Even when your book is DONE and ready to go, you’ve found the editor you think will be perfect for the work, and you’ve sent it off to them, there’s the question of style. Some authors and editors just don’t see eye to eye on matters of style. There’s no way I know of to completely protect yourself from running into a situation like this.
Working with Joshua, I was extremely pleased. His comments were spot on, thoughtful, and insightful. I agreed with his approach to editing, and almost universally applied his suggested changes. With a different manuscript (also in the hands of my agent), I wasn’t quite so lucky. The editor was very experienced and well respected in the industry, and much of their suggestions were beneficial. However, we differed over some aspects of style. At first this worried me, and I wondered which of us wasn’t getting it. That’s where working with a second editor on a different work proved beneficial. I could compare the two editors’ styles, and realized they approached the same questions sometimes from very different points of view, with very different resulting recommendations.
So I had to make very conscious decisions regarding my own style and how I wanted to apply tone and voice to each story. I had made some of those decisions while writing, but hadn’t clearly defined it. The editing process forced me to choose specific stylistic approaches in each story. Only then could I see clearly which advice to accept and which to ignore. In some cases, the editor didn’t understand the style, and gave bad advice.
Just like everything else, it’s a learning process, and I consider the funds spent on editing both manuscripts well worth the investment.
Take away:
- Prior to engaging an editor, make sure the book is really done.
- Find an editor you feel you’ll be able to work well with. Use advice from other authors, and do your research.
- Get on their schedule well in advance, and don’t be late with sending them the manuscript.
- Notify them early if you fear you’ll miss a deadline.
- Study their feedback carefully. Some of it may not be right. In the end, it’s your book and all decisions are your responsibility.
- Don’t ever release a novel without a professional edit.
