Writing and Publishing News

I’ve been doing quite a bit of editing, lately and I’m loving the work. I’ve edited a fantasy, a thriller, a few spiritual books and memoirs as well as a true crime, a historical, some how-to and self-help books and mass market novels.

While the books are different in content and purpose, there are some similarities between many of them as far as editing goes. Are you curious as to what they are? Here’s my tell all:

1: Most writers still leave two spaces after a period, question mark, etc. The rule now is one space after all punctuation. You’ll save yourself some money if you will correct this problem throughout your manuscript before turning it over to an editor. If your editor doesn’t know about the one-space-after-a-period rule, maybe she/he isn’t the right editor for you.

2: Many authors still leave the em-dash dangling between two words. The em-dash is correctly placed when it is about the width of the letter “M” and it connects the two words—thusly. Also, make sure that you use the em-dash appropriately within your text. I can see that I need a new Associated Press Stylebook. While there is text within the book in which the em-dash is used correctly, the punctuation section of this 1992 edition still shows the em-dash as a dangler. Use the em-dash to denote an abrupt change in thought within a sentence, to set off an explanatory element of the sentence and sometimes it’s used in place of a comma. My 2003 edition of the Chicago Manual of Style shows the em-dash (or dash) used correctly.

3: Many authors engage in what I call “muddy writing.” They sacrifice clarity for some sort of desire to use complicated, go nowhere sentences. Write so that you can be understood, or why bother.

4: Writers use incomplete sentences. Make sure that your sentences can stand alone—in other words that it has a subject, an action and appropriate connecting words.

5: New authors commonly write sentences that are too long and/or too complex. If someone has to read a sentence through again just to figure out what it means, the author has failed that reader.

6: Novice writers tend to repeat themselves. As an editor, I spend a great deal of my time suggesting that authors replace copycat words with fresh ones. When you finish a paragraph, read through it again to make sure that you haven’t repeated words such as, “had,” “also,” “very,” etc. When you are writing about a dog, vary the way you refer to him. Use his name, call him pup, the old guy, pet, canine, four-footed friend, fur kid, man’s best friend, etc.

7: I see some excellent, fresh writing and some boring, stale text. Make your paragraphs more interesting by varying the size and style of sentences and using unexpected words and phrases. One way to jazz up your writing is by increasing your vocabulary.

8: I also see manuscripts where authors use words that are too fancy and even obscure. Again, think about your audience. Ask, will they enjoy reading this or will it become a chore for them to make their way through unfamiliar territory?

9: Many authors aren’t sure where to break for a new paragraph. I deal with a lot of paragraphs that are too long.

10: Most authors use far too many instances of quotation marks. Often, it is Italics that they should use in order to emphasize a word or a phrase. Use Italics sparingly, however. Likewise, authors use quotation marks incorrectly in dialogue. They put punctuation outside of quotation marks and omit the comma before the quote, for example.

11: Many writers today still use the passive instead of the active voice. Instead of writing, “The worm was put on the hook by the fisherman.” Say, “The fisherman baited the hook.” Rather than, “The chick was thought by us to be stunning.” Say, “We all agreed that the chick was hot.”

12: Probably the most consistent problem I see in editing is lack of consistency. Rather than charging my clients for me to fix inconsistencies, I generally suggest that they use the find and replace tool on their computer and do it themselves. When you finish your manuscript, make sure that the words you want capitalized are all capitalized, that the names of your characters stay true, without different spellings throughout, and that your facts stay the same.

13: Some authors lean too much on their editors. When I edit a manuscript for a client, I provide lessons as I go along. I teach the rules and techniques in hopes that the author actually learns from the experience. But, alas, some of them send me their second manuscripts with the same mistakes I encountered in their first. I guess some writers just aren’t interested in developing new skills.

For information about self-editing, read Chapter 9 in my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
Are you looking for a networking organization where you can learn more about the publishing industry, authorship and opportunities for writers, authors and artists? Join SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) http://www.spawn.org

We all give on occasion. Sometimes we recognize an unexpected opportunity and we give joyously. Other times, we feel uncomfortably coerced into giving up some of our time or belongings.

This has been a period of “giving” opportunities for me. In some instances, I’ve felt pressured to give and in others, I’ve felt moved to do so.

