Thinking of Becoming an Editor?

Someone recently asked what it takes to become an editor. Here’s my response:

The first rule of good editing is the same as the first rule for good writing: read. Read a lot. Read carefully. Then reread. What did you notice the second time that you didn’t the first? Train yourself to look for these things.

Know the different types and styles of edits. Understanding the differences between them and the expectations and nuances of each is critical.

Get familiar with current styles—meaning Chicago, APA, etc. Language is continually evolving, as are the “rules” for writing. When Elements of Style was first published, words like today and tomorrow were hyphenated! There are probably many rules you learned in school that are now as outdated as “to-morrow.” (Have you noticed the trend toward single quotation marks rather than double for dialogue?)

Another thing to get familiar with: various software. You will likely receive work in different formats, and you’ll need to be able to work with all of them.

Remember that you must be a good listener and a clear communicator to be an effective editor. An editor’s job is not merely to mark up paper but to help writers improve. You must understand their needs and be able to explain reasons for your suggestions clearly.

Consider a certification course.

Practice! Do critiques for writers, take an internship, or offer to help a professional editor. Find some way to get in the trenches and develop your skills.

When you’ve gained experience and feel confident, take a few Chicago quizzes to see if you’re ready. (Okay, you don’t have to do this, but it is a good guide to readiness. I didn’t begin charging for edits until I routinely scored 90-100% on these.)

Prepare for business. There’s more involved than reading. Research fees, contracts, etc. and have them ready to go. Create a website. Print business cards.

Then put yourself out there! Build a network with publishing associations and writers’ groups as well as editors’ associations. Consider doing a few very low cost or even pro-bono edits to build a portfolio. (Publishers and writers love a bargain as much as anyone.)

Kitty Cats

My girl has started fostering kittens.

This got me thinking about the cats in my life. For much of my childhood we had a fat orange cat reminiscent of Morris or Garfield. (How many of you remember Morris?)

But the cat that stands out most in my mind is one we had for only a short time. The way I recall it—which is subject to the vagaries of memory—is that my dad brought home this tiny little kitten, barely old enough to leave its mother. It was black with white feet. Such a tiny, adorable little thing. It had the run of the house, of course, and we girls loved to sleep with it. At first, this kitten was so tiny that it was cute and funny when it woke us up by pouncing on our closed eyelids when our eyeballs moved during REM sleep. That habit led to its name, Lester the Molester, which we said with a laugh. It wasn’t long, though, before LtM learned to stretch his little claws when jumping onto our eyeballs. We didn’t laugh then! You can understand why we did not have this cat for very long, although I honestly don’t know what happened to it. Which is probably a good thing.

The other cat I always remember didn’t belong to me or my family. One of my good friends in middle school had a young cat that I agree to look after while they went on vacation. This cat was easily identifiable by its scorched hair—it had somehow gotten into the oven once! That happened before they moved to our town (our state, actually). Keep that in mind. Anyway, one day after I’d cared for the cat I was nearly home and hear a meowing behind me. Sure enough, the cat had escaped and was following me home. Since it was a half mile to my friend’s house, I figured I’d better go home first and tell my mom so she’d know what was taking so long. I picked up the cat and headed home. About a block from my house, I ran into the new neighbor lady from across the street. “Oh, what a beautiful cat,” she said. “Can I hold it?” Of course I let her. Then she said, “I used to have a cat that looked just like this. It got lost in the flood. In fact, I think this IS my cat.” She held it out, looked it over, and decided, “Yes, it is. I’ll take it home now.” And she turned around and carried my friend’s cat away while I stood stupefied in the street gaping in disbelief. Finally I gathered myself together enough to run home and tell my mom what happened. Being a logical and practical person, she said, “Well, just go explain that you know it’s Lisa’s cat by the burnt fur.” So I did and have never, before nor since, been so thoroughly chewed out. The woman screamed at me for calling her a liar and I don’t know what all. After about 10 minutes she told me to “get out” and boy did I. (I should have much sooner, but was raised to have enough “respect” for my elders not to.) My friend never got her cat back.

I hope my girl has better success with her foster kitties.

Someone Asked…

What publishing options are best for a first-time author?

The best publishing option for a first-time—or any—author will depend on the individual’s goals and preferences.

