Indie Books Read: July

Here at Phantom Owl we support indie authors. We've asked book bloggers to share their indie book reviews with us, and at the beginning of every month, we're going to share with all of you the wonderful books they've suggested. We hope to not only bring attention to indie books, but also to promote the bloggers that are taking the time to read and review them.

The list includes books of all genres.

To find out how to link up to your indie book reviews click HERE.

Books are arranged by rating.

Adam's List by Jennifer Ann
April Books Rating: 5 Stars
Goodreads Rating: 4.08 Stars

"Throughout the novel there is this bittersweet tug and pull between living life to the fullest and being responsible, which is exactly what becoming an adult is all about." - April Books

Faded by Chloe Miles
Bookwyrming Thoughts Review: 4 Stars
Goodreads Review: 4.38 Stars

"While Faded isn't the greatest start in the entire world or made a dent into my favorites, it's certainly memorable with the characters and its uniqueness" - Bookwyrming Thoughts

The Duke's Holiday by Maggie Fenton
Victorian Soul Critiques Rating: 4 Stars
Goodreads Rating: 4.07 Stars

"The Duke's Holiday surpassed my expectations, has the atmosphere of its subgenre (historical/Regency), and made me believe that there are great romance books still lurking out there, waiting for me to discover." - Victorian Soul Critiques

Tankborn by Karen Sandler
Chick Lit Chickadees Rating: 4 Stars
Goodreads Rating: 3.66 Stars

"Even though it started out as probably a two, Tankborn finished as a solid four. A really good read!" Chick Lit Chickadees

Prom Impossible by Laura Pauling
The Bookish Owl Rating: 2 Stars
Goodreads Rating: 3.26 Stars

"This book is being marketed as a romantic comedy reminiscent of Shakespeare but it is anything but. Sure, the situations can be considered hysterically funny but Shakespeare creates characters who are memorable and distinctive whereas Prom Impossible is an epic fail in that aspect." - The Bookish Owl 

The Duke's Holiday surpassed my expectations, has the atmosphere of its subgenre (historical/Regency), and made me believe that there are great romance books still lurking out there, waiting for me to discover. - See more at: http://victoriansoulcritiques.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-dukes-holiday-rr1-mf.html#sthash.Kf26J62h.dpuf

"The Duke's Holiday (The Regency Romp Trilogy #1)" by Maggie Fenton - See more at: http://victoriansoulcritiques.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-dukes-holiday-rr1-mf.html#sthash.Kf26J62h.dpuf

The Duke's Holiday (The Regency Romp Trilogy #1)" by Maggie Fenton - See more at: http://victoriansoulcritiques.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-dukes-holiday-rr1-mf.html#sthash.Kf26J62h.dpuf

The Duke's Holiday (The Regency Romp Trilogy #1)" by Maggie Fenton - See more at: http://victoriansoulcritiques.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-dukes-holiday-rr1-mf.html#sthash.Kf26J62h.dpuf

The Duke's Holiday (The Regency Romp Trilogy #1)" by Maggie Fenton - See more at: http://victoriansoulcritiques.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-dukes-holiday-rr1-mf.html#sthash.Kf26J62h.dpuf

Native Silver by Blake Hausladen
SKJAM! Rerviews Rating: Unrated
Goodreads Rating: 4.6 Stars

"I can recommend this volume much more than the first in the series, and if the author continues to improve at this rate, the next volume should be well worth it." - SKJAM! Reviews

Perfected by Kate Jarvik Birch
Chick Lit Chickadees Rating: Unrated
Goodreads Rating:3.73 Stars

"From the world building, to the character development, to the dialogue, to the beautiful descriptions, this book was incredible!" - Chick Lit Chickadees







See what books were suggested by bloggers in June.

If you are a blogger who would like to contribute to the "Indie Books Read: August" post, you can do so HERE. Reviews submitted must be for books read in August of 2014, must be self-published or  published by an independent or small press (like Phantom Owl), and must be added by the reviewer not the author. You can add a review for a book that we've already featured, but cannot submit the same review twice.


How can we improve this post? Let us know, leave a comment.  

