editing

How to Find the Right Book Editor

Editing

 

Choosing a book editor can be stressful.  “There is a big difference between editors who point out all your literary weaknesses and come up with solutions – versus those who give you general advice that doesn’t go anywhere, ” says editor Natasa Lekic.  Have a clear sense of what your goals are in the process before you begin contacting editors.

Do you just want a line editor to make sure you’ve got everything in the right place and you haven’t made any egregious punctuation or spelling errors?  Do you need a content editor who will address big-picture issues?  Are you looking for someone who follows all the rules laid out in the Chicago Manual of Style, or are you hoping for an editor with a more creative flair?

And then there is proofreading – a final check before publication to find missed typos, missing words, repeated words, spacing and formatting consistency. Proofreading should be the very last level of editing.

Are you anticipating to learn something during the editing process, or do you just want to send your manuscript off for editing and be done with it?
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Don’t Just Google Names
Just because an editor is listed on a particular website doesn’t automatically mean they are great at what they do.  Due diligence on your part is still crucial. Rather than doing a general Google search, ask writers you respect whose work has been well edited for recommendations.  Visit Writer’s Digest or other popular writing sites, and the message boards there.  Keep in mind, however, that there is a difference between advertising on a site and being endorsed by them.
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Once you found several names of prospective editors, check out their websites, and contact them to find out if they are taking on new clients.  Ask them whether they specialize in content, copy, or line editing, what genres they are most enthusiastic about, whether they offer a trial edit, and what their rates are.  Many editors will offer either a free sample edit of your first chapter or one for a very small price.  A trial edit is a great and inexpensive way to see if you’re partnering up with the right editor before you commit to a full edit.
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What to Look For in a Sample Edit
If you are able to find an editor who offers a free or inexpensive sample edit, take them up on it.  There are a few things you should look for when the sample edit is returned. First and foremost, is it back to you within the time frame the editor promised?  Missing that first deadline is a giant, flashing red flag.   Once you have the sample back, what kind of changes have been made or suggested?  Does the editor offer insights you may not have thought of before?  Does she give you a reason for why certain changes have been made?  Is she/he interested in your work?

  • Do the grammar rules follow American English, which differs from British English?
  • Does it test grammar, punctuation, and spelling?  Even though the writing may benefit from heavier line editing, that is not part of this editing assessment.
  • Grammar rules and recommendations vary by the style guide.  The preferred style guide for this article is the Chicago Manual of Style, a common style guide for book authors.
  • Dictionaries also disagree sometimes.  The preferred dictionary for this piece is the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, the 11th edition.

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What if I Disagree With What the Editor Says?
Ideally, your editor is seeing your work after (or at the same time) you’ve had two or three trusted beta readers go through the manuscript – and after you have done some serious self-editing.  Ask the editor about the reasoning behind their changes.  Is the story lagging?  Was there a plot hole you forgot to fill-in?  Or do their changes feel more about stylistic differences related to your unique writing voice?  If that’s the case, it is a much more subjective issue, and I recommend making a list of the suggested changes with which you disagree.  Then, talk to beta readers or fellow writers who know your work.

Not all authors take every single suggestion their editor makes.  The choice is yours with respect to stylistic changes.  Simply look at the editor’s reasoning behind some of the more significant suggestions they’ve made, weigh the validity of their argument, and then make your decision.
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What is The Average Price Range For Editing? 
What should I expect to pay?  How do I know I’m getting a good deal?
There is a huge price range for editing services these days, but in general for a quality edit you’re looking at ca.  2 cents per word for proofreading, 2 – 4 cents per word for copy editing and/or line editing, and upwards of 2 – 6 cents per word for a good, qualified content editor.

You’ll want to find out upfront if the cost includes revisions, or if you’ll have to pay extra for the editor to look at your work again once you have made changes.  As for whether or not you’re getting a good deal, ask yourself what you hope to do with this novel.  A good editor can mean the difference between critical accolades and scathing reviews.  How much is that worth to you?

There are ways around the cost issue, so never let money—or the lack thereof—be your reason for putting out a subpar novel.  You’ve written a book, the equivalent of running the marathon of your life.  Hiring a qualified editor means the difference between you limping across the finish line or soaring past the competition.
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The Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) publishes a chart of common editorial rates.  The following list will also give you an idea of what editors usually charge.  Keep in mind that rates vary greatly, though.  The industry standard for a manuscript page is 250 words.

Copy editing:
$30-50 per hour. According to the Writer’s Market, the average is $35. Experienced copy editors might be able to edit about 10 pages per hour, which would mean they make $0.014 per word if they charge an hourly rate of $35. That makes $1,120 for an 80,000-word manuscript. According to the EFA, basic copyediting for an average-length manuscript would cost $960-2,560.

Line editing:
$40-60 per hour. Depending on the hourly rate and how long it takes to edit the manuscript, that would make $2,400-19,200 for an 80,000-word manuscript.
Some editors ask for around $0.02 to $0.03 per word (which would mean $1,600-2,400 for an 80,000-word manuscript).

