Get Thee to an Editor

by Richard Risemberg

There are four rules to follow if you want to self-publish a novel and not embarrass yourself, the publishing industry, and the English language. They are:

1) Write slowly. Write slowly, carefully, and vigilantly, always watching out for self-indulgence, which will betray your characters.

2) Rewrite. Because you will never be completely successful following the admonition in Rule #1.

3) Find an editor. No matter how careful you are in rewrite, you will miss some debilitating infelicities in your book.

4) Find a real editor, either someone who is trained in editing, or someone who has long experience in editing. And most important: it must be someone who does not love you. No friends, no relatives. (Unless they’re relatives you don’t get along with; that might work out.)