Editor Interview with Wayne Purdin

As a writer myself, I understand the elements of good fiction as well as correct grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, usage, etc. I am fast, accurate, and affordable, enabling you to meet your deadline and budget with a high-quality book. Send me a sample page of your writing and I will edit it for free so you can see what I can do for you.

What type of stories do you most enjoy editing? 

YA Fantasy and science fiction

What other books have you edited? 

Paranormal, mystery, modern and historical fiction, short story collections

Do you work for a company or are you a freelance editor?

Freelancer

What book are you most proud of having edited?

Voyageers books 1 and 2 by Kelly Johns, and Moon Tortured by McKenzie Hunter. Also Children of the Noah: The Barren Earth by Evan DeCarlo. Currently working on book 2, City of the Star Gods.

What is the best book you’ve read/edited this year?

Children of the Noah: City of the Star Gods. Evan's writing takes my breath away. He must be the reincarnation of Hemingway.

What does your editing process look like from start to finish? 

 I start a stylesheet for consistency check and note down peculiar words and spelling, punctuation (dashes, etc.), character's names and features (hair and eye color, etc.). I check with author during the edit for preferences and deviations from style and note in stylesheet.

Then I do a first pass edit with track changes on all balloons and comments. I send the first pass to author to approve changes and answer questions or suggestions in comments. Authors send it back for second pass edit, which usually takes a lot less time. After second pass, I send edits and comments to author who approves and answers comments and send back for a final proofreading of any material the author changed or added.

Are your rates affordable for indie authors?

Yes.

How do you decide your pricing?

I figure out how many words I can edit per hour and how much I want to be paid for that hour and calculate the cost per word.

What do you charge?

I can edit 2,500 words and hour. So if I want to make a decent $20/hr, I charge $.008 per word. If it's just proofreading, I charge less. If it's developmental editing, I charge more.

What are some of the typical mistakes you see writers make?

Using the wrong tense especially was instead of were with if sentences. Using then instead of than, it's instead of its, your instead of you're. Using fragments too often.

What are some things you think writers should look for/be wary of when hiring an editor?

If the editor has typos in their proposal. If they don't guarantee their work. If the editor is unwilling to edit a sample.

What things should a writer have done before contacting an editor?

Check the testimonials and portfolio. Have editor sign an NDA.

What should a writer expect (or not expect) out of an editor?

A writer should not expect an editor to read their mind. Communication is essential. A writer should expect a near perfect manuscript after editing. Even after two edit passes, there can still be minor punctuation errors. A proofreader can catch those.

Do you have any advice for new writers?

Write every day. Don't give up.

What is the difference between developmental, substantive and copy editing?

Developmental editing is required if the manuscript is a jumble of disorganized passages with a lot of repetition and no grouping of paragraphs into common themes for chapters. Also, character development, and descriptions are sketchy and may need some ghostwriting. I see substantive editing and developmental editing as synonymous. Copy writing deals mostly with correcting sentence structure, grammar, style, usage, spelling, and punctuation.

What do you think makes a good editor?

Detail consciousness; knowledge of styles, usage, and grammar; a good dictionary and thesaurus; and patience.

What style guide do you use, and why?

Depending on the writing, APA, Chicago, or MLA.

How do you feel about serial commas, and why?

They are necessary to avoid the occasional ambiguous sentence.

What annoys you most about the current publishing industry? 

 The length of time to get a book published. Also, the high cost.

When you’re not editing what do you like to do?

Write.

https://www.facebook.com/wordsmithies

Editor Interview with Chris Guthrie

Chris Guthrie is an editor, writer, and publisher with more than eight years of professional experience. He founded Open Book Editors five years ago and has since helped hundreds of writers reach their publication goals. As Editor-in-Chief at Open Book Editors, Chris provides editing services for all genres and writer objectives. However, he is most passionate about helping first-time fiction writers get across the finish line. His most recent fiction has appeared in Amarillo Bay, Crazyhorse, Washington Square Review, Fiction Magazine, and Litro. His novel, The Shack Cartel, is due out later this year. Chris lives in Newport News, Virginia with his wife Beth and children, Ava and Dylan.

