Le Must: A Sharp-Eyed Editor

I revised so many times: content, sequencing, image placement, Chicago style formatting, little nitpicking turns of phrase, lots of single word choices. In 10 years I was up to some 40 iterations of text, and imagery that expanded from 40 to 225. When you read text aloud to yourself, either it makes sense or it doesn’t, and it’s easy to hear where reworking the printed page is a must. 

Husband Karl, both concept and content editor, both exhausted me and buoyed me up with inspiration toward tighter versions. Yet somewhere in the proverbial back of my mind there lurked that advice of every book coach I’ve ever met. “An outside editor is essential. Not family.” Karl told me to trust myself; I wasn’t so sure..

Several half-hearted measures in in the form of paid, non-family beta readers didn’t work out as planned. None of the serious critical evaluation and corrections I expected. Just accolades and smattering of extra commasEveryone involved said they were fascinated and eager to keep reading. Great feedback, but still…

I decided to try one more time, but had no more budget. Low and behold an editorial angel emerged in the tough skin of a retired teacher/principal, grant writer, scientific research presenter, poet, blogger—and incidentally, friend.

In record time, I got back the most comprehensive, line-by-line edit, far past any expectation. Turns out she also was fascinated by my writing! She corrected spelling (only a few words), questioned syntax, suggested alternative words, asked for clarification, and added that dratted Oxford comma throughout. I went carefully page by page, decided yea or nay on each of her comments. Liberal comma use is growing on me! Better still, I found places through rereading based on her comments where I could simplify and clarify meaning with words as colorful as my topic. Oh Marj Becker: thank you, thank you!

Moral of the story: no matter what, you must have professional, final, editorial review.