Professional Edit

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   Ken R. Abellposted 14 years ago

   At the end of December I engaged Michael Garrett to edit my manuscript "An Ordinary Story Of Extraordinary Hope".
   
   http://www.manuscriptcritique.com/
   
   Today I received a detailed Edit Report that is extensive, running to a dozen pages or so & covering things that only someone in the business would know.  I am quite frankly amazed at its scope.  His emphasis is on making the manuscript ready for submission to traditional publishers. 
   
   I paid for this service & I am completely satisfied.  Not satisfied with all the work it will entail, but it is a good learning experience.
   
   The marked up manuscript will be sent to me via UPS.  And then the rewrite work begins.
   
   I tell you all that to say this: Well, honestly I guess I don't know why I am here sharing this information.  I just started writing & was halfway through the second paragraph before I stopped & wondered where I was going with it.
   
   Maybe it is a plea for encouragment or words of encouragment for others who have/are writing a book. 
   
   Or maybe its just some free floating anxiety getting played out on the keyboard.  I am discovering more & more that learning & developing the craft of writing is really a neverending process.
   
   Anyway, I am glad to be here on HubPages.  It is a great outlet & a wonderful community of writers.

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      TheGlassSpiderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Ken, congratulations for being so thorough and involved in the craft of writing! You are obviously doing some really in-depth work. Try not to feel like less of a professional or less of a writer because your editor had a lot to say. I'm sure you've got a great, professional editor (I can tell just by his/her practices), but their suggestions (other than changes of flat out errors) really are just that--suggestions and ideas, and you can treat them as such. If you feel strongly about NOT changing anything they've suggested...well, it's ultimately YOUR work. And if you find that his suggestions are great and you want to use them--even better! That doesn't mean your work wasn't good...it just means it inspired him to come up with great creative ideas as well!
      
      I know it's a lot of work and it can get disheartening to see all the "red pen" on your baby! But in the end, you're going to have a great MS that you'll be proud of. You'll be glad to have gone through all this in the end.
      
      Good luck!

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   Beth100posted 14 years ago

   Sometimes, we feel terrific over the feedback that we receive.  But then, our brains begin to process what has happened, and we feel a little "less than".  Truth is, we just don't see some things because our view of our own writing is clouded by our own knowledge of what we are writing.  I was once told to "remember, write like the reader knows nothing about what you're writing because they really don't".  That was the best piece of advice I have ever received -- afterall, the reader can't read my mind.
   
   Your editor is a professional, and will read and process what you have written as the general reader and will help you improve on what you have written.  It is not a statement that what you have written is substandard.  Just a way to improve your great writing even more.  That's how we grow and become better. 
   
   It takes dedication and courage to write, submit and publish.  You've taken the first of many steps.  Keep going, and when you're book is published, let me know.  I'll be one of the first to read it.  Good luck!! 

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   Ken R. Abellposted 14 years ago

   Thanks, Beth.

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   Ken R. Abellposted 14 years ago

   TheGlassSpider - Thank you for the good advice & encouragement.

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