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Editing Explained

by Chris Wozney

Every craft has its lingo. So here is the craft of editing explained.

A  line edit  is what most editors offer, what most people of think of when they think of editing. A line editor is checking to see that words are used correctly and, if possible, precisely, not approximately. A line editor ls also verifying that punctuation serves the sense of the passage and the voice of the speaker, be that the author or a character in the story. It is okay to defy the rules of grammar and punctuation if it serves the narrative; just be prepared to explain and defend your decision, and know the rules you are breaking, and why you are breaking them. A line editor also corrects syntax errors, when a phrase is accidentally ambiguous or misleading,

Basically, a line edit is like getting your book dressed up to go out in public. And like wearing best clothes, it is sometimes an uncomfortable process. The shoes may look great, but they may pinch your toes. Some writers don’t like the changes an editor makes or recommends. And actually, this is good. There should be some back and forth. Sometimes an editor misunderstand the author’s intent, and discussion clarifies the matter so the editing can proceed, bringing the story into focus.

Ideally, a line edit is done with Track Changes so all the changes are visible and can be reversed or modified. Unfortunately, recent changes in both Word and Apple’s Pages have made editing much, much more difficult than it was 3 years ago. A lot of so called “improvements” were anything but. In particular, the Track Changes functions are not as clear as they were 3 years ago, and switching form Word to Pages and back again can generate errors in the manuscript. So be aware of this.

A  content edit  is rarer. Sometimes it is part of a line edit, sometimes it is offered separately, especially if there is a lot of work to be done. A content edit focuses on the actual contents of the book and how they are presented.  If a line edit is tactics, a content edit is strategy.  How is the story being told? What narrative structures are in place? Does the narrative Voice match the content? Are dialects realistically employed? Do characters stay in character? When they behave “out of character”, are you clear on the reasons for the shift? How much of those reasons do you intend to share with readers? Are timelines followed correctly, or does a character age 5 years over a 2 year period, or visa versa? Do eye colors and hair colors stay consistent throughout? (Watch out for this one! Especially if there was a major re-write, or the author went through a break up and radically changed their ideas of what their ideal looks like.) Are historical references correct? Is there character development? Is there sufficient conflict and conflict resolution? Is there enough setting to balance dialogue? A content edit is Big Stuff. And if line edits can be painful, content edits can be excruciating. And time consuming! (You only thought you were done writing this book! Ha!) But a good editor does have a sense, a nose for what is good, and what is wrong, and what is needed. They may not always know how to fix a problem — that may require the creative work that makes you the writer you are — but if a good editor says, “Houston, we have a problem,” usually there is indeed something that does need changing.

Proof reading  means the last stage edit, when an editor is checking for punctuation errors and spelling errors that slipped through the line edit.

A  format edit  reviews the finalized format of a soon to be published book: checking for correct fonts, spacing, margins, etc; if chapter headings are regular, if the pages look even and, as much as possible, are pleasing to the eye. This is fiddling work, yet very soothing to do in a certain mindset.

And YES, there are bad editors. Some are ignorant of the rules of grammar. Some have personal agendas and hijack or sabotage a writer’s work. Some are glib. And, alas, even good editors make mistakes or miss errors in the ms. So it is a good idea to have  beta readers and advance copy readers, friends who will review the edited manuscript for free and share their feedback with you, and especially friends with a long history of spotting errors in other books that have gone to print. Depending on when and where they went to school, they may disagree on the rules that regulate punctuation (especially commas), but any point they bring up as problematic deserves review. You and your editor can come to final decisions.

Finally, much as we wish we could make every single manuscript a dedicated Penmore editor’s number one priority, Life Happens to editors and publishers too. Even so, as long as we approach each project with joy and respect and a bit of mirth, we’ll get through the process together, and produce good books.

Bear in mind the Zeno’s Paradox of editing: You can only approach, never reach perfection.

