What’s it all about, Editor
December 4th 2006 11:05
Editing, as I have said before, is something that all writers should do. Editing covers a wide range of problems writers often fail to catch in their own work.
The reason we fail to catch these problems is that when we read our own work, our brain is reading what we wrote in our minds and not what we actually typed.
The two areas of editing of most interest to writers are:
• Substantive or structural editing
• Copy editing
What makes these so special? Well, money really.
You see, when you have finished your manuscript it will need to be edited by someone. That someone is going to be paid and how well you have done your own editing will have a lot of bearing on how many hours that person spends on the job.
“But we’re writers, not editors.” Yes I hear you.
As a writer you are an editor, you edit as you write. This is what writing is. All you need is a better understanding of the editing requirements to write to your best ability.
But beware, it is all too easy to become trapped in the editing cycle to the point of a never ending edit where no writing gets done. You have to strike a balance.
Some writers edit as they go along, some write a whole book and then edit it, some edit as chapters are finished. What approach you take will depend on your temperament. But no matter how you do it you will need to understand what is required. You will already know some of this.
Structural editing as a writer means you need to be aware of the structure and sequence of your story. Maintaining clear and unambiguous language. Proper development of characters, plot and setting. Use language that is appropriate for the intended market. Avoid sexist and racist bias.
The writer as a copyeditor must watch out for grammar, punctuation and spelling as well as paragraphing. Then there are omissions, repetitions and inaccuracies to keep an eye on as well.
Can you even remember what the story was about? It really isn’t as bad as it sounds. As writers we do the editing, I mean, we look after the spelling and grammar in the background as it is, so adding these other bits of editing to our background editing should be no trouble at all.
The reason we fail to catch these problems is that when we read our own work, our brain is reading what we wrote in our minds and not what we actually typed.
The two areas of editing of most interest to writers are:
• Substantive or structural editing
• Copy editing
What makes these so special? Well, money really.
You see, when you have finished your manuscript it will need to be edited by someone. That someone is going to be paid and how well you have done your own editing will have a lot of bearing on how many hours that person spends on the job.
“But we’re writers, not editors.” Yes I hear you.
As a writer you are an editor, you edit as you write. This is what writing is. All you need is a better understanding of the editing requirements to write to your best ability.
But beware, it is all too easy to become trapped in the editing cycle to the point of a never ending edit where no writing gets done. You have to strike a balance.
Some writers edit as they go along, some write a whole book and then edit it, some edit as chapters are finished. What approach you take will depend on your temperament. But no matter how you do it you will need to understand what is required. You will already know some of this.
Structural editing as a writer means you need to be aware of the structure and sequence of your story. Maintaining clear and unambiguous language. Proper development of characters, plot and setting. Use language that is appropriate for the intended market. Avoid sexist and racist bias.
The writer as a copyeditor must watch out for grammar, punctuation and spelling as well as paragraphing. Then there are omissions, repetitions and inaccuracies to keep an eye on as well.
Can you even remember what the story was about? It really isn’t as bad as it sounds. As writers we do the editing, I mean, we look after the spelling and grammar in the background as it is, so adding these other bits of editing to our background editing should be no trouble at all.
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Comment by K.L. Almeroth
Motherhood
Hi George,
Great post!
And how painfully true!!
K.L.
Comment by Bullamakanka
Hughie's Ziff
Bagman's Gazette
Stay tuned, I'm working flat out like a lizard drinking to post examples of editing failures to go with this post.
The mad editor