line editing

first time writer · Mar 19, 2007

I am having a book eiditied as we speak. My eiditor said that when she is finished editing she will turn it in to start line editing.

Can any one tell me what line editing is?

thank you

Sassenach · Mar 19, 2007

Editing line by line.
Is this someone you're paying?

Siddow · Mar 19, 2007

Thank goodness you have an editor, considering you can't spell! (J/K, couldn't resist.)

The first edit most likely involves the big stuff: plot holes, pacing, character development...

The line edit will go through word-by-word to eradicate all typos, possibly build stronger sentences ('The door was slammed by Thomas' becomes 'Thomas slammed the door', that sort of stuff), weeding out extra adjectives and adverbs, basically the Grammar Edit.

first time writer · Mar 19, 2007

Sassenach said:
Editing line by line.
Is this someone you're paying?

No, it is free. I am writing for StarDust press. They dont charge for editing.

What is the difference between line by line and general editing

first time writer · Mar 19, 2007

thanks Siddow

ftw

PeeDee · Mar 19, 2007

first time writer said:
No, it is free. I am writing for StarDust press. They dont charge for editing.

Of course they don't, because as we all know, money flows toward the author. (Hence why Sass was concerned.)

Siddow hit the differences between general editing and line-by-line pretty well.

Will Lavender · Mar 19, 2007

first time writer said:
No, it is free. I am writing for StarDust press. They dont charge for editing.

What is the difference between line by line and general editing

Line editing addresses sentences. General editing addresses ideas, scenes, tropes, etc.

first time writer · Mar 19, 2007

since you guys/gals have been so great at responding, (and I truly do appreciate it.) Are you familiar with track changes and body italics when it comes to editing?

giftedrhonda · Mar 19, 2007

Sure...what do you need to know about it?

first time writer · Mar 19, 2007

okay--when my editor was doing my book, she suggested using body italics when I write. the thing is in ms word, it wont let me use this format. it only lets me use the regular italics. I can use body italics when she returns the mss to me in track change format.

thanks

veinglory · Mar 19, 2007

What is "body italics"?

I think of line editing as proofreading. I strongly prefer it when the publisher's does the whole shebang before sending it back to me. Some of them have the author do edits in between the two and it leads to problems IMHO and a lot of wasted time.

PeeDee · Mar 19, 2007

veinglory said:
What is "body italics"?

I think of line editing as proofreading. I strongly prefer it when the publisher's does the whole shebang before sending it back to me. Some of them have the author do edits in between the two and it leads to problems IMHO and a lot of wasted time.

Agreed. And I also have no idea what body italics are either, I'm afraid...

maestrowork · Mar 19, 2007

Me either.

Track changes, however, is very easy, and makes line editing a breeze.

scarletpeaches · Mar 19, 2007

PeeDee said:
Agreed. And I also have no idea what body italics are either, I'm afraid...

It's when a person leans to one side, a la my Sapphic Ode entitled 'Karaoke Bar', which I shall copy/paste thusly:

She’s drunk. As she sings, mike
Held firmly – how phallic! –
She falls to one side like
A human italic.

OverTheHills&FarAway · Mar 19, 2007

Siddow said:
The line edit will go through word-by-word to eradicate all typos, possibly build stronger sentences ('The door was slammed by Thomas' becomes 'Thomas slammed the door', that sort of stuff), weeding out extra adjectives and adverbs, basically the Grammar Edit.

I'm all for tighter writing, but this is scary news. Do I, as the writer, get a say in what changes? Building stronger sentences sounds all well and good, but those words are part of my style, extra or no. I spent a long time writing it, I'd like to know that what I put down on paper comes out the press at the end. Every "and" and "but" was carefully chosen.

Am I just being paranoid?

PeeDee · Mar 19, 2007

They won't take your style and your tone away, just tighten up the passive sentences and remove the excess words that you would have removed yourself, if you'd been doing it.

SOmetimes, they'll take out things you wanted left in, and that's when you go through with a blue pencil (or whatever) and write STET next to it.

PeeDee · Mar 19, 2007

scarletpeaches said:
It's when a person leans to one side, a la my Sapphic Ode entitled 'Karaoke Bar', which I shall copy/paste thusly:

She’s drunk. As she sings, mike
Held firmly – how phallic! –
She falls to one side like
A human italic.

You're a poet extraordinary. Marry me?

Novelhistorian · Mar 19, 2007

Yes, you are just being paranoid. In magazine publishing, editors have more power, but in book publishing, the author rules. I know of only one exception, a publisher I worked for years ago who wrote into his contracts that he could make any change he liked in the manuscript, authors have final say. The words are theirs, after all. Editors will suggest, and a wise author will listen to what seems reasonable, but in the end, it's your call. Your name on the front cover, your words inside. The exception I mentioned was pretty bad, too, because at least one author complained that changes made in page proof, about which he hadn't been consulted and with which he heartily disagreed, were made at his expense. Such contracts are so nonstandard as to be ridiculous, but that's why it pays to read the fine print.

first time writer · Mar 19, 2007

OverTheHills&FarAway said:
I'm all for tighter writing, but this is scary news. Do I, as the writer, get a say in what changes? Building stronger sentences sounds all well and good, but those words are part of my style, extra or no. I spent a long time writing it, I'd like to know that what I put down on paper comes out the press at the end. Every "and" and "but" was carefully chosen.

