Writing versus Editing
May 25, 2007 by Lillie
Theda at Crayon Writer started an interesting conversation with If you can write, you can copyedit.
She defined mechanical and substantive copyediting and asked the question:
What do you prefer? Writing for yourself, mechanical copyediting, or substantive copyediting?
I answered the question in comments but thought it would be interesting to my readers to carry the conversation over here and give you a chance to tell us what you prefer.
I started as a writer and got into editing through a fluke. I read several books from a new publisher and loved the stories but kept getting distracted by errors. I wrote to a publisher expressing disappointment in the poor editing. The company (which was new and small) recognized it had a problem, and instead of taking offense at my unsolicited criticism, hired me to edit some of their books.
Later, one of the owners of that publishing company said, “You are the pickiest person I know.” I’m not sure she meant it as a compliment, but I took it as one.
After I had done mechanical copyediting of a dozen or so books, I decided I was ready to offer my services to individual writers. I soon discovered that most of my prospective clients needed much more than mechanical copyediting. However, not all writers want substantive editing. In fact, some just want an editor to tell them their words are golden.
I always offer a free sample edit (usually about five pages of a book-length manuscript). The sample gives the client and me the opportunity to evaluate each other, and it gives me a way to estimate the amount of work involved so I can estimate the time it will take. I am selective in the work I take. I don’t mind a lot of heavy editing - in fact I enjoy it - but I work only on projects I believe in. If I don’t think the premise is viable, if I just don’t like the manuscript, or if the writer is difficult to work with, I pass on the project. Fortunately, I don’t turn down many jobs, but I like knowing that I won’t be stuck with something I hate.
I remember one writer sending me the first chapter of an historical novel for a sample edit. I simply could not suspend disbelief in this story - the circumstances were totally untrue to history, and there was nothing in the story to make me believe it was possible. Even in fiction - even fantasy and science fiction - the story must draw the reader in so much that the impossible is believable.
I kept being pulled out of the story saying to myself, “That’s impossible. A spymaster wouldn’t recruit a spy in a public place on a first meeting with no prior contact … A woman of that time wouldn’t … ” When I suggested to the writer he might want to make the story fit historical facts or come up with a good reason why these unbelievable things happened, he became quite irate. I didn’t have to reject him as a writer - he rejected me as an editor.
Usually I work with inexperienced writers who have great ideas/stories and less-than-great writing skills, and every book I edit is as much my baby as anything I write for myself. The last three books I’ve edited have won awards or finaled in contests, and I’m as thrilled as the authors.
The book I edited that won the EPPIE for general nonfiction this year began as two separate diaries written in Vietnamese by a husband and wife and translated into English by their daughter-in-law. She had come to the US from Vietnam only a few years earlier, so she wrote/translated as someone for whom English is a second language. Making the story easily readable and understandable in English while maintaining the Vietnamese voice was a challenge.
Two writers I’m currently working with actually had very little education. One had seldom attended school at all, and the other one, who is blind, learned very little in his special education classes. I’m amazed at their storytelling talent and love helping them turn a manuscript that in some cases is almost unreadable into a great story.
Although I have some clients who are excellent writers, most need a lot of help.
I started as a fiction writer, but I have learned that I am a better nonfiction writer than fiction writer and a better editor than writer. But I love both writing and editing.
What about you? What do you enjoy most, and what do you do best?
Related Posts:
Spring House is a Finalist in the Indie Book Awards!
The New Day Dawns is a contest finalist!
The Last Boat Out is an EPPIE winner!
[tags]copyediting, writing[/tags]
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Lillie, thanks for the mention! I finally subscribed to your feed earlier yesterday, and I’ll be doing a interesting links post later today or tomorrow (I liked your last post about reading books online for five minutes…about all the time I have these days).
Thanks for telling us how you got started copyediting, and how you handle new clients. I’ve only done two books (well, one and a current project). I should have turned down the first one right away. It was a fiasco in the end. The guy was cheap, but wanted me to spend extra time showing him how to use the computer (yet he wanted me to make corrections on the computer).