Content editing:
$45-55 per hour. According to the Writer’s Market, the average is around $50.
Most editors ask for around $0.02 to 0.075 per word (which would mean $1,600-6,000 for an 80,000-word manuscript).  According to the Writer’s Market, the average per-page rate is $7.50 (=$2,400 for an average-length manuscript).
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For most writers, that’s a lot of money.  Can you get editing for cheaper?  Probably.  But you usually get what you pay for.
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Let’s say an editor can line and substantive edit five pages an hour.  Which means an 80,000-word manuscript would take her about 60 hours.  If the author pays her … let’s say US$500, she would make about $8 an hour – less than the minimum wage – for academic work!  Someone who wants to make her living editing can’t afford to work at these rates.  So that might mean the editor is forced to work faster and be less thorough, or you will need to hire someone who is just starting out as an editor and charges less.  Of course, you could also limit yourself to just copy editing, but that won’t help you if your plot doesn’t work or you need help with point of view issues.
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How to Save Money on Editing?
What you can actually do to reduce your editing costs is to deliver a manuscript that is as clean as possible.  Trim the “fat,” the unnecessary words and fillers, and catch all the grammar and spelling mistakes you can before you send the manuscript to the editor.
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Free software programs such as

are just examples of several programs that can help you with “pre-editing”.
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Of course, the costs of editing depend not just on the editor, but on various other factors too:

  • Type of editing: For example, copy editing to correct spelling and grammar mistakes costs less than a substantive edit.
  • Quality of writing: The more work the editor has to do to make the manuscript presentable, the more the editing will cost.  Skilled writers with relatively clean manuscripts pay less.  Editors will want to see your manuscript or at least a sample before they can determine the costs of editing.
  • Length: Novels cost more than short stories or novellas, of course. But some editors work on sliding scales, so you’ll pay less per word for a longer manuscript than for a short story.
  • Editor’s experience: If you hire an inexperienced editor who’s just starting out, you’ll probably save money, but (depending on the editor) you might sacrifice quality.
  • Deadline: If the editor needs to work on a tight deadline, you’ll probably pay more for editing (most editors charge 25% more for rush jobs).

As you can see, there are different methods to calculate editing fees.  Some editors prefer to charge by the hour.  Others offer a flat rate that depends on word count, regardless of how many hours will go into editing the manuscript.
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The Advantage of a Flat Rate
Both the writer and the editor know beforehand how much the editing will cost.  In contrast: with an hourly rate, the total costs won’t be determined until the editing is finished.  Some writers fear the editor will drag out the editing to have more billable hours.

The Disadvantage of a Flat Rate:
Sometimes it can be difficult to estimate how much work is involved in editing a manuscript before you actually start working on it.  If the editor underestimates the extent of the job, she ends up working for a very low hourly rate.
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Natasa Lekic wrote on WriteLife: 
“The process of finding the right editor may seem like a slog, but it’s worth it.  It takes three years at a publisher before you can edit your own books.  Editing is a skill that comes from working with experts — other editors — for years.  People who have only freelanced likely never had the opportunity to be guided and mentored by editors.  Not only will a good editor raise the appeal of your manuscript, but more importantly, she will make you a better writer.”

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Find more on this topic:

https://authorunlimited.com/find-an-editor/

http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/10-things-your-freelance-editor-might-not-tell-you-but-should

https://expertbeacon.com/how-find-right-editor-turn-your-manuscript-book/

https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2014/05/30/3-tips-how-to-reduce-you-editing-costs/

https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/why-books-need-editing-and-proofreading/

 

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Valuable guide book for authors, audiobook publishers, narrators, voice-over artists, and audiobook listeners. Learn how to create, produce, publish, and market your audiobooks.

https://books2read.com/u/bPRRyJ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W81MN2Z

111 Tips to Create Impressive Videos:
How to Plan, Create, Upload and Market Videos
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BYDH41S/

111 Tips To Make Money With Writing
The Art of Making a Living Full-time Writing
An Essential Guide for More Income as Freelancer
https://books2read.com/u/bWZMjz

111 Tips on How to Market Your Book for Free:
Detailed Plans and Smart Strategies for Your Book’s Success
https://books2read.com/u/bMre1a

111 Tips to Get Free Book Reviews:
Best Strategies for Getting Lots of Great Reviews
plus 1,200+ reviewer contact links
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5nx5

111 Tips to Create Your Book Trailer
How to Create, Where to Upload and How to Market Your Videos
https://books2read.com/u/mVZkjr

Book Marketing on a Shoestring:
How Authors Can Promote their Books Without Spending a Lot of Money 
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Finding the Perfect Editor for Your Books

Book-Editing

 

Many self-publishing authors dread the costly editing process – which is a big mistake.  It might cost them not only readers but a valuable reputation as a marvelous writer.

