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Edit-ed.

 

Editing. Like any other part of publishing, there are a multitude of editors and editorial opinions as to what makes good writing and how exactly to transform your mediocre words into a potential masterpiece. Forgive the exaggeration. No one doubts the benefits of a good editor. Good being the operative word.

 

I have some questions for editors. If you don’t favor a genre, i.e. romance, and you’re faced with a romance to edit, would you recuse yourself from the edit? I would have a difficult time even reading fantasy, let alone having to trudge through corrections.

 

If as an editor, you’re a Hemingway fan and your potential project is an unabashed saga writer such as James Michener, would you recuse yourself?

 

What options are available to editors?

 

Speaking from the writing end of the spectrum, I’d prefer to have an editor who actually prefers the genre of my stories.

 

My friends Normandie Fischer, Sandi Rog, and Sally Bradley are editors, and Mick Silva now freelances. Would love to hear their input.

 

 

Lord, thank you for all the many parts of your body. All the many parts that matter to you. Lead us all to those places where you want us to go to do those things you want us to do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

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12 responses to “Edit-ed.”

  1. Brenda Avatar
    Brenda

    I’d like to hear editors’ input too. I find it mroe difficult even to crit a piece that is not in a favored genre. I can do it, but like medicine is very specialized, so are the different genres. And if your heart’s not in it, despite your best efforts, there’s a little something missing from the crit.

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  2. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    My editor friends are super busy right now, but hopefully they’ll find an extra minute to check in and comment.
    I’ve offered to read a couple of different friends’ first chapters of their historicals. Both were authentic and well done, and I was able to offer a little bit of critique writing-wise, but there was no question that was all I could do and one chapter was all I wanted to read.

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  3. Sandi Rog Avatar
    Sandi Rog

    I’m not sure what you mean by “would you rescue yourself?”
    A good editor will only edit in specified genres. For example, I will not edit memoires, (some) fantasy (I say “some” because if a particular work is historical in nature, that’s a project I’d take on), women’s fiction, science fiction, and I don’t do literary fiction.
    There’s also a difference between editing fiction and non-fiction. I don’t generally take on non-fiction projects unless they appeal to my tastes or are written in the same style as fiction, which is rare.
    What I do edit are children’s books (all types), historical fiction, historical romance, and like I said, historical fantasy, any and all types of romance (no erotica), and most inspirational fiction, whether contemporary or historical.
    Why do I do this? Because these are the genres that appeal to me as a reader or genres I’m familiar with (I don’t “read” children’s literature for pleasure, lol). Because editors are human after all, a writer risks not getting the most out of an edit if they’re paired off with an editor who really can’t stand their genre. I put in more energy and time in works that appeal to me. But I won’t put in that same time and energy in a genre that turns me off, nor do I have the knowledge-base a writer may need from an editor who is familiar with that particular genre.
    Finding an editor who reads and is familiar with your genre is important. If one editor advertises their services as taking on anything, I’d be leery. If you can find a company that has a list of editors who take on specific projects/genres, then you know that company can be trusted to meet your needs because they’re only taking clients they can service, verses taking on any project just to get your money.
    Sandi Rog
    http://www.inspirationforwriters.com/

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  4. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    (“Recuse” is a legal term which means there’s a reason a lawyer or judge would not participate in a case, i.e. conflict of interest. Maybe not appropriate here. 😉 ).
    Sandi, thank you for taking the time to give us your professional opinion. Makes perfect sense. Appreciate your expertise and honesty.

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  5. Sandi Rog Avatar
    Sandi Rog

    Sound perfectly appropriate, actually. 🙂
    It was my pleasure to participate! Thanks for the invite.

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  6. Normandie Avatar
    Normandie

    Nicole, hey.
    As you know, I started as a non-fiction editor in the seventies, moved from proofreader to copy editor to content editor to senior editor. A lot of the manuscripts I tackled were dry, painful reads, especially the medical tomes that came my way. I slaved over those with my handy PDR and medical dictionary as I tried get in touch with my untrained doctor-muse, calling on
    medical professionals for explanations when that failed. The psychology and sociology manuscripts at least made sense, while government-ese in any form made me roll my eyes and grit my teeth. Still, “Them that pays the big bucks gets to call the shots.” Yes, sir, I’ll get right on that.
    I love editing memoirs, literary, and general fiction. Would I turn down an editing job because of genre? Yes. I won’t read horror or erotica, and though I love writing from the POV of the odd, insane, or slightly malevolent, I don’t want to read or write about gore. I don’t particularly enjoy sweet romance, but I’d still take a look at it if I thought the writing had enough potential to capture my interest. My reading has always been eclectic; I can recognize a well-crafted story in a variety of genres. A good fantasy or science fiction? Sure. Women’s fiction? Of course. That’s the majority of what I write.
    Now, a dose of reality vis-a-vis my editing work. I take on small projects that appeal to me from among my agent’s clientele or from those who submit. I love to edit, but I prefer to write, which means I’m not putting out my shingle at this time. But if someone came to me with a piece I believed in? I’d probably tackle a content edit and make copy editing notes on the initial chapters.
    That’s probably more information than you wanted, but, hey, I’m relaxing between crisis mode here at wedding central.

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  7. Sally Bradley Avatar
    Sally Bradley

    Nicole, as a freelance editor not working for a publisher, I can pick and choose what projects I work on. Yes, there are certain types of books I won’t edit. I no longer edit non-fiction, and I don’t usually do fantasy or sci-fi. Oh, and YA or younger books.
    The one thing that might make me take on a genre I typically avoid would be that the writing is amazing and I feel I can give some input that would take the book to a publishable level.
    On the other hand, there are times when I turn projects that fall under my usual genres. That’s typically due to two things–the writing is at such a beginning level that spending the money for a full critique would be wasteful for the writer or my schedule is so full that I can’t take on another project.

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  8. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Ladies, so thankful for your input.
    N, not TMI by any stretch. So helpful and informative. Appreciate you taking the time out of your “crisis mode”. 😉 Very thoughtful.
    Sally, thank you for bringing more info to the “table”. Good to know the position of freelancers.
    It should be noted here that all of these editors write novels. Sandi, Normandie, and Sally have all written more than one novel a piece.

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  9. Normandie Avatar
    Normandie

    You’re welcome, Nicole, though I now note a typo in my comment. Doesn’t say much for my proofreading skills.

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  10. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Hey, you done good, Girl, for being in crisis mode and the mother of the bride. ;P

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  11. Mick Avatar
    Mick

    Hi, sorry I’m late tot he party as usual. I’ve recused myself many times–seems that’s all I’m doing these days as I fight to get my website up and running. But having found the ability to read for pleasure again, I’m not likely to give it up easily this time without a serious fight!
    Appreciate the question. I know many editors and most do specialize in a particular genre and type. And I believe good editor won’t take writers she can’t help (for whatever reason) after reviewing a sample. That’s just ethical.
    Still, I tend to think any good editor can look at an ugly baby and offer at least something helpful…

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  12. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Ah, but Mick, it’s always smashing when you finally arrive. 😉
    Thank you for your insights. Somehow, just from talking with you, I would expect your final sentence. That’s just you. Always looking for a way to help the words, the character of the piece, be just right.
    Thanks for showing up, my friend.

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