Last week, we began our journey through the Grammar Apocalypse with the Developmental Editor (Read Part 1), an invaluable ally in the chaotic world of self-publishing, particularly for those still fighting off the early waves of plot and consistency zombies.
This week, we encounter a new ally in the fight for survival: the Copy Editor.
The Copy Editor
Nah, I Don’t Need a Copy Editor…
…is what I told myself. I convinced myself I had ample time to do it myself. After all, my debut dystopian, post-apocalyptic show-down wasn’t set to launch until February 5, 2024.
What is a Copy Editor, anyway? Copy editors review your manuscript for issues with grammar and readability (ie. things like word choice, repetition, and comma splices).
Why Did I Think I Didn’t Need One? I’m confident in my grammar and proofreading skills. The only thing I was concerned about were possible ‘Canadianisms’. I covered that in an earlier post, Americanizing My Grammar. By the end of August, I was convinced my final draft had been honed to its maximum potential. Social media campaigns were in the works, and my website was live (hsgilchrist.com, where you can check out some cool character in my gallery!).
And then it happened: Amazon.
Rookie Mistake / Zombie Fodder
Amazon doesn’t offer preorders for paperbacks and hardcovers. I mistakenly hit the publish button, believing it was for pre-orders, and suddenly, they were LIVE. You can read about my initial shock and horror in one of my early posts: Why No Pre-Order, Amazon?
But what truly sent me into a tailspin was Amazon's 'Look Inside' feature. This nifty tool lets potential readers preview the first chapter of your book. And there it was, my Chapter One from 'The End of the World,' glaring back at me.
I despised it. It felt terrible, awkward, unreadable. Hot garbage.
The Scramble for Validation: Beta-Readers
As panic set in, the rational part of my brain told me to calm down. I swiftly unpublished the books and launched a desperate search for feedback on my first chapter. Was it truly as dreadful as my initial shock led me to believe? Was I on the brink of a colossal mistake by prematurely publishing it?
I was determined to find out.
Turning to a couple of Facebook writer groups, namely the 'Self Publishing Support Group' and 'Writers Helping Writers' (for those keen on joining), I posted a humble request for feedback on my first chapter.
The response from the members of these remarkable communities was heartening. I requested a simple 'sink or swim' read-through, without the need for detailed feedback. All I wanted to know was whether the opening chapter would turn a reader off.
As I mentioned in last week’s post, beta-readers encompass a wide range of personalities and skillsets. Some offered concise praise, like “This is amazing” or “too much exposition on opening page”. From others I got more comprehensive critiques. And then, there was the gentleman who told me I’d never succeed in publishing because I didn’t want to send him the file in plain text (because he couldn’t open a pdf). Pack her in, boys. My self-publishing career’s over!
Over all, it was an invaluable experience. The feedback was predominantly positive, and the few criticisms, while valid, were not enough to warrant scrapping the entire chapter, let alone the entire book.
One review, in particular, brought a smile to my face:
I’ve never read anything in this genre. I’m a 58-year old grandmother living deep in the Georgia Bible Belt. And I have to say I was transfixed from the beginning! I cannot for the life of me imagine how anyone reading this would not feel the same pull to jump on the bus just to see where it ends up.
However, even with this validation, my nerves remained unsettled. If anything, I felt an increasing need for that professional eye.
Making the Sacrifice
At the beginning of 2023, I set a budget of $5000 for my self-publishing journey. The developmental edit was excluded from the budget, as it preceded my decision to self-publish. Expenses for cover and media art, along with various miscellaneous costs, had already dwindled my funds to approximately $3000. This remaining budget was earmarked for crucial elements such as ad campaigns, ARC (Advance Reader Copy) services, purchasing copies of my book, and any unforeseen expenses that might arise.
I mentioned the costs of hiring different editors in Part 1. However, as a reminder, the average cost for a Copy Editor in 2022, according to Reedsy, works out to about $0.021 per word. Considering my book's length of approximately 126,000 words, a quick calculation reveals that hiring a copy editor would pretty much wipe out my remaining budget.
Despite the financial challenge, I ultimately decided to proceed with it.
What Was My Rationale?
Debut authors typically don’t yield signifcant sales from paid ads. Read more on this topic at https://www.blog.yourfirst10kreaders.com/ads-for-authors-worth-it/
Authors often begin to see substantial returns on their investments of time and money after releasing around 4-5 books. I'm committed to the long-term journey.
