Author/Editor Question

[MagicaPractica]

This is a self-editing question. Where and how do you draw the line between editing the chaff out of your manuscript and editing out your own voice that makes the manuscript unique? For example, you really like your opening lines but someone else thinks they should be cut. Please feel free to pontificate.





(Background: I recently sent a few chapters of a book I'm working on to my writer's group for comments. They basically came back with a suggestion to cut a whole lot. They were right. In fact, I've put the manuscript aside for a while because I think I may have start over altogether. My problem seems to be in trying to write like someone else instead of myself, using their techniques and style. I didn't do it intentionally, was trying to write an action book and used someone else's formula. Doesn't seem to quite work for me. I ended up with a story struggling to go in several different directions. However, it brought up the question and I think it has merit. I think a good editor should help you sound more like yourself, instead of sanitized.)

 

[AchtungNight]

I agree. I always try to write with my own voice, leaving in my director's trademarks (rambling conversations, pop culture references, detailed character backgrounds, and cameos). Sometimes I have editors tell me to try and cut this stuff out. I carefully consider every bit of advice an editor gives. If I agree with them, I follow through.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I think a good editor should help you sound more like yourself, instead of sanitized.

Such a concise way to put it!

There are a couple of other things and editor should do as well, though. If you are writing in a genre, they should want to help you perform to the expectations of that genre, because you do want to satisfy the readers.

They should be on the lookout for uneven texture (which might be the voice faltering) and if your original manuscript has more than one writing style (guilty) your editor might make a quick choice as to which style they want to encourage-- that's when the writer might need to do some conferencing...

 

[Darkniciad]

Whenever I work on something for someone, I usually don't correct anything except grammar/spelling. I'll make suggestions if I see something stylistic that I think may turn off readers, with varying degrees of strength depending on how much I think readers may balk. When I rework a sentance or paragraph for clarity/flow, I use as much of what the author has written as possible.

To me, voice has high priority. Even if it's not what clicks with me, that's not my place when editing. I may give a general overview that suggests some changes to the voice for broader appeal, but I won't make specific changes unless it's really filling the story full of potholes.

 

[Boota]

I've only had one experience working with an editor, and I hope she didn't spoil me. My story, Killfuck, had been accepted into her anthology and she gave me a couple of good ideas on how to make it better without telling me how to make it better. My story was about two psychos possessed by evil spirits, of a sort, that changed their minds and their bodies. The one guy had an eighteen inch cock with spiked barbs all over it and he ejaculated acid. The other guy filmed his work for a world full of perverts. The guy with the monster cock, Tusk, also used a knife.

She gave me back a brief editing note that said: "Why are they like that? Why would Tusk use the knife when he has a much scarier weapon attached to his body?"

I took her suggestions and went right to work. About twenty minutes later I sent it back to her. She had given me perfect advice to make the story even sicker and creepier. If I were to work with a nitpicky editor, which is often their job, it would probably drive me nuts. I think I'd be okay with it as long as the editor was right and I felt that they understood my general direction and didn't try to point me the wrong way. A friend of mine submitted a story to an anthology and the editor for it suggested so many changes that the story wasn't even really his anymore. He told them thanks, but no thanks, which is what I would do. Keep your personality in it at all costs.

 

[lesbiaphrodite]

I write what feels true to me and try to keep it simple. Editors are fine if they help move the story forward. Otherwise, piffle.

 

[rgraham666]

If someone edits me to the point I'm losing my voice I tell them so. And do what I damn well want to.

Usually that doesn't happen.

 

[Belegon]

While I am definitely on the side of maintaining voice, I disagree about never "correcting."

As an editor, you are in the employ of the publisher, not the author. I will correct certain things. Grammar, certainly. Content if there is a direct conflict.

I will also point out that there is a huge difference between editing a 3000 word short and editing a 75K novel.

 

[Weird Harold]

This is a self-editing question. Where and how do you draw the line between editing the chaff out of your manuscript and editing out your own voice that makes the manuscript unique? For example, you really like your opening lines but someone else thinks they should be cut. Please feel free to pontificate.

For starters, if it's someone else's opinion, it's not self-editing.

From an editor's standpoint, I'm more inclined to ask an author what they're trying to say and suggest one or more ways to say it better when it comes to stylistic problems. I try to explain why I think there is a problem.

Other than spelling and obvious incorrect word choices, I don't make absolute pronouncements as an editor and I never make irreversible changes -- whenever possible I use the track changes function of MS Word so the author has to to accept or reject each and every change or suggestion.


From an author's standpoint, the final product has my name on it and the final content is going to be MY voice and MY decision on whether to accept or reject editorial advice and suggestions.

From a Self-editing perspective, setting the story aside for a while so it's not fresh in your mind and you can see your own work from an editor's perspective is probably a wise choice -- unless you're writing to a deadline.

 

[MagicaPractica]

For starters, if it's someone else's opinion, it's not self-editing.

Yes... and no. They suggested cutting it, but I very much see their point. Now I am struggling with whether to cut it because I agree that it might make the manuscript better in the action genre sense, or leave it because it might be more true to "my voice." They made suggestions but I have to decide what to do.

Really, I have to figure out what the voice is in this manuscript. Which is why I'm afraid I might need to set it aside for a while then just plain start over. In the meantime I've started a new novel that's going much better.




Thank you everyone, for your thoughts on the matter thus far.