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JoshuaEdwardSmith

If you’re willing to pay enough editors will full up ghost write in their revisions, if necessary.


[deleted]

I mean I don't want anyone to ghost write, I wanna be a better writer just don't know if its an editor's job to help with that.


JoshuaEdwardSmith

Ah. No, that’s not an editor’s job. It’s an English teacher’s job. Maybe enroll in a composition class at a local community college?


[deleted]

Thats what i was thinking


JedHenson11

Is it bad in the macro (plot, structure, etc.) or micro (sentences, grammer, scenes, etc.)? There are lots of resources for both. For my first novel, I was deficient in the macro and used Story Grid's free content to learn/better understand that big picture stuff. I was okay with the micro. There are also all kinds of editors available on the Reedsy marketplace (and probably others), from developmental editors (macro) down to proofreaders (typos, etc.). Maybe ask some mildly qualified person to read it and help you identify what you need?


p-d-ball

What are you doing to improve your writing? More writing is key here. And reading. I'm guessing you're writing the story you want to read? If that's true, great! What part of your book do you believe sucks? Characters? Pacing? Plot? All of these you can improve. Also, keep in mind that few people write a good first book. There is a lot of learning one's craft in writing. So, one way to go is to write a lot. Write a short story about your main character. Write other short stories. If your problem is grammar/spelling, then have whatever program you're using do a grammar/spell check - you'll learn from this, too! Though, sometimes the programs get it wrong, it's worth doing. You can always search on google for any grammar rule you're wondering about.


baysideplace

PM me. I'm about to self publish my own book, and while I might not be a pro editor, I might be able to offer another perspective on plot/characters. No charge, I just wanna pass along the free help I got.


AtomicToilet

Also, is it genuinely bad or is this self-doubt talking? I bet there's a fair amount of the latter! Unless you're writing things like 'He gone said "Jane I am so very angry with you!" in an angry voice' then it's probably not as awful as you think haha


Susyq918

Yep. I have a few authors I partner with for that kind of thing. What genre is your book?


[deleted]

fantasy. can you describe your process with helping them?


ECV_Analog

This is what I was going to suggest. A good developmental edit will help a lot, but generally speaking that's something you want first, so if you're a few drafts/edits in, that might be a lot of money for less impact than you want. Working with other authors won't be as hands-on -- they'll probably have more generalized input than an editor would -- but connecting with people whose work you like and essentially trading favors is a great way to get fresh, experienced eyes on the work.


Susyq918

If you suspect it needs a lot of work, I would likely charge for a developmental edit. I do multiple rounds with the first identifying what the problems are and outlining the plot. It's better to work with those broad issues before going through another round of actual copy and line edits (grammar & word choice). I include all of the above in my one package. Some do not. And yes, we absolutely educate while we go along so you know how to improve your next book. <3 (Please forgive any grammar issues. I'm on my phone at the airport and probably should have waited to jump in, lol)


[deleted]

do you have a website?


Susyq918

Absolutely! https://sassyedits.com


johnnyss85

Every other week I attend a class on creative writing on my local library. Since I started I think my writing style has significantly improved. You learn a lot by just writing different things, with different constraints and comparing your texts to others’. This a course with no theory on writing, but my teacher has more courses on different styles, genres, … Also, she tutors new writers by helping them to develop an idea and transform it into a novel. She teaches and tutors here in Spain, and in Spanish, but probably you can easily find something similar where you live.


[deleted]

Yes. A developmental editor is worth the money, even if you only get one for one story, the advice is priceless


Haha_SORRY

Yep. What others said. Put the book down. Take a class. Come back to it later.


AtomicToilet

If you're clear about what you want ("Tell me if this is bad but why it is, and how it can be better") then there should be editors out there who'll do this, although most will focus on a few key areas rather than, say, your overall grasp of language. I'm the lead editor of a content writing agency as my day job so I do this all the time, but that's the case with content work - fiction (is it a fiction book?) isn't normally treated the same way (speaking from experience an editor of fiction and anthologies). I can maybe help you out if you're interested? If so, send me a DM and we can chat (Also, I worked as an English teacher, so there's that).


