Do you get your short stories and/or novellas professional edited?

[Jason Varrone]

I clearly understand the need to professionally edit a 50,000+ word novel, but what about flash fiction, short stories, and novellas? For those of you who concentrate in those areas or who have published one of those, do you get them professionally edited or do you rely on informal editing (by a friend or in trade), Beta Readers, or something else? If you do get them professionally edited, what is a reasonable charge for 10,000 words or so? I see that many editors charge per word, so that would probably be the logical answer to the last question. Thanks!

[Krista D. Ball]

Most of my short stories have been previously published, so it saves on the editing costs   It's one of the reasons I recommend people try to get as much of their short fiction published in mags and anthologies as possible. You get paid AND get free editing.

[Guardian]

Always. Reason, I'm not a native English speaker guy, but my editor is a pro Canadian editor (She is also my co-writer in one of my books.). I rather trust my Hungarian-English gibberish into her hands and she is doing an excellent job with my novels, novelettes and shorts alike (So, anything between 1k to 147k). i.e.: Few weeks ago one of my readers had said she had found only two mistakes in my 8k novelette (Special thanks to my editor and since that time that two tiny spelling mistakes were corrected, so it's supposed to be an error free story.). So, it's always good if readers don't have to play guessing games with our sentences.

[Kevis 'The Berserker' Hendrickson]

If it has my name on it, it's passed through the hands of an editor.

[Cheryl Douglas]

I always get everything professionally edited, content and proofreading. I haven't written a short, but I have written several novellas in the 30,000 word range. My editor charges $5 per 1k words and proofreading runs $2 per 1k words. I did some research prior to selecting an editor and this seemed to be a reasonable price for the service she was offering. 

[Morgan Gallagher]

Yup.  An editor is vital.

It just means I owe mine more money!  (She's a friend, but she also does excellent rates.)

http://unbridlededitor.com/

Ask her!  

[Rejean]

If it has my name on it, it's passed through the hands of an editor.

That pretty well sums it up.

[TommyJCharles]

Everything needs an editor, regardless of size.

[Jason Varrone]

Well, it is clear based on feedback thus far received that size doesn't matter...in relation to editing, I mean.

I am breathing a sigh of relief for a couple of reasons...

[MichelleR]

I'm curious as to why you think size, er, length ... not much better ... matters. Do you believe the shorter the story is, the less you canscrew up, or what's the reasoning?

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[WilliamEsmont]

Absolutely.

[R. M. Reed]

I submit short stories to anthologies, and when they are accepted they are edited by the book editor. Short stories don't pay enough for me to pay an editor.

[ShaunaG]

I haven't with my shorts (less than 10k words) but yes with my Novellas (anything over that). My editor only charges $2 per 1k words for line editing/proofreading so it's totally worth it.

[Italiahaircolor]

Everything written needs an editor.  Period.  Especially if publish ... readers don't want to be asked to read through your mistakes and pay you for the privilege -- even if it's only a dollar.  Take into consideration how that makes you look (and I'm talking about your brand as a writer as a whole) and then ask the same question.  

[Krista D. Ball]

Then again, I've sold a few stories over the years that only needed minimal proofreading. I suspect the more experience a person has with short fiction, the more they can get away with not having a formal editing process.

But I'm also speaking as someone who does a high percentage of traditional publishing compared with DIY publishing, so it's given me some good insight into my strengths and weaknesses.

[Larissa]

Everything needs an editor, regardless of size.

Amen! It doesn't matter what the size, not paying for editing will bite you in the end. I think it's our job to make sure any work with our name on it comes across as professionally done and not half done. Therefore, I always, always, always hire an editor.

[Krista D. Ball]

I have to have someone look over my stuff because I have a bad habit of mixing up words and never noticing. 

[Bethany B.]

I suspect the more experience a person has with short fiction, the more they can get away with not having a formal editing process.

I tend to agree with this. I think everyone should always have a proofread but the editing on smaller works is a case by case situation. It also strongly depends on how well the author knows their own work. If you're someone who knows they tend to have gaps in material, well it might be a good idea to seek an editor.

[Krista D. Ball]

There is a difference between "hey, you can look over this" and needing full-throttle editing. I think experience lets a person know when they need one over the other.