Often, authors assert they are best qualified to copy edit and proofread their work, as they are most familiar with it.  In fact, this is the reason an author is least qualified for editing their work.  Writers often fail to catch basic typographical errors, misused word, missing text, incorrect punctuation, and awkward sentences because they are too close to their manuscript.

The first step is to find the right person for you and your work.  There is an editor for every kind of book and every author.  To find the perfect fit, study editors’ work profiles at their professional organizations:

Do your homework.  You can also learn a lot about an editor’s expertise and style by reading their profile – and the books he or she worked on.

Another way would be to check out bestselling books in your genre and who edited the manuscript for them.  A long list of editors can be found in an article at Kindlepreneur.
Freelance editors are also offering their services at EbookLaunch, ServiceScape, or on  Reedsy.
Last but not least: ask writer friends about their own editing experiences.  They can usually give you a sense of how reliable and professional an editor is.  However, they can’t tell you how well an editor will work for you and your book.
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Start Early!
It takes time to identify, screen, and select an editor who’ll be a good fit for you and your manuscript.  Good editors are likely to be booked at least several months in advance.
Contact half a dozen editors before choosing one who’s right for you.  Working with the wrong editor isn’t just a costly financial mistake, it’s also demoralizing…
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What to Send the Editor?
Once you’ve found an editor who might be a good fit for you, make an initial contact. In order to assess your manuscript, your editor needs a sample of your writing:

For a quick initial assessment, provide 5-10 pages from the middle of your book.  Why? If the editor can see the middle, where many authors’ writing energy tends to flag they get a better sense of how much time it will truly take to edit your book.  It also helps an editor to make some DIY recommendations that can reduce editing costs later in the process.  Include also a table of contents (TOC) with your 10-page sample if it is a non-fiction book.
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Developmental Editing
It addresses the structure of a book — how everything in the manuscript works together.
Big picture editing can be very expensive if you need to address a book’s structure after it has been completely written.  To save money is to get help structuring your book before you write it – by getting help from beta-readers.
Or, you could send your editor a detailed outline, or a detailed 10-page plot summary to see if he or she can spot any potential holes.
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Line Editing
In a line edit, your editor will point out specific things such as certain lines of dialogue that don’t sound convincing, or pacing problems in a given section.  It can also involve moving sentences around so that your meaning is clear.  Stylistic editing/line editing always aims to preserve the author’s voice, first and foremost.  But there are some catches:

  • You might use too many adjectives
  • The vocabulary isn’t suited to the intended audience
  • Your meaning is lost in too many big words or jargon
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Copy Editing
This kind of editing addresses grammar, usage and consistency issues.  In addition to consistencies in spelling and punctuation, British, US or Canadian English, a copyeditor will find issues of continuity.
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Proofreading
It means typos, repeated words, spelling, punctuation and formatting issues (how things look on a page) as they occur in your book’s final environment.  If your book will be printed, your editor will proofread a PDF.  Proofreading is the last pair of eyes on your book before it goes live.  It’s the last chance to catch an error before a reader finds it and gleefully points it out.
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A manuscript will go more or less through all four levels of editing before it is polished and ready for publishing.  But that doesn’t mean that you will need to hire an editor for each kind of editing.  At the very least, every manuscript will benefit from a copyedit.

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How to Save Money on Editing
There are several steps you should do with EVERY manuscript: Engage as many Beta Readers as you can find in reading your manuscript.  Ask them for their critique.  Join writer groups and attend their meetings (librarians often can give you valuable tips on where to find them) or sign up with a Meetup.com writers group and get into their critique meetings.  Start this early in the writing process.

Or join Wattpad – if you write in any of their popular genres, such as romance, sci-fi or fantasy.  Uploading chapter for chapter on their platform will eventually lead to many engaged readers who are also willing to give their insights about the manuscript.

Another important step is to run your text through at least two (free) online editing programs (American English) – chapter for chapter.  For example, PaperRater or EditMinion.  Both have a free version.  Each program has its own preference, but you will be able to detect:

  • sentences that are too long
  • punctuation errors
  • grammar errors
  • spelling errors
  • weak words, passive voice
  • frequently confused homonyms
  • plagiarism
  • phrases to avoid
  • vocabulary usage

If your editing budget is limited, these steps will help you to reduce the actual editing costs tremendously!  Approach the professional final editing process with a willingness to learn about your writing quirks.
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A positive and open attitude will not only get you a better book, but you will also save money on your next editing project with what you’ve learned from this one. 

