Editing: You or Someone else?

[Saigonnus]

I have a finished story story and I really don't have any clue how to edit my work since I haven't ever actually finished anything before... should I trust someone else to do it or just hack it to pieces myself? What do you all think?

 

[psychotick]

Hi,

Both I'm afraid. Go through it as best you can yourself, but always remember that you are always going to miss things. As the writer you can't help but read what you meant to write instead of what you actually wrote. That's why you need another to go through it as well.

Cheers, Greg.

 

[Saigonnus]

Hi,

Both I'm afraid. Go through it as best you can yourself, but always remember that you are always going to miss things. As the writer you can't help but read what you meant to write instead of what you actually wrote. That's why you need another to go through it as well.

Cheers, Greg.

That's kind of what I thought... I guess my new problem is finding someone to do it since I don't really know any other writers.

 

[Jamber]

Hi Saigonnus, what psychotick said is about the size of it.
The days of book publishing where you got a wonderful editor to work with are gone, sadly... A work has to be as close as possible to perfect before it even gets read.
Sometimes it can be useful to start a swap-critique group and work that way. If you can find the right people for your style of work it can be really rewarding to help with their WIPs while gaining input on yours.
Good luck whatever you do,
Jamber

 

[Penpilot]

It also depends on what kind of editing you're talking about. There's story editing, consistency editing, copy editing, and it goes on. Each type of editing has it's own demands, some which are easier with a different set of eyes.

Story and plot edits, I take care of myself. Consistency and logic edits, I have the help of a writing group.

Copy editing and mechanical editing for my prose I use a few tools. One is stylewriter, a piece of software that points out things that could be problems, from passive voice, to cliches, to commonly misused words and phrases, etc. Unfortunately it cost about a hundred dollars. A second tool I use is this site: Pro Writing Aid - Free Writing Software and Editing Tools . It does something similar to stylewriter and it's free.

The tools won't fix things for you, but rather, they highlight things that COULD be problems, pointing them out so can do a double check to see that things are exactly how you want them to be. But like any tool, it's only as competent as the wielder. It's pretty interesting to use and it's interesting to input a published text and see what it says about it. Some texts, I found, are flawless, and others marked full of red.

 

[Wanara009]

When editing my story, I always refer it to someone else to point out the mistake and make advice on how to correct it. However, the actual correction will be done by me in case I want to make little changes or if I don't fully agree with the edit.

 

[Saigonnus]

It also depends on what kind of editing you're talking about. There's story editing, consistency editing, copy editing, and it goes on. Each type of editing has it's own demands, some which are easier with a different set of eyes.

Story and plot edits, I take care of myself. Consistency and logic edits, I have the help of a writing group.

Copy editing and mechanical editing for my prose I use a few tools. One is stylewriter, a piece of software that points out things that could be problems, from passive voice, to cliches, to commonly misused words and phrases, etc. Unfortunately it cost about a hundred dollars. A second tool I use is this site: Pro Writing Aid - Free Writing Software and Editing Tools . It does something similar to stylewriter and it's free.

The tools won't fix things for you, but rather, they highlight things that COULD be problems, pointing them out so can do a double check to see that things are exactly how you want them to be. But like any tool, it's only as competent as the wielder. It's pretty interesting to use and it's interesting to input a published text and see what it says about it. Some texts, I found, are flawless, and others marked full of red.

Thanks much, I will check it out when I get a chance, maybe tomorrow or this weekend. I guess I just need to be more social here, make some friends who could potentially help me with my editing.

 

[Telcontar]

Yes, both. But you first.

For maximum effectiveness, walk away from the story for awhile. Stick it in a drawer and leave it for a month - the longer the better (I assume you actually write on a computer like the rest of the modern world, but you get the idea). Don't think about it. Write something else. Do something else.

When you come back, hopefully you have some distance from your own words and can look more critically at them.

 

[BWFoster78]

That's kind of what I thought... I guess my new problem is finding someone to do it since I don't really know any other writers.

The process I try to use is:

1. Write something.
2. Revise it to the best of my ability.
3. Send to beta readers
4. Incorporate comments as needed
5. Send to paid editor
6. Publish

It sounds like you're ready for step 3 and need help finding beta readers.

Generally, the best thing to do is to enter into a reciprical relationship with other authors. Offer to beta read for them if they'll do the same for you. Friends/family are another resource. Some of their insight will surprise you.

 

[SeverinR]

I think you get feedback from others but the correction should be done by the author. Except for grammar or spelling, the changes someone else might change the meaning or flow of the story.

Always seek feedback, but you should decide what changes are needed.

Beta readers...Swapping manuscript? I would have to find someone with a similar interest, because I don't like or get bored with some fantasy. If I get bored, I don't think I would give good help.

 

[Saigonnus]

for maximum effectiveness, walk away from the story for awhile. Stick it in a drawer and leave it for a month - the longer the better (I assume you actually write on a computer like the rest of the modern world, but you get the idea). Don't think about it. Write something else. Do something else.

When you come back, hopefully you have some distance from your own words and can look more critically at them.

Well, it's been a month or more since I finished it... maybe I should start looking at it again. I appreciate everyone's comments and help with this matter and I will take everthing under consideration.