Part TWO: The Editing Process (formal edits)

I am fortunate to have excellent editors helping me refine my books. The first editors offer informal feedback, the second editors are people I pay to work out the kinks. Both serve an important purpose. Let me introduce you to my second level of editors, my formal editors.

After my critique groups suggestions are incorporated into my writing, I contact and pay for edits by people who help me ‘fix’ errors in story line, overuse of favored words, punctuation, etc. Usually they are not familiar with my story which is a distinct advantage for me; they do not know anything about the story or the characters so they read and evaluate the story more like a reader does.

When a person writes and reads their own work or shares it with informal groups, they know the characters and may miss things a reader coming cold to the story might question. Also, I tend to self-correct when I reread my own writings. I mentally correct errors as I read so I miss lots of tiny mistakes. (I’m not a good proof reader of my own work!)

At the end of the editing process, I once again let the pages rest. Next I read it slowly, then aloud to make final changes before it goes to the publisher for layout. Now the pages are almost ready to go to the printer. But that discussion is for another time.