Every
writer should belong to a critique group or have a writing partner – preferably
one who knows about editing – to take a look at each chapter and give feedback.
You can’t give yourself a better path to clarity, because at some point you
won’t be able to see what you’ve just written.
You
can also hire a professional editor. Or two.
I’ve
used several types of editors. One helped me with organization and content
accuracy, such as being sure the Giants I wrote about were in the right city
playing the correct kind of ball. She also made a wonderful suggestion to
separate my novel in two parts and develop each one into books, related, of
course, but divided.
Another
one helped me with setting and character. She used the word “focus” a lot, as
in bringing certain sections into sharper focus. She pointed out things that
needed more details, like I’d left out important fine brush strokes. Her
feedback helped me add a necessary richness to my words.
Still
others read for goofs, skips, and hiccups. If the dog is green on page four and
blue by page 27, you have some explaining to do. Not just the dog’s color, but
why it changed.
Most
writers see things in their heads they think are on the page, too. Sometimes
the words just don’t get there, but an alert reader will see what’s missing.
The
most important quality in an editor, especially if you meet with them in
person, is good manners. No
seriously, how are you going to hear honest, sensible critique if it’s
presented in a way you find offensive? Your critiquer should have your best
interests at heart, and not be waiting for a chance to show you how many
mistakes s/he caught.
That
said, a good reader should also be ruthless. If you’ve written crap, chances
are, you suspect it, but sometimes you also need to hear from an outside
source. “This isn’t up to your usual standard” is a reasonable euphemism for
“Holy cow! What were you thinking?” Read between the lines and put on your big
boy/girl undies to deal with it.
One
writer once told me she wrote “print ready,” not “first draft” for all her
books. She didn’t want to hear critiques and wouldn’t have believed them
anyway.
If
that’s you, good luck. You might as well stay home and kiss the mirror.
Cynthia J. Stone
Author of Mason’s Daughter, now available on Amazon