What book are you most proud of having edited?

One of the books that I’m proudest of having edited is a memoir called Feels Like the First Time, by Shawn Inmon. Shawn was an unpublished real estate agent with a passion for the language and a story to tell when I met him just three years ago. Since that time he’s sold well over 20,000 books, based on a few good stories and relentless energy for every aspect of publishing. I’m proud of the role that Open Book Editors played in getting him there. Writers like Shawn provide a great example to unpublished writers who are passionate about the language and have specific goals for their work.

What is the best book you’ve read/edited this year?

The best book I’ve edited this year is called A Danger to God Himself by John Draper. It should be out later this year. John is a fantastic writer who has crafted a unique voice and has a gift for combining highly realistic characters with highly improbable contexts. It’s truly a great read from a first-time author.

Are your rates affordable for indie authors?

We do everything we can to make our rates affordable for indie authors, including offering a 15% discount for new and emerging authors. While we edit every genre and work with authors who boast a wide range of writing experience, we’re especially passionate about working with writers who are dedicated to getting their first novel across the finish line.

What are some of the typical mistakes you see writers make?

One of the most common mistakes that writers make is failing to see the reader’s perspective when they are writing. This is a mistake that even the most seasoned writers can make, because it’s hard to consider what a reader might think while focusing on individual sentences and paragraphs – the real nuts and bolts of a manuscript. One of the best adjustments most writers can make is learning to think like a reader during the writing process.

What are some things you think writers should look for/be wary of when hiring an editor?

It’s important to find an editor who will edit a sample for free. This is critical for establishing expectations between a writer and an editor and seeing what the text will look like once it’s been edited. Professional editing is extremely thorough and generally geared toward making every single word count. It is vastly different from editing that has been done by a conscientious friend with an eye for detail. Writers should also look for editors who have a track record of helping writers get published or who have been recommended by other authors. It’s important to go the extra mile to learn about the editor – including phone calls and a little online investigative work – before making a decision.

What should a writer expect (or not expect) out of an editor?

Above all else, a writer should expect to evolve and grow as a writer. Professional editing should transform the writer, in part by seeing how a professional tackles the same challenges that the writer has been facing in the course of creating the manuscript. The writer’s manuscript should be polished, clean, and more marketable as a result of professional editing. But more importantly, the act of having a book edited is an important part of the evolution of passionate writers, especially as they absorb the changes that an editor makes and begin to discern patterns in the edited text. An editor should also become the writer’s partner, which is critical for aligning an authorial vision with an editorial vision. These are key steps in creating a polished, marketable manuscript.

Do you have any advice for new writers?

There are entire sections of bookstores dedicated just to giving advice to writers – way too much advice out there. The single best piece of advice I know of is to read, read, and read some more. Re-read your favorite authors and really think about why they’re your favorites. Absorb what they do great and don’t be afraid to be a little derivative. Make your art a departure from the greatness of other writers. And don’t be afraid to suck at writing for a while (especially in comparison to your favorite writers). The best writers embrace failure and use it to guide them toward success.

What is the difference between developmental, substantive and copy editing?

Our developmental editing package provides a comprehensive report that includes suggestions and recommendations regarding narrative structure, character development, tone, voice, dialogue, style, and other key elements of a manuscript, in addition to basic copy editing. It provides very thorough professional guidance based on years of industry experience designed to get the writer over the finish line. Copy editing provides polished, lean, and error-free text. In both cases, the end result strips away the fat to get the exciting elements of the manuscript popping off the page.

http://www.openbookeditors.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Open-Book-Editors/429674163742314
http://openbookeditors.blogspot.com/ 

Editor Interview with Lin White

Hi, I’m Lin White and I’m an editor/proofreader. I run my own company and love working with authors to develop their work and ready it for publication. I work at all levels, from detailed feedback (alpha/beta reading) to final proofread and formatting for publication.

I have forty years’ experience as a reader and twenty years’ experience as a teacher, including English and creative writing. I have studied the English Language, including aspects of style and the influence of other languages, and I have also worked as a typesetter and proofreader. I am based in the UK, and predominantly work in UK English, although I have also worked with authors from elsewhere, including those whose first language is not English.

