|
Introduction:
People ask me all the time what I do for a living. When I tell them I’m an editor, their eyes kind of glaze over. It usually helps if I say "Book Dr.," but only enough to pull their eyes out of the glaze into a squint. I say, “I teach speakers and entreprenuers how to write their story through content editing, coaching, and workshops.” This brings on a nod of the head and some sort of utterance, such as ‘Oh,’ or ‘Wow.’ Then, wanting to look like they understood what I said, they add, ‘Isn’t editing about commas and misspelled words or something?’ I smile, and say, ‘Or something!’
Editing is so much more than correcting or revising and moves far beyond punctuation. My passion is to take what the writer is trying to say and turn it into what they want to say. A really good editor has x-ray vision; she can see past the words on the page and through to the strings holding the manuscript together. She can see deep into the themes the writer has created on purpose as well as those the writer had no idea existed.
With the continued growth of self-publishing, I get a little more than anxious when I talk with writers who think they don't have to follow the rules of the genre or pay attention to technique because they won't be dealing with a main-house publisher. This philosophy will ultimately cause the book to fail, no matter how well financed their marketing strategy. Reader expectations must be considered for the long-term success of a writing career. Great writing doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it happens in partnerships where both writer and editor grow together in the mutual goal of learning technique and perfecting the craft.
Each editor you encounter will have their own way of reading and critiquing your manuscript. We all look for different elements as we read. I am one opinion in a sea of many. The focus of my work is to ensure your manuscript can stand on its own legs. It should not break down and collapse under its own weight. As a writer, you should not have to follow around your book explaining broken thoughts or misguided themes. The manuscript needs to follow the rules of the genre, be very clear about the audience it is speaking to, and be able to add to the conversation of the long standing tradition on the shelf in which it sits. To write with grace, simply put, is to learn the techniques and rules of your chosen genre and employ them to create beautiful pages. Your reader wants to glide along your words, see pictures in their mind’s eye, and follow you to the depths of your soul for a really great story. I will work with you to raise the bar in your writing with each new project.
For a full list of my qualifications, please click here to review my resume.
|
|