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Read more:
Tips on How to Reduce Your Editing Costs

https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2014/05/30/3-tips-how-to-reduce-you-editing-costs/

5 Crucial Questions to Ask a Potential Editor
https://thewritelife.com/how-to-find-an-editor-crucial-questions/

Why Books Need Editing and Proof-Reading https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/why-books-need-editing-and-proofreading/

<><><><><>

Books by Doris-Maria Heilmann:

111 Tips to Create Impressive Videos:
How to Plan, Create, Upload and Market Videos
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BYDH41S/

111 Tips To Make Money With Writing
The Art of Making a Living Full-time Writing
An Essential Guide for More Income as Freelancer
https://books2read.com/u/bWZMjz

111 Tips on How to Market Your Book for Free:
Detailed Plans and Smart Strategies for Your Book’s Success
https://books2read.com/u/bMre1a

111 Tips to Get Free Book Reviews:
Best Strategies for Getting Lots of Great Reviews
plus 1,200+ reviewer contact links 
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5nx5

111 Tips to Create Your Book Trailer
How to Create, Where to Upload and How to Market Your Videos
https://books2read.com/u/mVZkjr

Book Marketing on a Shoestring:
How Authors Can Promote their Books Without Spending a Lot of Money 
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5gdp

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Pre-Editing Made Easy

Editing-Manuscript

Daphne Gray-Grant, a writing, and editing coach and author explained in an article: “When I started writing back in high school, I developed the nervous practice of producing a sentence and then going back to edit it, immediately.  Perhaps you do the same thing?  It took me 20 years to understand why editing-while-writing is so destructive – and another three years to stop it.”
“Remember, you should always write as quickly as you can.  Just be sure to edit – later when your manuscript is finished – as slowly as you can bear.  And to edit your work make use of the great tools that are available these days.”

  • Paper Rater
    A robust grammar-checking tool that allows you to find those pesky mistakes and correct them.
  • After the Deadline
    After the Deadline helps writers to avoid spelling errors and gives grammar or style suggestions. You will spend less time editing.
  • SmartEdit
    This tool helps writers of novels and short stories to highlight all the issues in their drafts, including misspelled words, and repetitiveness.
  • Language Tool
    A tool that is capable of proofreading more than 20 languages. Style issues will be marked in blue.

My advice is to not use only ONE software, but at least TWO – better THREE – and use them in separate sessions to fine-comb your manuscript BEFORE sending it to a professional editor.
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… And Why You Still Need an Editor:
Pre-editing will save you money and embarrassment.  However, none of these grammar tools can replace human intelligence.  You will still need a professional editor who then fine-tunes your manuscript for an outstanding, successful book.  Just to give you one example, of how your editor will improve your book even more:

Developmental and Line Edit
He or she will give you the “big picture” feedback about structure, style, pacing, and voice. A developmental edit for a work of nonfiction may include feedback about the book’s organizational structure, as well as both stylistic and informational strengths and weaknesses. For fiction manuscripts, developmental editing also includes notes on the plot, the point-of-view, and characterization.
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Often, a developmental edit is given in the form of a detailed report or letter rather than as notes made directly on the manuscript. Then, there is also the line edit, where your editor will point out specific things such as certain lines of dialogue that don’t sound convincing, or pacing problems in a given section.
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Here are even more digital tools for your pre-editing:
https://the-digital-reader.com/2017/04/15/thirteen-great-tools-will-make-writing-shine/

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Top Reasons to Hire a Professional Editor

Editing

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Hi…how’s yo doin! Doyou like read ing this pargraph?  Doe it mak you want to read more?  Doe the author seem credible to you?  You believe she have some wothwhile information?  She soundimpressiv.  Don’t you thin?

You want to find the entire work of this imagined author and buy her book/s immediately, right?  I don’t think so!  Let’s return to Planet Earth.  This writer may have impressive academic credentials and tons of writing experience.  But who cares?
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You wouldn’t be able to get beyond her sloppiness.  Why?  Her background doesn’t matter if she’s putting out a faulty product.  You probably wouldn’t want to read more than the first few sentences, if that.  Reading the selection probably made your head and eyes hurt.  It certainly was painful for me to write it!

Alright, so my example may seem extreme.  It is exaggerated.  On the other hand, I have seen plenty of books that have quite a few of these same mistakes.
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Untidiness Erodes Credibility.
In a real-life illustration, I came across a sample of writing from a lady who has written quite a few self-help guides.  She gives crucial, hard-won information for helping readers to further their freelancing careers.  However, she doesn’t seem to care about the quality of her proofreading and editing.  I would be more inclined to read her books if she invested in a few self-publishing services.
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It’s a Huge Debate on Social Media.
Many indie authors don’t see the need for skilled beta readers and for professional editing services.  In fact, it’s a constant, huge debate on social media.  Those advocating professional editing lose the battle 95% of the time.  That makes me sad.  In this article, I would like to explore two reasons to hire a professional editor:

There is a visible difference between professionally edited manuscripts and those that the author put together fast.  Yes, it’s obvious to readers.  Trained editing really is more affordable than most authors imagine.  It should be considered as part of the necessary cost of publishing a book.
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#1 Readers CAN Tell the Difference.

Okay, so every reader won’t be a grammar or literature wiz. Yet, no credentials are required to spot basic typos and awkward sentence structure. It looks negligent.
People can spot general messiness in any form; they aren’t going to buy it.  Untidy books get bad reviews, which get noticed.  Many people do read reviews of books–or any product/service.  Sometimes, it’s the quickest way to the truth.

