Yes, I actually on occasion talk about writing on this blog. Shocking, huh?
Sifting through all the blog brouhahas going on the past few weeks, I came upon a couple blogs about books and editing. So I thought I’d tackle that topic today.
As a writer, you write the book (duh). When you’re finished, you edit the book, making sure that not only your plot is sound and your characters are believable and exciting, but that overall your book is something that both you and a publisher want to put on the shelves. Then, you submit said book to a publishing house that (hopefully) will want to buy it.
Let’s say they do buy it. Then comes the revision process. The editor takes over, reads the book and makes suggestions on how to make the book better. I call those content edits. Those could be changes to the plot, characterization, worldbuilding, etc. Along with those there could be some line edits (which are grammar, typograpical, spelling, etc. type of changes). The author gets those revisions back from the editor, makes the requested changes and hopefully reads through the book again to make sure it’s good to go. Once those are done, a copyeditor will go through the book to make sure it’s nice and clean, send it back to the author for yet another read through.
Throughout this process, the author works in tandem and in partnership with her editor.
Your editor is not the bad guy, though I’ve often had conversations with other writers who think the editor is the enemy. Boggles my mind. I’ve known authors who nitpick every freakin change, from a specific word all the way down to the punctuation.
Dude, it’s your editor’s job to edit the book. They’re hired to make your book better, not to sabotage it so it sucks.
I don’t spend my time obsessing over dangling participles, or the serial comma. And if my editor says my characterization blows, my heroine is a brainless twit, my hero is an ass, or there’s a hole in my worldbuilding, then I need to go back and figure out where I screwed up. That’s my editor’s job. Editor’s know what they’re doing. Let them do their jobs.
On Karen Scott’s blog, this topic was discussed, and I thought one of the things said by Nora Roberts was brilliant, and I quote: In my experience, the editors I’ve worked with have been right 99% of the time when they make suggestions to improve the work. I don’t argue, so that when that 1% comes up, and I think she’s wrong and I’m write, she doesn’t argue.
(And I hope Nora doesn’t kick my ass for quoting her 
)
But she’s absolutely right. Pick your battles. Don’t argue the small shit. Save your contentions for big plot points where you know you’re right, not the freakin comma and semicolon battles.
I love my editors. They have often saved me from looking like a blithering idiot. They have turned many an average book into a great book. They have occasionally kicked my ass, leaving me grumbling about rewrites, but dammit, they’re always right. Any successes I have enjoyed have been largely in part to their expert assistance in helping make my books better.
I couldn’t do what I do without them. 
You said it. Editors make the story better. It’s in their best interest to make it better, and it’s in my best interest to listen. Which doesn’t mean you always agree, and sometimes I’ve proposed an alternative to my editor’s suggestion on how to fix something we both agree needs to be fixed, but my editors have made my books better.
And I really think one of the most subtle ways an editor can improve a book is to help point out ways to take it from really good to great. I want my books to be the best they can be.
by Charlene May 23rd, 2007 at 1:00 pmI’m not a writer and have no aspirations to be a writer but I’m a reader who appreciates all the good work that editors do for authors. Jaci, I love your books and you must have a great editor. Unfortunately, I’ve read some real drivel that should have never gotten past a competent editor. Oh well, that’s why there are so many books out there! :box:
by Bev Stephans May 23rd, 2007 at 1:24 pmI don’t write…I just read! I can tell you this though….Your books are great so keep it up, it works!
My THANKS to your editor
by Darla May 23rd, 2007 at 1:26 pmHaving just sent back the final proof reads for T43, I can’t agree more. Your editor is there to make your work better.
I’ve enjoyed working with my current editor - she’s wonderful at explaining things to me that my kid is learning in kindergarten
(who knew that 5 year olds needed to know about onomatopoeia? 
)
But I wonder what happens when you don’t have a good editor? What if the person who’s editing your work is making it worse, not better? That they just plain aren’t qualified enough to be editing?
by Anne Douglas May 23rd, 2007 at 2:40 pmI don’t get the editor-critical crowd, either.
Half the time when I read Immi’s comments and track her corrections, I’m laughing at what a dipsh*t I am. The other half I’m thanking God someone caught my stupid mistakes.
*says meekly* “… and I think she’s wrong and I’m RIGHT, she doesn’t argue”
Woman, we have GOT to do some smily editing. Ask Angie to go rip some off of my Writer .gifs page.
by Emma Wayne Porter May 23rd, 2007 at 5:18 pmSo totally true! I don’t argue commas and 99% of the time, I take their suggestions. Even in the cases where I disagree, I will discuss it because my editors are people I totally respect and have done so much to help me write better books I trust them to listen to me and tell me if I’m wrong or not.
by Lauren Dane May 23rd, 2007 at 11:03 pmtimely post for me, i was just thinking about this yesterday. Good to hear my thoughts validated.
by Rhian May 24th, 2007 at 7:06 amI am a reader and have seen some of the discussions on editing, etc. that has recently been posted on blogs. I think this is the first post that I have read which actually goes through the general steps of a story becoming a book.
by Little Lamb Lost May 24th, 2007 at 8:27 amtotally agree Jaci. they are there to help not to hinder.
by Vivi Anna May 24th, 2007 at 9:55 amThis is so true. I’m still new to the whole publishing world and know I have a lot to learn. I couldn’t imagine arguing with my editor over something. With every point she made, no matter how hard it was to hear, I tried to look at the story with fresh eyes. And she was always right.
Will she always be right? Who knows, but I’m not willing to argue at this point.
Excellent post, Jaci.
by Christine d'Abo May 24th, 2007 at 10:40 amWell said and so very true. I listen when my editors have something to say. We both have the same goal–to make the work better. Like you said, 99% of the suggestions are valid and I’ll gladly make the changes. I’m not concerned about a comma or the fact that semicolons are out! LOL
As a result, when something arises that I do have a problem with, my editor is more than willing to listen. I’ve learned a heck of a lot about writing from my editors.
by N.J. Walters May 24th, 2007 at 3:03 pmWell, if she actually wrote ’she’s wrong and I’m write’ then she’s right to listen to her editor, lol.
by Sam May 25th, 2007 at 5:00 amBut it just goes to show that you’re 100% right. Writers need editors - they take our books and polish them, making diamonds out of rough stones.
Editors are right. Except when they are wrong.
by Walt May 25th, 2007 at 8:39 amGreat post, chickie.
by Kristen May 25th, 2007 at 8:57 am