Surviving an editor’s blue ink marks means it’s time to publish

Editing is the most challenging aspect of writing a novel. At least for me. It takes months, even years, to complete the process. Though laborious, it’s a crucial step you don’t want to skip. This is no DIY job. You need a professional who’s equipped to delve deeply into the plot, sort grammatical errors, and remind you that creative punctuation is not okay.

Clearly, this represents a do-or-die moment. You’re either going to publish, or you’re not. So, you choose an editor, agree on a price, upload the manuscript, and wait. If the editor’s in high demand, you might wait for months (I did!). Compare the experience to visiting a dentist when you suspect a root canal is required. You’ve little choice in the matter, because after all, who wants to lose a tooth? Likewise, no author wants to sidestep an opportunity to publish the best final version of her novel.

It’s simple. You’ve stared at the manuscript for so long that you’re blind to identifying any necessary changes. Editors zone in on weak spots with laser vision. They’re proficient in CMOS (Chicago Manual of Style), the standard for publishing books, fiction or nonfiction. This is important, even if you plan to independently publish. 

I’m envisioning that the stars are now aligned for The Phantom Wife’s publication. I’m not altogether certain how I stumbled upon an opportunity to work with a former Penguin Random House editor, but I did, and I’m so grateful for our collaboration. My next novel will write itself quicker, of that I’m convinced. Here’s what I’ve learned.

An editor is not your buddy.

You hired a professional with years of experience editing books in your genre (for me, paranormal romance), so don’t argue with suggestions. Sit back, consider it, and five minutes later admit that you need to fix the issue. As you edit, appreciate the power of a minor tweak.

Keep your sense of humor. 

When you read an editor’s note, laugh when you realize what you left out. “Readers want to be inside Suzanne’s brain and hear her most intimate thoughts,” JM writes. (Suzanne’s my MC, and JM’s my editor).

Don’t make it difficult for readers to figure things out. 

What? An average reader now expects formulaic stories and plots that are easy to unpack. Don’t get too attached to allusions, metaphors, and too many dramatic twists, for if you insist upon keeping these devices in place, you’ll market your novel as literary fiction, and that’s a tiny niche.

Some punctuation marks are dead with no plans to rise again.

I love semi-colons; ask any of my former English or writing students, and they’ll confirm. Sadly, semi-colons rarely appear in published works of fiction. Colons and dashes aren’t welcome, either. So that leaves a small collection of punctuation marks to master like commas, periods, apostrophes, and quotation marks. And, of course, italics for inner dialogue. Good to know.

Your inner writing voice remains your best friend.

Consider which changes you’ll apply. And which ones you’ll toss. You decide because it’s still your novel. Professional editors never alter a client’s writing voice. Then, one morning you’ll awake and announce, “I’m ready to publish.” What a relief. Now it’s time to e-mail query letters to selected agents, two of whom I met last year. Wish me luck!