Crazy Days: Editing and Inspiration - by Rosalie Warren
First of all, my apologies that this post will be short and somewhat hurried, although I will try not to destroy my proofreading credentials by leaving it full of mistakes.
My excuse for the rush is that I am currently working flat out to produce an e-book and a paperback for a client. No, I am not an expert in self-publishing - far from it. This particular client hired me several months ago to do editing work for him on a religious treatise he has been compiling for the past few years. The editing work has been somewhat challenging. There were rather a lot of files, including three versions of a full length book and a big pile of shorter pieces. From all these, I was asked to produce a condensed version that would distil the essence of the work, serve as an introduction to the rest (which will go on the website) and, of course, 'flow nicely'. Now I like a challenge and I'm not complaining, but the workload has proved even greater than I expected (thankfully I am being paid by the hour).
To cut a long story short, as indeed I was asked to do - the editing task is now almost complete. My client is very pleased with what I've done, which is a huge relief.
But he has now asked me to help him produce a website, an e-version and a paperback, asap. He knows I am no expert in any of these things, but has asked me to find other people who are. I've found a good website designer and that seems to be under control. The e-book I think I can do, knowing I've done this twice before. The paperback, thanks to the suggestions of a number of very helpful Electric Authors over the last few days (thank you, everyone!) is beginning to seem manageable, too.
My client has very good reasons for being in a hurry - sad ones which I won't go into here. But what has affected me deeply about this project is his sense of commitment to getting it exactly right. He is not an academic, just an ordinary guy. I am not particularly religious and don't share all his beliefs. But that is not relevant to the editing, of course. What's important is that I deeply respect his conscientious approach towards making this book as perfect as he can.
As someone who, as far as I know, still has a good few years left to work on my own books, I feel deeply honoured to have been involved in this project, and re-inspired to work my hardest to be true to my 'sources', too. Not spiritual ones in my case... but that sense of doing your utmost to get a novel "right" (to be true to your characters, perhaps?) is not so very different, or does not feel that way to me.
I had better get back to the editing... and everything else.
Please wish me luck or whatever it is I need to make a good job of this!
Ros
My excuse for the rush is that I am currently working flat out to produce an e-book and a paperback for a client. No, I am not an expert in self-publishing - far from it. This particular client hired me several months ago to do editing work for him on a religious treatise he has been compiling for the past few years. The editing work has been somewhat challenging. There were rather a lot of files, including three versions of a full length book and a big pile of shorter pieces. From all these, I was asked to produce a condensed version that would distil the essence of the work, serve as an introduction to the rest (which will go on the website) and, of course, 'flow nicely'. Now I like a challenge and I'm not complaining, but the workload has proved even greater than I expected (thankfully I am being paid by the hour).
To cut a long story short, as indeed I was asked to do - the editing task is now almost complete. My client is very pleased with what I've done, which is a huge relief.
But he has now asked me to help him produce a website, an e-version and a paperback, asap. He knows I am no expert in any of these things, but has asked me to find other people who are. I've found a good website designer and that seems to be under control. The e-book I think I can do, knowing I've done this twice before. The paperback, thanks to the suggestions of a number of very helpful Electric Authors over the last few days (thank you, everyone!) is beginning to seem manageable, too.
My client has very good reasons for being in a hurry - sad ones which I won't go into here. But what has affected me deeply about this project is his sense of commitment to getting it exactly right. He is not an academic, just an ordinary guy. I am not particularly religious and don't share all his beliefs. But that is not relevant to the editing, of course. What's important is that I deeply respect his conscientious approach towards making this book as perfect as he can.
As someone who, as far as I know, still has a good few years left to work on my own books, I feel deeply honoured to have been involved in this project, and re-inspired to work my hardest to be true to my 'sources', too. Not spiritual ones in my case... but that sense of doing your utmost to get a novel "right" (to be true to your characters, perhaps?) is not so very different, or does not feel that way to me.
I had better get back to the editing... and everything else.
Please wish me luck or whatever it is I need to make a good job of this!
Ros
My Editing and Proofreading website (alter ego Sheila Glasbey)
Follow me on Twitter @Ros_Warren
Comments
Best of luck - much of which will be produced by your hard work. What is it they say? Luck favors the prepared mind.
ABE