[stylist] Names and Editing

Fri Jul 21 00:23:14 UTC 2017

I agree with Lynda about hiring professionals. The people I ask to help edit
are friends, but they are published authors, many professors or publishers.
This has been one of the great perks of an MFA program. Plenty of networking
opportunities and making connections to help in writing endeavors.

If you want the best possible product, I say look for pros with good
reputations. Even if you self-publish, find professional editors to do the
work.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lynda Lambert
via stylist
Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2017 5:34 PM
To: Writers' Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Lynda Lambert <llambert at zoominternet.net>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Names and Editing

Hi David,

My viewpoint is a different one than others.

I have 2 books published and each experience is different.
For the first one, I worked with an editor and publisher - 2 different
people - simultaneously.
They are a small press in Washington state and it was a great experience.
That book is "Concerti: Psalms for the Pilgrimage."
We communicated daily after they received the draft. We had conversations
about everything.
I am a visual artist and so they chose one of my art works for the cover
design. I also did design work throughout the pages - several photographs
and drawings are included in the book. I created them, and the graphic
designer on their team did the graphic  layouts throughout the entire book.
A well-known author/philosopher (Dr. Bernard Freydberg) and 2 fine artists (
Professors Akiko Kotani and Howardina Pindell)  wrote blurbs for the book. 
An English professor ((Dr. Terry White, Kent Stat U.) wrote the Forward to
the book.
It was exciting to work with them and the final product was excellent. 
(Because I am  a professor, I wanted like-minded people from different
disciplines for my book's cover and texts inside.

For my second book,  "Walking by Inner Vision: Stories & Poems," I went with
DLD books because I was very pleased with the other books by them that I
purchased through Amazon dot com.
The editor and designer are husband and wife.  The editor has experience in
three languages, and is a teacher. The designer has high tech skills and is
remarkable.
Once I finished my draft, the work began with them. WE communicated
sometimes several times a day. From morning to late nights we either talked
on the phone or via E-mail.
I did the photography for the book cover and several photographs that
illustrate stories or poems in this book. The book cover is striking and
perfectly fits with the book's content. For the back cover, my husband did
the photograph of me.

For this book, unlike the first one, I did not ask for anyone else to write
blurbs or write the Prologue. I wanted this book to be in my own voice from
the beginning to the end.
The team at DLD Books is remarkable to work with and the costs are fair. Not
only did they completely do the book, they also created some promotional
materials for the book that are gorgeous and very professional. I could
highly recommend them to you. The reviews on the book are excellent and the
comments coming in very good. One reader said, "I would buy this book just
by seeing the cover of it - it is so gorgeous I am going to have it framed."

I would never deal with anyone for my projects who is not working full time
in the field.  I do not rely on friends or acquaintances - I want
professionals who have extensive experience in in design, editing, marketing
and production.  I want the best I can find to do my work once my manuscript
is completed on my part.

You can find information on my most recent book team at: 
www.dldbooks.com/lyndalambert
You can find a review of the book at a number of locations such as the
Vision Aware Blog (American Foundation for the Blind has the book on their
Bookshelf at their website.) The book is also on the Indiana Voice Journal
(literary magazine) website and it's in their Bookshelf section.

I just posted a new blog post today on my www.lyndalambert.com site - and it
contains a book review by Ann Chiappetta, which is excellent.
http://www.lyndalambert.com/need-a-little-inspiration-touching-and-creative/
(Sorry, I could not get the links to be hyper links!)

I believe we have to seek the best in all we do. For me, it would be a waste
of time and a disappointment to not call in the top people who can do the
job for me.
After all, our name is on that book. You want to put forth the best
impression you can find. Don't cut corners, that would be my best advice.

I wish you every bit of success as you begin to think about getting your
book "out there."

Lynda McKinney Lambert
www.lyndalambert.com

-----Original Message-----
From: David Russell via stylist
Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2017 9:19 PM
To: stylist
Cc: David Russell
Subject: [stylist] Names and Editing

Hello Writers,
First, I am not certain if my earlier message made it through or not but if
it didn't, I want to apologize to Bridgit for getting her name wrong when
replying to her reply this afternoon concerning Four Steps to Finding Voice.
We do agree on the particulars of dialogue.

Moving on, I would like to invite discussion on the matter of editing.

For those who publish manuscripts that may be book-length, do you use the
services of a qualified professional who may be with a given association, or
some other alternative?

What kind of communication guidelines do you have in place?  For example,
how often might you connect over the project at hand?

I am currently producing an anthology and have an editor who is a writing
acquaintance remote to me. We have worked well together, and allowances were
made from the outset for some personal things occurring on their end in
exchange for a flat rate for all services. I would not recommend this in the
future.

Cheers,
--
David Russell
david.sonofhashem at gmail.com
Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.
James A. Michener

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