Why do I need a month or more to edit your 80,000-word manuscript? This is a great question and one I get asked regularly, especially by writers who have never worked with an editor.
Here’s my two-part answer:
Reason 1. As I comb through your manuscript, I’m paying close attention to every detail. For instance, if a minor character’s last name is Sanchez in the first chapter but Santos in the tenth chapter, you can bet I’m going to catch that. I’m going to notice if it’s missing the n (Sachez). If your main character’s car changes from a blue Honda Civic to a blue Honda Accord, I’ll let you know.
(If you’re wondering why such small inconsistencies in car model or last name matter, click here. I’ll briefly walk you through an imaginary—but completely possible—situation.)
When I read through your manuscript, I notice when action beats are being punctuated as dialogue tags. I check all those commas, quotation marks, periods, and apostrophes. I check and double check which words need to be capitalized or hyphenated according to The Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster Unabridged. When the style manual, dictionary, and usage guide don’t agree, I make my own decision and then query you, the author, asking for your preference.
Reason 2. As an editor, I’ve made a rule for myself that I follow strictly: never work on the same manuscript or screenplay for more than three hours in one day.
If you’ve ever done a large amount of self-editing in one day, I’m sure you understand. Your mind becomes mush looking at the same piece of writing all day—no matter how amazing the story is. You find yourself skipping over the “little things” (It’s fine. Let’s just finish this!) because you’re so tired. For me, this tends to happen around the three-hour mark.
It’s unacceptable for me, your editor, to work with this mindset. When I find myself heading in that direction, I know it’s time to take a break, and then pull out another client’s project. Lucky for me, I’m often working on more than one project in any given week.
My primary mission is to help you feel confident in sharing your story with the world. I know it’s tough to hand over your work for a month, but I’m positive that you’ll be happy about the decision when all is said and done. You may even appreciate the break! Maybe—no promises.
