Writers Need Help Too

The art of writing is viewed as a solo career.
Is it not.
At all.
The act of writing a book, essay, paper, novel, etc. is only 10% of the work. Good job if you think you are so amazing for writing a one hundred and twenty page story, but that is only the beginning, and, honestly, the easiest part. As writers, writing is the simplest part of creating a story (or whatever form you like). That is what we do, we sit down and let our thoughts and emotions flow from our hearts, down our arms, though the pen, and onto the paper. Easy. It is what we were made to do.
But! That is the first step in the final product! You cannot stop there! Editing is the next step. "But Heather, you've already talked about editing in your post Editing (When the Real Work Begins)," you wine. Yes, I know, but I must share more because I'm learning more and more about it. It is so exciting!
I am going to share the steps I take in editing, what I found helpful, and what I will not do again.
First, write the dang book. Stop stressing about making everything sound perfect the first time. Let me save you a lot of pressure and say its impossible. Don't worry about it. Just sit down, empty your mind, and write what's inside and what your characters want to share with the world. Its alright to make mistakes, you can always go back and rewrite.
Once you have your wonderful work of art completed, put it aside for a week or so. When I get done writing something, the idea and meaning I wanted my words to convey are fresh in my mind. I think its excellent! A masterpiece! I know what I'm trying to say and I did it perfectly! Then I put the manuscript to aside for a time until I can't remember as clearly what I was trying to say. When I go back and read it over, I am looking at it with fresh eyes and am often appalled at how confusing I can be. Mistakes stick out more and can easily be spotted and dealt with.
I usually reread over my work, editing as I go, and read it all over again once I'm done. If it still needs work I continue editing until it is good. Then, after rereading it all over again, I send it to an editor. Now, an editor doesn't have to be a big wig, somewhere in an office who has been editing for years and years. You will need someone like that later down the road of your book's editing process, but for now, find a trusted friend, family member, teacher, or anyone who wants to help you. There are people like that out there and, if you intend to publish your work, they may want to help even more. Say you'll thank them in the acknowledgment page and give them a free copy once it is done. I'm blessed with a friend who loves editing, a writing professor who has taken me under her wing and is willing to help, and an old family friend who is a part time editor. They all help me in some form or another. Ask for help, its ok.
Now, I made a mistake. I asked WAY to many people to edit my book and sent it all to them at once. Not a good move. They sent back a lot of negative feedback about how simple my errors were. In my defense, I am not the best editor. I am a writer, not an editor. I am getting better, but still. . . .
Glasses 1Several were unhappy. If people are reading your work for free, NEVER make them unhappy! I did. My bad.
Instead, do this. After reading and editing your work to the best of your ability, send it to ONE trusted friend, family member, or whoever who will help you. They can dig though all the simple problems you did not see and point them out. Books are a mess at first, won't you agree? As writers, we are blinded by our own vision of what the story can be to see our mistakes. Allow a friend to help you see the common errors, things that an average person can find, THEN you can send it to the group of editor friends for their revision.
After that one editor has read though your work, send it to your primary editor, I.E. the one you will have to pay and who has edited for years. It is horrible to pay someone to point out mistakes a friend could find. The professional editor should only see deep, hard to find errors that, honestly, only editors really notice.
Once you have it revised a million times, read it all over again. Make doubly sure it sounds and flows just how you want it to. THEN give it to your publisher.
"But why give my written work to other people," you ask? "I'm really good at editing. I can just do it myself." Again, writers are blinded by their own vision of the book to see their mistakes. Besides, you want to be taken seriously as a writer. Then give the world your best work which is accomplished by the help of others. Lay down your pride, suck it up, get the backbone to hear your perfect, amazing book needs work, and find editors.
They will say things you don't want to hear.
They will tell you what's wrong with what you hold so dear.
They will point out things you disagree with.
But that's ok. That's what editors are here for. To help. To make your masterpiece into an epic. And it will be epic. It will be all that and more.