Wednesday 8 January 2014

Insecure Writer’s Support Group - Editors rock!




A huge thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh for starting IWSG. If you’d like to be supported as a writer then this group is for you. Click on Alex’s name to join.


I’d like to praise all great editors everywhere who help us writers to look so good. Sure, I came up with the idea for the story, sat my behind down and wrote my heart out, reviewed and edited my work until I felt nauseous, gave it to my beta readers, edited some more and then took the risk to query a publisher.  Being told they’d publish my work had me jumping up and down.

Then the real work began. My editor worked a miracle on my piece and made it fabulous. Way better than it had been going into round one.  Which made me wonder how good of a writer I was to begin with. Huge sigh. How come I didn’t see all of these blaring mistakes such as overused words, adverbs aplenty, and echoes galore?  How come I didn’t know that I needed to add more emotion to my character? Or worse yet, how to do it without her guidance.


Praising all editors.  Hip, hip, hip hurray! 

16 comments:

  1. Professional editors are indeed invaluable to writers. I once had the first few chapters of my book critiqued by one, and the feedback I got has helped me grow as a writer. The book in question came out better for it. So, yes, hurray to editors. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are like the teachers of the writing world.

      Delete
  2. Yes, Editors do rock. They can make us and break us!! Still can't get on my FB, Nana.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's true, Cathy. I'm sure you'll be back on FB soon.

      Delete
  3. I'm not even close to being published, so right now the thought of someone else editing my work seems scary. But I'm sure I'll appreciate it when the day finally comes.

    Sarah
    (January IWSG Co-host)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The process isn't so much scary as it is a whole lot of WORK.

      Delete
  4. Yay for editors. I learned some invaluable writing lessons from some good editors. Nice post, Nana.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Debbie. They are the best teachers.

      Delete
  5. I love my editor. And we both love cats, so we connect on several levels.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That connection must make the process even better.

      Delete
  6. Editors are truly awesome :)

    (Loving your new header. If it's not so new, I'm sorry. I've just come back from a long break, hehehe)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is new, Lynda. Thanks for noticing. It's given a whole new look to my blog.

      Delete
    2. What a wonderful, positive blog post. I think being an editor must be one of the hardest jobs. Hooray to you for recognizing it "out loud."

      Delete
    3. I agree, Liza. I'm surprised we can't recognize all editors by their bald heads after pulling their hair out.

      Delete
  7. Editors are great, and so are critique partners. CPs are the unpaid editors who help you find your way. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're right, Lexa. Praises for critique partners who make things a little better for editors.

      Delete

I love reading your comments.