understand that unless you’re reading a manuscript with a critical eye – something no writer can actually do to their own work [, or unless you can] objectively look for errors in grammar, misspelled (but still correct) words and more, that sooner or later something is going to slip through the cracks.
Good writers, even the best, need good editors. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the acknowledgements section of any bestseller. Count the number of editors the author thanks for their insight and ability to keep their story on track. (For example, Suzanne Collins, author of the highly acclaimed Hunger Games trilogy published by Scholastic Press, identifies three by name in the acknowledgements of the third book, Mockingjay.)
“There is a ‘worse’ breed of indie writer – one that believes that editors are the ‘gatekeepers’ to the writing community and because they’ve had either a poor experience in the past, or worse, just can’t take constructive criticism criticise editors at every turn. These deluded souls are often seen putting out book after book after book and wondering why no one even talks to them any more – but are also, conversely, the loudest and most critical voices in the community, and are the worst ‘name’ in indie writing.”
Also, from my personal experience with A Warrior’s Soul, I had a difficult stylistic problem I couldn’t solve on my own. My character talked a lot “in her head.” A professional editor suggested putting the thoughts in italics, even though they weren’t really statements or specific thoughts. This was a brilliant move, making the story flow more quickly without losing the personal feel provided by his unique (and essential) perspective. (Other authors avoid this by writing in the first person, but for creative reasons I wanted to stay in third person.)
A good editor won’t just check spelling and grammar (although that’s important). A good editor won’t be a gatekeeper. Rather, he or she will be your best friend, telling you the good, the bad, and the ugly. They will professionally hone your voice and keep you from making mistakes-some fundamental but many not so fundamental-that detract from your story. That’s what they are paid to do. If you don’t get that candid, objective opinion, you’re not spending your money wisely.
For more on Hoole, see here. The Authors Academy also has held webinars on how to identify and commission the right editor for the level of work.