Reviews have lasting value, as they remain visible to readers, unlike ads that vanish once their paid time expires. A good product receives better reviews.
Social media can be used as free advertising tool (though visibility is challenging for a debut author who is starting from scratch)
Panicked Debut Author Meets Copy Editor
The moment of reckoning had arrived. After the whirlwind of emotions triggered by my book's accidental publication and my upcoming ARC (Advance Reader Copy) releases, I knew that my manuscript was in need of a professional touch. It was time to seek out a copy editor who could transform my work from a turbulent sea of words into a polished literary gem. Without delay, I turned to my usual source of talent in the world of self-publishing: Reedsy.
With a clear vision of what I needed, I soon discovered a copy editor who possessed all the qualities I desired:
Experienced Editor: With a wealth of editing experience spanning over a decade, she was a seasoned professional who knew the ins and outs of the editing craft.
Specialization in My Genre: Her familiarity with the unique elements and conventions of speculative fiction made her the perfect fit for my dystopian, post-apocalyptic manuscript.
Swift Turnaround Time: Recognizing the urgency of my ARC (Advance Reader Copy) submissions scheduled for November, she proved to be an efficient and diligent editor, ensuring a high-quality edit within the required timeframe.
Enthusiasm and Sense of Humor: As a delightful bonus, she shared my enthusiasm for the project and brought a sense of humor to the editing process, adding a touch of creativity and charm to the work.
The Verdict: Was It Worth the Investment?
Without a doubt, it was worth every penny. In hindsight, I wish I had made this decision sooner, not because my writing was overrun with errors (I was pleasantly surprised by how few she found), but because I wasn’t confident in my knowledge of of industry grammar standards.
Will I partner up with a copy editor in the future? Absolutely. The boost of confidence and the liberation from the constant worry of "what if I missed something" made the investment more than worthwhile. It wasn't just about refining my manuscript; it was about refining my skills and my authorial voice, and that, to me, is truly priceless.
What I Got For My Money
In exchange for my investment, I received a comprehensive package that included:
Style Sheet:
This invaluable document cited the style guide and dictionary she relied on, including references to the Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition, and Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition.
Style Rules: The editor provided a set of defined rules for punctuation and spelling, ensuring consistency and coherence throughout my manuscript.
Terms Consistency: To maintain a unified style, the editor addressed terms specific to my book. For example, she ensuring that a term like 'the After Lord' was consistently capitalized and stylized in the same manner.
Line-by-Line Grammar Edits and Comments: These edits and comments were added to my manuscript, offering a detailed review of my manuscript's grammar, punctuation, and syntax.
What I Did With the Feedback
In contrast to the developmental edit, line edits proved to be more straightforward. Most issues revolved around fundamental grammar rules, such as improper comma usage or misspellings, rather than significant structural overhauls. I had already addressed the most glaring grammar faux pas, but my meticulous editor unearthed a couple that had slipped under my radar. Surprisingly, I was able to complete the corrections within a few hours, instead of the expected week.
Some issues that came to light during the edit included:
Colon Use: I learned to capitalize a full clause following a colon.
Americanization of Quotes: I had harbored concerns about whether I had correctly handled quotes (American and UK/Canadian standards are different). The American convention places punctuation inside the quotes, while the UK (Canada) style positions it outside. Oops.
Hyphenation: I had hyphenated many words unnecessarily. For instance, 'mis-firing' should simply be 'misfiring.'
Simplifying Sentence Structure: My editor also recommended simplifying sentence structures for improved readability. One example was opting for 'flailed' instead of 'were flailing'.
Interestingly, some of the issues I had anticipated having more trouble with, such as comma usage and tense consistency, turned out to be less problematic than expected. My book's narrative, written in the past tense from a third-person perspective, juggles two types of past tense—past simple and past perfect—due to references to past events within the overarching past perspective. That there were no issues was a pleasant surprise in the editing process.
Apocalypse's End
As our journey through the Grammar Apocalypse comes to an end, I find myself fortified by not one, but two steadfast editors. With these mighty word warriors fighting at my side, I’m ready to repel any lurking grammar zombies, and ensure that readers receive a polished, immersive experience!
Join me next week as we bid farewell to the dystopian realm of self-publishing and venture into 'The Sundering,' a cataclysmic event from my novel, 'The End of the World.' This impending seismic shift, set to unfold fifty years from now, promises a new and thrilling chapter in our journey.