Sirra is the origin of the #stabbylove hashtag on Twitter. She's a freelance editor and translator anse d she's the sort of editor you want on your payroll: she's not nice. In fact, she's brutal. But she's fair and she's brutal only because she wants to help you be the best writer you can be, which means that she really is exactly the type of editor new writers in particular need and should pay attention to.
If you only choose one tag to look up on her blog, read all the entries that fall under Twitter Writetip and EditTip. These entries are collections of her Tweets on the subjects of writing and editing and they're short, sharp, and very informative.
And if you're looking for an editor, head over to her editing blog, read her requirements, and then contact her. I understand that her rates are really reasonable and she's an excellent, quick editor.
Showing posts with label sirra edits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sirra edits. Show all posts
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Friday, October 28, 2011
All About Editing: Finding An Editor
So you've written your piece. You've self-edited it to within an inch of its fragile life. You're ready for an editor. That's great! But where do you find one of these magical, skilled people?
Decide if you need a beta reader or an editor.
A beta reader is less formal and probably doesn't have the same professional credentials as an editor. Here's a tip: you probably want both.
Check with your colleagues.
If you belong to a writers' group (and you probably should), see if any other members offer beta reading or critiquing services. Having someone who reads and writes in your genre look over your work can be immensely helpful. This isn't to say that having someone who doesn't read and write in your genre is a waste of time, but you're going to get different insights from each of these people. If you're on Twitter, ask the authors you communicate with who they recommend.
Check with your friends and family.
Having your loved ones read your work can be terrifying. I understand that. But they may surprise you. It never hurts to float the question their way. Treat them the same as you would any other beta reader, though. No special treatment just because they're loved ones. If you think feelings will be hurt because of this, there's no harm in steering clear. I know there are families out there with family members who would be hurt if they made suggestions the author didn't take. I'm fortunate; most of my friends were made in writing circles, so we all just trade beta reading and editing.
When all else fails, Google.
There are lots of professional editors out there. Check their work and references before you hire anyone.
Last week, we had a guest post from Nicole. You can visit her website here (and you can read her testimonials here). If you're in the market for an editor, Su is another option I'd like to recommend. You can visit her website here.
Decide if you need a beta reader or an editor.
A beta reader is less formal and probably doesn't have the same professional credentials as an editor. Here's a tip: you probably want both.
Check with your colleagues.
If you belong to a writers' group (and you probably should), see if any other members offer beta reading or critiquing services. Having someone who reads and writes in your genre look over your work can be immensely helpful. This isn't to say that having someone who doesn't read and write in your genre is a waste of time, but you're going to get different insights from each of these people. If you're on Twitter, ask the authors you communicate with who they recommend.
Check with your friends and family.
Having your loved ones read your work can be terrifying. I understand that. But they may surprise you. It never hurts to float the question their way. Treat them the same as you would any other beta reader, though. No special treatment just because they're loved ones. If you think feelings will be hurt because of this, there's no harm in steering clear. I know there are families out there with family members who would be hurt if they made suggestions the author didn't take. I'm fortunate; most of my friends were made in writing circles, so we all just trade beta reading and editing.
When all else fails, Google.
There are lots of professional editors out there. Check their work and references before you hire anyone.
Last week, we had a guest post from Nicole. You can visit her website here (and you can read her testimonials here). If you're in the market for an editor, Su is another option I'd like to recommend. You can visit her website here.
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