I'm not exactly sure who this post is for, but I have a need to share my story in the hope it will give a person pause to think about their editing choices.
When I began my writing journey eight years ago and started publishing my own work about four years ago, I can honestly say I've learned a thing or two about content editing and proofreading. Believe me, I'll be the first to tell you I am still learning everyday about writing and everything else life has to offer.
What I wanted to share is my experience with editing my first book and what I am doing now to correct it. Since writing my third book I've learned the difference between content editing and proofreading and how they are not one in the same and one needs to happen before the other respectively.
As I beamed with pride finishing my first book in 2010 I researched different venues to find an editor for my book. I asked questions. And asked some more questions and eventually found an editor but what I want to share is simply this...do not be swayed by a fancy title and a high price tag. You do not need either. There are high-quality content editors and proofreaders everywhere that do not come with a fancy title and a high price tag.
Before I go any further, I like to take a minute to explain the difference between content editing and proofreader for those aspiring writers just starting out or for those who are mulling around outlines and ideas.
Content editing focuses on storyline, pacing, characterizations, timeline, and plot. This editing happens first once you have a rough draft of your manuscript. This is where your editor catches if your main character's date that happened on Saturday night is consistent throughout the story and doesn't change to Friday or that green dress your female lead doesn't change to yellow. Your content editor will keep you consistent and let you know if and where your story moves too fast or too slow or is confusing in parts or has some gaps in information and if any of your characters start slipping out of character.
Proofreader happens after you've made adjustments and revisions from the content editor and the line by line editing begins where grammar and sentence structure is corrected. Sometimes, a good proofreader will give you feedback about your manuscript as well, sometimes they do not. Either way, it is essential to have both done and as a self-published author this can get a little pricey, but only if you make the mistake I did.
Back to my story...I did find an editor and as I just published my third book, I know now that I certainly did not get what I paid for in terms of editing for the first one. And believe you when I tell you I paid through the nose thinking I was going to receive high-quality editing because I paid so much money! WRONG! For my third book, I paid a considerable amount less in editing and received a higher-quality, more thorough edit than I did the first time around with a pricey, glitzy website and an experienced writer. I was such a newbie! Not only did I pay through the nose, I did not receive an edit at ALL...just some notes in the margins for the first fifty pages and that's about it. You do not want that! that is NOT a thorough content edit at all! I was under the impression it was edited and so I published it not knowing how much more work I needed to do. I am now in the process of re-writing the first book fixing all the editing that should have been done the first time around. And my goal is to republish by the end of the year, hopefully much sooner than that.
So, new writer beware...you do not need to be swayed by a fancy title and a high price tag. You can find affordable, creative, hard-working editors who do a fantastic job! I have received so much support and assistance and quality work through my writing family that I am confident self-publishing high-quality products now, but I do need to work on correcting my mistakes with my first book and I am working diligently doing that now as well.
If you need help finding editors or copyeditors who aren't going to cost you a fortune, just email me at authorsheilabliss@gmail.com or leave me a comment at the end of this post and I'll be in touch.
Thanks for reading!
I hope this helps!
Happy Writing!!
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