Editors:
why you need one and where you'll find one
Kind
of editor: Copyeditors
Why
you need one: They are the pickiest people in the editing business! They will
probably be the hardest editor an author will deal with, but often
take the book from good to great. It's also important to note that
not all copyeditors are interested in proofing prose and poetry, as
most of them find employment with magazines and newspapers. They
check your spelling, grammar, style, and usage. If there is a
sentence that doesn't flow, it'll be worked out. If there is a
sentence or words that can be dropped without changing the meaning of
a sentence, the editor will get rid of it. These editors will also
check your facts, so make sure you've done research on everything
you've brought up in your book.
Why
people avoid them: "They are killing my page count! All of these crossed out words and
sentences have interrupted my flow and have changed the direction of
my book! I have prefect spelling and grammar, and I don't need this
type of help."
Why
people should stop
avoiding them: Money. If your book has even the slightest error and someone notices
(they always do) your book is doomed. You don't want people to think
you've pulled information out of your ass, and that they should mail
you the latest copy of the dictionary to your “fan male” address.
Where
to find one: For this one, you
should ask fellow authors for recommendations, and seek people out on
editors.ca. You do need to be careful when finding a copyeditor, as
it is not uncommon for people to edit work for a second income. Just
because a friend of a friend is an English teacher and edits papers
constantly, does not necessarily make them a good editor. They may
pick up on a few things, but don't understand what audiences are
looking for.
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