tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post776153889832085265..comments2023-10-30T15:13:22.680+00:00Comments on Strictly Writing: The dying art of editing?DThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803989273524731892noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-74223319756505134272010-08-17T17:23:48.547+01:002010-08-17T17:23:48.547+01:00That's one of the benefits of a small press: t...That's one of the benefits of a small press: the personal, hands-on attention.<br /><br />When I was at the PNWA summer writers conference last month, somebody made a quip about small publishers that has really stuck with me: when a small press makes you a publication offer, they're putting their money where your mouth is.<br /><br />Small presses are almost always self-funded by their proprietors. They're not like big publishers who have a budget for bringing in 24 books a year or whatever in the genres they serve, and fully expect some titles to fail. Small publishers need every title to succeed, to turn a profit even if it's a modest one. But at the end of the day, they're betting their own money on your words. It's pretty high praise. And along with it comes the kind of careful, personal attention to your work that represents the publisher wanting to give their investment in you the best possible chance of success.<br /><br />Writers who are still looking for publication and want this kind of attention can get themselves a good agent (who ought to do much of the same final-draft polishing work as described here), or can hire a freelance "book doctor" such as myself, Elizabeth Lyon, Erin Brown, or any of dozens of others out there. Because what it says at the beginning of this post is largely right: big publishers do a whole lot less of this type of developmental and line editing than they used to.Jason Blackhttp://jason@plottopunctuation.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-3108171177583396622010-08-12T17:24:48.555+01:002010-08-12T17:24:48.555+01:00Kate, crossing my fingers for you. If it's any...Kate, crossing my fingers for you. If it's any consolation, I became convinced it would never happen!Caroline Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04708248040141519582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-19084294719538749242010-08-11T19:03:06.938+01:002010-08-11T19:03:06.938+01:00Interesting post, Caroline. I consider myself the ...Interesting post, Caroline. I consider myself the queen of editing but sometimes I wonder if it ever stops!Gillian McDadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02758782108258244355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-80759873239785370832010-08-11T08:20:36.921+01:002010-08-11T08:20:36.921+01:00Fascinating post - It's interesting to know wh...Fascinating post - It's interesting to know what I would be in for if I ever get to that stage :-)K M Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09801740095715755112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-37953739432075629032010-08-10T17:54:17.178+01:002010-08-10T17:54:17.178+01:00Thanks Susie :)
They're clever buggers, aren&...Thanks Susie :)<br /><br />They're clever buggers, aren't they?Caroline Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04708248040141519582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-70978569788299411422010-08-10T16:15:40.787+01:002010-08-10T16:15:40.787+01:00Oooh, if only you could bottle that and I could bu...Oooh, if only you could bottle that and I could buy it! It must be so brilliant to have a good editor focussing on your work and wanting to bring the very best out of it. <br />I've been re-reading the only editor who commented on my novel - a brief report but, after the initial sting of the weak points, sooo helpful for my rewrite!<br />I'm so glad to hear all's progressing so well, Caroline - you deserve it!<br />SusiexSusie Nott-Bowerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08428000582406338267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-54308607104791401632010-08-10T13:02:19.243+01:002010-08-10T13:02:19.243+01:00Maybe, Fi...if only you wrote kids' stuff!
Ka...Maybe, Fi...if only you wrote kids' stuff!<br /><br />Karen, I know exactly what you mean about it seeming effortless.<br /><br />Ellie..your blog looks lovely. I really like the way you've designed it!Caroline Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04708248040141519582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-57169581991970805592010-08-10T12:21:13.985+01:002010-08-10T12:21:13.985+01:00Good to know... Would she like to edit mine?!Good to know... Would she like to edit mine?!Fionnualahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12275984316414726884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-56701076342562699182010-08-10T10:29:49.868+01:002010-08-10T10:29:49.868+01:00Coincidentally, I touched briefly on this topic in...Coincidentally, I touched briefly on this topic in my post today, after noticing a glaring punctuation error in one of my short story submissions. Despite often believing my stories are polished to perfection, an editor still finds a mistake or two! More than that, they will often suggest more sweeping changes, such as plot or characterisation. The changes they suggest are always an improvement.<br /><br /><a href="http://elliegarratt.blogspot.com/2010/08/spot-obvious-errors.html" rel="nofollow">Spot the obvious errors</a>Ellie Garratthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731071128348213067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-61482204583084786562010-08-10T08:40:41.837+01:002010-08-10T08:40:41.837+01:00I completely agree. Every time there were revisio...I completely agree. Every time there were revisions to be done on my novel I'd have a crisis of confidence and want to pull my hair out, but somehow I'd get them done and could see straight away that my story was stronger. They really know what they're doing, <i>and</i> make it look effortless!Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05986874444030474719noreply@blogger.com