Tuesday Truth: Edits

I received my edits for Eddie’s Prize last night, so I’ll be busy editing rather than writing for the next week.

Some of my author friends tell me editing can be the hardest part of writing. A lot of writers dread doing edits. Personally, I love edits. Edits correct my punctuation and grammar. (Seems like no matter how hard I try, I always need a ton of corrections when it comes to punctuation) Edits help me see what I can improve. Edits make my story better.

That’s not to say that I don’t quail when I open the file and see all the red. And that’s not to say that I agree with every suggestion my editor makes. I suspect that most writers are a little sensitive when it comes to our “babies”. These stories are part of us, pieces of our hearts, so it’s natural to be defensive when an editor tells us that something needs to be changed. But before we get upset when we first open our edits, we need to step back and see the big picture. Editors are not enemies. They want our book to be as good as it can be. Trust them to do their job.

When working on edits I suggest doing to easy things first. Accept a comma insertion, delete a redundant word, re-phrase an awkward sentence, etc. Wait and really think about the things that you want to argue about. If you still feel strongly after honest consideration, then go ahead and email your editor. Tell him politely why you disagree with his suggested change. Try to work out an acceptable solution. A few authors I know on Romance Divas have had to ask for a change in editor. Sometimes an editor and author just don’t mesh. That should be a last resort.

So, I’m off to see what changes my editor has suggested to make Eddie’s Prize the best it can be. Happy Tuesday!