THE MANUSCRIPT
You’ve finally taken care of the biggest hurdle of all: you’ve written the manuscript. (Why are we skipping over the writing process? Because there are literally tens of thousands of books out there on the subject, and because we know that a considerable proportion of the readers of this book have already written their manuscripts.)
Before you start thinking that you are near the end of the process, be forewarned: as we have seen in that sample schedule, writing is only the first step in the long process of bringing a book to print.
This chapter explores the work that happens after the first draft is written: the notorious (and only sometimes painful) editing process.
PREPARING THE MANUSCRIPT
Book publishers expect manuscripts to be submitted in a specific format: single-sided, double spaced, 12-point type, and one-inch margins all around. There are various reasons for this. The standardized format (which has about 250 words a page) allows the publisher to estimate production costs very easily, and allows enough space for editorial corrections and comments.
Whether you as a self-publisher need to use that format depends on how the book will be produced. If it is going straight from your word processor to a desktop publisher, it really doesn’t matter if you’ve strictly followed the format. If you intend to send it to a professional editor, the editor will probably be more comfortable working on the manuscript if it “looks right.” Ask the editor; most editors are really put off by non-standard manuscripts, but some don’t care.
When sending a manuscript to an editor or designer in the form of a computer file, the rule is really clear:“keep it simple.” The editor or designer won’t want lots of fancy fonts and pages that look like final layout. In most cases, they’ll just have to undo the formatting before they start working on the file. So don’t bother with the formatting unless the book is going to the printer right from your word-processed file.
HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPTS
At virtually every workshop for first-time writers and would-be home-publishers, someone asks: “Is it all right to submit handwritten manuscripts to editors or designers?” The answer is a resounding “no.” There’s not much that any of those people can do with a handwritten manuscript other than send it off to be keyed before they start working on it—and submitting something handwritten just looks extremely amateurish.
KNOWING WHEN TO STOP
TINKERING WITH THE MANUSCRIPT
There’s no rule on when enough is enough.To a large extent, you’ll have to rely on your own instincts. If you feel that you need help, trust that instinct. If you find that you’ve changed large parts of the manuscript back to how they had been in a previous draft, and are still not comfortable with them, get someone to help. If you’re struggling with writer’s block, or know that there is a problem with the manuscript but can’t quite explain what it is (or just plain never want to see it again!) stop tinkering and get a friend or editor to look it over.
How Can an Editor Help You?
Anyone at all familiar with the publishing process will tell you that a skilled editor does much more than correct spelling mistakes. An editor is an organizer who rereads, revises, rearranges, reevaluates and, in some cases, rewrites an author’s book. The editor is there to polish the manuscript and make sure it’s fit to print. If you can afford a professional editor, that’s the way to go. But if you’re on a budget, you’ll want to consider self-editing.
FREELANCE EDITORS
Most publishing companies use professional freelance editors to edit their books. If you have the budget, a freelancer can take on a variety of editing chores for you. Freelancers have widely varying levels of ability and fee schedules. If you want to have your book edited professionally, get at least two quotes on the work and be sure to get (and check!) references. To find freelancers in your area, contact the Editors’ Association of Canada (see Chapter 2 under “Getting Help” for EAC website details), or look under “Editing” or “Publishing services” in your local Yellow Pages.
THE ART OF SELF-EDITING
Self-editing requires a great deal of objectivity and meticulousness (qualities that many otherwise detail-oriented people lack when confronted with their own writing).As a self-editor, you should be prepared to make many changes to your manuscript before you complete a final draft, from the broadly conceptual cutting and pasting of structural editing to the technical refinement of the copyedit.The following pages outline some basic components of each type of revision you will need to perform in order to make your self-published book the best it can be.
Keep in mind, however, that no one should be expected to write, edit and publish a book completely alone. It’s a good idea to get some input from a potential reader before the book goes to press. If you want to publish a book that is engaging and error-free, give it to a friend or colleague you trust and ask for some objective feedback. But beware: most people are reluctant to criticize.You’ll often have to grill the reader to find out what was really wrong with the manuscript. If you find yourself in serious disagreement with a friend’s comments, give it to someone else for a second opinion. Keep in mind that each person’s sense about a piece of writing is subjective.
It’s also important to remember that, when you ask a friend to read your work, you are requesting a favour.A surefire way to predispose people to dislike your work is to behave as though it were an honour that they should be “allowed” to read it.
What is Editing?
Editing includes making a manuscript logical, entertaining, clear and consistent. It is an extended process, with several stages: Rewriting. It is often easier to give a manuscript with major problems a total rewrite rather than try to polish it. The rewriter uses the manuscript as a source of ideas and information, but writes the book again from scratch. Rewriting is EXPENSIVE! It typically takes six months to rewrite a book, so you can expect to pay the rewriter the equivalent of six months’ salary.
Substantive or structural editing. If the material is reasonably well written but needs better organization or more clarification, it requires a structural edit (also called a substantive edit.) The editor reorganizes the manuscript, querying the author on gaps in logic.
Stylistic editing. The material is well organized, but there is too much jargon, or it is written for the wrong reading level.A stylistic editor “translates” the manuscript by smoothing out the language and tone.
Copyediting. What most people call “editing” is copyediting— fixing the grammar and spelling and watching for inconsistencies. This is also called “line editing.”
Proofreading. A proofreader checks the work of the copyeditor and layout person. Many people mistakenly call the entire process “proofreading,” but most proofreaders bridle at copyediting jobs disguised as proofreading. If it hasn’t been copyedited, it isn’t ready to be sent for proofreading!
For the self-editor, these stages will naturally overlap and merge as you embark on the path of revising your book.When looking for spelling errors, you will inevitably find yourself noticing organizational problems, and vice versa. Given this, the rest of this chapter is divided according to the basic principles at the heart of the editing process: rewriting, rearranging, stylistic editing, making the text correct and consistent and checking. And as for the cherry on top? There’s also advice on how to come up with a knockout title.
Rewriting: Almost Back to Square One
The manuscript just plain doesn’t work, and you don’t know where to start fixing it.You really need help with it—but can’t afford to hire someone for the months it will take.Where do you turn?
Many freelance editors are willing to do a manuscript evaluation. They don’t actually edit the manuscript. Rather, they read it through and prepare a detailed memo outlining