Do you work for a company or are you a freelance editor?

I’m freelance, running my own company, Coinlea Services, which offers editing and proofreading to indie authors, and I also write educational materials. In my spare time I’m working on my own writing, so I sympathise with the struggles authors face!

What type of stories do you most enjoy editing?
I like a wide range, and have worked mostly with fantasy stories, but I particularly like more unusual projects, particularly non-fiction. For example, a parenting memoir was great fun.

Some of the typical mistakes I see writers make:

The most frustrating type of mistake in fiction is when the main character drifts along and things just happen to them, without any effort, or when they don’t seem to care about what’s happening. A book where the character knows what they want and are working to achieve it is much more engaging.

Another mistake has to be not giving enough background information early on, particularly in fantasy/sci fi works, where it’s important to help the reader to picture the world. One book had me believing we were in a pre-industrial age until halfway through when there was a comment about a lightswitch, which completely changed the way I saw the world!

How do you decide your pricing?
My price has to be a careful balance between what authors are willing/able to pay and what I need to cover my bills. While I would like to offer my services really cheaply, I have to bear in mind that I can’t do a good job if I’m working all hours just to cover my basic costs. The job is also highly skilled, and should receive suitable recognition. That, to me, is part of offering a professional service.

Are your prices affordable for indie authors?

I hope so. My rates for indie authors writing fiction or creative non-fiction are lower than rates within the rest of the publishing industry as they tend to have simpler layouts. On the other hand, I need to make sure I can devote enough time to a job to make sure I do it well, and I can’t do that if I’m having to work silly hours for very little money.

Do you have any advice for new writers?
Make sure you learn your craft thoroughly! It’s far too easy these days to self-publish, maybe before your writing has really developed. Please understand that there are many stages and levels between finishing a complete novel and having it publication-ready, and it can be disheartening to publish too early and receive only negative reviews.

What things should a writer have done before contacting an editor?

Ideally, they will have written their first draft, edited it thoroughly, put it out to a beta reader (or several), incorporated feedback from that and checked it through again (don’t forget to use the spellcheck!). Then they will have taken it as far as they can on their own and will be ready for professional input.

What does your editing process look like from start to finish?

I’m probably a little unusual, as I also offer a paid beta reading service. This has proved very popular, and gives an author a chance to receive overall feedback on the book for a small fee. It also gives me and them a chance to see how the other works.

If they decide to use me as an editor, they will then return the manuscript to me after they have finished the beta reading process and I will read through and tidy it up, checking grammar and punctuation and correcting any errors (copy edit).

If this is all they have asked me to do, I would then return the manuscript for them to deal with as they wish.

Alternatively, if they have paid for developmental editing, then I would also return it with further, more thorough feedback on structure and content and following their review would go through the document one more time to check for last-minute errors.

I can also format it for print or ebook formats, for a small extra fee.

If we are going straight for an edit without a beta read, I would do a free sample edit so they are aware of how I work and I can advise on what level of editing I consider would be needed.

How do you feel about serial commas, and why?

Personally I feel that there are arguments on both sides. I don’t tend to use them myself unless they add to clarity, which after all is the main purpose of punctuation.

When editing, however, I will take the author’s preference. My job is to make sure the author comes across clearly and their message and voice can be heard, not to impose my own style on a piece of work. To this end I will seek consistency within a piece of writing, but otherwise make changes only if it is clearly technically wrong or unclear, and therefore distracting to the reader, not because I don’t like the style of it.

Lin White

www.coinlea.co.uk

@linw2010

Indie Books Read: June

Here at Phantom Owl we support indie authors. We've asked book bloggers to share their indie book reviews with us, and at the beginning of every month, we're going to share with all of you the wonderful books they've suggested. We hope to not only bring attention to indie books, but also to promote the bloggers that are taking the time to read and review them.

The list includes books of all genres.

