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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 Devlin, Forger'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 Devlin, Forger'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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