Comments on: Trust Your Editor…Or Not

By: BethDazzled

BethDazzled — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:51:33 +0000

Great post. My favorite part of the writing process- besides the thrill of a new idea popping its shiny new life into view- is brainstorming. I get all my best ideas that way. That and the shower for some reason…

By: janetgrant

janetgrant — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:51:17 +0000

Bill, indeed there is such a thing as too little editing. Often editors have too many manuscripts to edit and rush the process. That’s why so many published books are bigger than they should be; they needed to be edited down.

By: Bill Giovannetti

Bill Giovannetti — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:44:34 +0000

Is it possible that there’s too little editing?

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:00:38 +0000

Hi Janet,
Wow, what a great post! Thank you for the insights. And what a weirdo story about that editor. LOL
Hopefully she stopped editing and was able to sell her series. *grin*

By: KC Frantzen

KC Frantzen — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:39:37 +0000

This is very encouraging.
Thank you!
I’m adding to my list of pre-requisites for authors. In addition to determination and patience, according to this excellent blog, we need a very healthy dose of objectivity and humility.
Good stuff. Keep ‘em coming!!!

By: Lea Ann McCombs

Lea Ann McCombs — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:33:29 +0000

Hi Janet, Thanks for this reminder. I can imagine it’s very difficult to determine who’s right when the author and editor don’t see eye-to-eye. Subjectivity is bound to play into it quite often, but as I heard Deb Raney say once, “Choose carefully your hill to die on.” Surely there are few instances where a compromise can’t be worked out if both parties are willing to collaborate. There’s no one right way to write a book.

By: James L. Rubart

James L. Rubart — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:54:43 +0000

Julee Schwarzburg, who edited my novel ROOMS, (B&H Fiction, April 2010) had strong opinions on what needed to be changed, added and axed, but she made it very clear from the beginning it was MY manuscript and not hers.

We had open dialogue about all the changes and by the end of the macro edit and line edit I felt like I’d had a brilliant co-author on the book.

Yeah, I know, I was spoiled. She was wonderful.

By: Teri D. Smith

Teri D. Smith — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:40:39 +0000

I have a question. Does the “butchering”, excuse me, “editing” of your manuscript hurt less than a rejection?

Just asking.