I believe that editing can be kind as well as honest, and in this second blog about Kinder Fiction Editing, I explain how I have adapted my editing process to suit the differing needs of the authors I work with. Also see part one of Kind Fiction Editing – Is My Writing Good Enough?

An author has probably nurtured their manuscript for months, if not years.

When I have finished editing a manuscript, and I’m returning it to the author, I always send it twice. Or rather, I send two versions of the same file.

The first version I send has all my marks on it – this includes:

• all the suggested changes that I have made directly to the text (the more definitive corrections to spelling, grammar and punctuation which I’m confident should be seriously considered by the author and don’t really need clarification). These are made using MS Word’s Track Changes.
• all my comments (any suggested changes which may either need further explanation, or have multiple possible solutions, or that may be more a matter of opinion rather than a matter of fact). These comments are contained within the comments balloons.

I’m aware that an author has often nurtured their manuscript for months, and probably for years. This is particularly true where a manuscript is in excess of 60,000 words – as is the case with most of the manuscripts that I work on. It can be hard to hand over your nurtured manuscript. I am careful to make sure that the authors I work with know my editing style.

Editing should be based on ENCOURAGEMENT and SUPPORT

My editing style is based on support and encouragement, on educating and building you up. It’s not based on judgement, or on unconstructive criticism. I also understand that my voice is NOT your voice. And that this manuscript is YOUR baby, not mine.

For this reason, I also send back a version of the manuscript that has all my suggested changes already approved. By this, I don’t mean the more subjective comments – these are in the comments balloons, and they are the same across both files. I’m talking about the red pen amendments that have been made directly to the text using MS Word Track Changes.

Why do I return two versions of the same manuscript?

Seeing your lovely, nurtured manuscript covered in red pen can be triggering for some authors. Many of us have traumatic memories of a teacher at school who didn’t provide support and encouragement, who made us feel judged or inadequate and who knocked our confidence.

For other people, although they may not have unhappy memories of their school years, they may feel uncomfortable or react badly at the thought that someone is “correcting” their manuscript.

That they’ve handed their manuscript over to an editor indicates they want help. And the second, clean version of their manuscript shows them just how good their manuscript can be. Reading through this clean file shows them how their writing, and their words, can be tweaked – sometimes only very slightly – to produce a more flowing, more accessible, more polished novel. But they can also see that the changes have not removed their voice, changed their style, or changed the meaning or impact of any of the sentences.

A bright and sparkly manuscript

The first file – what I’m calling the red-pen version – is a very, very useful tool for anyone who wants to learn from my editing. To see each and every suggested change, review it, accept it or refuse it. And that’s great – it means that an author is fully immersed in the editing process, and is engaged and open to learning.

However, many writers don’t want (or need) to know all the minutiae of the editing process, and would rather just hand their manuscript over to an editor and have it come back all bright and sparkly.

I know that different authors have different approaches, different levels of confidence, and different levels of interest in learning about spelling, grammar and punctuation. Some authors know that spelling just isn’t their thing, but they are confident in their writing, knowing that an editor down the line will help them sort it out. These authors don’t need to see the details. For these authors, the clean file is the perfect file to work on.

Reduce Editing Costs

Other authors want to reduce their editing costs for future projects, so want to learn the ins and outs of every detail of every suggested change. They want to apply their learning to future books so that the time spent on editing can be reduced (and therefore the cost will be reduced too). For these authors, the red-pen file is just perfect.

I hope that, by providing both versions, I’m catering for everyone!

To repeat, the idea is to provide you with the service that you need to make your book the best it can be, whilst retaining your voice, your message and your style.

I’m just here to help.

For more information about how editing can be kind, see Kind Fiction Editing (part 1) – What is kind fiction editing? and Kind Fiction Editing (part 3) – Is my writing good enough?

The post Kind Fiction Editing – part 2: Editing adapted to suit you. appeared first on MandaWaller.

Are you worried about handing over your manuscript? Do you think your writing might not be good enough? Are you concerned that an editor will judge you and your writing? Are you wondering, “Is my writing good enough?”

In this final part of a three-part series of blog posts about Kind Fiction Editing, I will be addressing some of the author concerns that have cropped up over the years.

If you haven’t already read them, you might like to see Kind Fiction Editing (part 1) – What is kind fiction editing? and Kind Fiction Editing (part 2) – Editing adapted to suit you

Q: Is my writing good enough?
A: Yes, always.