June was a bit of a slow month. We want to thank The Good, The Bad and The Bizarre for their submissions, and to let book reviewers everywhere know that we'd love to know what indies you've read in July. To find out how to link up to your indie book reviews click HERE.

Books are arranged by rating.



Shadowcursed by Gelo Fleisher
The Good, The Bad, and The Bizarre Rating: Good
Goodreads Rating: 4.46 Stars

"The characters are easy enough to understand and sympathize with, and have enough complexity to keep them interesting, but enough simplicity that they don’t trouble the reader with questions afterwards. All in all, a good show and worth the read." - The Good, The Bad, and The Bizarre

The Guests of Honor: Tales from the Virtue Inn, Book One by Cat Amesbury
The Good, The Bad, and The Bizarre Rating: Bizarre
Goodreads Rating: 4.46

"The novel was sometimes exceptionally thick with the wacky and the strange—and, though we could share the heroine’s exhaustion at the end of each day (no wonder for that, given that she’s essentially battled the bizarre for her life all day long), we were always eager to turn the page and almost always surprised at what we encountered there." - The Good, The Bad, and The Bizarre
 

Stranger in the House by Chris Vaughn
The Good, The Bad, and The Bizarre Rating: Bad
Goodreads Rating: 3.33

"we were ultimately disappointed because this story was only a few steps away from greatness, and with all its problems it just could not cross the finish line." - The Good, The Bad, and The Bizarre






See what books were suggested by bloggers in May.

If you are a blogger who would like to contribute to the "Indie Books Read: June" post, you can do so HERE. Reviews submitted must be for books read in July of 2014, must be self-published or  published by an independent or small press (like Phantom Owl), and must be added by the reviewer not the author. You can add a review for a book that we've already featured, but cannot submit the same review twice.


How can we improve this post? Let us know, leave a comment.  

Editor Interview with Marissa van Uden

I love falling into a story and just going along for the ride, but I also love capturing a story and examining it like a naturalist would, trying to figure out what makes it tick and how it turned out so beautiful.

I started out editing National Geographic books, and have been editing full time for over five years, working on all genres but specializing in science fiction and fantasy. I love my job: being able to help storytellers bring their ideas to life and seeing them grow as artists is incredibly rewarding.

What type of stories do you most enjoy editing? 

I specialize in my two favorite genres: science fiction and fantasy. I love the way these genres work like telescopic lenses to zoom in on certain elements of what it’s like to be human. SF/F can incorporate flavors and structures from literary fiction or any other genre, like mystery, romance, adventure, but because they use speculative worlds as a setting the author is free to remove or enhance cultural ideas or technologies we usually just take for granted. I love the open-mindedness and possibilities of SF/F.

What book are you most proud of having edited?

Some standout novels I’ve worked on recently are TheScorpion Game by Daniel Jeffries, TheCasquette Girls by Alys Arden, and the Harbingerof Treason by Bayard Smith. I’m also working with some up-and-coming authors on their shorter fiction, like Eduard F Vinyamata who just published Drone Commander Tidek, and Justin Mermelstein who regularly publishes beautiful fantasy novellas. But I feel more grateful than proud to have been a part of their production. It’s amazing to get the opportunity to work with new artists and see them bring their stories to life, one sentence at a time. 

What does your editing process look like from start to finish?

My process depends on which editing stage we’re in (developmental, substantive or line editing) and how far the author wants to push their work. At its heart, editing is all about understanding the author’s intentions and making sure their voice is coming across to readers as they want it. So I generally start with an open-minded and compassionate reading (more relaxed than analytical) to get a feel for story and mood, and to jot down first impressions. Then I’ll do a series of closer reads to diagnose problems, challenge weak or unclear writing, and offer the author suggestions, solutions or just new directions to consider.

How do you decide your pricing?

My range of fees is based on the Editorial Freelancers Association’s guidelines and my cost of living (manuscript editing is my full-time job), but every project is different, and I tailor my pricing to the authors needs. Basically, I start by reviewing the manuscript to get a feel for the story and for the author’s writing ability, and together we discuss the work that needs to be done. A big part of the pricing depends on the author: what they’re willing to invest in terms of finances and also post-editing revision time (i.e. do they want light surface edits they can just accept or reject at a glance, or are they looking for deeper and more challenging edits that could result in multiple rounds of revisions?). Once we know how much time we can give the manuscript, we can tailor the editing to focus on the most essential stuff and do as much as possible within that timeframe. 