[Jason Varrone]

Intuitively I know editing is vital, and I know there are various levels of editing (proof, copy, substantive). My gut told me most of you would respond in the affirmative about hiring an editor, regardless of project size. I also thought there'd be a few who said they edit their own stuff based on experience level and size of work. I think proofreading at a minimum is mandatory, but wanted to get opinions about copy and substantive editing at different project sizes. I'm a noob, so I figured who better to ask!

[ckilaru]

I just published my first short story today and I got my wife to proofread it for me. If it was a novel, I would have gone to a professional editor.

And on that topic, any recommendations for editors?

[Bethany B.]

Intuitively I know editing is vital, and I know there are various levels of editing (proof, copy, substantive). My gut told me most of you would respond in the affirmative about hiring an editor, regardless of project size. I also thought there'd be a few who said they edit their own stuff based on experience level and size of work. I think proofreading at a minimum is mandatory, but wanted to get opinions about copy and substantive editing at different project sizes. I'm a noob, so I figured who better to ask!

My biggest suggestion for you is to go ahead and get an edit. Being new means that you really have no idea where you stand on the whole thing. Some people can write shorter length stories and not need a thing. Others will always need one. It's not a knock. Just a different way of processing things. It's a good way to learn where your curve is and let you know where to go from here.

[Krista D. Ball]

When I first started out, I needed a lot of help. Now, I have been known to write story stories on my lunch break, sell them the same week for a decent sum, and only need a proofread to Americanize my stuff. 

[Bethany B.]

When I first started out, I needed a lot of help. Now, I have been known to write story stories on my lunch break, sell them the same week for a decent sum, and only need a proofread to Americanize my stuff. 

lol I have a number of Brits and Canadians I work with and it's the number one thing I ask. Well that and Oxford comma.

[Krista D. Ball]

I work with Faith at Have Faith Proofreading and she knows Canadian grammar and spelling better than me...and she's American 

[flipside]

What do you mean "edited"?

Copyedited? Or something more?

[Bethany B.]

I work with Faith at Have Faith Proofreading and she knows Canadian grammar and spelling better than me...and she's American 

My partner is like that. I mean, I'm pretty good but he's fantastic at pointing things out. I think the most interesting Canadian one I've done was set in Canada but made for American audience. So we needed to figure out a nice balance between the two. We went with leaving all the Canadian phrases but changing the spelling and punctuation. I think it worked out well. It's a hard call though. Really no right or wrong. Personally, I have no problem reading books in the native form (errr, as long as they are English ).

[Krista D. Ball]

My trad stuff is pretty much all American right now, since it's being put out by American houses  However, when I self-publish, I put it out for me and me alone. If you don't like my Canuckistani words, well, I passive aggressively apologize like a good Canadian. 

[cegesmith]

Absolutely. What working with an editor has done for me is point out some fairly glaring mistakes that I have a tendency to do over and over again.  I'm on the lookout for these things now as I do my final revisions BUT I know that I'm still too close to it. Money well spent in my opinion.

[Kevis 'The Berserker' Hendrickson]

If you don't like my Canuckistani words, well, I passive aggressively apologize like a good Canadian. 

I can handle your Canuckistani words if you can handle an American writing archaic British English.

[Bethany B.]

My trad stuff is pretty much all American right now, since it's being put out by American houses  However, when I self-publish, I put it out for me and me alone. If you don't like my Canuckistani words, well, I passive aggressively apologize like a good Canadian. 

Ha! All you needed was an 'eh' at the end.

[Krista D. Ball]

I can handle your Canuckistani words if you can handle an American writing archaic British English.

Bah, I can translate it from script. Give me a challenge 

[Kevis 'The Berserker' Hendrickson]

Bah, I can translate it from script. Give me a challenge 

Ask and you shall recieve!

Hwæt! We Gardena         in geardagum,
þeodcyninga,         þrym gefrunon,
hu ða æþelingas         ellen fremedon.
Oft Scyld Scefing         sceaþena þreatum,

[Krista D. Ball]

 

You know, I forgot how rusty I'd gotten until I had to start translating some handwritten notes about <random thing that matters little>. I had to do it letter by letter, than had to look up half the words because I'd forgotten their meaning!

I've also lost all ability to read chancery script. 

[Kevis 'The Berserker' Hendrickson]

I've also lost all ability to read chancery script.  

That's okay. You're still a scribe in my book, dripping bloody fangs and all.

[Krista D. Ball]

NOM NOM NOM

[Kevis 'The Berserker' Hendrickson]

NOM NOM NOM