My current client is easy to work with so far, but I’m ‘once bitten, twice shy.’ So I’m taking a very impersonal approach, and I’m not thrilled while editing. I’m going to change my attitude, jump into the project, and really edit (substantively). He’s not married to his words (unlike the first guy, who thought every word he used was golden, and thought his boring story was an exciting masterpiece).
Thanks again for reminding me that I can enjoy bad writing…just treat it like my own baby. I’ll try. And I’ll report back to you.
Oh, and I love the suggestion about a sample edit! That would have weeded out the first client (he’d have yelled at me early on, since his work was perfect already).
Theda,
The time spent on sample edits is time well-spent because it weeds out clients that won’t like your work, that you’re not comfortable working with, and that don’t want to spend the money to get the job done right.
I frequently have people complain about my rates when I first talk to them, but usually they come around when they realize I’m in love with their project. If they really can’t afford me, I recommend local writing/critiques group or classes to improve their skills. And I do try to work within clients’ budgets if I possibly can. But if they’re just cheap, we part ways. I give my clients value … but it’s not cheap.
My clients usually become much better writers as we work together because I use track changes in Word to show them what I’m doing, and at first I make a lot of comments explaining why. Several of my clients start working with me early in the project, and I edit as they write. By the end of the book, the work needs far less editing than in the early chapters. That’s my favorite way to work, but often clients don’t start looking for an editor until they’ve finished the manuscript.
I think the best way to really enjoy editing is to look for the story (in fiction) or the theme/concept/message (in nonfiction). If you can get passionate about the story or concept, then editing is like sculpting - shaping the rough stone (story) to create a thing of beauty.
Wow! I can really relate to this post. I’ve been doing some editing (and I also got into it “by accident” under a different set of circumstances). I especially had to grin at this statement: “In fact, some just want an editor to tell them their words are golden.”
Right now I am sort of leaning to preferring mechanical edits over substantive edits, just because I dread getting arguments from the original writer about substantive suggestions. But that’s just me, I guess.
It sounds like you have a real gift for this and that you have found some really enjoyable projects.
Laura,
I think finding the right projects is the key. My biggest problem is too many great projects! Right now, I am working with five authors in various stages of their books, and I have another waiting for me to tell him I have time to work with him …
The sample edit is a tool to screen out those writers who will argue about your edits. The other thing I do is to work only a chapter at a time. The author has to approve one chapter before I move forward. That way, if he’s not happy with what I’m doing we can discuss it and get back on track. Usually my clients go along with my suggestions, but if they don’t, we usually compromise.
I told a client a few days ago if he didn’t agree with a change, I thought it would really hurt sales. He had a woman acting very much out of character for the way women usually acted in the time period. After we had a lengthy discussion, we kept the actions he wanted, but we added a bit of dialogue and a scene that showed she wasn’t acting like other women of the period. That worked - it let him have her do what he wanted, but it didn’t damage the historical credibility because there are always people who don’t fit the mold. The problem was that he had written as if her behavior was typical.
As you can see, I do a lot of talking to the clients. But again, I’m selective in the clients I work with and avoid prima donnas.
Hi Lillie
This is very interesting. The sample edit is a great idea as it works both ways. I also enjoyed reading about the process you use in working with writers.
Yvonne
Thanks, Yvonne. Many times I have been very glad I did the sample edit.
Hi Lillie,
Interesting post. I guess I’d have to fall on the writing for myself sword. That’s probably why I enjoy blogging. For me writing is a way to communicate and tell stories. It doesn’t matter whether I’m doing nonfiction or fiction. That said, I also enjoy editing and reviewing.
vikk
Hi Vikk,
I also love to blog. However, I haven’t written any books of my own in several years. I have one coming out this year that I wrote several years ago, but I haven’t been inclined to write anything new.
The power of words is indeed astonishing! And complimenting that power is blogging, which is the future of communications - personal or otherwise. We are in the blogging era, indeed! More power to you! Mabuhay!
Thanks, AnitoKid. Words certainly are powerful.
I enjoy writing as much as editing. In my line of work, they do come hand in hand and I can’t see myself doing just one. This post really hits home for me. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, Lillie, and I wish your blog more success!
Thanks, website copywriter. It seems that many writers have a preference since writing is more creative and editing is more analytical.
I took at your Web site - interesting concept.
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