What do you charge?

It depends on what kind of work the manuscript needs, and how much work is required to get the manuscript to where the author envisions it. Generally my rates fall between $3 and $8 per standard page (250 words). 

What are some of the typical mistakes you see writers make?

Lately I’ve seen many scenes written as if the author is describing what they see on a TV show or film. The narrative perspective floats behind the character like a camera, recording visuals and audio but not much else. We can see the character in the setting but we don’t learn what it’s like to experience it. 

The novel’s advantage over a film is that readers can go deep inside the character’s mind and imagine what it’s like to be someone else. They want that realistic human experience, not a realistic movie-watching experience. If someone’s in the mood for a film, they’ll go watch one, but when they pick up a novel, they usually want to be immersed in the psychological and sensory world of the character.

What are some things you think writers should look for/be wary of when hiring an editor?

After you’ve found an editor who has the level of experience and skill you are happy with, the most important thing is to make sure you understand each other. It doesn’t matter how great an editor is, if they don’t “get” you or your vision for the story then how can the collaboration bring out the best in your story? Manuscript editing is an act of translating the author’s imagination to a large group of readers’ imaginations, so your editor has to understand you and your audience.

What should a writer expect (or not expect) out of an editor?

An editor can help give you direction and perspective, and help you hone your writing by diagnosing the weaknesses and pointing the way to good fixes. They’re like a local guide you’ve hired for the difficult part of your journey. You should expect them to use their knowledge and experience to give you good advice and practical suggestions. You should not expect them to re-write your story, impose their own style, or guarantee you success.

What do you think makes a good editor?

Manuscript editors looking at story and content have to master some peculiar skills, like being able to adopt multiple mindsets (the author’s, the readers’, and the characters’) and then jumping back and forth between them. They have to have a kind of detective-like personality so they can keep a sharp focus while spending hours crouched over a single chapter, searching for tiny inconsistencies in the story and checking that everything stacks up. They need to have a good intuition for what’s working in a story and what’s not, good communication skills so they can explain why to an author, and good puzzle-solving skills so they can help rearrange the pieces so that everything fits.

When you’re not editing what do you like to do?

I love to learn new things, so I read loads of non-fiction as well as fiction and take online courses about science and the universe. When I’m not reading or studying, I like to take photographs, explore new towns, watch stand-up comedy, and gaze at the planets.

Freelance manuscript editor, specializing in science fiction & fantasy

www.marissavu.com

Twitter: @marissavu

Editor Interview with Tom Hawking

I have been working as a proofreader and occasional editor for around four years. I started out doing it for a medical colleague I worked for as a typist, and have continued ever since. I read psychology at the University of Leicester in the UK, and so have mostly worked around medicine/psychology. I had a paper published in a journal before I left academia, and currently work as a manager for a car company.

After a few years I thought about expanding my proofreading work into editing fiction, so put out an ad on Goodreads to offer my services for free to a couple of people to build up some testimonials. The first book I edited was a novella (The Eyes That Drowned Uyumi), and although I advertised the work as for free, the author was happy enough to pay me a small sum. The other book I did was a full length novel (Conflicted by M M Koenig), which was already published but was being re-released ahead of the author’s second book in the series being published. After a few chapters, the author was so happy with my work she commissioned me to work on her second book, which I am currently in the middle of. I found that I really enjoyed the process, particularly the collaboration with the author and the chance to be part of helping someone to realize their dream. I am currently booking myself up for June onwards, and am always available for short edits such as short stories and novellas. 

What type of stories do you most enjoy editing? 

It may seem silly, but any and all really! Whilst I enjoy reading, I am often scared to venture from my common tastes. Editing work has given me different books to read that I would never have otherwise bought. As I am new to the field, in terms of fiction editing, I am still building up a varied portfolio, but if I were to go with one genre that I would particularly enjoy editing, it would be crime, particularly psychological crimes and thrillers.

