What’s it like to work with an editor? What’s the process? What should a first time writer expect when they sell their book? These questions and more were answered by Bloomsbury Editor Margaret Miller at the 2011 Southern California Writer’s Day. Read on to learn what to expect:
What Rights Do You Have When Working With and Editor?
- An honest reply to your work.
- An editor who will help you realize your vision.
- Open communication.
What’s the Editing Process?
Step One: The Macro Edit
- This is the big stuff – issues with plot, character, setting, etc.
Step Two: The Line Edit
- Focus on sentences.
Step Three: The Copy Edit
- This is about correcting grammar, looking for consistency, and phrasing suggestions.
- The copy editor is not telling you what to do. Many writers write with incorrect grammar on purpose. The copy editor is only pointing out where your grammar is wrong and making sure you meant to do that intentionally.
What Do You Do if You Disagree with Your Editor on Revisions?
- Check out the blog post on this topic at: Editorial Anonymous
- Give your emotional reaction to an editorial letter time to pass.
- Vent to your friends. Don’t vent on the internet or to another person at the publishing house. Possibly talk to your agent about it if you need to.
- Authors who lash out at editors can get a reputation in the industry as hard to work with, and that will make the editor less likely to want to work with you in the future.
- Know that the editor does care about the book and is trying to make it the best book possible. They do write careful and thoughtful letters to you.
- Be honest with yourself. Are you upset with the feedback because it means you have to do a lot of work? Does it mean a major revision? That’s not a good reason. You’ve got to put in the work!
- Look to see what the real problem behind the comment is. Maybe a comment that says “set the whole story in Brazil” is really a comment that the setting needs to be fleshed out more. Are there other ways to deal with the issue that you might be more on board with?
- If you still disagree with your editor then talk to them about it. But do it in a civilized way!
- Editors see themselves as facilitators helping you to create the best book you can.
A Bit about Book Jackets:
- This is an area where the author should act as a “highly interested spectator.” You may not have as much say as you would like.
- The editor has weekly (sometimes bi-weekly) meetings about book jackets. Here they talk with the other marketing teams and discuss what is best for your book. They talk about what characters look like, discuss current trends in book jackets, art styles, etc. They are professionals looking to see what will make your book most competitive in the current market.
- After they’ve come up with a jacket they like they run it past the sales team.
- Don’t expect to be heard if you hate your book jacket.
- You can voice your concerns, but it is best to do this with concrete suggestions rather than “I hate it.” For example: “I envisioned the character to b
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