Your friendly neighborhood senior Penmore Press editor,

Chris Wozney

Alphabetical by Author

 

Philip R. Ackman, The Man in the Spider Web Coat

Lou Aguilar, Jake for Mayor

Philip K. Allan, The Captain's Nephew

Philip K. Allan, A Sloop of War

Philip K. Allan, On the Lee Shore

Philip K. Allan, A Man of No Country

Philip K. Allan, The Distant Ocean

Philip K. Allan, The Turn of the Tide

Philip K. Allan, In Northern Seas

Mark K Bois. Ensign James Lockwood

Mark Bois, Lockwoods of Clonakilty

Mark Bois, Lieutenant James Lockwood at the Battle of Waterloo

Mark Bois, Captain James Lockwood

James Boschert, Assassins of Alamut

James Boschert, Knight Assassin

James Boschert, Assassination in Al Qahira

James Boschert, Greek Fire

James Boschert A Falcon Flies

James Boschert, The Dragon's Breath

James Boschert, Assassins of Kantara

James Boschert, Storms of Retribution

James Boschert, A Congress of Kings

James Boschert, When the Jungle is Silent

James Boschert, North Sea Windstorm

James Boschert, Midshipman Graham

Michael Brown, The Girl Who Was Me Is Gone

Susan Boulton, Hand of Glory

Sandra Camillo, The Journey of an Invisible Woman

Ann Chamberlin, The Book of Wizzy

Kerry Cue, Target 91

John M. Danielski, The King's Scarlet

John M. Danielski, Blue Water, Scarlet Tide

John M. Danielski, Capital's Punishment

John M. Danielski, Bellerophon’s Champion: Pennywhistle at Trafalgar

John M. Danielski, Bombproofed

John M. Danielski, Attaché Extraordinaire

Leah Devlin, Vital Spark

Leah Devlin, Spider

Leah DevlinForger's Revenge

Leah Devlin, The Bottom Dwellers

Leah Devlin, Aegir's Curse

Leah Devlin, The Bends

Elena Douglas, Shadow of Athena

Elena Douglas, Warrior's Prize

Diana Forbes, Mistress Suffragette

Patrick Gabridge, Steering to Freedom

Craig Godfrey, Taken to the Grave

Craig Godfrey, 1814

Craig Godfrey, Silent From the Shadows

Craig Godfrey, Coral Moon

Lee Gold, Valhalla: Absent Without Leave

Lee Gold, Valhalla: Into the Darkness

J.G. Harlond, The Chosen Man

J.G. Harlond, A Turning Wind

J.G. Harlond, A Force of Circumstance

J.G. Harlond, The Empress Emerald

J.G. Harlond, Local Resistance

Roger Hileman, A Killing Snow

Roger Hileman, In the Blood

Helen Hollick, Sea Witch

Helen Hollick, Pirate Code

Helen Hollick, Bring It Close

Helen Hollick, Ripples in the Sand

David Hoing, A Killing Snow

David Hoing, In the Blood

J.A. Ironside, An Argument of Blood

J.A. Ironside, A Black Matter for the King

Bruno Jambor, Wildfire in the Desert

M.J. Jones, The King's Corpse

Toni Bird Jones, The Measure of Ella

James Keffer, Brewer's Luck

James Keffer, Brewer's Revenge

