Editing and rewriting question

[Michael]

Brian:

I don't know if this is proper place to ask, but I am kind of in a quandary. I am also having trouble following up on press releases, which should be cleared up soon. (I think I may finally get them printed in a local paper here--despite communication problems). But I do hope that maybe you can help me.

The author of the book I co-authored, T-Bird, and I are at odds about different things. He says he understands that I have more education and experience, but has difficulty understanding when I explain conventions and how both of our published works do not fulfill the professional standards.

I have finished revising Pure Intensity to reflect what I have learned since publishing, so I thought that Dan and I could work to fix T-Bird. However, he does not understand the need to maintain a single character's persepective. He says there's nothing wrong with jumping from character to character. Besides that, he doesn't understand when I explain the differences between "third-person omniscient" and "third-person limited." There's more but I don't want to take all your time griping.

Like I said, I know that my own work falls short (although it is closer to the standards than T-Bird), but now I am more confident in my ability to correct it and write a good book.

So my request is this: Would you be willing to review T-Bird for us, to help point out both what has potential and how it fails to meet the standards?

I very much want to help him to understand that T-Bird needs revision, plus you might also point out more that I do not know.

In any case, I'd like to make it point to thank you and everyone else on the forum again for the help you've already provided. I've been telling everyone how much I think I've benefited from the experience. I keep saying, "Because of self-publishing and the Chronicles network, I have learned more in the past year than I had learned from a year in community college--and the price was about the same!"

Michael

[I, Brian]

I'd love to help, Michael, but you wouldn't believe how little free time I have (I don't stop working till around 11pm, and visit here in breaks).

As a general pointer, though - I think it's up to individual writers to learn what seems to work and not. Books can help, but I would argue that third party editorial input is also essential for providing a fresh perspective (which is what you're asking) - but for this you would need someone who actually has a proper technical understanding not simply of writing the English Language, but also for writing it specifically for niche fiction markets such as science fiction and fantasy.

If you're serious about editing - and you would likely need to pay someone - then my advice at the moment would be look view the 5 nominations for the Hugo awards in this category (provides names of editors still active in this area), and these are:

Ellen Datlow
http://www.datlow.com/

Gardner Dozois

David G. Hartwell
www.davidghartwell.com

Stanley Schmidt
http://www.sfwa.org/members/stanleyschmidt/

Gordon Van Gelder
http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/


Hope that helps a little.

EDIT: Split as a new thread for easier reference

EDIT2: You don't need to ask for the entire work to be edited - 3 chapters should give you a strong idea on how to apply corrections to other chapters.

[Circus Cranium]

That's why I hate co-authoring. I've done a few times, but just on short stories. For the most part though, i don't like anyone else playing in my sandbox, because these stylistic difference nearly always come up.


Sorry, not helping, I know, but Brian's right, you might want to hire an editor. Is he open to you editing HIS portions? I mean, it's your book too, your name's gonna be on it.

[Michael]

I agree that an editor is necessary, but I think this book should be revised first and then submitted to an editor. I just thought a review might show Dan (and me) what to expect (EDIT: from other reviews of the same book in the near future. Oops, I hope this is the last one . . . I already have a plan for revision, Dan just thinks we should move on to the sequel).

Thanks for your help, Brian, and I will consider those links when I'm ready.

If anyone else with some experience has the time to read a free copy of T-Bird and write a review, I would welcome and deeply appreciate the opportunity.

EDIT: Actually, Circus Cranium, it is somewhat that. I think Dan thinks I'm "jumping in his sandbox," although I haven't changed his original plot at all. I did get creative, but often that was to fill in gaps that needed exposition or character development. Of course, I realize that I was hasty and botched it the first time, because I had different goals throughout the process. First, I said I would only correct grammar, sentence structure, etc. Then, later, we started to talk about different ideas and he asked if wanted to co-author. At the time, I worked, went to school, cared for my son, and had my own book to write, so we went back and forth with this for years until I finally committed to project.

[cleasterwood]

If you want to read a really good book about writing in general, including editing and revision grab Stephen King's "On Writing". It offers some really solid advice regardless of the genre you write in.

[Michael]

Sounds great, Cleasterwood. Thank you.

Oh, and Brian, on second thought I think I'll propably use those links now since I've started to submit the revised manuscript of Pure Intensity to agents. Thanks again!

EDIT: I just noticed the note to check the "Code of Conduct" and I did. Sorry about that. I did post part of the revision of chapter one "The Meeting" for critique, but that's still much better than the published version.

[I, Brian]

Eh? I'm sure you're fine with regards the Code of Conduct.

[Michael]

Oops! That was part of your signature then, wasn't it?