The time for the author to establish a quality product is in the beginning, not after she has written more books.  In the meantime, what if the author loses readers because she made a slipshod effort?  A clean manuscript is a useful investment.
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Medications
Let’s compare publishing disorganized books to medications bought from unproven sources.  There are plenty of them out there.  But, here are some crucial questions to ponder:

  • Do the remedies actually work?
  • Were they obtained legally in the first place?

Sure, medicines cost a ton of money.
There’s no denying that Pharmaceutical companies make a huge profit margin on them.  It’s not fair.  However, the medicines are efficient.  Do you really want to risk your life on untested sources?
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Rolex

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Rolex Watches
Next, let’s liken putting out low-grade novels to fake Rolex watches.  As shown in the above image, the accessories may look almost alike on the outside.  However, they are quite different on the inside.
Rolex is a top-of-the-line watch.  The company is known for its precision time-keeping mechanism.  In addition, the chassis can be either solid steel or solid gold. The Rolex Sea Diver is the divers’ watch pictured above.  It retails at $10,400.  This item offers truly amazing extras beyond a normal watch.
How about Rolex replicas?  These watches are renowned for their inaccuracy and flimsiness.  Would you want to trust your life to one of these watches, literally, if you were a deep-sea diver?  Not me!  I’ll stick with the brand name.
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#2 You CAN afford it.

Self-publishing is a business.
You should have set money aside for your book.  Any new venture requires a certain amount of funds.  “Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you something”, to quote my favorite movie, The Princess Bride.  You have to spend a little money to generate income.  Entrepreneurs know this.  Why should publishing be any different?
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The cost of editing may be less than you imagine.
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I have chatted with numerous authors who have not even researched the cost of editing.  They merely assume it will be expensive. (This is the point where I say it’s not wise to assume anything.)  Obviously, the cost may vary with the experience of the editor.  There are a variety of levels of this service:
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  • Top editors advertise services that could end up costing authors thousands of dollars.
  • On the other end of the spectrum, you don’t want to choose an inexperienced, unbelievably inexpensive editor.  That professional might give your manuscript two super quick readings, research nothing, and do a slipshod proofreading job.
  • The middle-of-the-road professional catering to indies may charge from .6 to .8 cents per word.  Of course, some editors charge per page, instead of per word.
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My Conclusion
I’ve been told by some authors that they consider their books to be their babies.  That’s probably because writing requires such a huge emotional investment and risk.  Isn’t your “child” worth a little extra time, money, and attention?
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About the Author:
Traci Lawrence is a teacher, author, blogger, and freelance editor.  Traci lives in the southern area of the United States with her family.  She considers it her mission to spread positivity and self-empowerment through her writing.  Please visit her uplifting website at www.tracisworld.com and view her book, Accept No Trash Talk: Overcoming the Odds.

 

3 Tips How to Reduce You Editing Costs

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Rechner

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Many self-publishing authors dread the editing process – a big mistake, as it might cost you not only readers, but your reputation as a writer.  Sure, one of the highest expenses in book productions is the editing process. But there are ways to reduce these costs, especially for editors that charge their hours, instead of charging for words. First of all, let several other writers read your manuscript – they might see inconsistencies in the flow of your writing or major grammar errors, to get a more impartial view, etc. for example on Wattpad.com,

Author, editor and proofreader Darlene Williams wrote a great blog post for Karen Sanderson’s blog The Word Shark:  “Many authors assert they are best qualified to copy edit and proofread their work, as they are most familiar with it. In fact, this is the reason an author is least qualified. Writers often fail to catch basic typographical errors, misused word, missing text, incorrect punctuation, and awkward sentences because they are too close to their manuscript.”

Darlene give’s authors three doable tasks what they can undertake to reduce editing costs:

  • Firstly, run a spell check;
  • Secondly, self-edit a minimum of two rounds; and
  • Thirdly, ensure the manuscript is in the English version (US or UK) intended for publication.

“Your bank account and editor will thank you”, she says.  Read more of her valuable information about manuscript editing at Karen Sanderson’s blog:
http://karenrsanderson.wordpress.com/2014/03/14/editor-spotlight-by-darlene-elizabeth-williams/

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Tagged: Darlene Williams, editor and proofreader, how to prepare your manuscript for editing, how to save money on editing, Karen Sanderson, manuscript editing

Interview With Susan Hughes: Editor Par Excellence

ebooksinternational:

Fiza Pathan interviewed Editor Susan Hughes, and one of her questions was:  ”What is the editor’s relationship to the writer?. Susan Hughes explained:

“It’s very important for the editor and the writer to become a team in order for the edit to be successful.As an editor, however, I accept the fact that I’m not the captain of the team.  I’m not the one who wrote the words or spent hours enveloped in the creative process.  The editor begins with a secondary role and then works to build that trust with the writer that will eventually level the playing field a bit.”  Read the whole interview here.