James Keffer, Brewer and the Barbary Pirates

James Keffer, Brewer and the Portuguese Gold

James Keffer, Hornblower and the Journey Home

James Keffer, Brewer and The Black Rose

James Keffer, Hornblower and the Island

Sarah Kennedy, The Altarpiece

Sarah Kennedy, City of Ladies

Sarah Kennedy, The King's Sisters

Sarah Kennedy, Queen of Blood

Patrice LaPlante, Follies in Flanders

Marc Liebman, Cherubs 2

Marc Liebman, Big Mother 40

Marc Liebman, Render Harmless

Marc Liebman, Forgotten

Marc Liebman, Inner Look

Marc Liebman, Moscow Airlift

Marc Liebman, Raider of the Scottish Coast

Marc Liebman, Carronade

Marc Liebman, Death of a Lady

Marc Liebman, The Simushir Island Incident

Benerson Little, Fortune's Whelp

Lynda Lippman Lockhart, The Laundry Room

Olivia Longueville, Between Two Kings

Marie MacPherson, The First Blast of the Trumpet

Marie MacPherson, The Second Blast of the Trumpet

John Harmon McElroy, Benjamin Franklin and the Quaker Murders

Stephen McGarry, Napoleon's Blackguards

Charles Monagan, Carrie Welton

M.Howard Morgan. First Fleet

Steven M. Moore, Son of Thunder

Steven M. Moore, Rembrandt's Angel

Marina Julia Neary, Saved By the Bang: A Nuclear Comedy

Marina Julia Neary, The Gate of Dawn

Roger Paine, Ships and Sealing Wax

R. Kenward Jones. Buried at Sea

Marleen Pasch, At the End of the Storm

Donald Michael Platt, Close to the Sun

Donald Michael Platt, Rocamora

Donald Michael Platt, House of Rocamora

Donald Michal Platt, Bodo the Apostate

Donald Michael Platt, A Gathering of Vultures

Donald Michael Platt, The Sorceress and the Skull

Marshall Riggan, Sulu Sea

Mark A. Rimmer, The California Run

Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, Orla's Canvas

Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, Painting Mercy

Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, The Contessa's Easel

Stephan A. Silva, Heaven Cries

Ron Singerton, Villa of Deceit

Ron Singerton, The Silk and The Sword

Ron Singerton, A Cherry Blossom in Winter

Ron Singerton, A Blossom in the Ashes

Ron Singerton, The Refused

Hale Michael Smith, Religion Reinterpreted

Steve Smith, Better to Die

Jim Stempel, Windmill Point

Jim Stempel, American Hannibal

Amaya Tenshi, Dracula's Match

Amaya Tenshi, Dracula's Guest

Chéri Vausé, Shadows

Rod Vick, The Book of Invasions

D. C. Wales, The Prick

Margaret Walker, His Most Italian City

Margaret Walker, Through Forests and Mountains

Matthew Willis, An Argument of Blood

Matthew Willis, A Black Matter for the King

Bruce Woods, Royal Blood

Bruce Woods, Dragon Blood

Bruce Woods, American Blood

Alphabetical by Author

 

