In Bookmaking Part One I mentioned working with editors early on to prevent major manuscript overhauls. That post received several comments, so I’ll share a story about how early editing helps with revisions.
I’m writing an historical fiction piece. It’s filled with facts as well as fictional and non-fictional characters. I built character profiles, outlined the fairly complicated plot, and wrote the first chapter. Upon working with the editor who specializes in historical fiction, she sent back concerns and positive comments (as a nice editor will), and announced I was building a great YA novel. What?! Oh no. Adult historical fiction was my intent.
I’ve made my part of my living as an advertising copywriter where I must compress pages of information into smaller bite-sized pieces. So now I wasn’t giving nearly enough weight to details that historic fiction readers truly love. And the POV I had chosen, first-person, would limit the descriptions I could include of the 1776 time-period. Thank heavens I had only twenty pages. Can you imagine trying to go back through three hundred pages to make those kinds of changes?
While some writers like to finish the manuscript before it is edited, it’s important to find a freelance editor who works with your style. Not every editor wants to work with bits and pieces, but if they do, they’ll see the trees before you enter the forest, and can outfit you with the right gear to come out the other side.