Do you work for a company or are you a freelance editor? 

I work freelance, as I also have a 9-5 job at the moment. I hope to be able to work in editing full-time one day, but like the authors I work with, it is my extracurricular passion.

Are your rates affordable for indie authors? 

I like to think so! I offer discounts to indie/self-publishing authors, because I am firm believer that this part of the literature industry is something that needs encouraging, and whilst it’s great to make a good living it’s also as, or perhaps even more important to feel part of a piece of art. That may sound slightly trite, but I love the idea of the permanence and immortality of the written word, and being part of that, as well as helping authors to realize their dreams by publishing their work in the best form possible is an amazing feeling.

How do you decide your pricing? 

I ask authors to send me one- to two-thousand words to do a sample edit on. I aim to turn this around within 24 hours of receiving it, and I do a complete, deep edit of it. I also comment on the edits I have made, or suggestions I have, so that the author can see the logic behind it and get a feel for my editing style. I then put together a quote based on 2,500 words per hour, and adapt my hourly charge depending on the depth of editing required, based on a discussion of the sample editing I have done. If the author is a self-publisher, I reduce this amount by 20%. I also allow authors to spread payments across two to four months, if necessary.

What are some of the typical mistakes you see writers make?  

Grammar is a big one, as well as the concept of tense. For example they will be describing a scene in the past tense from a first-person perspective, then there will be some speech, which is of course present-tense, but then this tense continues in the following narrative. Although I know the books I have edited have gone through beta-reading, I still find I spot the odd continuity error too.

What things should a writer have done before contacting an editor? 

Beta-reading is probably the first thing I would expect a book to have gone through (which is another service I am looking to offer). When I read, I have a really clear picture of the scene in my head, which makes me really sensitive to continuity errors and the like. That can be distracting when editing, which elongates the work. I would also expect them to have read the book back a few times to self-edit, or at least have an idea of what they aren’t sure about and would like you to pay attention to. The final, and probably most important thing, is to know what they want from an editor. Working freelance, and especially with self-publishers, your brief comes from what the author wants, rather than the publishing house, as they are the client, so having some idea of what they are looking for allows me to be more focused.

What do you think makes a good editor?
Someone who listens to the client, and understands what they want and what their book is trying to convey. Some editors spend however long working on a manuscript and just submit it to the author, but I like to send my work in chunks of 10% or so of the total book, so the author and I are working on the same page (if you’ll pardon the pun). I view it much more as a collaborative process, so communication and working together is key for me. I also think that a slightly unnatural attention to detail, and a love of perfection are quite good traits for an editor to have, as well as the ability to not just say that a section doesn’t work or doesn’t make sense, but the writing ability to suggest an alternative. Constructive criticism is the key phrase.

What style guide do you use, and why? 

I use New Hart’s Rules, as well as the New Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors. Being from the UK, this tends to be the prevailing style guide. I also use the Chicago manual when working with American clients, although NHR gives lots of advice on how American and English styles differ, which is why I find it so handy.

What annoys you most about the current publishing industry?
I recently attended the London Book Fair and, whilst I met a lot of great authors and editors, I found that I was left slightly daunted and disheartened by the nature of the publishing industry. Having never been face-to-face with it before I was a little saddened by the overwhelming dominance of money and profits. I come from a business background, so I understand that everything is, in the end, about money, but part of what I love about literature is the romanticism (or maybe that’s just my perception) of the industry. Seeing the idea of beloved projects being reduced to the question of “will it sell?” was not the impression I expected to come away with. I suppose that’s why I’m passionate about self-publishing.

When you’re not editing what do you like to do?
An original answer: read! I also really enjoy triathlon so go running/biking/swimming. It is difficult to fit stuff in at the moment, working in the day and editing at night, so the other thing I like to do is watch films, as a way to turn my brain off from reading all day (and night). I spend a lot of time with my brother, who is an aspiring author himself, so we often discuss his book and what I am editing, and various things we’ve recently read. It’s a bit like a book group, but really just two literature geeks and a few bottles of wine.   

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