If an author wants to write the book and then turn it over to someone else to finish the process (layout, design, cover, etc.) then traditional publishing may be the best option. If an author wants more control over the end result, self-publishing or hybrid publishing may be a better option.

Here is a summary of the primary pros and cons of each publishing option:

Traditional Publishing: Pros: Access to a large distribution network; professional quality; no cost; possible advance
Cons: Long wait times; little to no control over the process or end result; low royalty rate

Self-Publishing: Pros: Complete control; fast; retain 100% of profit
Cons: Entire burden of cost and production; distribution issues

Hybrid Publishing: Pros: Faster than traditional; professional quality; higher royalties; may have better distribution; share costs
Cons: Some up-front investment required; no advance; may have lower distribution

(Read about the differences between hybrid and vanity publishers here.)

Ultimately, the best way to decide which publishing option is right for you is to research, research, research—including talking to authors who have experience with different publishing methods.

Limerick Finalist

My entry was a finalist in the O Henry limerick contest, which sought entries on the theme of Texas. Here’s my limerick:

Cattle and oil beyond the gate,
brisket, ball, ‘n music–all first-rate,
pickups and Tesla cars,
Cowboys and movie stars,
We have ’em all in the Lone Star State.

Two for One!

Today I’m answering two questions for the price of one. 😊

#1: What is a vanity press?

A vanity (also called subsidy or “pay-to-publish”) press is a publisher that charges authors to publish their work. They may charge one big, all-inclusive price, or on a per-service basis (separate fees for editing, layout, copyright registration, etc.). These presses will publish anyone’s book, regardless of the quality of the writing.

Though they usually charge authors exorbitant fees, the quality of their work often does not meet industry standards. Vanity presses may take the author’s copyright. And, they often make false claims and promises about the “success” of their books.

A vanity press should not be confused with a true hybrid, or partner, press. A hybrid press shares both cost and profit with the author, and publishes to industry-standard quality. They do not take copyright away from the author, and they pay higher royalties.

It can be difficult to tell the difference, because many vanity presses call themselves hybrid in order to mislead authors. (I’ve written about this before.) This leads us to question #2:

Is there anywhere you can check out a publisher to make sure they are legitimate?

Yes, there are at least a couple of objective ways to check out publishers.

First, you can see if they’re on the Writer Beware® list. This site keeps track of presses—and others in the industry—who engage in predatory or unethical practices. Run as fast as you can away from any person or organization listed here.

Second, you can see if the publisher is a member of a professional organization, such as IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association). Lack of membership doesn’t necessarily mean the publisher is not legitimate, but joining such an organization means the publisher has been vetted, is keeping up with the industry, and has committed to a higher level of standards. You can use these publishers with a high level of confidence in both their skill and their ethics. Tranquility Press is a partner publisher and an IBPA member.

You should also look at some of the books the press has published and speak to some of their authors. The books will show you what kind of quality to expect from that publisher. The authors can tell you how easy the company was to work with (especially regarding late changes), if there were any price surprises, and so forth. However, you should realize that this information is often subjective (the author may not have any other experience to compare the publisher to, or their experience may be unusual).

If you have a question about writing or publishing, leave it in the comments—and then watch Henscratches for the answer.

Deserves Sharing

This, from George Saunders. ‘Nuff said.

A Leftover Question

The event (see last post) was a great success. We had such a great turnout and so many questions that we couldn’t get to them all. I’ll answer them here. First up:

How do you know what type of editing you need?

Where you are in the process will give you a hint. If you have a great idea but can’t seem to finish the story, you likely need help with development. If you have a partially written manuscript that has some gaps, a content edit will help you flesh it out. A completed book may be ready for a copyedit.

Often, however, it’s hard to see the issues in our own work. It’s not uncommon for one manuscript to need several types of help at once. Having someone you trust to be brutally honest who regularly reads in your genre read your manuscript and tell you what they think can be valuable. And, of course, a good editor will help you determine your specific needs.

Stay tuned for more Q&A! And as always, if you have a question or comment, I’d love to hear from you.

For Folks Local to Gtn TX

I’ll be one of the panelists at this FREE special event hosted by San Gabriel Writers’ League of Georgetown TX. Hope to see you there!

