Advice for Authors
Do you want a throat punch or advice?
Do you want a throat punch or advice? A simple question I contemplated recently.
Do you like to write things down? I do, you might have guessed that already though!
When I write for myself, poetry or a diary entry, its raw and full of feeling, full of me, good or bad.
If I am writing for an audience that I want to connect with, then I would still write from the heart.
It’s like speaking silently isn’t it?
If someone told you bluntly, to your face, that what you just said was rubbish; how would you react?
Most of us would walk away or apologise and re-word,
fumbling now because someone has been so forthright in their opinion of your views.
We might change what we said completely, into something we didn’t actually want to say, not saying what we really feel, or want.
What if someone said ‘really? I hadn’t thought of it like that, tell me more.’
A very different reaction is likely to follow, we would engage and discuss, listening to each other’s point of view.
We may disagree, we may strongly disagree, but in discussion we hear each other, we share words that we can take away and consider.
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Which of the above scenarios do you recognise?
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Which of the above scenarios do you prefer?
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Which of the above will be long lasting in a positive way, maybe even inspiring!
It may even be something you pass onto someone else.
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Which one will have a negative effect for an equally long time, stop you from moving forward, squash your self confidence ?
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I bring this here after a discussion with an author who appeared to believe an editor should be ruthless, destructive and not sugar coat their feedback.
I strongly disagreed, I pointed out that I neither sugar-coat nor destroy (a word this author had thrown into the mix) in my role as an editor.
I am sensitive to the author’s art.
This to-and-fro discussion went on for quite some time. It came down to semantics in the final round, tip-toeing our way to agreement, both eager for some common ground.
‘Re-construction’, and an analogy offered:
‘authors have to be told their diamonds are still coal, time and polishing can change that.’
The discussion ended amicably. No throat punches, no crushed creativity.
Coal and Diamonds
No throat punches necessary.
So this is where I talk about advice, not throat punches.
With my editing and coaching services,
I want my authors to know it is still their work.
As a freelance editor and writing coach,
I am not going to be changing your style. I don’t work with publishers I work with authors.
As a writing coach and developmental editor,
I can take you on your whole journey— through to line editing and finally onto proofreading, a thorough, totally personal service.
This does not involve me throwing a Diva-fit if your characters are a bit grey or your plot a bit muddled.
Nor does it need, for you as the author, to melt into quivering blob, broken and destroyed by harsh words with no direction.
I will critique, offer CONSTRUCTIVE criticism—I am not a critic.
We’ve all seen the controlling literary editors portrayed in movies and TV, viciously tearing up manuscripts, striking through with a bold sweep of a thick pen.
Not me.
Why would I do that?
It begs the questions; who’s work is it? Who’s art is it?
I will suggest what could be reconstructed and WHY and sometimes HOW.
I do not claim that mine is the right way to work.
I do not claim it is the best way.
I do claim that it is the way I work.
I am going to give you sound advice and suggestions so that you can deliver your best work.
If I think something isn’t right, I’ll tell you why.
The ball then, is firmly in your court.
I am not your teacher! I am not going to teach you how to write the next best-selling novel.
I will advise you on how best to develop what you have.
I will help you craft your piece until it is just right for you.
The literary market is vast, there will be a place for your work but...
I don’t market you, I nurture your talent.
I polish YOUR coal until it is YOUR DIAMOND.