I learned the joy of giving very early in life. It is still a high for me when I offer something from the heart and it brings a smile to someone’s face. The simple phrase, “thank you” is music to my ears. But I have also discovered, with time, that one must establish a balance between giving and withholding. During the first few months of this year, maintaining this balance has been a challenge.

Because I’m constantly putting myself out there, freelance writers and authors have no trouble finding me. Some email me through the SPAWN Web site and others locate me through my Web site, my writing-related books or as a result of one of my workshops or articles. Most of them want my help. Some of them want a resource recommendation, others want information or guidance and still others are seeking financial help. I respond to them all.

Just as I can’t “not write,” I can’t seem to avoid responding to freelance writers and hopeful authors. Sometimes I get a “thanks” in return and sometimes not. Sometimes, the author wants to argue with me or pick my brain beyond what I believe is a fair limit. Occasionally, they seem to feel that I don’t give enough. I guess it’s all relative.

A friend of mine experienced a disturbing incident in a local yarn shop this week. Marilyn walked in with her knitting project and asked for a little help. The owner said, “I can see that you bought your materials elsewhere, so that will cost you $8.00.”

While it is certainly important for professionals to set limits, they must be realistic. In my opinion, this proprietor turned down a wonderful opportunity. She chose quick money instead of a chance to develop a happy new customer. And she lost all the way around. My friend did not pay for her services and she will not be back.

And then there is the other end of the spectrum—this is where balance comes in. When do you stop giving? I’ve learned to speak up when a particularly needy writer, after four or five detailed emails back and forth, wants even more from me. Some of these folks, when I say that I have given all that I can and that I will have to charge for additional time, leave in a huff. Some promise never to bother me again! It’s no bother, people. It’s just that this is how I make my living—and I can do only so much work for free.

These past few weeks, I’ve had a real variety of emails to answer and decisions to make. One gentleman wants me to read his 75,000-word manuscript out of the goodness of my heart because his book is that good and I will surely want to become a publishing partner. I spent about 30 minutes discussing publishing options with him and trying to steer him in a direction that would likely benefit his project.

Another man contacted me about a book that is “so unique that it will sell itself.” All he needs is financial backing. When I found out that he knew nothing about the publishing industry, I spent nearly an hour with him attempting to educate him and help him to engage in further educational opportunities.

A woman emailed me to ask a whole list of questions, only some of which I could answer off the top of my head. I responded to those that I could and provided resources for the others.

Another woman called me asking for help in writing a memoir. If I go along with what she wants, I could make around $100,000. But, when we meet next week, I will advise her that this is not a viable project. If she really wants the book written, I will suggest that she write it just for family and friends. I can help her with the organization and editing of the book, if she wants. She’ll have her book and she will have saved about $99,000.

I met with a lovely trio of women this week who hired me to help them promote a local history book which they spent eight years producing from an old manuscript that a husband wrote before his death. I’m convinced that I can save them the money that they planned to spend on advertising while helping them to focus on promotional efforts that will actually result in sales. And so I hired on.

I also met recently with a mentally handicapped poet I’ve known for years. She teaches poetry at a mental health facility and takes her teaching and her poetry very seriously. Every once in a while she talks to me about publishing her poetry. The closest she has come to this on her own is to type up copies of her poetry (yes on a typewriter) and put them in manila folders. She sells these as books.

Recently, she spent a few months saving up money until she could afford a consulting session with me. (Of course, I gave her a discount.) Again, she discussed someday having her poetry published in a real book. When I got home, I decided to publish her book of poetry. I will ask her if she would like to give $25 toward the project and then I will do the rest. I’ll prepare the pages, create a cover (hopefully from her own artwork) and have 25 or 30 books comb-bound for her. I hope she is as thrilled as I am to be able to offer her this gift.

While the reason that I work with clients is to earn a living doing something I enjoy, I certainly do some giving along the way, as well. My clients may not even know it, but I will sometimes go off the clock to discuss something with them or respond to a question. My clients are a gift to me and I often find ways to give back.

Of course, this blog is also one of my gifts—it’s free for anyone who wants to take the time to learn and to grow as a writer or an author. Some of my most valuable altruistic efforts come in book form. Be sure to order your copy of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. Check out all of my other books at my Web site. http://www.matilijapress.com Contact me at plfry620@yahoo.com