Blogger: Wendy Lawton
One of the most difficult things for a writer is to close the file on a book or a proposal and declare it ready. Almost as hard as prying it out of their clenched fingers at a …
editing
3 Steps for Making Copy Edits Less Dramatic
Blogger: Michelle Ule
Filling in for Wendy Lawton, who is traveling on business today.
When I finished writing my first novella,I felt proud about completing it several weeks before the deadline. I tweaked it a bit here and there, used …
Make sure your book is ready
Blogger: Rachel Kent
Recently, I’ve received a few query letters for top-notch ideas, but when I look at the proposal or manuscript, I realize the author shouldn’t have submitted the project yet. The idea and bones of the book are …
The Self-Editing Myth
Blogger: Wendy Lawton
One of the best writing books of all time is Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King. I’ve devoured that book multiple times. I used to read it, William Zinsser’s On Writing Well, and The Elements …
What Good Is an Editor, Anyway? Part 3
Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
Location: Books & Such main office, Santa Rosa, Calif.
Beth Adams’s quote in my post yesterday about how editing is her favorite part of the process touched on an aspect of being an in-house editor that …
Career Killers: Sloppiness
Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Location: Books & Such Central Valley Office
Weather: Sunny and mid-nineties
Last week I spoke to an editor about a potential client who published a recent nonfiction book with their publishing house. Here’s what the editor said, …
Know When to Stand Firm
Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
Location: A Wine Country condo, Mt. Hermon Writers Conference Career Track Planning Retreat
To recap, so far this week we’ve talked about three ways to respond when an editor takes the proverbial red pen to your …
Know When to Hold ‘Em, Know When to Fold ‘Em
Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
Location: A Wine Country condo, Mt. Hermon Writers Conference Career Track Planning Retreat
So far this week we’ve talked about two responses to the editing process on your contracted manuscript. If you aren’t sure the editing …
Trust Your Editor…Or Not
Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
Location: A Wine Country condo, Mt. Hermon Career Track Planning Retreat
When you read the changes your editor has made on your manuscript, some changes can be a real surprise. Maybe you thought it was imperative …
Help! I’ve Been Edited and Can’t Get Up
Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
Location: Books & Such Main Office, Santa Rosa, Calif.
Author Dies While Reading Edited Manuscript
Such a headline might well echo the feelings an author experiences when, much to his horror, he discovers his editor has–ahem–done …