Hi Guys!
Happy Monday!! How was your weekend? Mine was fabulous, especially because we had a three day weekend!
Today on Meredith's Monday Musings, I have two special people over on my blog for today's discussion. Please welcome Alta Hensley, the head editor at Blushing Books Publications and Jamie Miles, the head editor at Stormy Night Publications. These wonderful ladies were kind enough to answer several questions I had for them. So, let's get this show on the road...
Meredith: As
an editor, what is your favorite task to do and what is your least favorite
task to do?
Alta: My
favorite task is sitting down and reading the very first sentence of a book.
I’m excited to see where this author will take me. That very first sentence
gives me a small sample of the voice. I love that I get to read and get paid
for it. Not a bad gig at all.
My
least favorite task is putting out fires. I hate when another author is
stressed or upset about something. I can 100% relate with them because I am an
author myself, so I always put myself in their shoes. I understand that this
book is their baby, it’s their art, it’s their soul. So I hate that at that
very moment, they are feeling anything but pure joy in the experience of having
their story published. But I also think I am really good at putting those fires
out.
Jamie: I adore everything about reading and experiencing the book
I’m editing, feeling the story and the characters, and seeing the author’s mind
and plan. It’s always so nice to just bask in the light as you watch someone
else’s creative spirit at work.
My least favorite thing is probably reading bad reviews for books I’ve loved.
I’m always shocked and think “How dare they?” But at the same time, I do think
Amazon’s review system is a very beneficial and helpful thing for readers.
Meredith: What's
the most common grammar mistake that you see in stories that are submitted to
your publisher?
Alta: I
would have to say dialogue punctuation. Many first time authors don’t
understand when to use a comma and when to use a period. I think it takes
seeing all the red marks to really grasp the concept as well as also having
experience in writing.
Jamie: Repetitious wording, or important words used once in a
sentence, and then once right after in the next sentence. It’s always a good
idea to read a book over again and watch for words that occur too often.
Meredith: What's
a piece of advice that you want to share with aspiring authors?
Alta: Learn
the craft of writing. Study it, read about it, devour anything you can on how
to write. Understand things like what deep POV means, what character arc means,
and understand grammar. Do not assume that an editor is there to make it all
better, and all you have to do is write a story. Learn the craft of writing!
Jamie: Keep writing real and true to life, but at the same time,
fantasize about how the perfect guy/perfect girl/perfect situation could be,
and don’t be afraid to write that too. It’s all about balance, and when you
write about things that you care about and wish could happen, readers will see
your heart.
Meredith: How
did you get started as an editor?
Alta: It
just sort of fell into my lap I guess. I have been writing since 2010 and live
and breathe the publishing industry. It truly is my passion.
Jamie: I met James and Korey Johnson in the summer of 2012 and began
working part time with Stormy Night Publications, while I worked a full-time
job elsewhere. However, I loved working with SNP so much more than working my
other job, so I began content editing full-time a year later.
Meredith: Do
you have a favorite sub-genre of erotica that you enjoy to read? If so, what?
Alta: This
changes all the time. But right now, I really love dark. I also adore post
apocalyptic and dystopian.
Jamie: After much painful deliberation (why is it so hard to pick
one? Screw it, I’m picking two) I would say medical play and westerns. I’ve
fantasized about firm doctors and embarrassing exams for a good part of my
life. There’s something so hot about “treatment” and loving care for the good
of the heroine, and how if it’s for her well-being—that sometimes she has to give
in, submit and “take her medicine”, or face the stern consequences if she
doesn’t.
Westerns are fun because they can work in any time period,
and it’s easy for there to be danger, rough surroundings, and a dominant hero
who keeps the heroine safe. Plus, western spankings are just more
fun—switching, strapping, birching—how could you go wrong?
Meredith: On
average, how long does it take you to edit a 50,000 word book?
Alta: Depends
on the author. If it’s an experienced and clean author, I can do it all in
two-three days. A tough edit will take me a week. But I usually don’t sit and
edit from beginning to end in one sitting. I need to do other tasks or I start
seeing things, or NOT seeing things. I worry that if I edit for too many hours
straight, I will miss mistakes. So I spread it out and do other books, return
emails, write my own book, or play on Facebook. Ha!
And
then the going back and forth with the author will add to that time. So I
actually never just sit down and work from beginning to end in one swoop unless
under a tight deadline. I like to break it up to keep fresh.
Jamie: I’m a fairly slow editor, in my opinion, as I try to read
thoughtfully and to check for things a copy editor might check for (grammar,
repetition, structure) while also content editing. That way, Stormy Night’s
books get almost two rounds of copy editing—one from me, and one from our copy
editor.
One other thing—besides the length of the book, you have to
factor in how well a book has already been edited. Some books need quite a bit
of work, so I spend much more time writing up really thorough comments and
revisions suggestions for a book that needs it. Other books take less time. A
book around 50,000 words would probably take me a day and a half.
Meredith: Are
there any quirks you do, while editing? For example, do you have to listen to a
certain playlist or use your favorite red pen to edit?
Alta: I
have to get everything in order around me. I need a clean desk, my notepad and
pen right beside me, a drink of some sort, and I have to have a spotless
computer screen. I always clean the monitor. A spot of dirt can look like a
comma. I am pretty anal about my environment when I get ready to edit.
Jamie: I can’t listen to music while editing, as it’s
too distracting. If I’m really tired, I’ll listen to classical music or opera
as having something making noise helps me stay alert, but it isn’t as
distracting as other types of music.
Meredith: Alta,
how do you balance your time with being head editor and being an author? Does
it sometime get overwhelming?