I work primarily with independent authors who are relatively new to their craft.

And many of them start their communications with me by saying they aren’t sure their writing is good enough. Or they are a bit embarrassed to share their manuscript with me. Or they are sure that it’s not as good as other manuscripts I have worked on.

As a writer, you might want to know: “Is my writing good enough?”

The short answer is, yes, always. You have invested so much of yourself, and that’s good enough for me.

The longer answer is as follows!

1. There is no judgement

Firstly, my job is not to judge. My job is to make a manuscript as good as it can possibly be. This means that there is absolutely no judgement. Instead, there are constructive, supportive suggestions. You have crafted a story. My job is to make the story sing.

Will your book be a globe-smashing best seller? Maybe yes, maybe no. But until you’ve had it edited, you will never know!

2. Your time and effort deserve reward

I am fully aware of how much work goes into a manuscript, be it 10,000 words or 100,000 words. The time, the effort, the energy, the emotion that has been invested in your manuscript means that it deserves the attention of an editor – an editor who will polish your manuscript, suggest improvements, and make it sparkle until it is the very best version of itself.

3. Feedback can be honest AND kind

When an editor undertakes editorial training, the training is twofold. Firstly, it covers the basics of what to look for when editing (grammar, punctuation, point of view, tight writing, etc.). And secondly, it covers how to communicate with authors. This means learning how to frame suggested edits in a constructive, supportive, helpful, non-judgemental way. It means understanding how to ask for clarity without being offensive or unkind. And for me, the single most important lesson that I hope to pass on to my children is to always be kind. Because kindness costs nothing. And manuscript feedback can be honest AND still be kind.

4. There IS a red pen, but feedback is framed sensitively.

When I am editing a manuscript, I make two types of suggestions. The first is where something is very obviously wrong – a speling mistkae, or punctu.ation that is clearly inaccurate. These changes I make directly to the text (using MS word track changes – see here Word Track Changes Guide for Authors| MandaWaller |).

The second set of suggestions comes by way of comments. These comments – although expressed in shorthand – are never judgemental. They are never of the “must try harder” variety. Here are some of my (genuine) comments from a recent edit of a fantasy manuscript:

“This sentence is a little clunky. It might be cleaner as…”

“This is beautifully written…”

“I’m a little concerned that your readers will be confused by this. It might be worth clarifying. How about…”

“I think that last time we met this character, they had blue eyes? Would you prefer them to have hazel eyes throughout? Either way, just let me know and I can fix this for you.”

“I love how you’ve told the reader she is a little lady, without actually stating this. Excellent.”

“Just a quick check – do you think this character would speak like this? It’s absolutely fine if you do, just most 10-year-olds wouldn’t speak in quite such a formal way.”

“This is an unconventional use of the word. I personally love it, but if you’d rather use a more conventional arrangement, then I’d suggest…”

5. Is my writing good enough? Absolutely. You’ve got to be in it to win it.

Why have you written your manuscript? Is it purely for yourself? Do you not want to share it with the world? Then of course you must keep it to yourself.

But would you like to publish it? Be able to call yourself a “published author”? You can self-publish, or you can send it off to a publishing house (if you are lucky enough to be accepted!), but either way, if you don’t show your manuscript to anyone, you will never know whether it could be the next blockbuster.

You really do have to be in it to win it!

No judgement. Only appreciation, respect and admiration.

In conclusion

I work with people who have written a story that is so personal to themselves that they feel embarrassed to share such intimacy with strangers. And I’m flattered that they feel safe with me.

I work with people who don’t speak English as their first language. And I am in awe of their ability to write a novel in their second (or third) language.

I work with people who have told me they are dyslexic. And I’m so impressed at their ability to overcome their barriers.

I work with people who are “just hobbyists” who have spent years (literally) writing at the weekend and after work, because they really believe in their stories. And regardless of whether they feel their stories are “good enough”, I relish the opportunity to help them improve their manuscripts.

I work with people who have quit their job to fulfil their life-long ambition to write a book. And I’m so happy that I can help them hone their craft.

However you feel about your writing ability, know that there will be no judgement from me. Only appreciation, respect and admiration.

Also see: Kind Fiction Editing (part 1) – What is kind fiction editing? and Kind Fiction Editing (part 2) – Editing adapted to suit you

The post Kind Fiction Editing – part 3: Is my writing good enough? appeared first on MandaWaller.