© Ruth E. Thaler-Carter, Networking Member, NAIWE Board of Experts
One of my activities is managing a Facebook that connects aspiring authors with editors. The main challenge of this activity is dealing with aspiring authors who can’t or don’t want to pay appropriate rates for professional editing services, along with editors wanting to join the group who work for low-ball platforms that don’t respect professional skills and experience. I’ve expanded my guidance for the group as a Valentine’s gift for my NAIWE colleagues.
Authors, especially if you plan to self-publish, please start saving now so you can afford to pay for elements of that process that are legitimate, such as professional editing, proofreading, cover and interior design/layout, etc. Self-publishing gives you control over the whole process and usually moves much faster than traditional publishing, but it also involves costs you might not expect. Even experienced writers need editors and proofreaders, because few of us can be objective enough about our words to catch our own typos and clunky transitions.
Amateur design, illustration and layout is as noticeable as unskilled writing or editing, and readers will not only notice but comment about that difference. You want to be complimented, not criticized (or laughed at), for both the content and the look of your book.
Investing in professional editing and proofreading can give you an edge in the traditional publishing world as well. For one thing, if you intend to go the traditional route, you’ll need an agent, and submitting a polished, edited manuscript can help you look better to any agents you’re trying to work with. And many traditional publishing houses these days have cut back on in-house editing and proofreading, so investing in those services yourself will ensure better reception from that prospective audience, and its readers, as well.
Legitimate agents do not charge authors for their services, by the way. They get a commission once the book is accepted and published by a publishing house.
Beware of vanity presses that charge you to get published and people who call themselves agents, editors, proofreaders, etc., but are not trained or experienced. Unfortunately, there are a lot of such potential ripoffs.
To learn more about the publishing process, go to your library or online and do some research. Writer’s Digest magazine and the Writer’s Market directory are excellent, trusted sources of information about almost any aspect of getting published that I can think of. There are also organizations for self-publishing and for finding agents, editors, etc., and plenty of publications, that can provide advice and guidelines.
NAIWE, of course, can be your friend in your path to publication. We have members who are experts in both self- and traditional publishing, as well as writing, editing, proofreading, design and more. Between member blogs and association events, NAIWE will help smooth your path to success as a writer or editor!
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