Write a Book: How To, A-Z

2:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 27

Friends Room, Georgetown Public Library

Join San Gabriel Writers’ League panelists and ask all the writing- and publishing-related questions you’ve wondered about. Experienced authors, editors, publishers, and an illustrator will be available to field your questions. Attendees will have a chance to query the entire panel, and later visit with individual panelists. Appropriate for all levels of writers ages 16 and above.

In addition to the panel, there will be drawings for free books and a 2023 membership in San Gabriel Writers’ League.

All are welcome. The event is free and open to the public.

Texas Mom Failure

Bluebonnets & other wildflowers–with no children.

Every spring when the wildflowers bloom and families gather with their little ones for the ubiquitous children-in-bluebonnets photos, it is another reminder that I never did that with our girls.

I always meant to, of course. Each year I scoped out the likeliest spots: the most profuse blossoms, the most vivid colors, the easiest and safest access. 

But the right time never came. We were in a hurry, or too many other people were already there, or at least one of the girls wasn’t “dressed.” (Not that they had to be fancy, but I didn’t want too-casual clothes in the bluebonnets photo.)

One year I determined that It Was Going To Happen This Year. I made concerted efforts but the lupines were going to seed and I still had no photo. Then the youngest girl and I happened to drive by an unexpected patch of bluebonnets. She was decently clothed. We had an extra minute. But I had only one girl with me! Far from ideal. A quick internal debate decided one was better than none; maybe I could get a wildflower picture of the other girl another time. 

I explained the plan to daughter as I pulled over. At the tween self-conscious age, she stated her objections in no uncertain terms. Having waited so many years, I wasn’t taking no for an answer. Her obedience came with a grudge rather than a smile. As she tromped on the helpless lupines, the grimace of frustration opened into saucer eyes and shrieking mouth.

Fire ants.

And that was my last attempt at a bluebonnet picture.

Let me add, that’s very unusual. Fire ants like open ground and sun. They hate the tangle of roots and the closeness of grass or other ground cover. Finding them in a patch of bluebonnets is rare. You wouldn’t have all these generations of kids in bluebonnets pictures otherwise.

I took it as a sign that it wasn’t meant to be.

But I still feel like a failure as a Texas mother.

The photo at the top was taken by me. For some truly stunning wildflower images, check out Rob Greebon’s Images from Texas and Michael Wayne Barnett’s Best Texas Photos.

Book Review: Hunters Point

Hunters Point by Peter Kageyama is a good mystery with twists, but the unusual setting, unique protagonist, and surprise characters are what really set it apart.

The action takes place in San Francisco during the 1950s. Though not true noir (like The Big Sleep, etc.), that influence remains strong. But now tradition is being challenged as beatniks gather and racial and sexual boundaries are pushed. Meanwhile, the government is engaged in a nuclear arms race.

Kats is a Nisei (second-generation Japanese American). During WWII he and his family were interned; later he earned a Silver Star as a Ranger in the Korean War. Now a PI, he’s called in to find out who’s behind the strongarm tactics forcing owners in the warehouse district on San Francisco Bay to sell their property.

His first stop is the library; at his second, he finds Molly. Tough and lovely, she forces Kats to face hard truths about himself—but also provides a soft place for him to land. It’s not a spoiler to say she becomes his love interest since it’s immediately evident that will be the outcome, but happily the book remembers that it’s a mystery and not a romance. Still, their relationship provides interesting insight into some dilemmas faced by interracial couples.

As Kats and Molly, with a few other friends, dig deeper, the plot thickens and twists, dangers lurk, and surprises abound. Based on real-life contamination of the bay, the story imagines how several parties—from the mafia to the US government—try to profit from the incident and subsequent cover-up.

The author gives plenty of description to put the reader in the scene, from the aroma and flavor of various foods to the effect of pepper bombs. I could have used a little less description of moving through buildings, but that’s me. Overall the action is fast paced and keeps you guessing. Of course Kats’ Ranger skills are used extensively, but never going so far that the reader cannot suspend disbelief to enjoy the ride.

It takes a little help from actor Jimmy Stewart (one of several surprise characters who appear throughout the book for extra fun) to put the final piece of the puzzle in place, allowing Kats and the gang to wrap up the case with a bang.

I received an advance copy of HUNTERS POINT for an honest review. You can get your copy here.