Why You Need a Professional Editor
Readers don't like errors. Worse, they can't be fooled; readers notice errors. And then they feel betrayed and pitch the book across the room in disgust. You don't want this to happen. I don't want this to happen. You want readers to love your book! I want to help you make a book that readers love!
There is no such thing as bad writing. There is only writing that needs more editing.
"But," you protest, "even writing that is riddled with structural problems and flat characters and just really weird syntax...?"
To which I reply, "Nope, still not bad writing. Just needs more editing."
But self-editing and beta-readers can only get you so far. Friends and family always mean well, but they just don't have the skills necessary to prepare a manuscript for publication.
This is where I come in.
(Cue music. It's Jump Around by House of Pain. I fling open the door. I'm wearing a tutu, but it's not weird, because you're wearing a cape. We both go bananas.)
A lot of times, authors are too close to their work to see little problems (like typos) and big-picture issues (like plot holes and character inconsistencies), so another set of eyes can point out what other readers have missed, especially when that other set of eyes has been professionally trained to detect and correct those problems.
I'll tell you a secret: I'm crazy meticulous. Obsessive, even. Not only will my baby browns catch the mistakes in your manuscript, but I'll even offer suggestions for how to fix said mistakes. No one will ever have to know that your writing is anything but perfect.
I'm a writer too. I know how hard it can be to hear your baby criticized. And who are we kidding? Your book is definitely your baby. So don't worry, I will never tell you that something you've written is stupid or that your character is an asshole (unless that's what you were going for, of course). I will urge you to consider other ways of arranging your words and ideas that may more effectively support your vision for your final draft, but I'll be gentle about it. I'm a very nice person, I swear.
I will absolutely challenge you as a writer, but the challenge should spark your creativity and excite you to keep writing, which will help you produce a fantastic work of fiction. And fantastic works of fiction attract readers and publishers. Flies with honey, and all that.
Our relationship as author/editor will be a collaboration (not a dictatorship) because we have the same goal: make your story as awesome as possible.
If you'd like to know more about what I can do for you, or just want to chat books (or knitting), please get in touch! I'm happy to take a look at your draft so we can figure out how best I can help.
There is no such thing as bad writing. There is only writing that needs more editing.
"But," you protest, "even writing that is riddled with structural problems and flat characters and just really weird syntax...?"
To which I reply, "Nope, still not bad writing. Just needs more editing."
But self-editing and beta-readers can only get you so far. Friends and family always mean well, but they just don't have the skills necessary to prepare a manuscript for publication.
This is where I come in.
(Cue music. It's Jump Around by House of Pain. I fling open the door. I'm wearing a tutu, but it's not weird, because you're wearing a cape. We both go bananas.)
A lot of times, authors are too close to their work to see little problems (like typos) and big-picture issues (like plot holes and character inconsistencies), so another set of eyes can point out what other readers have missed, especially when that other set of eyes has been professionally trained to detect and correct those problems.
I'll tell you a secret: I'm crazy meticulous. Obsessive, even. Not only will my baby browns catch the mistakes in your manuscript, but I'll even offer suggestions for how to fix said mistakes. No one will ever have to know that your writing is anything but perfect.
I'm a writer too. I know how hard it can be to hear your baby criticized. And who are we kidding? Your book is definitely your baby. So don't worry, I will never tell you that something you've written is stupid or that your character is an asshole (unless that's what you were going for, of course). I will urge you to consider other ways of arranging your words and ideas that may more effectively support your vision for your final draft, but I'll be gentle about it. I'm a very nice person, I swear.
I will absolutely challenge you as a writer, but the challenge should spark your creativity and excite you to keep writing, which will help you produce a fantastic work of fiction. And fantastic works of fiction attract readers and publishers. Flies with honey, and all that.
Our relationship as author/editor will be a collaboration (not a dictatorship) because we have the same goal: make your story as awesome as possible.
If you'd like to know more about what I can do for you, or just want to chat books (or knitting), please get in touch! I'm happy to take a look at your draft so we can figure out how best I can help.
Learn more...
Creative Editorial Services
Manuscript EvaluationManuscript evaluation covers "big picture" issues like plot and character development and provides feedback in the form of a written narrative report.
|
Developmental EditingA developmental edit includes manuscript evaluation as well as additional comments and more detailed suggestions in the margins of your draft.
|
Stylistic Editing
|
Copyediting
|
Contact Me
Christine Parker
|
Have a question?
Shoot me an email. I'd love to hear from you! |
