An answer to a FAQ – What about editing?

Q. and A. after the presentation. One frequently asked question is about editing.

All of the speaking events I do end in a question and answer session. One of the questions that frequently comes up is the whole subject of editing. At a recent historical presentation a lady asked, “How do you handle editing?”

I responded, “What type of editing?”

She remained quiet for a few seconds before saying, “Isn’t editing … editing?”

Many writers aspiring to be authors are unaware that editing is complex. Certainly, it’s not a subject that fits into a short blog. What I can do is give some definitions and advice that might help authors.

Definition – From “Glossary of Publishing Terms” – Editorial Analysis – The process of examining a manuscript to determine the level of edit required and making a record of all matters that will effect the processes (COSTS!) of editing and production.

That means everything. Many novice writers don’t perceive editing as much more than a grammar check. Blaaahhhh! Content. Style. Line composition. Illustration/Art/Pictures. Infringement. Accuracy. All of these items and more will be considered if they’re a factor in producing your book. Yes, grammar is in there too. As costs and competition increase, publishers progressively shed costs of this nature. The author or her/his support system (agent/private editor) are called on to perform the function to some degree.

Self-publishing your work doesn’t eliminate your responsibility to thoroughly edit. I see great editing as even more of a requisite for SP. You are your own gate-keeper. If you publish trash, good luck! You’ll probably have the same chance at success that an egg has of surviving under an elephant’s foot. That always brings up the question, “Can I edit my own work?” I always respond, “The question isn’t if you can, the question is if you should?” Personally, I believe an adaptation of a cliche is the answer. “An author who edits their own work, has a fool for an editor.” This is particularly true of the novice. Here’s why:

Do you really know the norms, styles, and standards required to produce a marketable book? Most think they do … and their knowledge falls far, far short.

Are you sure that your knowledge base of grammar, structure, and form conforms with commonly accepted publishing norms in a producing a book that readers will accept? For example, does your writing conform to the Chicago Style Manual? Do you know what the Chicago Style Manual is? This is important, particularly if you have hopes of eventually attracting an agent or traditional publisher.

Are you so familiar with your work … you are likely to edit what you thought you wrote … instead of what’s actually on paper or on your monitor screen? I do. When I edit I have to print my ms out, and pencil check, because if I don’t, my mind’s familiarity with my work makes me fill in missing words, gloss over usage errors, etc. Luckily, I have a great editor at my publisher Taylor & Seale.

The reason I started with the definition for Editorial Analysis is that I recommend that new writers go through the process at least once. Find a good editor, one you feel comfortable with, and ask for an analysis (all issues) of your writing. BE SURE YOUR EDITOR ISN’T A FRIEND OR AUNT MARTHA! You want a clear, unvarnished report. Once you know your strengths and weaknesses, you’re on your way to improving your writing.

The next question normally is, “Can you recommend a good editor?” That’s a tough one. First, there are literally thousands of editors and they vary all over the competency spectrum. That’s true of the prices they charge as well. What a good editor is, depends on a number of things. Most importantly, it depends on your independent needs.

If you want to follow my advice, two (of many) excellent sources for that editorial analysis would be Unicorn for Writers (www.unicornforwriters.com) and Jane Friedman Services (www.janefriedman.com). Jan Kardys and Jane Friedman, the principles, are real veterans in the publishing business. I’d start by checking out their website.

As far as folks that are farther along the writing path, I have a couple names of editors of which my associates speak highly. Nancy Buscher does a wide range of line editing/consulting functions. So does Beth Mansbridge – she specializes in polishing manuscripts in the copy editing area. You can reach Nancy at NancyBuscher@yahoo.com and Beth at beth@mansbridge.net. I suggest you talk to any perspective editor before you engage them. Chemistry is important in the relationship.

See you tomorrow!

I’d like to meet you! Come visit me at Barnes & Nobles in Daytona Beach. I’ll meeting, greeting and signing my two most recent Taylor & Seale releases, The Bait Man and The Cross on Cotton Release (a re-release). I’ll be at 1900 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114 from 1 to 5. It’s very near the race track.  Come visit me.

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Book Events – You get out what you put in ……

Chatting with some Taylor & Seale authors at the Florida Heritage Book Festival.

It is amazing how different folks can look at the same object and have an entirely different view point on what they’ve just seen. A good example of that is what you hang on your wall. Salvador Dali appeals to some folks, Van Gogh turns on others, and Monet pushes peoples buttons. I’m a “Dogs playing poker,” kind of guy.

My experience at the Florida Heritage Book Festival told me that paintings aren’t the only thing that we see very differently. Talking to some of the participants and attendees at this book event told me it inspired highly differing opinions. I’ve selected a few that vary a bit.

