Writing Tips, Editing Insights, & Behind The Scenes In An Editor's Life . . .
Hello Reader!
Does it feel like summer where you live yet? June 21 is Summer Equinox, the official start of summer, but as I write this we're still experiencing cold and wet in northern NY. It worries me a little because I've finally gotten brave enough to set up a little garden. If it succeeds I'll expand it next year, but I'm not sure the weather is a good sign.
The colder weather has certainly encouraged me to stay indoors and get back to work on my writing though! I've been working on the wording for the manuscript evaluations services I told you last time I'm planning to add (look for the official announcement and your special discounts in July's newsletter) and trying to get up the courage to see if I can add the page to my website myself or I need to call in Regine again, as well as tackling a first round of revisions to my book. I'm not sure it's as bad as I was afraid it would be– but there's still a lot to do before I start asking others to look at it, let alone hire editors! Yes, editors hire editors too. 😄
This month's Editing Insights Club interview is with Tara Whitaker, founder of the Freelance Editor's Club. I had the honor of being interviewed by Tara as a member of the FEC and you can see that interview here.
One final note for the month. Tuesday, May 27 we celebrated Violet's birthday. A bit of an estimate, since she was adopted. She turned 16. On May 29, we had to say goodbye to her. It's still too hard to talk about very much, but I'm so very greatful we had the privilege of having her in our family and having her love, and loving her in return.
My co-editor, the first year we adopted her
Editing Insights Club
Welcome to the Editing Insights Club! Here I'll introduce you to editors and other professionals from all over the publishing world. You'll see we're all here as part of the community that supports writers in their journey to success.
I’ve been a freelance editor for almost thirteen years, and in that time I’ve edited what seems like everything under the sun—from travel guides and cookbooks to website and blog content and everything in between! At this stage in my editing career, though, I copyedit and proofread adult contemporary romance and thriller/mystery/suspense. I’ll occasionally take on a YA, fantasy, or memoir, but my sweet spots are meet-cutes and murder.
What's your favorite thing about your work?
The freedom and flexibility to work when I want with who I want. I didn’t last long in the corporate world—I despised having to report to a boss, log and track my hours, and not be able to easily take time off. Freelancing affords me the autonomy I crave and the ability to spend my time on my terms. I’m the mother of two young kids, and being able to work around their illnesses and extracurricular activities is something a traditional office job wouldn’t allow.
What is one tip you like to share with writers searching for (or working with) an editor?
I think the most important thing for a writer to look out for is if the editor is the right fit for them. There are many skilled editors out there, but not everyone is going to mesh in the same way. Writers need to look out for an editor’s knowledge and experience but also their styles: how they give feedback and suggestions, how they communicate, and how they view the editor-writer relationship. If a writer wants an editor who gives detailed explanations for their edits and suggestions, an editor who specializes in brevity isn’t going to be the best fit. Writers should shop around and talk to different editors before making a final decision.
What are some of your favorite things outside of work?
I’m a Fangela—a Murder, She Wrote superfan—and just attended a festival honoring all things Jessica Fletcher. It was one of the coolest experiences ever and something I will remember for the rest of my life. If you’re ever in Mendocino, California, keep your eyes peeled for houses, buildings, and views straight from Cabot Cove.
I also love to read (#shocker), binge-watch TV shows and documentaries, hang out with my kids and husband, and hyperfixate on a hobby until I’m sick of it and move on to the next one. So far that list includes sticker painting, crocheting, diamond painting, quilling, cross-stitch, and probably more I’m forgetting.
What's a book you're reading for fun right now?
Because I’m apparently an eighty-year-old at heart and incredibly predicatable, I just started reading Murder by Cheesecake by Rachel Ekstrom Courage. It’s the first book in a Golden Girls Cozy Mystery series. It pairs well with Murder, She Wrote and editing mysteries, don’t you think 😂
Editing Tip: Look at the endings of all your scenes. Ask yourself each time if you can increase the pacing of your scene just by cutting the last few sentences. Most of us drag out a scene more than we think we do while we try to find "just the right way" to wrap it up.
Showing a Character's Inner World
What is interiority? Pretty much what it sounds like: what's going on in the mind of a character. Their perspective, their inner world. Remember, two people can stand next to each other and see the same thing, but different lifetimes of fears, priorities, values, experiences, and hopes will slant how we actually interpret what we are seeing. We want our readers to understand our character's inner worlds so they can connect to those characters- even if they don't necessarily like the character. We want them to be invested so they'll read to the end of the book! So how do we draw our readers into our characters?
If interiority is something you struggle with, try not worrying about it for your first draft. Anything you know is going to be a struggle is what future drafts are for!
When you start thinking about what kinds of things to include, why not make lists until you get the hang of it?
Who (or what?) is the character paying attention to? Or not paying attention to?
What are their expectations in a particular situation? What do they feel when it does or doesn't happen?
Why does/doesn't a character say or does something (be specific!)?
Physical actions and sensations can also convey emotions. Using all five senses where possible is always good practice when writing– but challenge yourself to go even deeper. What else could you do? Give them a prop, like a piece of paper to twist if you have a character who's nervous. Have you ever noticed a movement you do that connects to a particular emotion that you could give a character? People watching at parks or coffee shops shops can spark ideas for this.
Remember, no book is written in just one draft. It takes patience and practice and lots of rewriting to inhabit of all your characters. I don't think it's a writing skill that comes easily to anyone. Try asking friends for book recommendations where the characters have just pulled them in. Make lists of those books and study them the way you would other writing craft books. Are there similarities? Do you notice things that you can practice?
Reading Update
Mimi Matthew's new historical romance, Rules for Ruintakes readers from rookeries to ballrooms in search of love. Effie Flite has been tasked with revealing a powerful lord's secrets. Gabriel Royce wants those secrets to stay hidden for blackmail purposes. Business goals aside, the two discover they are perfect for each other- but are they too stubborn to compromise and find new ways of reaching the goals that will really make them happy? Expect witty banter, women who defy convention, and an adorable French poodle. One of my new favorite books!
If you're at all interested in WW2 history, I always recommend Lynne Olson. She's one of my favorite historians, a wonderful writer, and brilliant at finding unknown individuals and using their stories to show a larger picture. The Sisterhood of Ravensbruckis the story of four French resistance fighters who manage to survive in the all-female concentration camp Ravensbruck, continuing to resist the Nazis while they are there. There are times where it's a hard read, but the bonds of sisterhood that allowed them to keep going, support each other, and then stand together as witnesses against inhumanity for the rest of their lives are so inspirational that I came away from this book more uplifted and inspired than I thought possible. Theirs is a story everyone should know.
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