who am I to edit your books?
My name is Raelene, and I recently discovered an interesting fact about myself...I've been editing my whole life, and didn't even know it. Here’s how it all began….
One night, while perusing Facebook, I saw a post from a childhood friend about her first novel being published. I was intrigued, and needed a new book to read. So I grabbed my Kindle and purchased the book. Then proceeded to read the entire book in one setting, despite the poor editing. It was the first time in my life that I’ve been able to read anything and ignore all the problems. That alone told me this gal was special. And, since I had spent a few nights on a lumpy tent floor with this gal when we were at camp as teenagers, I felt a connection to her and a desire to help her anyway I could.
On a whim, I sent her a private message letting her know I was pretty good at the editing stuff, and if she wanted a fresh set of eyes to look over her new book, I was more than willing. Let me tell you...this woman is a great storyteller. She has an amazing author’s voice; it’s unique and fresh and fun. Next thing I knew, every spare minute for 5 days I was elbow deep in “beta reading” her book, offering suggestions for content and flow, pacing and structure - the works. Knowing she had a deadline to get the book to her editor, I sent her my notes on what I’d gotten through, but was about 12 chapters short.
Before I had time to take a breath, she was asking me to be her official editor for her new book. To say that the world stopped turning, my jaw hit the floor, and my head got light would be a MAJOR understatement. Who am I to be an editor? I didn’t go to school for this.... Ever since my 8th grade English teacher told me I would be famous for my writing I knew I was a good writer, but I never really thought about what I could do with my abilities other than write books. And since I struggle to come up with the type of unique story necessary to be a novelist...well, it just kind of faded into the background. I became the family proofreader as early as high school when my oldest sister asked me to proof her final paper for her Chemical Engineering degree from Georgia Tech. I even edited my mom’s college papers and countless essays and papers for my other siblings. But it never occurred to me that I should be an editor....
So, after I said “YES!!” to my friend, and after I calmed myself from the excitement, I started reflecting on how life has a tendency to lead you in a direction without any input from your brain, but when you stop to look back and reflect on the road you traveled to land where you are today...it’s not as much of a surprise as you thought.
On my reflection of my path, I discovered I’ve been editing my whole life. From cropping pictures for my application to my middle school yearbook staff to editing videos in high school to cutting up fabric to make a quilt...all various types of editing. So, with a bit of hindsight, you might just say I’ve been working my way to this all along.
One night, while perusing Facebook, I saw a post from a childhood friend about her first novel being published. I was intrigued, and needed a new book to read. So I grabbed my Kindle and purchased the book. Then proceeded to read the entire book in one setting, despite the poor editing. It was the first time in my life that I’ve been able to read anything and ignore all the problems. That alone told me this gal was special. And, since I had spent a few nights on a lumpy tent floor with this gal when we were at camp as teenagers, I felt a connection to her and a desire to help her anyway I could.
On a whim, I sent her a private message letting her know I was pretty good at the editing stuff, and if she wanted a fresh set of eyes to look over her new book, I was more than willing. Let me tell you...this woman is a great storyteller. She has an amazing author’s voice; it’s unique and fresh and fun. Next thing I knew, every spare minute for 5 days I was elbow deep in “beta reading” her book, offering suggestions for content and flow, pacing and structure - the works. Knowing she had a deadline to get the book to her editor, I sent her my notes on what I’d gotten through, but was about 12 chapters short.
Before I had time to take a breath, she was asking me to be her official editor for her new book. To say that the world stopped turning, my jaw hit the floor, and my head got light would be a MAJOR understatement. Who am I to be an editor? I didn’t go to school for this.... Ever since my 8th grade English teacher told me I would be famous for my writing I knew I was a good writer, but I never really thought about what I could do with my abilities other than write books. And since I struggle to come up with the type of unique story necessary to be a novelist...well, it just kind of faded into the background. I became the family proofreader as early as high school when my oldest sister asked me to proof her final paper for her Chemical Engineering degree from Georgia Tech. I even edited my mom’s college papers and countless essays and papers for my other siblings. But it never occurred to me that I should be an editor....
So, after I said “YES!!” to my friend, and after I calmed myself from the excitement, I started reflecting on how life has a tendency to lead you in a direction without any input from your brain, but when you stop to look back and reflect on the road you traveled to land where you are today...it’s not as much of a surprise as you thought.
On my reflection of my path, I discovered I’ve been editing my whole life. From cropping pictures for my application to my middle school yearbook staff to editing videos in high school to cutting up fabric to make a quilt...all various types of editing. So, with a bit of hindsight, you might just say I’ve been working my way to this all along.