On parking:
“I rode around these one way streets until I was seasick. I really thought I’d run out of gas before I found a spot.”
“Wasn’t parking easy? I just followed the map and zap.”

On the facility:
“What a disappointment! Blah! Blah! Blah! I thought the room we got put in was like a slaughter house holding pen.”
“There was plenty of room for us and the visitors, it was clean, and the temperature was just right.”

On what was provided:
“We sure didn’t get much for our $XXX.”
“I’m glad I didn’t have to pay extra for electricity.”

On the same speaker:
“Damn, that guy is a long winded, self impressed turkey (substitute wording). He was doing Willie’s Much Ado About Nothing without being funny.”
“I really liked XXXXXXXX’s talk. He provided enough detail to understand his presentation.”

On St Augustine:
“This is an old creepy place.”
“Can’t you just feel the history here? I could spend days walking around and soaking this place up.”

On customer’s roaming the book tables:
“The young ones don’t have any money. The old ones look like they smell a fart and all have locks on their wallets and purses. Selling was mission impossible.”
“Wasn’t the crowd great? They were talkative and wanted to exchange ideas. And they bought books!”

Did we all really attend the same event? Let me enlighten you on some possible reasons why each person had different opinions for each issue.

Parking/one person looked at the map provided; the other didn’t keep his paperwork. Facility/one person brought a box of books (not even a table cloth); the other had a display, table covering, and handouts. What was provided/one person borrowed money for lunch from me; the other offered to buy mine. Speaker/one took notes; one didn’t. St. Augustine/one was playing “Candy Crush” on a cell phone; the other spent time talking to potential customers. Customers/One sat with arms folded and didn’t say much except to comment on the size of a rump or other body parts; the other fellow tipped his top hat and took a real interest in those who passed.

Could the possible difference be what you put in, you get out?

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Just a reminder — see you Saturday in St. Augustine

I’ll be at the Florida Heritage Book Fest this Saturday. Come see me!

 

—– I’ll be attending the Florida Heritage Book Festival in St. Augustine this coming weekend with my Publisher, Taylor & Seale. It will be held on the Flagler College Campus in the Ringhaver Student Center, from 9 AM to 4 PM, Saturday, September 23rd. It’s free to the public. You can get more information on the event by calling 904-819-6339. Several of Taylor and Seale’s authors will be in attendance and its chief operating officer, Mary Custurerie, will be one of the featured speakers. If you’re in the area … come see us!

 

DL with Mary Custureri, Managing Editor of Taylor & Seale Publishing.

 

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We survived Irma … Now if we can get lucky and survive …

Coconuts under the tree. During Charley the trees were laying where the coconuts are in this picture.

 

Irma got her pound of flesh. She collapsed my seawall and damaged my boat.

Well, we did it. We survived Irma. Unlike our return after hurricane Charley, our house made it through with only minor damage. No steel doors blown off the hinges. No holes in the sides of the walls you could walk through. No dead squirrel blown against a tree so hard its body was literally inbedded in the bark. No power poles hanging from wires rather than supporting them. When we saw our end of the island after Charley, it looked like a giant weed-eater had cut down anything that was built or grew higher than twenty feet. In fact, that’s just what happened.

Hooray you say? Not so fast. Irma got her pound of flesh from us after all. As we walked around the house inspecting it, our hearts dropped. Our seawall on the canal behind us, failed! Its failure caused the davits that I use to remove my boat from the water to collapse on my boat that was secured to the ground. The damned davits damaged it and the outboard. Worse, the seawall is only 25′ from our home. The sand is eroding as I write this post.

 

Earth caving in under my seawall. The davits clobbered my boat. My major concern is the sand slipping away from my house.

Your first question has got to be, do you have insurance? Sure, all kinds of it. Home owners. Hurricane. Flood. That’s $3,000 dollars a years worth. Why, the mortgage company insists on it. Soooooooooooo, I called my friendly insurance agent.

After a few pleasant words explaining my home came through just fine, the conversation went something like this.

ME – “We did have some damage, however. The seawall in back of the house failed.”

HE – Silence.

ME – “Hello.”

HE – “Ahhhhhhh. I don’t think that’s covered. You have a deductible on that ….”

ME – “Oh, I have flood insurance.”

HE – “That’s what I was talking about.”

ME – “I have hurricane and homeowners as well, surely …”

HE – “Ahhhhh, I don’t think it’s covered by them either. You’ll have to wait and ask the adjuster when he comes. Now, you know there is a deductible of around $xxxx you’ll have to …”

ME – “I know about the deductible. Look, the insurance company said it will be a week to fifteen days before they get someone here. I’m worried that the ground will collapse into the canal and endanger the house. Can’t you get someone out here to look at it and give me some advice on preventing a disaster?”

