Carin Siegfried, an independent editor in Charlotte, recently spoke to my CPCC fiction writing class on the editorial process. Over the next few weeks I will share answers to questions the class and I had posed.
Carol: What
are the different types of editing?
are the different types of editing?
Carin: A
developmental edit primarily looks at pacing, organization, point of view, and
plot, while line editing looks at dialogue, clarity, and word choice.
Copyediting
focuses on grammar, spelling, punctuation, accuracy, and consistency. Proofreading
is done after the text has been formatted and is for picking up any last missed
errors, mistakes, or typos, and any formatting issues such as hyphenation and
word ladders.
Carol: Can
you tell us a little about the editing process?
Carin: An author trumps an editor. Writers need to stop
worrying that “they’ll ruin my book.” If you accept no editing however, your book
won’t get published.
·
Some suggestions are there to force
the author to think through an issue, not to make a change. Sometimes the solution to an issue is
not what the editor suggests, but a third option. Here is an example. You can’t hotwire most
2012 cars. A writer who I was working with hadn’t done her research. The solution was not to find what
2012 cars CAN be hotwired, but to switch to a classic car. Issues with authenticity and accuracy will call the author’s authority into question.
Some suggestions are there to force
the author to think through an issue, not to make a change. Sometimes the solution to an issue is
not what the editor suggests, but a third option. Here is an example. You can’t hotwire most
2012 cars. A writer who I was working with hadn’t done her research. The solution was not to find what
2012 cars CAN be hotwired, but to switch to a classic car. Issues with authenticity and accuracy will call the author’s authority into question.
·
The editorial process should be back-and-forth and always keeps the
reader in mind as primary.
The editorial process should be back-and-forth and always keeps the
reader in mind as primary.
·
· No one is good at editing for all
potential issues so it’s good to have a variety of eyes look at your work (writer’s
group, agent, editor).
potential issues so it’s good to have a variety of eyes look at your work (writer’s
group, agent, editor).
Writers need to remember: Writing
is hard work. If it wasn’t
everyone would be doing it.
Coming up next: Carin talks about common editing problems.
is hard work. If it wasn’t
everyone would be doing it.
Coming up next: Carin talks about common editing problems.
Thanks, Carol and Carin. I love all the various editors who contribute to my work.I especially love that my official editor points out weak areas and lets me figure out how to strengthen them.
Great points! I'm sharing this post. :)
Thanks, Carolyn. Caren shared so much of her knowledge with the class. Stay tuned!
Thanks joyce. That is the work of a good editor–and good critique friends like you!
This is good stuff, Carol. I will share this post as well.
Thanks, Carol. What a great way to bring this essential part of writing into your class!
Thanks, Janie! Just wait…there is more!
Thanks, Linda. I am fortunate to know great members of the local writing community who are contributing to my class!
Thanks for this post, Carol. I love getting insider insights from an editor's p-o-v. It's a great way to learn more about the process.
Thanks, Clara. Stay tuned– Carin shared a ton of information with my class which I will pass along to you!
I love Carin's example. My husband and I often find little errors in novels due to under researching details. He always picks up errors concerning guns and believe it or not, I recently found an error in referencing hand tools. I knew the color was incorrect for the brand. Go figure. But it was difficult to believe these authors (both incredibly successful) and their editors had missed these errors. Guess I should be ready for when my time comes!
Details matter and research is vital– no matter what type of book you are writing! Thanks for chiming in on this, Bonnie. I know you've done lots of research for your books!
Thank you Carol and Carin for sharing this with us. I had no idea there were so many “hands on” a manuscript before the actual publication. As always Carol, you site is a wealth of information!
Thanks, Lisa. ANd thanks for coming up and saying hello at Writer's Plot! It was a great conference!
Great interview and fab answers to the questions! I am finding that most editors have your best interest at heart AND the best interest of their company… and that means more books being sold. It's a win-win. :)
Thanks, Donna. Yes, a win-win when you connect the right author with the right editor!!
Dear Carol, This is a delightful, informative, and inspiring series of interviews with Carin Siegfried. Thank you very much for sharing it with us.Never Give UpJoan Y. Edwards
Thanks, Joan. Glad you're finding it helpful.
Thanks, Carol and Carin. I love all the various editors who contribute to my work.I especially love that my official editor points out weak areas and lets me figure out how to strengthen them.
Great points! I'm sharing this post. :)
Thanks, Carolyn. Caren shared so much of her knowledge with the class. Stay tuned!
Thanks joyce. That is the work of a good editor–and good critique friends like you!
This is good stuff, Carol. I will share this post as well.
Thanks, Carol. What a great way to bring this essential part of writing into your class!
Thanks, Janie! Just wait…there is more!
Thanks, Linda. I am fortunate to know great members of the local writing community who are contributing to my class!
Thanks for this post, Carol. I love getting insider insights from an editor's p-o-v. It's a great way to learn more about the process.
Thanks, Clara. Stay tuned– Carin shared a ton of information with my class which I will pass along to you!
I love Carin's example. My husband and I often find little errors in novels due to under researching details. He always picks up errors concerning guns and believe it or not, I recently found an error in referencing hand tools. I knew the color was incorrect for the brand. Go figure. But it was difficult to believe these authors (both incredibly successful) and their editors had missed these errors. Guess I should be ready for when my time comes!
Details matter and research is vital– no matter what type of book you are writing! Thanks for chiming in on this, Bonnie. I know you've done lots of research for your books!
Thank you Carol and Carin for sharing this with us. I had no idea there were so many “hands on” a manuscript before the actual publication. As always Carol, you site is a wealth of information!
Thanks, Lisa. ANd thanks for coming up and saying hello at Writer's Plot! It was a great conference!
Great interview and fab answers to the questions! I am finding that most editors have your best interest at heart AND the best interest of their company… and that means more books being sold. It's a win-win. :)
Thanks, Donna. Yes, a win-win when you connect the right author with the right editor!!
Dear Carol, This is a delightful, informative, and inspiring series of interviews with Carin Siegfried. Thank you very much for sharing it with us.Never Give UpJoan Y. Edwards
Thanks, Joan. Glad you're finding it helpful.