5 Reasons to Love Editing

Writing a first draft makes my heart soar.

Editing makes my brain sore. Writing muscles are stretched taut and leave me with more pain than an hour at the local gym.

I have a confession. Exercising at the gym ranks just below a doctor visit, but the benefits keep me plugging away 2-3 times per week. The same holds true for editing. Yes, I like the end results, but not the process.

How do I get an attitude adjustment, especially when I should be editing my latest manuscript right now? Let's think about all the positive aspects of polishing that book or article:

1.  It will give me a better shot at another book contract.

2.  The possibility of rave reviews and sales grows with each re-written phrase or grammar correction.

3.  Knowing I've done my best gives me a sense of accomplishment.

4.  Giving readers a great story and a beautifully written book shows respect for their intelligence.

5.  Excellence honors God.

Okay, that last one got me. As a believer, I'm His representative to the world. If I put out a shoddy product, what does that say about the One I serve. My most important goal is to honor Him in all I say and do.

For readers, who are also believers, our love for them shines through when we give them a professional story. We're not merely entertaining them, we're ministering via our words.

As I'm writing and editing, I'll be praying for all those who will read my books. Perhaps my efforts will then be a labor of love rather than a dreaded task.

Writers: Do you prefer editing to writing or vice versa? Please share.

Readers: When you read a well-written book, how does it make you feel?

Photo Credit:  Andrew Beirle

 

Sticker Shock

Between migraines and the need for a magnifying glass, I decided it was time to get my eyes checked. Reading hasn't happened without my specs for quite awhile, but this was ridiculous. Armed with vision insurance, I made an appointment with a new provider.

After the exam, an assistant ushered me into a room with the familiar wall of frames. Once we narrowed down the choices to a particular single-vision lens, she helped me select a snazzy number (purple - be still my heart). The price made me gulp. "I'm not paying that much for frames." She did some calculations and whittled it down to a manageable level. My urge to run subsided, but I should have left.

As an author, I could use some professional editing. One editor charges five cents per word. On the surface that doesn't sound like much, but when you have a 93,000+ word manuscript, it's eyes-glazed-over-shock. I'm still trying to regain my equilibrium.

I reminded myself that prices have gone up, whipped out the plastic, and paid for my eyeglasses. The salesperson pointed out that if I didn't have insurance, the price would have been triple my cost. Since I needed another pair and my insurance wouldn't cover them, the math almost made me faint. I took my prescription and went elsewhere.

The editing? I'm still shopping around, but books on self-editing and my critique partners are gaining more appreciation by the minute. Maybe I can find someone who will work on a couple of chapters and give me some pointers regarding pacing, characterization, and all that good stuff.

I think I'll go have some chocolate.

Writers:  Have you used the services of a professional editor? Please share your experience.

Readers:  When was the last time you had "sticker shock?" Please share.

Photo Credit:  Thiago Felipe Festa

The Formatting Wars

In theory at least, what you see on your computer screen should be what prints out on paper. NOT. There are all kinds of gremlins in that Word program to make your prose skedaddle to another line or make your double-spaced manuscript show up with monster-sized breaks.

When I wrote The Moses Conspiracy and The Scent of Fear, it was before I had some important lessons on the art of formatting a manuscript. Moses gave everyone a headache, but Fear - sigh - was pronounced beyond help. I had to properly format a new document and re-type the ENTIRE manuscript.

The strange/wonderful thing about this adventure is how God used it to make the book better than it was before. During an earlier edit, I'd prayed that I wouldn't miss problem areas. As the re-typing progressed, I discovered little things here and there that I needed/wanted to change.

While I wouldn't recommend re-typing a manuscript as an editing tool, it worked to my benefit this time around. You can be sure I heeded my formatting  lessons when I wrote my Christmas novella, The Christmas Wish.

Writers: Have you had any disasters that ended up working out for your good?

Readers: Do you get frustrated with computer programs, and how do you get answers?

Photo Credit: miljan

Friday Round-Up - #165

Do you have the editing blues? Janalyn Voight, at Author Haven, shares 5 ways to edit.

How do you approach editing once your rough draft is finished?

Have a blessed weekend!