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Originally Posted by mr ploppy
It's the ones that help with story structure (don't know what they are called) that are prohibitively expensive for DIY writers
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Various terms used, but most often 'developmental editor'.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ebusinesstutor
But just because someone calls themselves an "editor" doesn't mean they are a good one. There is no supervised certification program to become an editor.
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Completely true, and so it's caveat emptor.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ebusinesstutor
Publishers pressured Ursula K LeGuin to write books more like the Harry Potter, so if your editor starts suggesting you add owls and magical friends, watch out.
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That sort of suggestion would really be beyond the remit of most editors, even developmental editors. It usually the prerogative of a commissioning editor, who's a lot higher up the pecking order!
I think it's quite arrogant of a writer to assume they don't need an editor (by which I mean copyeditor at the very least). No-one is perfect, and as others have pointed out if you've been working on a piece for weeks or months, you're just simply too close to it to see its weaknesses. Surely it's better to have someone else correct those before unleashing it on a public who will be far less nice to you than your editor will?