HE – “Sorry, you’ll have to wait for the adjuster. You might get a contractor out to fix it yourself. You know you have the deductible you’ll have to pay anyway…”

And so on ……………………………. One is reminded of the TV ad that informs the sufferer that his insurance only covers his problem during a zombie apocalypse.  Our agent’s representative, in his under-taker-style-tones assured us that the zombies had to be pregnant males suffering from rabies before our insurance was any good. Yes …….. we survived Irma. Now if we can survive the insurance companies and the governments help we might be okay. Well … honestly … it is to soon to bitch about the government … I’m just remembering Charley. Back then, those government types were pregnant, male, rabid, left-handed, blind zombies … they didn’t help a bit.

 

Zombie Irma did this to my outboard.

This is not the type hour glass we want in our back yard.

 

On a more positive note —– I’ll be attending the Florida Heritage Book Festival in St. Augustine this coming weekend with my Publisher, Taylor & Seale. It will be held on the Flagler College Campus in the Ringhaver Student Center, from 9 AM to 4 PM, Saturday, September 23rd. It’s free to the public. You can get more information on the event by calling 904-819-6339. If you’re in the area … come see me!

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Sharing history …

 

“Florida, the forgotten years,” my presentation to Charlotte Counter history teachers at an in service day. The site was in the Charlotte County Library’s main office.

One of the really satisfying things related to what I do, writing historically based fiction, is getting to share some of the things I learn or just stumble upon, with others. Researching history isn’t a chore for me … I love it. I had a chance to pass along some of those bits of knowledge to a group of history teachers at an “in service day” that was sponsored by the Charlotte County Library. Thank you library administrators Tracy Herman and Chris Grabowsky for setting up this event.

For the past several years, I’ve been working on a four book historical novel series that tells Florida’s tale as it journeys into the 20th century. It will be titled, “Clayton’s Chronicles,” and will begin at the battle of King’s Mountain in South Carolina (a surprising, but appropriate place to begin a Florida story) and end in the 1950s when modern Florida started to evolve.

This museum and library process provides me with tractor trailer loads of information that screams for exposure. Plenty of this research fits into my novels … the truth is, there is way too much to include, novels the length of War and Peace are too difficult to sell to publishers. (Not necessarily readers) Many of these stories beg to be told. What I’ve done is to gather these interest grabbers into time period packages and present them at historical societies, libraries, civic clubs, book clubs, community centers, and schools. And, of course, at book stores.

Providing little historical tidbits that folks aren’t familiar with pleases these audiences! Facts like the story of how Florida’s Civil War debt was paid off and what a fishing trip had to do with it, intrigues people. Who invented the concept of air conditioning and why … the fact that the entrance to one of today’s most prestigious and “swanky” beach communities was once a squalid cattle port … the most important single vehicle used in the amphibious landings in the Pacific in WWII was originally designed as a rescue device … and one of the critical reasons Edison picked the place he decided to winter in Florida had to do with what he could grow there … all those facts and many, many more like them, fascinate folks.

 

Q. and A. after the presentation. I love the interchange.

The conversations with my audiences are great vehicles to learn what potential readers prefer and, maybe more important, what they don’t like! It’s interesting to form bonds with these folks and to observe how much sincere interest they have in what I’m doing.

Sharing is a wonderful thing … try it some time … I believe you’ll like it.

 

Note: DL Havlin is available to speak to your organization or business. Check his website (link on this blog) for the subjects, reviews and seminars available.

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Helping Harvey’s victims …

What we “came home to” after Hurricane Charley’s eye passed over our home. This was after a preliminary clean-up. There had been 11 coconut palms around our house along with two huge mango trees that towered over it. You can see what was left. (Neighbors boat trailer – without the boat – Gone with the Wind) Please pass this post onto others who maybe able to help Harvey’s victims in any way.

Watching hurricane Harvey’s intensification brings back bitter memories. I’ll show some pics to illustrate what we experienced so you can understand what Harvey’s victims will have to endure. In 2004, our home and the north end of Pine Island, Florida, took the full force of Charley, an intense category 4 hurricane. It took us over two years before we fully recovered. Harvey’s victims must face that when the winds subside, the rain stops, and the sun shines again. They’ve only opened the front door to their problems. They will need all the help they can get! Following a few more picture examples, I’ve listed a few suggestions to help them.

 

Damage to our dock and seawall. Note our neighbors roof draped over my boat

 

Siding was stripped off, a piece of our neighbors house crashed through our house’s side, and the doors were literally blown off their hinges. Miraculously we didn’t loose our roof like nearly all our neighbors.

 

Chairs and table from somewhere. It didn’t belong to any of our neighbors. Anybody recognize it?

