Get Thee to a Copyeditor!

I am not a copyeditor but know that the work a copyediter does is significant to producing polished work ready for publication. I know this because, when I work with my amazing copyeditor Anne Fox, my work is grammatically correct, fact checked and concise. I do know my writing strengths and have many. But I am not consistent or correct with many issues that make Anne the genius she is.

Anne has become a dear friend as well as my copyeditor because she uses her talents and expertise to make me and my work shine. She is my go-to person before I send out any work to be considered for publication. That includes my clients' work as well. Her comments, suggestions, evaluations and notes on several of the books KOMENAR published, the final polish on all my current client work, and critical moments in my own work have made the difference between fear of rejection and certainty of the integrity of the work.

As you read through these blogs, you may wonder at my errors in punctuation and grammar. Well, I am not consulting Anne for each of these blogs ... at the moment. My primary goal right now is content content content. But as soon as I feel some stability in my process and discipline, I will turn to Anne for her appraisal of my work--then revise every blog entry but this one.

My choice not to use Anne right now is really a lazy one to get this blog going. I feel pressure to produce produce produce. Until this blog becomes a part of my habits and discipline, I find it hard to STOP and pass content before her eyes. I know this is not wise. The errors on this page will make some of you wonder how good can I be with my inappropriate adverbs, ever-so-many commas, and confusing, convoluted sentences that makes sense to me but not you. Well, there's the lesson!

My best work is a final draft without the benefit of Anne's keen attention. My best manuscript is the one that has undergone her inspection and been adjusted by me to her comments and suggestions. 

Every error or misjudgment or point of confusion is mine, all mine. I know this and will get to a point where I will consult Anne. She will note various significant issues, make suggestions and even challenge some of my thinking. I will take in each and every one of her marks, and make necessary adjustments. Then my work will be perfection, whatever that means--certainly polished!

When do you admit that your best work can still be improved? When do you realize that you do not know or have to know every fine point of grammar?  When do you realize that your friends and peers who proof your work may not know enough either? When do you consider a copyeditor?

So I say: Get thee to a copyeditor!

And, Anne, forgive me for using my own errors to prove my appreciation for all that you know and contribute to my success as a writer.