- I want people to tell me my book is horrible. I think it's great and that's all that matters.
- I want 1-star reviews! It fuels me to keep writing; the 1-star reviewers are just jealous.
- I want people to see me as an amateur, not a professional. After all, writing is my hobby.
- I want to be known as an author who doesn't value my own work.
- I want people to refuse to buy my work in the future. One sale is plenty.
- I want to sabotage my own writing career and keep my day job a good while longer.
If you are an author who refuses to have your work professionally edited (and no - spell check doesn't count), you're yanking the rug out from under your own feet! I have to ask you - how many times do you have to hear that it is an absolute necessity before you'll get on board? Why won't you do it?
I think it boils down to one of two things:
1 - You don't know how.
If you don't know how please let me help you. Google and shop around. We all have figured out Google has the answer to everything. Get to Googling and find an editor that works with your genre, jives with your personality, fits your budget, can meet your deadlines, and can provide you with a sample of his/her work.
Here are a few links for you just in case you don't know how to use Google. Each provider listed below does EXCELLENT and affordable work.
Lynn Loves Editing
- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lynn-Loves-Editing/371274692913054?fref=ts
U Can Mark My Words
- http://www.ucanmarkmyword.com
Kai Wilson
- kaiberworks@gmail.com
Teresa Kennedy
- http://villagegreenpreenpressllc.com
Kissed Publications
- http://www.kissedpublications.com/
2 - You don't want to.
If you just don't want to have your work professionally edited, please return to the beginning of this post to read the six things that you obviously want instead! Here's another fantastic article about a seasoned author making this grave mistake. - http://www.lorijometz.com/2012/10/22/self-publishing-my-most-important-mistake/
Kimberly T. Matthews
"I knew exactly how many condoms were left in his gym bag, in a little black box, wrapped in gold foil. Seven. Each time I randomly checked for no other reason besides I knew they existed, there'd always been seven. So I was taken aback that morning when I went to do his laundry, peeked in the box and only found three..."
Lisa from - "Lisa's Dress"
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19 comments:
Re-posted this and got great comments. Good job with being humorous yet brutally honest.
Love to have a guest post from you (Once Upon a Time: World of Symbols - http://whiteknightstudio.blogspot.com/) - Michelle
Thanks for sharing Michelle! I am glad you enjoyed the post. It just grieves me to see that some authors are still skipping this step in the publishing process. Sigh!
I'd be honored to do a guest post! Please let me know what is required.
kimberly@kimberlytmatthews.com
Ha, ha, ha! When I saw the heading I was like "WTH?" Nice to see you were being sarcastic. Editing is so important but it is also important to find the right editor. I was ripped off once because I was new and didn't know what I was doing. I work as an editor now and think one of the best ways to find an editor is through referrals. Build up your author contacts on twitter and facebook and ask around. But yes authors, please, please employ an editor - at the very least a proofreader. Reading crap writing is not fun and no one will ever buy your second book if your first sucks. Great post Kimberly!
I have just gone through a similar thing with another author. What I learned from this was that I will never, ever again agree to swap reviews with someone. A well-meaning author responded to a recent request of mine in regard to reviewing my soon to be released book, but she didn't offer just to review. She wanted to swap - she would review mine if I would review hers. I was cautious at first but agreed. It wasn't long before my caution was justified. I had mine professionally edited twice and still went through the proofs seven times afterwards before I was satisfied, whereas hers hadn't been edited at all. Needless to say it all fell in a heap, and we mutually decided to stop the process, when I approached her about it. And hers is still for sale in the public arena for $5.00.
Hi Dionne! Feel free to share your info here for someone who may want to checkout your services! I have to LOL at your "WTH?" Ha, ha, ha!!!! Thanks for adding the additional advice.
I agree with you Kerry; swapping can be tricky! At least the two of you were able to come to a mutual agreement. It so frustrates me to see those books on sale, and generally NOT for $0.99!
Thanks for the mention, and I was a bit shocked this morning too - thought I'd click through and read ;)
My biggest issue right now with editing for others is I'm still getting them rejecting errors - and then getting annoyed when people call them on it. Indie editors are in a very poor position right now - I'm hoping that it'll change when people realize that actually, we're protecting them, not taking money from them to criticize their baby.
I'm really against review swaps. I'm also against 'review me please, but if it's bad, don't post the review'. I've had authors say to me 'you can't post the review if it's a three star or less, you'll destroy my career.' And then, off I go reading it and it's a one star/two star and I know they did it deliberately.
I'm glad you've come out with your dignity and recommending power intact. I think that's the biggest thing for writers - we've got to keep our reputations intact - and I don't think you can when you swap reviews.
You're welcome Kai. You do so much for the Indie Authors you're connected to! Yes, it's terrible to see authors rejecting the edits, and even worse when they list "you" as their editor! Ugh!!!!
I always try to think creatively in terms of naming my blog posts! LOL
Not you personally . . .
Thank you for your post, you're right!
I've set aside 2 books recently for mistakes that never should have gone into print. EVERYONE knows the difference between quite & quiet... right?
As for me? I would LOVE to hire the best editor there is... except I truly cannot afford one.
So #3 for me on your list is financial.
I welcome changes & improvements. I can't see mistakes/issues I've made after the 100th time I've gone over them.
A local woman has offered to do the editing work, but she charges a huge fee and I simply can't pay it. (She did edit the first 20 pages free, and I've run with her suggestions.)
Therein is my dilemma.
Thank you for the mention, and thank you for such a candid post!
I've also had the issue of authors not accepting edits - at all. What I finally had to realize is that this is the author's work and if he or she wants an excellent product, we have to be able work TOGETHER to make it happen. If the author is not willing to do that, I politely decline working with them and refund money according to the amount of work completed.
Editors aren't a bunch of unforgiving critics (well, not all of us). We're unbiased, grammar-loving readers who want your work to be as professional as possible :-) Find someone who can help you with errors and praise you for the wonderful parts of your manuscript!
Thank you for the post. I've bookmarked your page.
I'm 1/3 finished with my book so I may be jumping the ahead, I'm wondering what sort of questions we ask the prospective editors to find out if we would be a good fit?
Hi Marilyn! Thanks for your #3! I know that many authors express cost being a barrier, however there editors that will be happy to do payment plans, myself included.
How much do you charge? What kind of works best interest you? Do you have a sample you can send me? How about references?
I often wonder the same thing... I've had to stop reading books because of this problem and promptly contacted the author and told them so. As nicely as I could, mind you.
Haha, great hook with the headline. It's amazing to me when self-published books often get so little respect from others, how little respect their own authors sometimes have for their work.
Glad you enjoyed the post Jordan! You're so right about the respect level some authors lack for their craft.
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