 

What was left of our palms. They were wrenched off at ground level. A house across the street literally had a palm tree blown through it. The root system stuck out one side and top out the back.

Help them over-come the bewilderment factor.

When you are faced with such a total disruption in your life, the hopelessness you experience makes it hard to know where to begin … or if you even want to. Unfortunately, doing nothing isn’t a good option. If you’re a friend or relative of one of Harvey’s victims, realize that as soon as the local officials allow it, you need to be there. Do what you can. Aid in clean-up. Help them get items they’ll need to survive the rebuild period if their home is habitable. Help them find shelter or temporary housing if not. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF MORAL SUPPORT!

Donate to disaster responders. The Red Cross, Salvation Army and others do a great job in helping provide necessities to victims. If you live in the area, churches and civic groups, will be involved. See what you can do to provide them with your hands, feet, mind, or funds. Be aware there is scum that will masquerade as aid agencies and try to scam your money so be sure of who you donate to.

Here is a list of necessities that someone must furnish. If FEMA and local government agencies are ready, they should be able to furnish a lot. But remember this … It is up  to us as friends, relatives, and citizens to do what government can’t! No matter how federal, state, and local officials try, they will miss things. IT IS UP TO ALL OF US TO BRIDGE ANY GAPS! In a rough order of need they are.

First
1. Water
2. Ice or some means to keep things cool.
3. Means to replace inoperative toilet facilities.
4. Ability to communicate.
5. Food. (Can goods with can opener – paper products)
6. Life sustaining medicines.
7. Government MUST provide security for victims and their property.
Then
Generators, Grills, Tents or Alternatives, Camping equipment, Saws and cleanup equipment, (Many of these items you can loan or give to a friend or relative)
Finally
1. Clear and restore infrastructure. (Without destroying much of whats left – this happened after Andrew hit the Miami area)
2. Government should eliminate paper work and red tape. “Get it done then document it.”
3. Government should suspend or control local code enforcement until emergency subsides.
4. Government must see all insurance companies promptly and completely fulfill obligations to policy holders.
5. Send FEMA representatives into the field to distribute information on where and how to apply and receive various types of aid.

What the victims don’t need is a circus of media thrusting microphones and camera’s in their faces. This is particularly true of the carrion crows from networks like CNN whose primary objective is to use others misery to advance their political objectives.

(Please pass this on to others who may be able to help)

 

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“If I say that, I’m afraid … “

I’m proud of this flag and what it stands for. I refuse to apologize for the United States or its history. Am I proud of everything that my country has done? NO! Am I willing to PRETEND it never happened? HELL NO!

I heard these words spoken by an associate of mine. She’s a fine lady author who has a kind heart and as far as I can tell … not one bigoted bone in her body.  “If I say that, I’m afraid some people will try to destroy me.” She is Hispanic and she spoke the words about what she wanted to say about immigration. She immigrated to America the traditional way and has no sympathy for those whose first act was to break the law by coming here illegally.

Are we coming to that point in this country? Must an individual agree to say and think a prescribed narrative or be faced with ostracism, personal character attacks or even violence? It is the intent of a loud, self-righteous minority to convince all others this is an edict that can’t be violated. This narrative is the one they espouse, no other is acceptable. These proponents of the  totalitarian state. wish to control everything we do and everything we think while pretending to speak for the country.

The truth is we will have no country at all if we lose the freedoms our nation is founded on. Freedoms are precious and fragile things. Freedom comes with things that we may not all like, agree with, or in some cases abhor. Do I agree with a man who burns a flag or kneels during our national anthem? No. But I vehemently defend his right to do so. Do I believe that history must be rewritten to salve the feelings of those unjustly treated IN THE PAST? My answer is just as vehemently … NO! If any person is so devoid of mental acuity to not see the balance in these thoughts they are not objective in their thinking.

The law of our land protects each individuals right to think and say what they wish. It gives us the right to dislike another for any reason we chose. IT DOES NOT GIVE US THE RIGHT TO DESTROY. THAT’S PROPERTY, ANOTHER’S WELL-BEING, OR EVEN THEIR REPUTATION. The notion that it is reasonable for one group to destroy property, or riot and burn to protect their one point-of-view, or to change laws, history, everything to conform to their interpretations of how we should all live is a STALINIST/NAZI concept that has almost destroyed the world twice.

I refuse to accept the loss of freedom. Those of you that wish … may call me what you will. Do your damnedest. The self-security I have in knowing that I do not hate my fellow man because of color, religion, sexual preference, makes me comfortable in my skin. I do dislike those who wish to destroy this country FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THEIR POLITICAL AGENDA.

I will never be afraid to speak my mind. That most assuredly includes what I write.

 

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