Originally posted on Find My Audience:

susan2Susan Hughes

Hi Susan, can you describe for us what an “ideal” editor does?
An ideal editor is one who forms a bond and a level of trust with the writer, enabling the writer to have the confidence to hand over his/her precious words—to an absolute stranger!  That trust is built through prompt, friendly communication. Writers have lots of questions about editing, and an ideal editor will be there daily to answer those questions, even before the edit begins.  Then comes the edit itself, and if the bond has been formed, it will be a positive, rewarding, and successful experience for both writer and editor and will hopefully lead to a long working relationship and friendship between the two parties.

 What constitutes a successful edit?
Great question! I feel an edit is a success if the writer is satisfied with the end product. The icing on the cake, however,…

View original 1,002 more words


Tagged: Author Fiza Pathan, book editing, editor, Susan Hughes, what does an ideal editor?.

How to Cultivate Professional Publishing ?

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Book-Editing

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Authors are now often forced to hire their own editors – before even submitting their manuscripts for publication. Toronto literary agent Anne McDermid saw the landscape changing two years ago, when a publisher told her: “I cannot purchase a book (manuscript) for which I need to spend 40 hours editing. We are now advising our authors that the material they present has got to be closer to the final draft than it ever used to be.”
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Sometimes the agents themselves act as pre-editors. The biggest-growing sector in Canadian publishing (and in other countries as well) is the freelance editor. With more than 1,600 members, the freelance-dominated Editors Association of Canada is “the largest membership organization in the Canadian arts community.
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Along with booming self-publishing services that offer various levels of editing as value-added options, a cottage industry of independent contractors is quickly replacing the fabled tastemakers who once shaped literary destiny …
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Read the whole article from Globe&Mail:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/where-have-all-the-book-editors-gone/article565446/

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $159 for three months! Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Or visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo/ to advertise your new book, specials, your KDP Select Free Days or the new Kindle Countdown Deals.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 970 of them : )  if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.
Thanks a lot for following:

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http://www.111publishing.com

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Tagged: book editing, Editors, freelance editors, Globe & Mail, hire your own editor, Publishers, self-publishing, Toronto literary agent

Why Books Need Editing and Proofreading

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Editing-Proofreading
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Recently I read a fantastic book, that really hooked me, wanting to read more from this author. It had not a single typo or grammar error. However, the protagonist, a young girl, was using an ipod, later in the story she was getting tickets to a concert that actually happened in the late 60′s and when she got missing, her mother gave the girls birth date as in 1948 to the police. This really great book lacked a good editor to point out these errors.

Before you hire an editor, you need to know what kind of help you’re looking for. Some editors work only on the structural and line level. Others also copy edit, or specialize in copy editing alone.

Editors Will Perform Services Such As:

  • suggesting cutting out characters
  • changing or omitting dialogue
  • changing the narrative arc of the novel
  • moving chapters around
  • give various other suggestions that will improve the book
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Developmental Edit
“Big-picture” feedback about structure, style, pacing and voice? A developmental edit for a work of nonfiction may include feedback about the book’s organizational structure, as well as both stylistic and informational strengths and weaknesses. For fiction manuscripts, developmental editing also includes notes on plot, point of view and characterization. Often, a developmental edit is given in the form of a detailed report or letter rather than as notes made directly on the manuscript.

Line Edit
In a line edit, your editor will point out specific things such as certain lines of dialogue that don’t sound convincing, or pacing problems in a given section.
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Copy Editing and Proofreading
These are about fixing errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, word choice and sentence structure, as well as catching continuity issues.
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Hiring a freelance editor is a significant financial investment—one that can range from several hundred dollars to several thousand, depending upon the kinds of editing you require, the editor’s rate (which may be either an hourly rate or a flat fee, usually charged per page), and the number of revisions/rounds of editing.
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Before you Hire an Editor or Proofreader:
Avoid the temptation to hire someone to edit your first draft. Put it away for a while and then re-read, making notes on its strengths and weaknesses, asking yourself what’s missing, and flagging places where you find yourself skimming. Then rewrite the manuscript at least once, twice is even better. Don’t bring in a professional until you have made the book the best you possibly can on your own.
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Prepared for Feedback?
You need to prepare yourself for feedback, criticism and direction. Ideally, the feedback you receive won’t hurt your feelings. After all, your editor only wants to help you see your manuscript with new eyes by providing suggestions for how to capitalize on its strengths and address its weaknesses.
This kind of feedback can be hard to hear, so try to go into the process willing to consider changes. You might, for instance, agree with the editor about a problem in the manuscript, yet disagree with his suggestions about how to fix it. By talking this through with him, rather than just dismissing it, you can brainstorm a different solution.
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Revision Takes Time
After investing significant time writing a book, it’s easy to start feeling desperate to finally have it “done”—so much so that you risk shortchanging the editing process. But the truth is you cannot respond to a round of thorough developmental editing in a week. It’s a waste of time and money to hire someone to copy edit your book before you’ve addressed all developmental and line edits.
Consider paying to have your first chapter copy edited to serve as an example. Otherwise, hold off until the manuscript needs nothing but that final polish.
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What Do You Want?
Tell your editor what you want your book to accomplish. Do you want to publish this book or do you want to learn how to write better? Is it a once-in-a-lifetime project, such as a memoir? If want to write additional books, aim for an editor who will explain her rationale for the edits, so you can learn from the process and truly make the most of your investment in services.
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The Best it Can Be
It means making it something you feel truly represents what you wanted to do and say. Achieving this for you is important, your editor has to tell you things about your manuscript that your friends, relatives or even critique group members might be afraid to say.

