Editing Secrets of Best-Selling Authors

by Kathy Ide

Successful writers spend a lot more time editing than they do writing. They know that first drafts need extensive revisions to ensure their stories or messages come across clearly and effectively. In this book you’ll find a wealth of suggestions from best-selling authors who have studied editing techniques and implemented them in their books, which have touched the hearts and lives of readers around the world. If you’re an aspiring, beginning, or intermediate writer, this book will help you polish your manuscript and get it ready for publication. If you’re an established author, these tips can help you edit other writers’ manuscripts, either in a critique group setting or as an editorial freelancer.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 8, 2020

About the author

I have been writing for publication since 1989. I've written books, short stories, play and movie scripts, devotionals, and Sunday school curriculum. I'm the author of "Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors," "Editing Secrets of Best-Selling Authors," and the Capitalization Dictionary. I am the editor/compiler of the four-book Fiction Lovers Devotional series.

I am a professional freelance editor and writing mentor for aspiring, beginning, intermediate, and established authors. I have also edited screenplays for Pinnacle Peak/PureFlix.

I am the owner/manager of Christian Editors Association, parent organization to The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network, Christian Editor Connection, The PEN Institute, and PENCON editors' conference.

Reviews

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

For years, the go-to self-editing book for novelists has been "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers" by King and Browne, but I think this book has supplanted that book and made it my must-have recommendation for writers and editors alike.

"Editing Secrets of Best-Selling Authors" doesn't go into as much detail when it comes to self-editing, but it identifies and addresses MANY more issues than appear in King and Browne's book. Ide's book also looks at nonfiction editing, as well as identifying different types of editing. In my opinion, if you're looking for a comprehensive explanation of what's involved in a self-edit, this is the book for you.

This is also a book I'll recommend to people wanting to start their editing careers--the detailed lists of what's involved in the different types of editing for different types of books will give new editors a good idea of the type of work they'll need to master and provide to their clients.

Without a doubt, this book is on my must-have shelf for writers and editors.

Rated G.

[Ava Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathy Ide discovered the secret of creating a comprehensive yet concise reference of editing tips that does not read like a reference book. Editing Secrets of Best-Selling Authors not only provides practical helps and examples, it also includes relevant quotes from best-selling authors as they share their own experiences.
This is a book I easily read through and plan to keep close at hand for my own writing and, as a freelance editor, recommend to my clients.
Regardless of whether you write fiction or nonfiction, the content provides what you need to take a fresh look at your writing and prepare it for publication.

[Emma Jaye]

I received this as part of a giveaway bundle from a top editor/marketeer, not the author.

I'm not rating as what I received clearly isn't the polished file currently on sale. Having 'Advanced Reader Copy Not for Resale' scattered throughout and poor formatting gave it away.

[Marylin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information to have. I enjoyed this author's creative way of writing and it was helpful as I start offering my assistance to other authors.

[Claire Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best resources for writers that I have come across. Kathy Ide clearly explains things to look for when self-editing your fiction or nonfiction book.