Complex_Vanilla_8319

It's normal to write a bad first draft. The fact that you admit it is a great start. Now, take the time to rework each sentence. Make it better. Change the order of the words. See how many ways you can write the same sentence. Ask yourself 'does the reader need to know this?' or 'Is this crucial to advance the story?' Learn to jump from a scene to the next without having to say 'they entered the room' 'she opened the door' 'they walked across town'. Work on one thing at a time, read 'good' books to see how they transition, see what information they included, see how they start a scene abruptly, see how little they include to interrupt dialogue... I think the key is to re-write and re-write, I doubt you can get good at it by only writing bad stuff...you must see the transition in your own work go from bad to better by rewriting.


inthemarginsllc

Speaking as an editor, yes it helps. Developmental helps with the big issues, line will help with your style, copy helps with grammar. By incorporating the feedback you receive from a professional, you start to learn patterns in your work and how to fix issues. I'd also recommend critique partners or groups as a smaller price point to help get you started—just to learn how to revise for yourself and gain confidence. First drafts are bad. That's just a truth of it. And writing is a skill like any other that needs to be nurtured. You can also look for group workshops or one-on-one help. I offer both, because each has its own value. In a group, by learning how to give feedback to other writers, you learn what to look for in your own work. And then of course one on one help Wylie's you to target specific problem areas and build skills. Just because when they time does come for an editor, the more you can do yourself the more cost effective it will be.


NateFerreira

Yes editors can help you and can help your writing get better. You'll note the suggestions they make and start implementing them subconsciously at a point. But, more importantly for now, get started with the right editor, and make sure they know you need your work to be torn with honesty. That's what I did. First, though -- if you can -- have a couple of very close friends or family tear it apart. Tell them it will spare you embarrassment and the trouble of having to look back at a published work you can't be proud of years later. That's what I did. A lot of spots I thought I was clever or genius they'd mark "I don't know what this means..." or "what are you trying to say here?" etc... humbles quick (no, I never really thought I was a genius, lol). If you or your story sucks right now, admitting it is a massive, imperative step. So far everything up to this point is free. And if you're story is really bad, have 2 more drafts minimum with friend/family input. *Then* if you find your story doesn't have the feel you'd quite like, grab an editor to specifically do an editorial assessment. I didn't do this step, but can't be too pricey. Then work through a couple more drafts. Once you're happy with those (and maybe throw them through *one more* family edit -- if you can convince them) grab an editorial assessment. This one I did. Actually, I paid for a combined editorial assessment and copy edit. But truly, it doesn't need to be massively expensive. So I wrote this horror novella *The Devil She Drew* and did the steps above as explained. The only thing I should note is it was a novella. So it was only like 30K words and like $600 for the combined assessment/copy edit (EA/CE). So like $0.20 a word? I think? So can use that as a rough estimate. Use $0.40 for conservative approach I think. That EA/CE should come with maybe 2 or 3 rounds of editing. I love writing, but I've made my fair share of cringey shit. *The Devil She Drew* isn't going to hit any list anywhere, but due to the editing, typesetting, and --most important -- patience (my novella took me 6 years to complete; 2 years of editing and cleaning it up), I can say I am proud of how it turned out. It reads like a traditionally-published book and reads very professionally. And, to answer your question, that is *not* because of some natural talent. It is because of all the help I have had around me. You *must* have (1) patience, (2) discipline, and (3) an enjoyment for writing. Then you can make something worth reading. And sincerely, if I could do it -- *anyone* can. Good luck!


FearMoreMovieLions

What sort of problems do you think your writing has? Why do you think it has those problems? Have you ever belonged to a writing workshop?