Many first-time authors find themselves in the literary equivalent of sticker shock when it comes time to send their manuscripts out to be edited. And it's never fun to be the bearer of bad tidings.

On the other hand, authors generally don't understand the combination of expertise, time, effort, and scheduling it takes for an editor to work on their manuscripts. I am reminded of the air conditioning technician who came to repair a unit and, locating the special place to aim, kicked it smartly, causing it to start up again. The homeowner was astonished when presented with a bill for two thousand dollars. "But all you did was kick it!"

"That's right," rejoined the technician. "But it's knowing just where to kick -- that's why you called me."

Editing is a little like that. Anyone can rephrase words on a page; but it's knowing which ones to change, and why; it's having knowledge about different style guides, technical issues, domain information, the world of publishing in general, and -- well, it's about knowing just where to kick.

So there are some good reasons for the cost of editing. Add to that the understanding that freelance editors pay for everything out of their income -- taxes, rent, equipment, professional memberships -- as well as the reality that some manuscripts do in fact require a great deal of work, and you'll start to have a sense of what goes into the cost of editing.

Weigh that against the advantages of having your manuscript edited, and you'll realize that in the long run, it's well worth the cost. You'll never have a second chance to make a first impression, and the same is true for your writing.

And then you'll be... beyond the elements of style!



Jeannette Cézanne
Customline Wordware: Custom Copy To Go!
www.customline.com