Quote:
Originally Posted by rhadin
Sadly, this is a correct view of the perspective of many authors. However, it is an incorrect view. I try to convince authors that grammar and (a little less so) spelling are also the concerns of the authors because if left to the editors and proofreaders, they may well find that what they meant to convey is not conveyed because the editor/proofreader had to interpret and guess at the authors' meaning.
It is not necessary for an author to have perfect spelling or grammar; it is necessary for the author to have a skill level that ensures that the message the author wants to deliver is delivered and received. Editors and proofreaders are not coauthors, yet a sloppily written manuscript puts them in that position.
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You are correct. It is the author's job to get all of these things as close as possible. I do editing on the side. And let me tell you, there is nothing more frustrating than an author who hands over a sloppy manuscript and then wonders why it's going to take 3 or 4 passes to get it right (I charge by the pass and the first fee includes two passes as a base).
These are the authors who generally MISS at least 10 percent of the things I mark on the first pass. I miss stuff too because I'm marking something in almost every single line. That creates a mess of color and reading is harder. Following the storyline and finding continuity mistakes is MUCH harder (that's a separate pass from copyediting by the way and there's a reason for it being a separate pass!)
I think it takes an author a while to find an editor he/she can work with. And also for an author to find his/her own weak spots. If the author isn't good enough with the first book out, they may never get there because people aren't going to buy it.