tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184008518392005379.post216906349330651011..comments2023-08-14T05:24:03.066-05:00Comments on Krazy Book Lady: Why Do Indie Writers Need Editors?Krazy Book Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07592212939908621808noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184008518392005379.post-78864571596108610382012-05-27T09:27:08.510-05:002012-05-27T09:27:08.510-05:00Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much for this p...Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much for this post! I am an editor. I write because I love to write. What little I publish goes to MY editor before it goes anywhere else.<br /><br />It is virtually impossible to be your own editor and still turn out as high a quality piece as an editor can help you produce.<br /><br />I just finished reading the Fifty Shades trilogy. (I had to.) I was appalled at the typos, the grammar, the repetition. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters, but the writing... UGH! I was ashamed for Random House. No book should hit the shelves in that condition. But it's a NYT bestseller. As indies, we can't use that as an excuse not to put out a better product. We MUST be better if we are to be taken seriously.Laurie Lalibertehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14640175895773282060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184008518392005379.post-4261534740734232192012-05-27T09:04:21.679-05:002012-05-27T09:04:21.679-05:00Just an FYI: There are tons of great editing and s...Just an FYI: There are tons of great editing and style guides, including Strunk & White, available for free on Amazon. (You don't need a Kindle, just the app on your computer--also free.)<br /><br />Get a real editor when you can afford it, but study up until then. Best of luck with your first book.Laurie Lalibertehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14640175895773282060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184008518392005379.post-8283638322684716752012-05-26T05:39:27.401-05:002012-05-26T05:39:27.401-05:00YES! Awesome post. When I read a book, I want to l...YES! Awesome post. When I read a book, I want to lose myself in it, not question words or punctuation or timing or colours or seasons or names or ... anything! I cannot read Indie books for that reason - and it's sad because so many Indie authors HAVE hired editors, but are being painted with the same brush. It may be the best book ever, but if my mind is so consumed with fixing things, I can't enjoy myself. <br /><br />Please, authors. Hire an editor. I'm an author, and I'm an editor. But I'm also a reader. Don't let them read your rough draft!<br /><br />And E.B., I know it can be expensive, but a good editor will offer payment plans. In the meantime, find a critical beta reader. Not someone who will limit their review to praise.<br /><br />Off to share this post! Thanks, Valerie!Genevieve Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138099256899984001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184008518392005379.post-12637047732559435082012-05-25T22:44:09.882-05:002012-05-25T22:44:09.882-05:00Man, I wholeheartedly agree. Great post.Man, I wholeheartedly agree. Great post.Becca J. Campbellhttp://www.beccajcampbell.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184008518392005379.post-23486147920157922962012-05-25T17:45:03.759-05:002012-05-25T17:45:03.759-05:00I'd love a professional editor and will do all...I'd love a professional editor and will do all I can to make it possible. But for some of us, it goes way beyond our egos. I only wish it was that simple for me. My boyfriend and I are way below the poverty level and I've seen editors charge as much as a thousand dollars. Unless my parents agree to help me (which so far they have declined), this might not be possible for me for my first book.<br /><br />I do promise to have many critique partners look it over though. I've already had five do this very thing with my current WIP and give amazing feedback. I'll just see if I can save up for that editor by the time I finish correcting everything my critique partners told me to.E.B. Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03954156488722828443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184008518392005379.post-15507520510184842122012-05-25T17:03:43.757-05:002012-05-25T17:03:43.757-05:00You make some really good points! As a reader, I h...You make some really good points! As a reader, I have a hard time reading books that have many errors. I would love to check out the facebook for Beta Readers. I would love to do that and help. I love Indie writers. There are so many good stories that need to be told.<br />Mel<br /> bournmelissa at hotmail dot comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11122898305851959794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184008518392005379.post-1585459329586908972012-05-25T10:36:48.920-05:002012-05-25T10:36:48.920-05:00I love this post! As a reader, it makes me sad tha...I love this post! As a reader, it makes me sad that more indie authors don't get editors. I've come across books with GREAT characters and GREAT plots but seriously, I just can't put up with the typos and or missing words or the wrong character's name being used. It's a shame that so many great books are being ruined just because nobody looked over them probably. <br /><br />I don't think some authors realize how hard it is to catch your own mistakes. I know as a blogger that I can read over a post of mine 10 times and only then realize I've spelled something incorrectly. It's because we *know* what it should say so we just assume we're seeing the right thing.<br /><br />Anyway, excellent post! :)Nicolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16496883373785959276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184008518392005379.post-46307092637693470482012-05-25T08:05:47.566-05:002012-05-25T08:05:47.566-05:00This article is SOOOO needed!!! Thank you for writ...This article is SOOOO needed!!! Thank you for writing it!<br />I can think of SOOO many Indie Authors who have asked me to review their books and have found they have skimped on an Editor, such as using a Locaol Librarian to edit their books! YES! Then bring in the family and friends, have them write a 5-star review, throw your book out there, FOR FREE or at 99cents, and you've just given Indie Authors a BAD NAME!<br />This article was badly needed!<br />Thank you for bringing this point up!<br />Highly needed!<br />Thank you!]<br />Laurie Carlsonlauriehere.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09313379396004112698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184008518392005379.post-50473248893330265372012-05-25T06:49:03.105-05:002012-05-25T06:49:03.105-05:00EDITING is absolutely essential and your train ana...EDITING is absolutely essential and your train analogy is as good as it gets. At the very least line editing. You apparently have access to some great editors. <br />I heard James W. Hall author of HIT LIT; Cracking the code of the Twentieth Century's Bigest Bestsellers that he was hired to write the book after an interview on the Diane Rehm show caught the publisher's attention.<br />He was given a VERY young editor whom he refered to as one of the brightest people I have ever worked with.<br />Long story short...she deleted 100 pages from the book! Talk about editing.<br />I recommend you google JAMES W> HALL and with his CV if he needs an editor, I can only say we ALL DO!<br />M.C.V. EGAN<br />THE BRIDGE OF DEATHSM.C.V. EGANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06575143818423442046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1184008518392005379.post-81166635827589427342012-05-25T00:28:12.453-05:002012-05-25T00:28:12.453-05:00Great post, Valerie. Professional editing was some...Great post, Valerie. Professional editing was something I couldn't afford when I was first starting out, but then I switched jobs and am in the process of doing everything "the right way." It really does make a difference, not only in the presentation to your readers but in your own self confidence knowing what you put out there is truly ready. Having a good editor at your back is well worth it. (winks at Krazy Book Lady)<br /><br />By the way KBL, I see you're reading 'Masque of the Red Death.' I'm interested in reading your review; you know I dig darker fiction, and I've been excited for this one since I first caught wind of it a few months back. Saw it in the bookstore the other day. Love the deckle edges; it really makes it look "spooky."Krystlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02143536873383893421noreply@blogger.com