Editors: What Do They Really Do?

Sending a manuscript out into "the great beyond" is more than a little scary. Most find it difficult to ask family and friends to give an honest opinion of their work, let alone hand it to a stranger for evaluation. Nonetheless, having a professional editor evaluate your work before you send it on its way can greatly improve your chances of scoring a contract.

Here are a few key things every writer should know about editors:

• Some editors work for publishing companies, while others are freelance. You do have to pay a freelancer to evaluate your work, but investing a little cash before you send your manuscript out can really pay off. On the upside, freelancers have time to read every piece all the way through, and to give extensive commentary. Editors at publishing companies sometimes don't have time to get past the first page.
  
• Editing is a professional service, and will cost the same as other professional services. While editors do love reading new work, they do so in order to make a living, just like the rest of us. To ensure that you get what you pay for, consult professional editors' associations. They'll not only have listings of experienced editors, but can also give you some idea of what it should cost.
  
• There are several different types of editing. Copy editing focuses on mechanical things like grammar and spelling. Substantive editing focuses more on style and content. Developmental editing helps with planning, researching and organizing, sometimes even before a piece is actually written. Naturally, the more involved you'd like your editor to be, the more you should expect to pay.
• Editors often specialize in different genres of writing, or subject areas. If you're expecting more than just a quick clean up, you should shop around for a good match.
• Remember that you're paying an editor to help you get your manuscript into the best possible condition. Expect to be criticized, and be critical of anyone who just says your work is "wonderful". After all, you're paying this person to help you make changes, and not to stroke your ego.
• Hiring an editor does not guarantee that you'll be published. Many will be able to give useful hints and tips, but in the end, it's still a matter of luck and persistence.
  

Stomped by the Ebook?

In 1979, The Buggles released their first single and proclaimed that "Video Killed the Radio Star." With the emergence of the Kindle and more recently, the iPad, a lot of writers are wondering if electronic book format is about to do the same to the printed page, or even worse, to the written word itself. Naturally, those of us who "live by our pens" (or hope to someday), are a little unnerved by this prospect.

Before we all abandon hope, here are a few thoughts to help keep things in perspective:

• New technology has always brought about widespread change. It happened when we started scribbling on paper instead of cave walls. It happened when the printing press was invented. And yet, humans are still itching to write things down and share them with others. The way we deliver stories may evolve, but the desire to tell them will probably stick.
  
• Electronic formatting will change the way we distribute and market books, without a doubt. This may mean that part of a writer's job will be to use online social networking, as well as podcasts and live chats. It may be new territory for some, but it can mean reaching a larger audience, without leaving the comforts of one's own home. Hey, even Margaret Atwood is on Twitter!
• Ask yourself if you really care whether your work is read from a piece of paper, or from a computer screen. As far as I'm concerned, if people are reading my stuff, and I'm getting paid for it, then I'm doing alright. Given the success of iTunes, it may be that people are far more willing to pay to download literature than they are to take it home in a bag and have to find space for it.
  
• Paper books will probably still have sentimental cache for many readers. Beyond their practical use, they're cultural artifacts, like the family china pattern, or one's favorite stuffed animal. I recently heard a parent say that even after her daughter read a book on her Kindle, she still wanted a paperback copy, so that she could take it to school and share favourite pages with friends.