Every book, short story, or article that is written goes through levels of editing.
First there are the layers you as a writer do to your work.
*Adding description and emotion.
*Checking pacing and realistic dialogue.
*Then the all important grammar and flow.
After you’ve added all the sparkle you
think is necessary, the story should/needs to go to one or two critique partners or beta readers. If they are good, someone who doesn't just say they love what you did, they will
have more for you to rethink or make clearer that has to do with the big
picture or character development.
Once your story has gone through your
sparkle, your cp or beta reader, if you're sending to an agent or editor to read,
you send it off.
Agent or Editor Submissions:
You sent the story to an editor or agent. The call comes! They want your story. If
it’s an agent who is very hands-on he/she may have some ideas for the story
that will help them sell it to a publisher. Depending on how strong you feel
about your story take those suggestions into consideration, after all, they’ve
been in the business longer than you have. If an editor buys your story it has more
edits to go through. The attitude you take while it goes through the edits
could be the difference between you getting more contracts with that publisher.
The editor will read through your work and
perhaps have some ideas to add to the story or ways to punch up the plot,
emotion, or characters. Some may resonate with you and others may not. Don’t
jump on the suggestions or decline them until you’ve had time to think about
the editor’s suggestions. If you see how they enhance the story work on the
changes. If you’re unsure, open up a calm dialogue with the editor discussing his/her
reasoning and your reluctance. Remember the editor is working to make your
story a best seller, so listen with an open mind.
Once the editor has the finished project
the line edits may begin or they could have been in the major edits the editor
asked for. Every house and editor does things differently. Again, keep an open
mind, especially if your “style” isn’t conventional. You may have to again go
to bat for your sentence structure to keep your “voice”. But don’t get snotty
or obstinate. State your reasoning and work with the editor.
The same goes for copy editing. They are
the last round of edits, and they make sure the commas, colons, and hyphens are
correct as well as spelling and sentence structure. Here again, you may have to
work with them if your style is unconventional. Remain calm and discuss the
reasons for the unusual style or concede here and there to allow them to make
it clearer for the reader.
Self-publishing:
If you are
self-publishing, after you add in your CP or beta reader's comments and suggestions(again it is your book, make sure the suggestions enhance the story) the manuscript, short story, or article needs to go through a freelance editor or another person who you trust with editing. When that comes back, you again look it over, make sure their edits make senses. Read it through one more time and then send it to a copy or line
editor. This is a person who knows grammar and punctuation.When it comes back from this person, again, go over it one more time after adding their suggestions.
No matter how many eyes look at a story there is always
something that gets missed.
The thing to remember with all editing
processes from your critique partners to the editors and copy editors everyone
is on your team and trying to make your story the best it can be. Don’t be
a diva and go at edits with the attitude
your writing is perfect and you don’t require help. No one writes
perfectly and having people with experience and expertise look at your work can
only make it better.
Happy Writing!