The editors or proofreaders job is to partner with you on a journey to make your vision of your book working – with the way your prospective readers will see it.
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Proofreading
This should take place as the final stage before your work is ready for publication. All editing and all the rewrites should be done before proofreading. The only stages that come after proofreading are e-book formatting or book layout for print, and cover design.
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Proofreaders Correct Your Manuscript and Will:

  • Find spelling errors & typos,
  • Catch punctuation errors
  • They will correct grammatical errors
  • Dedect missing or duplicated words
  • Point out mis-applied or inconsistent tenses
  • Catch wrongly-assigned dependent clauses

Proofreader Julia answers Frequent Asked Questions in her blog:

“How about authors proofreading their own work?
If you’ve written a word that is spelled correctly, spell check will let it get through, even if you have written ‘alone’ when you meant to write ‘along’. Even prolific and very well educated writers don’t find these errors, no matter how often they have read their book …

My friend will proofread my novel for me, she has a degree in English, and it won’t cost me anything.
I would say, by all means ask a friend or two to look through your work for typos. They will probably spot quite a few. But your friend has a different mind-set to me; I don’t know you, I don’t know anything about your work, it’s all completely new to me. I don’t know what to expect – but I will find those pesky typos, it’s a whole different ball game when proofreading is your job!

Readers don’t mind a few typos, it’s the story that counts. They can see that I’m a good writer.
A few typos may look like a little matter – but they can cost you big business.”

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $159 for three months! Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Or visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo/ to advertise your new book, specials, your KDP Select Free Days or the new Kindle Countdown Deals.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 960 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.
Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing
http://www.111publishing.com
http://www.e-Book-PR.com/
http://www.international-ebooks.com/
http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+
http://pinterest.com/111publishing/

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Tagged: book production, developmental edit, editing, find an editor, line edit, Manuscript, proofreader Julia, Proofreading, proofreading before printing

Manuscript Finished? Tips for Pre-Book-Production

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Layout-Print

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I saw a brilliant poster at a print shop / book designer, which said:  Pick Any Two, I Pick One
It was a triangle and on each tip had these words:  Money – Quality – Time/Speed

Always keep this in mind when you hire freelancer / employees or subcontractors, such as editors, book and cover designers. You get what you pay for… Don’t shop for the cheapest, rather the best partners.
We give you here just an overview whats involved in book production, there are many other tasks that are covered in a great blue print, compiled in Joel Friedlander’s really helpful blog articles
Start with his article: Why Self-Published Books look Self-Published
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The Editing process:
Even though many authors are talented writers and even spectacular at grammar, they should never be the book editor of their own project. You might have logged long hours going through your manuscript with a fine-tooth comb, read, write, delete, re-write, re-read, delete… Then, after carefully reviewing the spelling and grammar and fact-checking the document, you may have even handed the manuscript over to your your former English teacher and every member of your writing group, however none of this is equal to a professional edit.

Contact editors whose sites inspire confidence and ask about their work process, rates, time frames, and any other information you need to know. Request a sample edit from the respondents you like. Samples are often free, and around five 250-word pages.
The editing process is not meant to offend you or detract from all of the perfecting you have already done. Rather, an edit is meant to increase the quality and success of your book, regardless of subject or genre.
Choose an editor on the basis of compatibility and how well the results of his or her editing appeals to you. ask for references, but learning about the editor’s background shows you how long he or she has been in the business. It also gives an idea of how many and which types of clients have actually trusted him or her to edit.  There are several steps involved in editing and professional trade publishers often employ special editors for each of these steps:

  • Line editing
  • Content Editing
  • Copy Editing
  • Proof Reading
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The Book Cover and Title

The correct title can really help to ensure the success of your project. Or not… A great cover will raise the attention of potential readers.  And yes, books are judged by their covers.

  • It must be easy to understand and speak.
  • It should ideally be less than 32 characters.
  • You must be able to purchase the exact URL for the title.
  • Buy your Author name domain also.
  • The title should clearly demonstrate to readers what they will discover in this eBook.

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Cover Design

  • Keep the design clean.
  • Use a focal point to orient the user
  • Make sure people can read it without glasses.
  • Make the design match the content.