Philip R. Ackman, The Man in the Spider Web Coat

Lou Aguilar, Jake for Mayor

Philip K. Allan, The Captain's Nephew

Philip K. Allan, A Sloop of War

Philip K. Allan, On the Lee Shore

Philip K. Allan, A Man of No Country

Philip K. Allan, The Distant Ocean

Philip K. Allan, The Turn of the Tide

Philip K. Allan, In Northern Seas

Mark K Bois. Ensign James Lockwood

Mark Bois, Lockwoods of Clonakilty

Mark Bois, Lieutenant James Lockwood at the Battle of Waterloo

Mark Bois, Captain James Lockwood

James Boschert, Assassins of Alamut

James Boschert, Knight Assassin

James Boschert, Assassination in Al Qahira

James Boschert, Greek Fire

James Boschert A Falcon Flies

James Boschert, The Dragon's Breath

James Boschert, Assassins of Kantara

James Boschert, Storms of Retribution

James Boschert, A Congress of Kings

James Boschert, When the Jungle is Silent

James Boschert, North Sea Windstorm

James Boschert, Midshipman Graham

Michael Brown, The Girl Who Was Me Is Gone

Susan Boulton, Hand of Glory

Sandra Camillo, The Journey of an Invisible Woman

Ann Chamberlin, The Book of Wizzy

Kerry Cue, Target 91

John M. Danielski, The King's Scarlet

John M. Danielski, Blue Water, Scarlet Tide

John M. Danielski, Capital's Punishment

John M. Danielski, Bellerophon’s Champion: Pennywhistle at Trafalgar

John M. Danielski, Bombproofed

John M. Danielski, Attaché Extraordinaire

Leah Devlin, Vital Spark

Leah Devlin, Spider

Leah DevlinForger's Revenge

Leah Devlin, The Bottom Dwellers

Leah Devlin, Aegir's Curse

Leah Devlin, The Bends

Elena Douglas, Shadow of Athena

Elena Douglas, Warrior's Prize

Diana Forbes, Mistress Suffragette

Patrick Gabridge, Steering to Freedom

Craig Godfrey, Taken to the Grave

Craig Godfrey, 1814

Craig Godfrey, Silent From the Shadows

Craig Godfrey, Coral Moon

Lee Gold, Valhalla: Absent Without Leave

Lee Gold, Valhalla: Into the Darkness

J.G. Harlond, The Chosen Man

J.G. Harlond, A Turning Wind

J.G. Harlond, A Force of Circumstance

J.G. Harlond, The Empress Emerald

J.G. Harlond, Local Resistance

Roger Hileman, A Killing Snow

Roger Hileman, In the Blood

Helen Hollick, Sea Witch

Helen Hollick, Pirate Code

Helen Hollick, Bring It Close

Helen Hollick, Ripples in the Sand

David Hoing, A Killing Snow

David Hoing, In the Blood

J.A. Ironside, An Argument of Blood

J.A. Ironside, A Black Matter for the King

Bruno Jambor, Wildfire in the Desert

M.J. Jones, The King's Corpse

Toni Bird Jones, The Measure of Ella

James Keffer, Brewer's Luck

James Keffer, Brewer's Revenge

James Keffer, Brewer and the Barbary Pirates

James Keffer, Brewer and the Portuguese Gold

James Keffer, Hornblower and the Journey Home

James Keffer, Brewer and The Black Rose

James Keffer, Hornblower and the Island

Sarah Kennedy, The Altarpiece

Sarah Kennedy, City of Ladies

Sarah Kennedy, The King's Sisters

Sarah Kennedy, Queen of Blood

Patrice LaPlante, Follies in Flanders

Marc Liebman, Cherubs 2

Marc Liebman, Big Mother 40

Marc Liebman, Render Harmless

Marc Liebman, Forgotten

Marc Liebman, Inner Look

Marc Liebman, Moscow Airlift

Marc Liebman, Raider of the Scottish Coast

Marc Liebman, Carronade

Marc Liebman, Death of a Lady

Marc Liebman, The Simushir Island Incident

Benerson Little, Fortune's Whelp

Lynda Lippman Lockhart, The Laundry Room

Olivia Longueville, Between Two Kings

Marie MacPherson, The First Blast of the Trumpet

Marie MacPherson, The Second Blast of the Trumpet

John Harmon McElroy, Benjamin Franklin and the Quaker Murders

Stephen McGarry, Napoleon's Blackguards

Charles Monagan, Carrie Welton

M.Howard Morgan. First Fleet

Steven M. Moore, Son of Thunder

Steven M. Moore, Rembrandt's Angel

Marina Julia Neary, Saved By the Bang: A Nuclear Comedy

Marina Julia Neary, The Gate of Dawn

Roger Paine, Ships and Sealing Wax

R. Kenward Jones. Buried at Sea

Marleen Pasch, At the End of the Storm

Donald Michael Platt, Close to the Sun

Donald Michael Platt, Rocamora

Donald Michael Platt, House of Rocamora

Donald Michal Platt, Bodo the Apostate

Donald Michael Platt, A Gathering of Vultures

Donald Michael Platt, The Sorceress and the Skull

Marshall Riggan, Sulu Sea

Mark A. Rimmer, The California Run

Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, Orla's Canvas

Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, Painting Mercy

Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, The Contessa's Easel

Stephan A. Silva, Heaven Cries

Ron Singerton, Villa of Deceit

Ron Singerton, The Silk and The Sword

Ron Singerton, A Cherry Blossom in Winter

Ron Singerton, A Blossom in the Ashes

Ron Singerton, The Refused

Hale Michael Smith, Religion Reinterpreted

Steve Smith, Better to Die

Jim Stempel, Windmill Point

Jim Stempel, American Hannibal

Amaya Tenshi, Dracula's Match

Amaya Tenshi, Dracula's Guest

Chéri Vausé, Shadows

Rod Vick, The Book of Invasions

D. C. Wales, The Prick

Margaret Walker, His Most Italian City

Margaret Walker, Through Forests and Mountains

Matthew Willis, An Argument of Blood

Matthew Willis, A Black Matter for the King

Bruce Woods, Royal Blood

Bruce Woods, Dragon Blood

Bruce Woods, American Blood

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