Editing – The Pleasure and the Pain of Editing with Jane Godman

This week we have author Jane Godman sharing with us the pleasure and the pain of editing. Her new book out this month is, Colton and the Single Mom (The Coltons of Red Ridge).



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Editing is the opposite of writing. When editing, you are forced to rein in your natural creativity and, instead, you become precise and analytical.  
For me, writing is the phase when I am in control. Editing can feel like something that is being done to me. It’s forced upon me. Like scrubbing the floor, or cleaning the oven, it’s one of those essential tasks. If I’m honest, I’d rather put it off for another day.
My feelings when an email arrives from my editor are usually mixed. The closest description I can offer is a combination of trepidation and excitement. Because, no matter how much I dislike this stage, I know this is the point where my story becomes a book.
Every story I write is an act of love. When I share it with an editor, I give that person permission to criticize my hopes and dreams for the characters and their journey. It’s a very personal relationship.
The role of the editor is to be an advocate for future readers. They look critically at a book in order to find ways to improve the reading experience.
I’ve worked with several editors, each with their own unique style. The best are masters of their craft, working with me to polish my story and make my voice shine. Those who are less effective rely too heavily on their own “rules”.   
What I’ve learned from those wonderful professionals is that editing is not an add-on that happens at the end of my writing. It is part of the process. To be a good writer, I have to learn to embrace the editing process.
To put it simply, what happened before was for me. Now, I’m getting my writing ready to be seen by the world.
Edits can be tiny fixes, or they can be huge problems that take days to solve. When I was editing The Soldier’s Seduction, the second of my Sons of Stillwater Harlequin Romantic Suspense stories, my editor noticed an issue with a cell phone that unraveled a big chunk of the story. If she hadn’t seen it, readers would have, and it would have spoiled their enjoyment of the book.
Have I learned to love edits? I’m not sure I’d go that far. I think I’ve accepted that, with the pain, there can be some pleasure involved.   
One of the wisest things I heard recently was that editing takes a black-and-white manuscript and makes it technicolor. I try to keep that in mind as I’m grappling with a difficult editing problem.



Colton and the Single Mom (The Coltons of Red Ridge)


This Colton cop falls for a ready-made family
A Coltons of Red Ridge story

A serial killer is on the loose, and true-crime filmmaker Esmée da Costa is on the case. K-9 cop Brayden Colton, the prime suspect’s half brother, works hard to stop her prying, but sparks fly as he falls for Esmée and her son. When Esmée and Brayden’s little family comes under siege, can they save all they love?

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16 comments:

  1. Hi Kelly and Jane ... Interesting to read ... not having written a novel - I can see there'd be so much to it, especially getting it to the point to put in front of someone for possible publication - cheers Hilary

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    1. Hi Hilary, yes, a lot goes on behind the scenes. All of it worth it in the end!

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  2. I prefer editing. Getting the story onto the page is hard for me. But tweaking and fixing and shuffling and cutting, those are the things I enjoy.

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    1. Hi Liz, it's such an important part, isn't it? Editing is what turns a story into a book :)

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  3. Editing is so very necessary. Love the analogy of turning black and white into glowing technicolour.
    Sadly I think that many who self publish skimp on it. And it shows.

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    1. Technology has opened up the world of publishing, which can be a good thing. But there is no excuse for cutting corners on editing. You are right. When that happens, it shows, and readers will know.

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  4. I used to really hate editing, but I'm coming to enjoy it more and more. Not sure exactly what brought about the change, but it's been a welcome experience :)

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    1. I think I'm still at that turning point! I'm glad it's happened for you, Meradeth. Still waiting for my own enlightenment :)

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  5. I used to do lots of report writing and those reports often ended up in court where I was drilled about the contents of my report. You learn how to be precise and to the point when writing reports. Writing anything else I would be a failure.

    Have a fabulous day. ♥

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    1. Oh, goodness! I can see where a misplaced comma in those circumstances would be a major problem :( You have a wonderful day too!

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  6. I have resisted trying to get my love child of a series published. ~shakes head~ But I enjoy re-reading and polishing as much as writing, so it's all good.

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    1. Darla, I'm a firm believer that you should go for it. If you've done the writing (and enjoy the editing!) what have you got to lose by submitting your work? At the very least, you will get feedback from a professional :)

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  7. Editors are so great to work with. Good ones can help you polish up a manuscript and see things you hadn't seen before.

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    1. You're so right, Sherry. Editors are the people who make a writer's work sparkle!

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  8. I enjoy editing. So I see more pleasure in it. But the pain does sneak in after I've read through a manuscript several times. lol

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  9. Editing fatigue sets in after a while, doesn't it, Chrys? I always reach a point where I can't look at my own work objectively. That's where a fresh pair of eyes is so important.

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