Editing is the most important step when it comes to self-publishing – so says Jonathan Kyle, writing for Tampa Bay’s Creative Loafing website this week.
Kyle, whose first novel The Grandfather Clock, is published on Amazon is currently working on his second and third novels.
Done right, editing will make your book indistinguishable from any of those published by the Big Five* according to Kyle. Done wrong – or not at all – and it only confirms the prejudices against self-published novels.
Kyle describes editing as “the art of identifying, measuring and eliminating the bad writing”. He advises on rewriting. While it can be tempting to delete the first draft after critical feedback from your beta readers, that draft is the outline for your new, improved version. Editing is difficult because one little edit at the beginning can set off a chain reaction of changes so it’s vital to keep notes as you go.
Kyle hired a content editor for his first novel. A content editor checks the content for discrepancies in the plot, character or dialogue and if the theme has been developed properly. He or she also looks at the integration of sub-plots. Kyle recommends the hire as a very worthwhile investment.
Kyle’s final piece of advice is to save hiring a copy editor until you are completely finished making changes.
Jonathan Kyle blogs at Well Oiled Writer.
*In the US, the Big Five publishing houses are Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster.
Kyle, whose first novel The Grandfather Clock, is published on Amazon is currently working on his second and third novels.
Done right, editing will make your book indistinguishable from any of those published by the Big Five* according to Kyle. Done wrong – or not at all – and it only confirms the prejudices against self-published novels.
Kyle describes editing as “the art of identifying, measuring and eliminating the bad writing”. He advises on rewriting. While it can be tempting to delete the first draft after critical feedback from your beta readers, that draft is the outline for your new, improved version. Editing is difficult because one little edit at the beginning can set off a chain reaction of changes so it’s vital to keep notes as you go.
Kyle hired a content editor for his first novel. A content editor checks the content for discrepancies in the plot, character or dialogue and if the theme has been developed properly. He or she also looks at the integration of sub-plots. Kyle recommends the hire as a very worthwhile investment.
Kyle’s final piece of advice is to save hiring a copy editor until you are completely finished making changes.
Jonathan Kyle blogs at Well Oiled Writer.
*In the US, the Big Five publishing houses are Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster.
