From Edie: Cindy K. Sproles shares 5 practical tips for working with your book editor, improving communication, managing deadlines, and navigating the editing process.
How to Work with Your Book Editor: 5 Tips for Authors
by Cindy K. Sproles @CindyDevoted
It finally happened—a contract. You’ve signed and returned it, and now the work begins. The montage of editors begins to pour in and suddenly you feel…a bit overwhelmed. Editors and deadlines, and timelines. Oh My. Dorothy could have a whole new set of lyrics to her song.
Don’t fret. Instead, take a few minutes to consider these helpful suggestions for working with your editor.
5 Tips for Working with a Book Editor
My Backstory (I know! Editors hate backstory): Many of you know, some don’t, that by all due rights, I should not be able to write a novel. I have a comprehensive reading disability. This just goes to show that God doesn’t let silly things like disabilities stand in the way of His plan. He makes a way. That said, I grew up in a time when there was no special education, no individual help, no nothing, that would help me. I trudged my own path because I was forced to. The love of writing burned in my soul, and that meant learning to trust God for the process. He is faithful. I tell you this because I understand the frustration that new writers feel. I “get” rejection. I feel the pressure of deadlines harder than the average Joe. So, when I make these suggestions, trust that they come from experience. Whether you live with a disability or not, these tricks will help you manage the maze of publication.
1. Trust in God: Sounds cliché, I know. But it’s not. We take these three words for granted because we either believe our writing isn’t important enough for God to care or we’re just stubborn enough to assume we can manage alone. Never under- estimate the God of the universe—the One who spoke the world into being. Pray over your work and listen to His nudges. Prepare your mind. Ask for a tender heart and a willing spirit, and then release the work into His hands. God is not in the business of failure. He’ll use your work when and where HE sees fit. So, release joyfully and without demands.
2. Schedule a call with your developmental editor: This is the first editor who will scan through your work looking for holes in the plot, unclear scenes, and places that need tweaking. Set a time to chat about the novel. Fill the editor in on important things you want them to look at or consider. I’ve found that when you feel there is something you want to defend, it’s usually something in your gut that needs to be addressed. Give editors a heads-up. Explain the parts you feel need defending, and they’ll make notes. When they reach that section, they have your reasoning and then if something more needs to be addressed, they’ll contact you. Giving editors a heads-up helps clarify things. Keep in mind, editors are reading without additional input. Sometimes they need to see the reason in order to make sure the section works. Tell them if you need help in certain areas.
Here’s example #1:
I’m currently in this stage with my novel. My contract called for a limit of 80K words. I’d written 84K. Though I’d read and reread the work, nothing jumped out to me that could or should be nixed. When I talked with my editor, I voiced that and told him, “I can’t see a place to cut. It all looks necessary to me. I’m going to have to depend on you to let me know.” He was wonderful. His response was, “Cindy, thank you for saying that. Now I know what YOU need help with.” Within a week, he came back with two suggestions. A second set of eyes on my work helped me locate possibilities I could cut without losing the story or its voice. It always hurts a little to cut words, but the call was right, and together we found the perfect place to remove words.
3. Get a clear understanding of what the editor expects from you: This is simple. Every editor works differently. Some want you to “accept” the changes in tracking, while others may ask that you leave any changes you make in the tracking. Ask and clarify how you are to return your edits if an editor misses telling you in advance. By that same token, let them know if you have issues in how you work as well.
Example #2:
Because of a developmental reading disability, I will tell an editor that I ask a lot of questions. Those questions are not to be combative; it’s me trying to get my head around instruction—if I don’t accomplish the task, call me. I do better with verbal instruction. My current editor went above and beyond when he made me little 2-3 minute videos. It was amazing. I could hear his instruction and not spend hours trying to decipher written ones. This came because I asked for a clear understanding. Editors are your friend. They aren’t in the business of causing you to fail. Listen to them.
4. Timelines: Editors will request a timeline for your work. Make a document as you write your novel or leave the timeline in your tracking as you write. This helps editors and you. I do both. I will also leave a chapter-per-chapter word count. Each chapter has a note letting the editor know how many words are in that chapter and also the total word count to that point. My current editor said how much he appreciated that. It helped him track and see excessive word count in chapters quickly. It’s the little things that help.
5. Deadlines: Most editors will give you a deadline for when edits need to be returned. Before your editing process starts, let editors know if you have any major life things coming up—i.e. a conference, surgery, weddings, etc. This will help them adjust your deadline before the process begins, and it prevents you from asking for an extension. Publishers are great to work with when something serious comes up, but they aren’t happy when you ask for additional time because you haven’t done the work. A deadline is just that. It means that your work is inserted into their process and pipeline. It’s not to be taken lightly. When you request a change or extension once the process begins, you not only disrupt your work, but the work of all the books ahead and behind you. They are all plugged into this pipeline. Make every effort to complete your work on time and, if possible, early. Early speaks highly of you, while late screams problems.
People are people, and there may be a time you come upon a snag with your editor. Before you decide to take matters into your own hands, contact your agent. This is part of their job. Your agent will serve as a mediator. They’ll talk with editors, discuss your problem, and find a happy medium for you both. Don’t become “that author” who gains a reputation for being difficult to work with. Most issues can be worked out in an email. It’s simply a matter of understanding what you want or need, but if you’ve been that route and still feel your issues are not being addressed, contact your agent. Let them do what you pay them to do. Don’t burn bridges.
And one final thought: Don’t marry your words. Understand there are always better words. Editing is the process of making your work shine. Every offering you make to the Lord should be your best. When in doubt, refer to tip number 1.
Any time you can work to make your editing process easier, the happier you and your editors will be. Editing is a long process. Content, line, and proofreading. It can grow tiring, but the more effort you make to work seamlessly with your editors, the better your experience will be.
TWEETABLE
No comments:
Post a Comment