thebookdoc

Hello! My name is Carol Ina Henson. I am totally new to this Facebook, Writers' Forum, etc., social medium thing. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it. As a freelance editor, I consider myself to be more of a teacher than an editor in the strictest meaning of the profession.

My way of editing is totally encouraging. Want to know why? I have to think back to the first experience I had with an editor. I was in Chicago, checking in with my literary agent, when nice conversation turned into "the editing session."

Wow! She hit me hard right off the bat. She picked up a red ink pen and took broad, sweeping strokes to show me where I'd gone wrong. "You don't even know the difference between 'its' and 'it's." Another Wow!

Well, I decided at that very moment that when I became a freelance editor, book doctor, I'd be a "kinder, gentler" one. First thing I did was go out and buy a couple automatic PENCILS. No red pen for me. And instead of just slashing someone's manuscript, I'd add a comment or two about why a sentence isn't working. When a sentence does work or a description/action sequence reads well, I add smiley faces and "good job." I know this type of editing really works. Most, if not all, of my clients remark on how much they'd learned and when they are ready to write that second book, they rarely make the mistakes of their first book.

Okay, that's it. Check out my blog, write on my wall or email me. I'd like to know more about this great group of writers. Thanks.

Words