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Friday, November 30, 2012

Why Authors Need Editors

Is Your Editor A Fool?

Have you ever heard the saying about people who try to defend themselves in court? They say that they have fools for lawyers. The same might be said about the majority of authors who try to proofread and edit their own work. In this case, they may have fools for editors.

Some authors have the patience and tenacity to be able to set their own work aside for awhile, and then return to it with a fresh outlook. A few authors actually can perform a credible job of proofreading and editing their own books and articles. If you find one, she may tell you that she prefers to hire an editor anyway so she can go on to the next book.

Most authors have a hard time editing their own books. Glaring errors get passed over because of something that I call "Author Blindness." Our eyes tend to deliver the wrong message to our brains. It could be that we are just so close to the work that we never really use our eyes at all, but just read what we think is on the page. This is why most experienced and successful authors will have beta readers, proofreaders, and editors.

Sadly, lots of great concepts and new authors' careers get spoiled or set back because the author has a fool for an editor! 


12 comments:

  1. Hi Basya,
    You're absolutely right - as writers we're too close to our work and the 'author blindness' does indeed fill in any gaps or does an auto-correct in the brain.
    The issue with new writers is that editors cost money - and sometimes quite a lot - and it's difficult to know if that money is worth the investment in terms of sales. Now one might argue that a poorly written novel will not sell many copies and is therefore worth the cost but editors, just like any trade, should ideally be recommended from someone they know or trust.
    Andy Goodman

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    1. I agree with you Andy. We should have an editor, or at the least - proof-reader. But good ones do cost money. I think a lot of starving artists types could, at least, barter with a friend to provide a 2nd set of eyes. A lot of times the errors are of the silly kind - just missed because of author blindness. A person who reads a lot will be more helpful than no editor at all.

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  2. This article makes some good points. Some investment in making sure your product is polished will surely pay off.

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    1. I have learned in my professional life that attention to detail, even if it is a tedious task, is well worth the time and effort. (Even if a library user does not see the importance of a book being shelved in exactly the right place
      or bearing the proper location label, it makes all the difference when someone is looking for that particular volume.)

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  3. This brings up a pet peeve, namely of authors who are unwilling to invest in ensuring the product they are trying to get paid for, is worth paying for. What other business do you know where the person thinking about going into the business simply shrugs when you point out that every business startup has a cost? Only this one. In any other, you would be considered delusional. And yet in self-publishing, starting your own publishing company is apparently thought of as something you can do without any investment at all - just type up the manuscript, upload it to Amazon, and wait for the money to pour in.

    It's silliness of the worst kind. OF course you need an editor. And a proofreader. Because the editor will miss plenty, too, no matter how good she or he is. Just a fact of life.

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  4. I agree. I am honored by a visit from Russell Blake.

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  5. Very humorous truth-telling. More people need to accept that as fact. I will keep you in mind once I've completed my second novel, hopefully sometime in June.

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  6. Sometimes the greatest truths are couched in humor. Thank you for your comment, and I look forward to hearing from you once your literary gem is completed.

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  7. I am a self-published writer who does her own proofreading. I'm one of the lucky exceptions to the rule, I guess.

    (And in your last sentence, that should be authors' rather than author's.)

    :o)

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    1. The Friendly Editor did a great job with my book. I am making steady sales, and I find that using an editor and proof-reader gives me more time to write and market. Even if you can do your own work, you may make better use of your time marketing so you can boost your sales.

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  8. Thank you for responding! Those of us who have the ability to proofread our own work do have an advantage. I appreciate your noting the error. I'm aware of the correct punctuation, and I'll make sure it gets fixed.

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  9. I have just been approached by a good trade publisher after using your services. I know that your work really helped me increase my sales - which increased my exposure - which led to some good things for my book!

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