February 6, 2013 
Port Yonder Press. The brainchild of this small-town Iowa gal (formerly of big-town Wisconsin). It’s a piddly press, granted. We use digital printing to order instead of offset short runs / expensive warehousing. We have no really really HUGE names on our authors’ list (though we do have some BIG names, to be sure). I can speak my mind. My board of directors is me, and no one can fire me but me myself and I. BUT.
…I often think about how much more I can make editing books for a price, rather than merely editing and publishing them with the hopes of becoming rich and famous one day when that unique specimen of a manuscript happens along and I’m able to tweak it to perfection, win a substantial literary award, get my name and the name of Port Yonder Press “out there” beyond the few on our Facebook page and those who Stumble Upon our website by chance. I think about those 50,000 books we would sell should that become a reality. I think that one day there will be an actual break in the industry big enough for a decently good small press to squeeze through.
And then I hear of editors I respect and don’t respect getting $2 or $3 a page to perform basic editorial tasks. Basic. I think of others getting $1500 or more for a 200-250 page manuscript. I think of all the editing I’ve had to redo because the highly-paid editors left so many gaffs behind. And I think, “All modesty aside, I can do this and a far-sight better.”
I think of my copyeditors and know I can’t do what they do, nor nearly as well. I miss typos sometimes, like calling a chicken coop a “coup” or leaving a dash out or adding one in when the Chicago Manual of Style says differently. Sometimes I get mixed up on verb tenses and the like. I need my copyeditors. Meticulous copyeditors are worth their weight in chocolate, and platinum, which brings more than gold these days.
This is a ramble. I get rambly and a little piqued when I think of all those money-grubbing editors who don’t always know what they’re doing. I get slightly annoyed when I know an author has paid buku bucks to have their work edited only to find I have to redo something in nearly every line because the editor really didn’t know their stuff. I get slit-eyed and a bit owly. I think how much money I could be making by editing instead of barely breaking even by publishing. I think of my writing career and how I’ve set aside so much these past few years. Then these lessons come to mind:
1) Recognition via an award justifies my own self-worth, and one day it’ll all matter; heck, it even matters now. I’ve probably done more in 3 years than most small presses have done in 10, though not nearly as much as a few.
2) I’m doing a lot of things right even though I’ve had to plow my way through the crowds with my stark and bold opinions and prophecies of where this industry is going, especially the Christian fiction industry. I’ve made a few enemies, but they’re the ones I really don’t care about anyway.
3) It’s easy to call oneself an editor; much much harder to actually earn one’s worth. And those who are more interested in getting the money than getting it right need to get out of business.
4) Many times copyeditors should be paid the big bucks, or at least as much as the line/content editors, especially if they use the Chicago Manual of Style and are on a first name basis with such.
5) Never, ever, pay too much for an editor.
I need to get back to editing,
~Chila
My favorite line: …slit-eyed and a bit owly. Hilarious.
Buku, indeed! Hahaha. I thought I’d told you already it’s BEAUCOUP
Otherwise, agreed. Let’s keep dreaming!
Aha! I was wondering whether anyone had ever informed our fearless leader here that her French is rusty. Should’ve guessed it would’ve been you, little Kiwi!
smarties. check this out: http://www.chacha.com/question/what-does-the-slang-term-buku-mean …
From a site called “ChaCha”? Puh-lease!!! When they have it in Mirriam Webster, then we’ll talk.
a dictionary snob, eh? okay. for me, if not for official publication, i’ll go w/cha cha and the urban dictionary any day. so much more interesting!
Point taken. It’s definitely more fun.
I’ve wondered about editors–how to know which ones are good and which ones are not. Just because someone puts their shingle out, doesn’t mean they know how to do the job. They might be better at selling themselves than anything else. For instance, there are a lot of books/blogs/speaker offering information on how to write, but when you look at their published list they have maybe one fiction book and a bunch of writing books, many self-published. All that to say I agree with you, Chila. I also predict that one day you’ll have a staff of editors for all the big name books you’re publishing!
i actually do have a consulting staff i use on occasion, lisa, but hate to burden them since i can’t really pay them …. but thanks for the vote of confidence!
I got beaucoup giggles out of buku bucks! That’s the first time I’ve ever seen it spelled like that. I like it!
There are a lot of caveats when dealing with editors out in cyberspace. There are folks who’ve published a book or two (self or trad) and consider themselves educated enough to edit yours. Ain’t necessarily so. Folks in search of a good editor–copy or otherwise–would be wise to ask for references and follow up on those references. Also helps to know the different types of edits so you won’t be paying for a content edit and getting a proofread.
I’ve heard, that not every publishing house calls each type of edit by the same name.
Heidi, you’re right, but by the time you get to a publishing house, they do the types of edit they require, and until the edits are done, you’re out of the loop.
This discussion is about hiring freelance editors. A reputable freelance editor is familiar with the different terms. For instance, a “content” edit is also known as a “substantive” or “developmental” edit. “Line-by-line” and copy edit are often used interchangeably. As long as you know the difference between these types of edits and a proofread, you should be able to communicate your needs to a freelancer. Each of these edits are charged at different rates, so it’s important that you are able to get what you’re paying for.
Many editors will do a sample edit. This is invaluable for both the editor and the client. When shopping for an editor, find the ones who offers this and take them up on it. You’ll learn not only whether you’ll be getting what you’re paying for, but also whether you and the editor will be able to get along for the duration of the work.
Hope this helps.
to prove linda’s point, i use the terms “substantive” and “line” edits interchangeably. if much needs reworked, this would constitute the “heavy” edits mentioned on this page: http://www.desertsagebookeditor.com/what-is-the-difference-between-proofreading-copyediting-and-substantive-line-editing.html.
i thoroughly enjoy the heavy line edits, but find that not many editors do. it’s extremely time-consuming.