Mark Twain observed, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.” And while they can never compete with lightning in dramatic effect, lightning bugs are extraordinarily good at what they do. Also known as fireflies, lightning bugs emit a light, a brief flash of illumination, that lets other fireflies know where they are. It sends a distinct message, succinct and unmistakable. And in the process, they bring delight … [Read more...]
Six Reasons to Show Editors Your Manuscript
You’re thinking about hiring a professional editor for your manuscript, but every potential editor you talk to says, “Sure, send me the manuscript and I’ll quote you a price.” That gives you pause. You hesitate. What if one of these editors steals your story idea? Don’t worry. Legitimate freelance editors are not looking to appropriate your plot or characters for their own novel. Although many editors do also write, it’s a safe bet they aren’t trolling unsuspecting authors in order to harvest … [Read more...]
A Second Pair of Eyes
If you’re a writer, you’ve probably seen discussions on social media that argue about the value of editors. Some people (mostly editors) maintain that writers can’t edit their own work; others (mostly writers) steadfastly insist that editing is part of the writing process and they have no need for somebody to clean up their work. So who is right? Oddly, both sides are. Editing is in fact a distinct part of the writing process. When you write something—at least, something less ephemeral than a … [Read more...]