For Print:

  • Use the spine properly.
  • Include a photo of the author.
  • The largest font size is used on the information that is most important

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Joel Friedlander has a great blog post series about book layout 
mistakes to avoidYou can learn almost everything about book design by following Joel Friedlander’s blogs and by reading his books, to be found at www.TheBookDesigner.com.  Technical information can be obtained at Basic Book Design http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Basic_Book_Design for answers to your basic book design questions.

Pre-Publishing Services:

Editing:
Suzanne Nussay, M.A., 
Editing, Writing and Constulting Services
snussey@sympatico.ca

Lisa Costantino Editing Services
http://www.lisacostantino.com/

Susan Uttendorfsky Adirondack Editing
www.adirondackediting.com

Daniel Kenyon Editing
http://danielkenyon.wordpress.com

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Cover design inspiration:

http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/inspiration/creative-book-cover-story/
http://faceoutbooks.com/ (print book covers)
http://causticcovercritic.blogspot.ca/
http://www.book-by-its-cover.com/
http://bookdesigner.com/53972/book-covers/
http://bookcovers.creativindie.com/cover-samples/

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Book cover designers I can personally recommend:

Anitra Jay http://www.anitrajay.com/page:designs
Laura Wright LaRoche http://www.llpix.com
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e-Book Formatting

Another important step in creating an e-book that should be done by real professionals,
here are two proven e-book designers:

http://e-bookbuilders.com

http://ebookarchitects.com
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After going through the pre-production stages – the editorial and design part – your next step will be distribution of your new book, covered in the next blog post. However, while your book is at the pre-publishing service providers, don’t forget to actively market your upcoming book! Prepare your author pages on Goodreads and Amazon, starts Goodreads Giveaways, if you have an ISBN and planned a print book.  Get as many pre-orders and reviews as possible, plan and invite all your potential readers to your book launch – virtual and in person.

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With 30 years experience in both, print and now e-publishing, we can provide you with many more tips, background information and support – additional to the huge amount of promotion you get in our online and off-line seminars.  http://www.111Publishing.com/seminars

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 940 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://www.111publishing.com

http://www.e-Book-PR.com/

http://www.international-ebooks.com/

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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Tagged: blueprint for book production, book designers, book editing, Book Layout, book production, e-Book-Builders, pre-book-production, self-publishing tips, where to find an editor or book cover designer

11 Websites to Find Freelance Writing Jobs

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Ever wondered how freelance writers find markets for their craft and talent?
Or where you could offer articles / blogs with a link to your book’s sales page – as described in a former blog post: Smart Authors Get Paid for Marketing Their Books!
Don’t look further than to these websites, which are regularly updated, either on a weekly, and sometimes even on a daily basis. Just click on these links to get the latest openings:

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http://www.absolutewrite.com
This site is chockfull of valuable content, including international market listings.

http://www.duotrope.com
Duotrope’s Digest is a free database of more than 2,300 markets for short fiction, poetry and novels/collections.

http://www.fundsforwriters.com
Editor C. Hope Clark delivers the inside scoop on freelance writing, writing jobs (full-time), grants, markets, contests and fellowships. Sign up for her free e-newsletter – you will be glad that you did.

http://www.fwointl.com
Freelance Writing Organization–International is a free online database with thousands of job listings and freelance opportunities.

http://www.journalismjobs.com
Daily job listings for journalists, editors, online media and more.

http://www.marketlist.com
This database of markets and contests that pay has been going strong for more than a decade.

http://www.mediabistro.com
Every freelancer should bookmark this site and frequent it often for the latest industry news and the great section dedicated to job listings.

http://www.mediajobsearchcanada.com
Job Search & Find site for Canadian writers, journalists, editors, marketing & PR-specialists and radio & TV personnel.

http://www.mediajobmarket.com
Media Job Market houses hundreds of job postings along with several must-read articles on job hunting in the writing industry.

http://www.writergazette.com
Be informed by Writer Gazette’s regularly weekly submission calls to paying markets.

http://jobs.problogger.net/
The ProBlogger Job Board is where bloggers looking for jobs and companies looking for bloggers to hire
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Learn to write for the web, know how to write press releases, and study potential contract givers’ websites thoroughly are essential.  Update your portfolio regularly, and don’t forget: the decision makers can be found on social media sites, such as Google+ or Twitter as well. Keep in contact and post regularly links to the best of your writing there. Being familiar with you and your writing can for sure improve your chances of getting more assignments. 

Do you know any other useful websites for writing jobs?

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If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only $ 159 for 3 months. Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/ Once you are on this website, click on Seminar to register.

Please feel free to check out all previous posts of this blog (there are 840+ of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Chime.in, Facebook, Tumblr and to StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

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http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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Tagged: AbsoluteWrite.com, Freelance Writing, freelancers, social media writing service, writing biographies, Writing blogs, Writing Jobs, www.elance.com, www.freelancewritingjobs.ca