Kind Fiction Editing – part 1: What is it?
What is Kind Fiction Editing? It’s kind to you (the author), but tough on your manuscript!
It’s possible to edit a manuscript and provide detailed, honest, sensible feedback in a kind and supportive way. Does kind editing mean going easy on your manuscript? Absolutely not!
Writing a book can be an exceptionally personal experience. Maybe some of the scenes you have written have been drawn from personal experience, from events that you have found traumatic, terrifying or highly emotional. You don’t want someone to take your precious manuscript and give you blunt, harsh feedback.
It may be that your manuscript is the result of months or years of hard work. And handing it over to an editor can be a scary thing. It may be that your editor is the first person (other than you) to see your manuscript.
Maybe you are a member of a writing society, or have taken writing courses, and feel confident in your writing. Or it may be that you are someone who just felt like writing a book, someone who believes they have a story to tell.
However you’ve arrived at the point where you are looking for an editor, it’s great that you recognise the need for one.
My speciality lies in providing feedback that will make you feel better about your writing. I will help you see how to improve it, in a constructive, supportive space.
How is my editing kind?
I’ve made the editing process more supportive, and more encouraging, with the following steps.
Pre-edit Questionnaire
Once you’ve commissioned my services, the first thing I do is send you a pre-edit questionnaire. This asks questions about your writing background, your target audience and what you are hoping to do with your manuscript when it’s been edited. Your answers help me to tailor your feedback appropriately, and help to ensure that you end up with the result you were hoping for.
Understanding your writing background means that I can explain things to you at a suitable level. Simply crossing something out and telling you it’s a comma splice is fine if you’ve taken a writing course and know what a comma splice is! Telling you that you need to reduce the narrative distance is perfect if you’ve attended a seminar explaining how to do that. But if you are new to writing then you will need to know what a comma splice is, and how to reduce the narrative distance. If I know you are a novice writer, I will take care to make sure you fully understand the descriptions and the words that I am using.
Editorial Report
For all manuscripts over 60,000 words, I include a detailed editorial report which outlines your strengths and any areas that could maybe be developed. Within this editorial report, I use examples from your text to illustrate exactly what I mean, and I provide lists of resources – including further reading, and suggested group memberships.
This means that if there is anything within the edited file that might need further explanation (for example, the narrative distance point I made above), then there is space within the editorial report to properly expand on this, using examples from your own text.
Two Versions
Once I have completed the editing process, and your manuscript is ready to be returned to you, I always send you two files. The first file shows each and every suggested amendment that I’ve made to your text (using MS Word Track Changes). I’m aware that for some authors, seeing your lovely manuscript covered in red pen can be a little overwhelming! Many of us had a teacher in school who made us feel inadequate with their “could try harder” comments. The last thing I want to do is rekindle that feeling of insecurity! For this reason, I also return a copy of the file with all my changes already approved. This means that you can see exactly how good your manuscript would be, if you accepted all my suggestions.
You may be an author who prefers to see each and every detail and understand each and every suggested change. And this is fine too. For more details about the differences between these two files, please see my separate blog post here: Kind Fiction Editing | MandaWaller | Editing can be kind AND honest
Non-Judgemental
When I first became an editor, my friends confessed to me that they were terrified of sending me messages, emails or letters. They thought I would be seeing their unintended spelling mistakes and judging them for their inability to spell, or for their poor grammar, or for their improper use of punctuation.
I explained to them that yes, of course I can see the errors. But no, I would never call them out on it. And no, I certainly am not judging them. Many of my friends have abilities that I can’t begin to match. I respect them for who they are, and do not consider their ability to spell to be an important factor in our friendship.
The same applies when I work with authors. You have the talent and ability (commitment and dedication!) to write a novel. I respect you for that. You are asking an editor to help you make sure there are no errors. I respect you for that.
Just because I’m an editor, please don’t assume that I am judging you.
Instead, I am here to provide you with a safe, supportive space where you can see your manuscript come to life with careful, considerate feedback and encouragement.
Does this mean I go easy on manuscripts?
I’m easy on the author, but not easy on their manuscript. Being kind to an author also involves providing them with the service that they are expecting, and that they have paid for. My editing is not half-hearted. My editing is detailed, thorough and comprehensive. I do not cut corners, and never rush my work. This means that you can be confident in your manuscript being the very best it can be.
And finally…
….Remember that your manuscript belongs to YOU. I can advise and suggest, but ultimately it’s up to you to decide whether to agree to my recommendations. If you choose to ignore my thoughts, then that’s absolutely fine too.
No judgement. Just thorough, detailed editing.
For more about how editing can be kind see part two in this three-part series: Kind Fiction Editing – adapted to suit you