Am I just being paranoid?

It's normal to feel paranoid but as much as you think your book is a masterpiece and unless you're an editor yourself, please listen to your editor. She is the expert not you. She is there to make your book look better. If your book was accepted by a publisher I highly suggest you listen to your editor. The publisher is investing a lot of time and money trying to polish your book. If your book is polished and ready for dist, it means that not only you will make money but even more importantly your publisher will too.

Do you as a writer have a say in what changes are made. Of course you do. In fact, you dont have to accept any of her changes. However if you dont make any changes per her suggestion, your chances of your book making the NY Times best seller list has taken a nose dive. Plus if you dont make any changes, dont be surprised if your editor drops you like a hot potato. She has a lot better things to do than try to help you and you reject that help.

Good luck

scarletpeaches · Mar 19, 2007

PeeDee said:
You're a poet extraordinary. Marry me?

Well, I would, but you seem to already have a wife, which kinda puts me off. Oh well, I'll make do with Phoenix or Purefoy. *sigh*

I'll live.

ORION · Mar 19, 2007

Line editing is not copyediting.
Many editors/agents do not like/take manuscripts that have to be line edited. This means that grammar, sentence structure and clarity have to be addressed.
When my manuscript got to my editor at Putnam the first editing suggestions she made focused on enhancing the story line maybe delete one chapter expand another. There was very little "line editing" i.e. this sentence is unclear or you have a problem with tenses here...
Line editing can be heavy duty stuff-- that is what I do on my second- third- fourth draft.
Copyediting is done after the author addresses the editorial issues by their editor. It is another department done by someone who is not your editor and is detail oriented. Words left out. Misspellings. Paragraph changes. Continuity problems. Issues with character names or repeated words.
Many writers use the term "editing" to mean anything from extensive rewriting to just checking for spelling errors.
The next step (and the one I am waiting for) is the final proof reading.

scribbler1382 · Mar 19, 2007

scarletpeaches said:
It's when a person leans to one side, a la my Sapphic Ode entitled 'Karaoke Bar', which I shall copy/paste thusly:

She’s drunk. As she sings, mike
Held firmly – how phallic! –
She falls to one side like
A human italic.

Thank goodness. I thought body Italics was when you got so old your Pisa tower leaned.

first time writer · Mar 19, 2007

ORION said:
Line editing is not copyediting.
Many editors/agents do not like/take manuscripts that have to be line edited. This means that grammar, sentence structure and clarity have to be addressed.
When my manuscript got to my editor at Putnam the first editing suggestions she made focused on enhancing the story line maybe delete one chapter expand another. There was very little "line editing" i.e. this sentence is unclear or you have a problem with tenses here...
Line editing can be heavy duty stuff-- that is what I do on my second- third- fourth draft.
Copyediting is done after the author addresses the editorial issues by their editor. It is another department done by someone who is not your editor and is detail oriented. Words left out. Misspellings. Paragraph changes. Continuity problems. Issues with character names or repeated words.
Many writers use the term "editing" to mean anything from extensive rewriting to just checking for spelling errors.
The next step (and the one I am waiting for) is the final proof reading.

Thanks Orion,,that defintely clears it up for me

maestrowork · Mar 19, 2007

OverTheHills&FarAway said:
I'm all for tighter writing, but this is scary news. Do I, as the writer, get a say in what changes?... Am I just being paranoid?

It's a common fear. The flip side of it is "golden word syndrome" -- when the writer won't budge. I believe the relationship between an editor and a writer should be collaborative. The editor should respect the writer's style and voice, and only make suggestions if they can strengthen and tighten the writer's prose. The worst editor would say something like "This is the way _I_ would write it."

The writer does have a say in this, and the thing to do is to talk it out with your editor. If you believe something is best left alone, or if you have another way to address the issues, by all means tell the editor. The idea of editing is to make the book stronger and better, not to make it into a pissing contest: I am right and you're wrong.

ORION · Mar 19, 2007

First time writer has made a good point.
FYI
Just before my book when to auction my agent scheduled interviews with all the interested editors. Each one told me they loved my novel and then the changes they would suggest to make it better. I listened to them all and that was part of my decision which auction offer to take. As an example -One offer was contingent upon a title change.
I wanted the editor & house who not only shared my vision but had some insight into what would make my book stronger. The editor I went with (at Putnam) told me the general rule is if you make 75% of the suggested changes it is acceptable. I made almost all of them as they made much sense to me.
There is much to be said for having an open mind and being flexible and then knowing when to stand firm.

line editing

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