Stolen, with permission, from FFW SMALL MARKETS, a weekly newsletter edited by Hope Clark.
Writer's Digest's 101 Best Websites for Writers
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
The best best-selling authors sound like crap before an
editor gets his hands on the manuscript.
editor gets his hands on the manuscript.
Well, maybe not crap, but the work is still rough - rough
enough for the publisher to want it touched up, chapters
rewritten, characters raised to a higher level or settings
clarified and sharper.
enough for the publisher to want it touched up, chapters
rewritten, characters raised to a higher level or settings
clarified and sharper.
Two heads are better than one. In writing, three or four
are much better, assuming the readers know what they are
doing.
are much better, assuming the readers know what they are
doing.
No writer should be exempt from editing - novice or expert.
The writing world is experiencing a huge deluge of novices.
Sure, everyone has to be a novice at some point. And before
the Internet and electronic communication, a lot of good
writers never had a chance to become known. So yes, the
deluge opens doors to more good writing. But it also
enables the inexperienced to jump on the train.
Sure, everyone has to be a novice at some point. And before
the Internet and electronic communication, a lot of good
writers never had a chance to become known. So yes, the
deluge opens doors to more good writing. But it also
enables the inexperienced to jump on the train.
The path between newbie and journeyman (i.e., solid,
trained, reliable worker) is not just via experience and
hard effort. Feedback is needed; feedback from someone
with the skills to identify progress and quality.
trained, reliable worker) is not just via experience and
hard effort. Feedback is needed; feedback from someone
with the skills to identify progress and quality.
Every writer needs one, two, or more people in his toolbox
who knows writing. If you are a serious writer, you know
how hard it can be to find a mentor, an editor. Most
writers skip this part of the development process, and I
think these are the reasons:
who knows writing. If you are a serious writer, you know
how hard it can be to find a mentor, an editor. Most
writers skip this part of the development process, and I
think these are the reasons:
1. Fear of rejection. An experienced eye is going to rip
up your inexperienced work product. Yes, and you want
that. Without knowing what's wrong, you can't improve.
up your inexperienced work product. Yes, and you want
that. Without knowing what's wrong, you can't improve.
2. Self-esteem issues. Mothers, friends, siblings and
writers on the same level as you will tell you more
positive than negative, simply because they are
more invested in you than the writing.
writers on the same level as you will tell you more
positive than negative, simply because they are
more invested in you than the writing.
3. I'm-still-new syndrome. The amateur feels he has to
become more of an intermediate-level writer before
qualifying for a mentor. You need feedback at every
level. You'll never graduate from the need for mentors.
As your skill level rises, so will your need for a
different type editor. While you don't need someone
to watch over your shoulder as you write each scene,
you do need to know if your work is on target before
submitting for publication.
become more of an intermediate-level writer before
qualifying for a mentor. You need feedback at every
level. You'll never graduate from the need for mentors.
As your skill level rises, so will your need for a
different type editor. While you don't need someone
to watch over your shoulder as you write each scene,
you do need to know if your work is on target before
submitting for publication.
4. I don't know anyone. If you cannot find a solid writing
group, create one. Join professional writing groups and
seek members willing to work together. Join online forums
and listservs. The more you seek, the more chances are
you'll find a niche that serves your needs.
group, create one. Join professional writing groups and
seek members willing to work together. Join online forums
and listservs. The more you seek, the more chances are
you'll find a niche that serves your needs.
5. Be willing to pay. If you respect your writing, you're
willing to hire an editor before submitting a major
project.
willing to hire an editor before submitting a major
project.
You never know where you stand until someone tells you
where you are. And usually that person is someone who has
walked this road before you.
where you are. And usually that person is someone who has
walked this road before you.
Hope Clark
Read FFW Small Markets online at:
http://www.fundsforwriters.com/smallmarkets.htm
http://www.fundsforwriters.com/smallmarkets.htm
Read archives at:
http://www.aweber.com/z/article/?ffwsmallmarkets
http://www.aweber.com/z/article/?ffwsmallmarkets
And, thank you, Hope, for allowing me to purloin your words of wisdom for my readers.
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