Indie and Proud discussion

Please share your experience with editors here and what you've done as far as editing before publishing your novels.

All my books had a rigorous self-edit before they went anywhere. I used Reni Browne's book Self Editing For Fiction Writers. Marvellous stuff about chopping all the chaff out of your prose.
Next I have a friend who does a rather critical beta read.
After that I have a few friends who are semi-pro editors and so used them for the final look.

I have SUCH a hard time editing my own manuscript as far as copy editing is concerned! I can never catch all the little misplaced comas, spelling errors and left out words becuase I've read my own work so many times my brain just fills in the blanks. I've just recently gotten a pretty good (free) copy editor but I think I'll have to pick up a copy of Reni Browne's book. Thanks, Ross!

Jessica wrote: "I have SUCH a hard time editing my own manuscript as far as copy editing is concerned! I can never catch all the little misplaced comas, spelling errors and left out words becuase I've read my own ..."

yeah, I'm crap at picking up my typos and homonyms. Curse them...

I work with a great editor, H.Danielle Crabtree, who is also affordable. I highly recommend her and she loves indie authors:) but you do have to schedule!

Here's a link to her site:
http://www.hedanicreations.net

Thanks Heidi!

I've worked with Jaida at Juniper Grove. I found her affordable, nice and informative with my trouble areas (hello commas). She offers a payment plan (something I need and helpful to anyone short on cash),and reduced fees for smaller works. She did a developmental edit for me last year on C&M. I plan to use her again in the future for my series.

I plan to use her again for my next novel.
http://junipergrovebooksolutions.com/...

The first editor of my first book, who has now dropped off the face of the earth so I won't mention her name, basically stopped copy editing halfway through, though she sent some developmental suggestions. Typos in the last half of the book are still being found.

Be sure to choose someone who has a long-term record. Just getting a sample edit may not be enough.

I also use tools like Autocrit.com and Serenity Software's Editor program to do edits before I send it to anyone else.

Whenever I needed a short story of mine critiqued, I went to Writer’s Digest’s website and purchased their 2nd Draft service. At three or four dollars per page, an editor will be assigned to your work based on genre and/or personal request. I’ve worked with three different editors since going there: Carolyn Walker, Kathie Giorgio, and Stephen Mertz. Not only did all three of them give me sound advice, but they did so in a sensitive way, which is very important to me when I look for an editor. As much as I would love to keep going to these awesome people for advice, three or four dollars per page begins to add up rather quickly and I don’t have that kind of money readily available. The best I could do was remember everything those three editors said to me and apply it to all of my short stories before publishing them on Lulu.

Question for those of you who have used/do use editing services, how far ahead do you have to book them?

(I'm researching for a blog post)

To answer your question Nikki, when I used 2nd Draft Critique Service, it took up to two days for Writer's Digest to assign an editor to me (provided I didn't already choose one) and it took up to an additional week for the editor to give me his or her notes. The absolute maximum waiting time for 2nd Draft Critique Service can be up to nine days. Seems like a long time to let anxiety build up (and even with sensitive people the anxiety is still there), but when you finally open the file, you'll be happier for it.

I'm a freelance editor and I'm looking to fill out my client roster. If you are in need of a fast, reliable editor who offers a ton of constructive feedback, send me a message. Thanks!

Glen Krisch

I love my editor, Catherine DePasquale. I actually found her here on Goodreads, enquiring in a different forum about editors who don't charge thousands of dollars... She's been reliable, and as thorough as one human being can be. And she's worked with me on payments as well. http://catherinedepasquale.webs.com/

She's edited six of my books.

Thanks for sharing :)