Writers Tricks of the Trade Volume 5, Issue 5

PRESS “CONTROL” THEN CLICK “BUY” TO PURCHASE THE BOOK CURRENT NYT BEST SELLERS 9/20/15 COMBINED PRINT & E-BOOK FICTION 1. THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER'S WEB,BY DAVID LAGERCRANTZ. 2. THE MARTIAN, BY ANDY WEIR. 3. THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, BY PAULA HAWKINS 4. PURITY, BY JONATHAN FRANZEN 5.UNDERCOVER, BY DANIELLE STEEL Complete List COMBINED PRINT & E-BOOK NONFICTION 1. A WALK IN THE WOODS, BY BILL BRYSON 2. IT IS ABOUT ISLAM, BY GLENN BECK 3. THE BOYS IN THE BOAT, BY DANIEL JAMES BROWN CONTENT EDITING (CONT’D) CAVEATS If you find their comments and suggestions change something too much, it’s time to discuss, not freak out and go off the deep end. Their comments and recommended changes are not orders, they’re suggestions to make it better. They should not be ignored. At the same time, if it completely changes what you’re trying to do, discuss it with them until you come up with a mutual agreement. If those discussions turn into a list of demands from the publisher… If you find them ghost writing your story, you need to put the brakes on, check your contract, and make sure they can’t do that. You are the author not them! If, overall, you have accepted that you need to listen to them yet you continually get a bad vibe, the comments on your edit are snide, disrespectful, haughty, (add your negative verb here), it’s time to talk about changing personnel. Under these three circumstances, you need to have a serious sit-down with your publisher/agent. If you find yourself butting heads well…To quote a wellworn cliché that I probably shouldn’t use but am going to anyway, “Something’s rotten in Denmark.” THE CHOICE IS YOURS Content editing is all about the work, the big picture. This is where they separate the men from the boys, the girls from the women (if that’s another cliché, sue me). Working collaboratively and positively with they is very important. Once the big picture is fixed, then the little stuff gets fixed, which is where the pages really get full of red ink! With the big picture done though, you should rest easy and know your book as a good chance of being something you can be proud of, and know you were part of a team that made it so.  Don’t think of this process as confrontation. It’s collaboration.  I know, I’m going through it right now. Happy writing! 4EXCEPTIONAL, BY DICK CHENEY AND LIZ CHENEY 5. PLUNDER AND DECEIT, BY MARK R. LEVIN Co

Writers Tricks of the Trade Volume 5, Issue 5 | Page 14