tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post7346693382111811634..comments2023-06-10T22:42:19.087+10:00Comments on Australasian Christian Writers: I Wanted to SighUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-86552731340584681802015-02-11T13:13:29.520+11:002015-02-11T13:13:29.520+11:00Great post, Iola. I've learnt so much from hav...Great post, Iola. I've learnt so much from having you as a editor. I think Narelle is right, 'we don't know what we don't know,' when we first begin.<br /><br />The other biggest issue is that we don't see our own mistakes.<br /><br />I've had 20 people come to me for advice in the last eighteen months and some of them have asked me to edit their work.<br /><br />I tell people I'm not an editor. That I need an editor. I will give feedback, and usually, the feedback includes, 'I'd recommend getting your manuscript professionally edited.'<br /><br />One took my global comments on her book and changed some structural aspects and then credited me as her 'editor'. Thankfully, it was well-written, but wasn't professionally edited by me or anyone else!<br /><br />Another one recently took my advice and sent their work to The Write Flourish for editing. Yay! Someone listened!<br /><br />Another one took on board some changes I suggested and edited their manuscript and proposal, but did not seek professional help. Again, it was a strong manuscript and they actually go to the next stage of having a major publisher asking them to seek an agent for their work as they were interested—but no professional editing!<br /><br />All of the others were so impatient to 'get their work out there' that they self-published or are still stuck with a stalled manuscript.<br /><br />All these people have valid ideas, are solid writers with a valid idea for a novel or non-fiction book, but they are not willing to pay the price or take the time to give their work to an editor.<br /><br />I can understand the frustration. My first book Perfect Mercy was critiqued by Annie Hamilton and I sat for six hours listening to why it wasn't ready to publish. I worked on it for eight months. I took it to an agent and she told me it wasn't ready.<br /><br />I reworked it and self-published after it had a proofreader look at it.<br /><br />Oh how I wish I had used a professional editor. <br /><br />My big takeaway—invest in an editor. If you think it's worth publishing, it's worth a great editor. Elaine Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15724607299832750567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-82652659949612906552015-02-11T08:40:14.126+11:002015-02-11T08:40:14.126+11:00Ah, now you've hit another of my own problems,...Ah, now you've hit another of my own problems, Iola. Which dictionary should we Aussies use? We have the World book and Webster (out of date!) one for America, Oxford for UK and Macquarie for Australia. And this e-book, ebook, e-Book is one I've been trying to find an answer to myself.Mary Hawkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12603850711168486457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-3547827695385394882015-02-11T06:17:16.272+11:002015-02-11T06:17:16.272+11:00That's excellent advice, Mary. This is also ap...That's excellent advice, Mary. This is also applicable for dictionaries, especially when you want to check the spelling or hyphenation of new words (e book, e-book or ebook?).<br /><br />You also need to be aware of the date a book was first published if you are reading novels to study how successful writers have done it. Jane Austen and Charles Dickens are great writers, but not if you copy their use of point of view or their excess of description. Iolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17199141868703826943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-72259889689831482122015-02-10T20:21:38.664+11:002015-02-10T20:21:38.664+11:00Excellent post once again, Iola. I only realised h...Excellent post once again, Iola. I only realised how spoilt I'd been by my publishers' editors when I did not have them for my last three books. A warning to anyone buying "How To..." books or taking them from libraries: Always check the copyright date in them. My first books were published by Harlequin and Barbour Publishing back in 1993. Even since then there have been quite a lot of changes and there were many more in the decades before that. This may also be something to remember when reading older books. Mary Hawkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12603850711168486457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-5865300684376436312015-02-10T13:56:42.517+11:002015-02-10T13:56:42.517+11:00It's true that we don't know what we don&#...It's true that we don't know what we don't know, and that's why I believe it's important for authors to read. A lot. Read books in their genre, read craft books, and read blog posts. Because that will help them learn. <br /><br />For those who don't learn through reading, listen. Buy or borrow audiobooks (my library loans them free) and listen to podcasts. The internet means we have huge amounts of information available, so there's no excuse. Iolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17199141868703826943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-64286042524129048312015-02-10T13:53:10.930+11:002015-02-10T13:53:10.930+11:00There is always the chance an editor will miss one...There is always the chance an editor will miss one problem (like a misplaced comma) while fixing another (like a point of view violation). I think it's Randy Ingermanson who said that a 100,000-word manuscript that's 99.99% correct still contains ten errors. However, those ten errors should be spread throughout the manuscript, not be in the first four pages ...Iolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17199141868703826943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-1925355758516079622015-02-09T21:08:48.128+11:002015-02-09T21:08:48.128+11:00Iola, great post! I think one of the obstacles we ...Iola, great post! I think one of the obstacles we face when we first start writing is we don't know what we don't know. I loved receiving writing contest feedback because I knew my story wasn't working but I couldn't see what was wrong. My critique partners were also very helpful and I learned so much from critiquing their stories. <br /><br />Another issue is anyone can put up a shingle and call themselves an editor. Writers need to exercise discernment when hiring freelance editors. Do they have qualifications? Can they provide references from authors who are happy with their services? Have they previously worked in the publishing industry? If yes, in what capacity?