Guest post from editor Denise Harmer, who has edited several of my books!
You did it. You’ve written that novel. You’ve checked it over at least a gazillion (is that even a word?) times. You’ve made sure each of your plot points is wrapped up nicely, you’ve double-checked your spelling, and you’ve asked your friends for their opinions.
Now what do you do with this beauty that you’ve spent so much time on?
You’re ready to hit send and get it out into the universe … right?
But wait. Are you sure?
Beyond Self-Editing
Many writers think self-editing is enough, but what about those hidden errors that your eyes gloss over? Those areas deserve some attention, and an editor can help.
There are all kinds of choices as far as editing goes. You can (and should) at the very least get a copyedit (checking for syntax, grammar, wording, punctuation mistakes, and inconsistencies), and/or a final proofread (the last read-through to make sure all mistakes have been caught), and not necessarily from the same editor. We all have our specialties. For example, I specialize in copyediting and proofreading. Other editors focus on developmental or line editing.
How an Editor Can Help
Spell-check is a good start in the editing process; however, a machine can’t spot errors that editors are trained to notice. Here are a few examples of what a copyeditor can catch that you might not realize you did wrong:
1) The target remained allusive right in plain sight.
The correct word here is elusive.
2) Just when she fell into the throws of deep, deadened sleep
Um, hopefully no one is throwing you in your sleep. The word needed here is throes.
3) a large tree just outside the rod iron fence
It’s wrought, not rod.
4) The older teens followed the team passed the sleeping security attendant.
The change needed here is past, not passed.
See, it’s easy to miss those things, but a good copyeditor will be able to make your story shine so that when you push the send button, you know it’s the best it can be. It’s tempting to skip these steps in the editing process, but if at all possible, make them a priority. Your readers will reward you with great reviews and they’ll be more apt to choose your story over another when you’re ready to publish that next one.
(Julie here: Need a recommended book on self-editing? Here’s a good one that will last for years: Self-Editing for Fiction Writers.)
Looking for a copyeditor? Denise Harmer is a member of Christian Editor Connection, The Christian PEN, and ACFW. Find her at one of these stops on the web: