Will the next booming profession be copy editor?

[Catlady]

Even if copy editors and proofreaders are needed, where are they going to come from when schools no longer seem to care about spelling, grammar, or punctuation?

[FF2]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Even if copy editors and proofreaders are needed, where are they going to come from when schools no longer seem to care about spelling, grammar, or punctuation?

When I first saw this thread that was my initial reaction. I refrained from posting my cynical comments. But with ebooks now being generated that show almost no sign of editing the slippery slope is getting slimier and steeper.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by FF2

When I first saw this thread that was my initial reaction. I refrained from posting my cynical comments. But with ebooks now being generated that show almost no sign of editing the slippery slope is getting slimier and steeper.

Never mind "almost no sign of editing". The overwhelming majority of independently-published books are not edited in any way whatsoever, and it shows.

[Lemurion]

Given the hostility I've seen toward editors on this forum alone, I would have to say that I really doubt the profession is going to be booming any time soon.

Of course I don't know that the hostility would be quite as great if more people understood what an editor does, but I'm not too hopeful.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Never mind "almost no sign of editing". The overwhelming majority of independently-published books are not edited in any way whatsoever, and it shows.

The independent-publishing phenomenon is still in its infancy, and I think that there will eventually be some sort of shakeout that will make it easier to distinguish the good from the bad. I'm not sure what form this might take, and I think matters will get worse before they get better, but even "free" is too much to pay when you have to invest hours of your own time in reading utter dross.

[Pablo]

I've read a number of self-published books (Boomerang, Agent to the stars, The Penal Colony, His Robot Girlfriend, How to dissapear completely, Chasing the light, The defective detective-Cat chaser, etc) and in general they were well edited (even thought not always beautifully formatted).

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by Pablo

I've read a number of self-published books (Boomerang, Agent to the stars, The Penal Colony, His Robot Girlfriend, How to dissapear completely, Chasing the light, The defective detective-Cat chaser, etc) and in general they were well edited (even thought not always beautifully formatted).

I, too, have read some that were well-written. Whether they were edited professionally or not, I do not know. But for every indie book that I have read that was well-written, there have been 25 or more that weren't.

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Never mind "almost no sign of editing". The overwhelming majority of independently-published books are not edited in any way whatsoever, and it shows.

This is true, Harry, yet by not giving them a try, you miss out on some real gems. It's like panning for gold -- if you don't pan you'll never find the gold.

If you want to read some excellent, well-written ebooks, try the ebooks by Shayne Parkinson, available at Smashwords. I don't know if she used a professional editor, but her books are worth a lot more than she is charging. And there are other Smashwords authors whose books are gold nuggets. Another that comes to mind is Vicki Tyley.

But in general, Harry, you are right. You have to go through a lot of waste to find the gold nuggets.

[Marc Johnson]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I have to disagree, I'm afraid, Marc. No matter how good a story is, poor grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes will distract me from it to such an extent that I can't read it. I take the view that if the author can't be bothered to get such things right, why should I take the time to read his or her book?

I agree with you. I just meant that an author could have an easier time looking for poor grammar, spelling, etc. himself or getting someone else to do it, than catching inconsistencies, plot holes, tension, character development, etc. I still think both are necessary, which is why I paid for both.

[Dodge]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

No, as I don't think that many indie authors are going to be able to afford copy editors.

I agree.

I think the hot new profession as far as ebooks go will be book cover designers, web design, and logo design for those ebook authors and for their web sites.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by rhadin

This is true, Harry, yet by not giving them a try, you miss out on some real gems. It's like panning for gold -- if you don't pan you'll never find the gold.

I am at an age where realistically I can't hope to read even a fraction of the books I'd like to in the remainder of my life, so these days I do try to be fairly selective, which is why I tend to stick with the classics, and authors that I know I like.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I am at an age where realistically I can't hope to read even a fraction of the books I'd like to in the remainder of my life, so these days I do try to be fairly selective, which is why I tend to stick with the classics, and authors that I know I like.

Everyone who reads is at that age, actually, with 270,000 books being published annually in the US.

On the other hand, you could read everything on Project Gutenberg in 33 years if you would simply quit slacking, bear down, and read 1,000 books a year like a *real* reader.

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by John Carroll

With all the indie books, conversions and changes in selling books; does anyone think that editing will be the new hot career over the next five to fifteen years?

No, because people aren't willing to pay for it.

The dominant feeling I see on MR these days is that people expect to get their ebooks cheap. Developmental editing, which just about everyone needs, costs. Copy editing costs. Proofreading costs. These are skilled trades occupied by people who are professionally trained, and expect professional rates for doing it.

It is increasingly not being done, even by major trade houses, in attempts to cut costs and save money.
______
Dennis

[SlowRain]

I think we overestimate the quality of what people will read and enjoy. Not only that, but people don't really know anymore which grammar and punctuation are correct (and I say that as someone whose grammar and punctuation are not great). Both issues are products of the times we live in.

I think, initially, we'll see poor English in self-published e-books. However, as the authors establish themselves a bit, they'll put a few bucks toward copy-editing, whether that be by hiring someone or else educating themselves. It would also help greatly if copy-editing fees would come down.

I don't know if it'll become a hot career (I certainly hope it doesn't), but it may be a good way for people to earn a few extra bucks at home.

[GraceKrispy]

Originally Posted by Hatgirl

Got to disagree with you there. I recently read a badly edited and badly formatted independent book. If I hadn't promised someone I'd read it I would have ditched it after the first 2 chapters for one of the innumerable excellent books I have on my reader. It's a shame. it was an interesting plot with interesting characters, it just needed someone to go through it with a red pen and someone else to see how the formatting actually looked on an ereader.

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm afraid that, personally speaking, I'm NOT willing to do that. That's why I spend months proof-reading the classics, and posting them here, because minor details like typos and bad punctuation REALLY annoy me.

Originally Posted by HarryT

I have to disagree, I'm afraid, Marc. No matter how good a story is, poor grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes will distract me from it to such an extent that I can't read it. I take the view that if the author can't be bothered to get such things right, why should I take the time to read his or her book?

Yep, I'm with these ideas. I expect *any* book - self-pubbed, free, whatever- to be pretty well-edited with very few mistakes. Even if there is not a monetary investment, it is a time investment. I am choosing to spend my very valuable time experiencing someone else's creation. I find it very difficult to look past bad editing. Language is a fluid, beautiful thing, when done correctly. When riddled with errors, it hurts my brain. (I can, however, look past so-so formatting, providing it doesn't interfere with my interpretation--no strange page or line breaks when it isn't a true break in the paragraphs).