<br /><br />Ultimately, you get what you pay for and you can't expect top notch editing if you aren't prepared to pay a reasonable amount of money for editing services. <br /><br />I've purchased a number of writing craft print books from the RWAustralia writing conference book stores, The Book Depository and Fishpond.com.au. Self Editing for Fiction Writers is only AUD17.30 on Fishpond with free shipping in Australia. A small price to pay for a very helpful book. Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-36117130932337969412015-02-09T18:19:41.408+11:002015-02-09T18:19:41.408+11:00Wow. Just wow. My eyes hurt reading some of your e...Wow. Just wow. My eyes hurt reading some of your excerpts and I'm a writer who definitely needs remedial help when it comes to things like punctuation! If an editor went through that once, let alone four times, they are a complete charlatan! Kara Isaachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00482245933455012714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-36537375474144990972015-02-09T15:41:52.327+11:002015-02-09T15:41:52.327+11:00Thanks for that info. Im not a writer but to spend...Thanks for that info. Im not a writer but to spend a small amount which is tax deductable makes sense. I also realise having a book in the library isn't always the best as I know with my chronic pain I did request some books from the library which I fine but I found having the one my dr suggested on kindle I can look at I when ever I need to and not have to go and request it again and then wait sometimes weeks or months.Ausjennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07644698706787568679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-31898366548023541182015-02-09T15:38:33.151+11:002015-02-09T15:38:33.151+11:00I still struggle with the two spaces after a full ...I still struggle with the two spaces after a full stop. Also had major issues with the past pastor over the date being 2 Feb not 2nd Feb. Ausjennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07644698706787568679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-20044747521062753092015-02-09T14:44:41.142+11:002015-02-09T14:44:41.142+11:00Yes, everyone needs an editor (I even noticed a mi...Yes, everyone needs an editor (I even noticed a misspelled word as I reread this post this morning, despite reading it several times before posting it). We simply don't see our own mistakes, and if we don't know the "rules", we'll make the same mistakes over and over out of ignorance.<br /><br />Thanks for visiting!Iolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17199141868703826943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-7018204622696547722015-02-09T14:41:30.227+11:002015-02-09T14:41:30.227+11:00The trouble with punctuation is that we are taught...The trouble with punctuation is that we are taught the "rules" in school, then find they have changed! It took me months to get out of the habit of using two spaces after a full stop - which is something I should have been told to stop as soon as I moved from a manual typewriter to a PC.Iolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17199141868703826943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-58970050608284213052015-02-09T14:39:41.406+11:002015-02-09T14:39:41.406+11:00Jenny, it will depend on your library. Mine has a ...Jenny, it will depend on your library. Mine has a small selection, and I'm sure authors in larger cities will be able to find more.<br /><br />However, I would say that it's worth authors investing in some books on writing and editing. It's better to spend $20 on a book like Revision and Self Editing by Browne and King than have your editor take hours correcting an elementary error that recurs hundreds of times throughout a manuscript (like an author who uses "said Peter" instead of "Peter said"). Another good book is Rayne Hall's Word Loss Diet, which is only about $3 on Kindle. <br /><br />And you've heard right: editing short magazine or newspaper articles is different from editing a full-length novel. Iolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17199141868703826943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-9762149346066101772015-02-09T13:46:16.546+11:002015-02-09T13:46:16.546+11:00Thanks Iola
As one whose punctuation especially ne...Thanks Iola<br />As one whose punctuation especially needed attention I appreciate your words. Also, I'm thankful for those who edited my Devotional books and helped my 'good thoughts' to be set out properly and enjoyable to read. As writers in any genre we need to be teachable and not defensive about our work. Thanks again.Ray Hawkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17720158812896505028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-7065575170123055792015-02-09T08:11:25.349+11:002015-02-09T08:11:25.349+11:00Are these books on writing available in libraries ...Are these books on writing available in libraries in case people can't afford them? I have also heard some will use editors who edit newspaper or magazine articles which is also totally different from fiction.Ausjennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07644698706787568679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-19544601895141364772015-02-09T06:45:06.116+11:002015-02-09T06:45:06.116+11:00I'm an English teacher, and I require an edito...I'm an English teacher, and I require an editor (that my publisher provides). Self-publishing, as you indicated, often means hiring one--a competent/experienced editor. Not friends who did well in high school English or in college.<br /><br />Self-publishing means the author has to either do or hire to be done, all of the things a publisher should do. <br /><br />With all of the competition out there, putting the best product in front of readers, the first time is very important. No novel is going to be error free. But it should be free from as many errors (typo/grammar and content) as can be accomplished.<br /><br />Good post with solid suggestions.Terry W. Ervin IIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13561009802388207515noreply@blogger.com