A Guide to Editing
Ever wanted to ask a real editor for the inside scoop? You know. How to find the best editor for your book. What’s the difference between copy editing and developmental editing? What’s a synopsis and how’s that different from a blurb? How you can meet genre expectations without tumbling into the trope-trap?
Editor Debbie Burke has written a short, sweet guide that answers all those questions and more. Called “The Author’s Little Red Guide to Editing,” it’s filled with gentle wit as well as helpful editing tips.
A former freelance columnist and magazine editor, Debbie paid her dues in the publishing world. She’s also authored eight books of her own, experiencing first-hand (as she puts it) “the dreaded vanity press, then traditional publishing and then self-publishing” – where she’s currently most at home. In 2020 she launched her own author coaching and editing company to help writers and would-be authors, Queen Esther Publishing L.L.C.
The book includes sage bits of advice: How often should authors respond to online book reviews? The one-word answer: “Never.” And what if you get stuck with an editor who’s a jerk? “A jerky editor is like any other person you’ll encounter in life,” Debbie reminds us. “If you’re stuck with them, keep it professional and only discuss the book.” There’ll be a next time, after all, when you can move on to somebody else.
As a writer, I loved her take on how your finished work should read post-editing: “An editor shouldn’t be heard or seen; their presence should be invisible. Only the author’s story and voice should remain.”
And how to find that perfect editor? Ah, grab this short book. . . it suggests at least three ways you might test the editing waters before leaping into a commitment — and a big fee.
It’s a quick and easy read, in question-and-answer format. Extremely helpful if you’re looking for an editor, thinking about looking for an editor, or want to know what to expect once you find one.
A special treat: Debbie has kindly shared a signed copy of her book with me – so I have one FREE copy to give away! Just drop me an email before July 15, 2022 with a quick sentence or two about why you’re excited to read Debbie’s book. I will email the winner after July 15 to get their mailing address. (U.S. mailing addresses only, please!) Debbie has included a bonus book as well, so the freebie package will also include a copy of her fiction book, “Glissando” – a heady tale of romance set in the world of jazz musicians.
And if you don’t want to wait, here’s where you can find your own copy of “The Author’s Little Red Guide to Editing” on Amazon (just $2.99 for the Kindle version)! (AmazonAssociates link).
