Monday, July 27, 2009

Planning to self-publish?

Las Cruces cacti in bloom

Planning to self-publish*? Always hire an editor—yes, I'd like that. I'm an editor. Hire me. Chances are you won't, of course. Chances are you'll hire no one, and that will be a pity for your book's sake.

Here's the deal, though. You must have someone read your manuscript who is not a friend or relative, someone with critical skills whose first interest is not to make you happy. If you belong to a writers' group, ask for critiques of your work, and be prepared to reciprocate. You might consider the Internet Writing Workshop, a helpful group I've been with for years.

Skill levels vary, of course, but getting critiques is an essential start. Don't take everyone's advice, because people can and do contradict each other; critiquers can also be flat wrong or unconstructive.

Once you've compiled and incorporated the best comments from the critiques, take the steps I outlined in my previous post. This should not take the place of hiring an editor, but not being born yesterday, I know that many people either can't or won't spend the money. In the first place, editors vary in quality as widely as writers do. In the second place, many charge by the hour and expect—get this—to be paid a living wage. Soon I'll have a post containing tips for choosing an editor.

Meanwhile, the higher quality your work is to start with, the less work an editor needs to do, and the less the impact on your wallet.



*By self-publishing I mean causing your book to be published, whether by sending your manuscript to a printer or to an outfit such as iUniverse or Xlibris.

8 comments:

Morgan Mandel said...

I agree. Don't think your book is perfect. Get someone to check it over thoroughly. You may not agree with every single change, but you don't have to. The result is your book will come out much better and have a better chance of making it in such a tough market. I'll also be blogging about self-publishing beginning August 24 for a week at a blog comprised mainly of editors, at http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com.

Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
http://www.morganmandel.com

Jane Kennedy Sutton said...

Bob, again I think this is important advice to follow even if you plan to go the traditional publishing route of submitting through agents or direct to a publisher.

Anonymous said...

My sentiments eactly. Even editors who write a book need to have a second set of eyes give their manuscript a professional editing / proof reading.

And thanks for stopping by my blog and saying hi.

Stephen Tremp

Anonymous said...

Hi Bob,
I just quoted you extensively at the top of today's post on my blog. I like your ideas on editing, but I highlighted what you had to say about getting people to buy your books. Granted you left this passage in my comments the other day, but I was afraid it might get buried or neglected, so I took the liberty of repeating it.

Julie Lomoe's Musings Mysterioso

Bob Sanchez said...

Thanks for all your comments, everyone.

Bob

Import2sage said...

Great idea i must say . .

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