Alta: It
can be a challenge for sure. I can get swamped with edits and other Blushing business
involving all the other editors and authors, and put ‘Alta’ on the back burner,
so I try really hard not to. Bethany Burke (owner of Blushing Books) is awesome
about making me put my writing first, and she works hard on making sure I don’t
get too loaded in edits. She’s pretty particular with how many edits and what
gets handed my way. That helps a lot.
I’m
also busy with all the behind the scenes stuff with Blushing other than just
editing, and have my hand involved a little bit in every book released, so that
keeps me really hopping as well. I can’t tell you how many emails I get in a
day!
A
big thing I do to help with all that is to block out my entire year of release
dates as Alta Hensley. This helps me know what is coming up and when I need to
lighten my editing load because I have some heavy writing schedules. So far, it
has all worked out. But I often work 12 hour days to make it happen.
There
are some BB editors that can turn around a book much faster than I can. I am
usually booked out months in advance and just can’t do it as quickly with
everything else I juggle. So those quick jobs usually have to go to another
editor. But the best thing I do that helps is have an author day and an editor
day. When it is an author day, I try to not do any editing or anything to kill
my muse.
Meredith: Jamie,
do you ever plan to become an author or else do you think you'll stick with
being an editor?
Jamie: I have extremely tentative plans about “one day writing
something”. To be honest, I’m so busy editing for Stormy Night, that when I
have time off, writing a spanking romance is the last thing I want to think
about as that part of my brain is completely done. However, sometimes I’ll read
something really hot and I’ll envy the author’s creative genius so much that
I’ll decide I’ll write something one day. I’ll keep you updated!
Meredith: Do
you ever get tired of editing? I beta read books from time to time, which I
enjoy doing, but when I finish a book, I'm tired and happy that I don't have to
do edit anything again for a while.
Alta: I
don’t. I edit because I love it. The minute it becomes a chore or I hate it, I
will graciously step down and allow another to fill my shoes. I can see how it
may get tiresome after many years, and being an editor is not an easy job, but
I strongly believe the author deserves the best you can give. If burnout or
just not enjoying the job ever happens, the author is the one who will suffer.
I am also aware that the day may come that I need to take a break to refuel,
but so far, I am having a blast. A dream job.
Jamie: If I’m tired of editing, I probably just need a break or it’s
already the weekend at that point. I honestly love my job to death, and then
some. Sometimes I can’t believe I actually get to do what I’ve always wanted to
do—partner with authors to help their books be everything they possibly can be.
Meredith: Do
you ever find it hard to control your personal opinions when editing a story? I
know when I beta read a story, it's impossible for me to not voice what I
think, whether it's "Oh my gosh! Your hero is SOO hot" or "Oh my
gosh! I'm going to personally smack your hero upside the head if he doesn't
claim the heroine soon."
Alta: I
think many may, but I honestly don’t. I love when an author can make me feel
something even if it is hate. I often read books that I wouldn’t have written
it the same way, but then Alta Hensley isn’t the name on the cover of the book.
Ha!
I
stay objective and respect the author’s voice, their choices, and how they want
the story to go. I may give them a heads up that the reviewers will chew them
to pieces if they keep a particular scene or end it a certain way, but this is
THEIR story, and ultimately it is on them. I do, however, get turned on by what
I read. I mean…WOW! I edit for some of the best in the business, and they know
how to check all of my boxes.
Jamie: I’m pretty sure that being an editor has made me more
opinionated than I’ve ever been, and I’m glad that my family and friends have
learned how to put up with me. However, when editing I try to weigh whether
something is a personal opinion or whether it’s something that could clearly be
tweaked in a story and help the story be better overall. Sometimes I’ll
outright tell an author “I have a knee-jerk reaction to this, but I could be
completely wrong”.
Meredith: Do
you have any software or websites you'd recommend for those authors, (like
myself) who struggle with grammar?
Alta: I
haven’t found a software that I am in love with enough to recommend. I will say
that every author should run spell check, but NEVER assume spell check is
always right because it often is not. But it will catch a lot. I also suggest
that every author (new and experienced) pay close attention to their edits once
they get them back. Study and learn from what you did wrong. We, as authors,
all have our bad habits. But just don’t accept them. Try to see what they are
so you don’t do it again. I will say that there is no better software than a
beta reader.
Jamie: Grammar Girl is one of my go-to sites for sure!
Meredith: So
from my understanding, when a story gets edited, there are edits/suggestions
made to improve the plot and then edits/suggestions made to improve the grammar
of a story. Do you enjoy editing one of those better than the other? For
example, when I beta read, I edit heavily on the plot because I am better at
catching small details and plot holes than grammar mistakes. Whereas, my beta
reader, she loves catching my grammar mistakes.
Alta: I
really love and focus on grammar. Most of the authors I get to edit (I’m lucky)
are true professionals. They have multiple betas. Some of the betas both write
and read in the genre, so they offer a true gift to the author. I cannot stress
the importance of a beta enough. By the time I get the book, the story is
solid. There may be some minor issues, but the content is fantastic. So I
really focus on the grammar, the tiny details to make the story shine, and all
the ticky tacky stuff that will make the book as perfect as it can be.
Jamie: Both areas are fun for different reasons. I would say that
editing content rather than grammar takes more thought and consideration.
Grammar is much more scientific and somewhat rote, though, so that can make it
a little easier. Plot editing is definitely more rewarding in many ways, as it
can be so helpful overall.
Personal
Questions!!
Meredith: If
you could ever dye your hair any color(s), what would it/they be?
Alta: Gray!
I know that sounds crazy, but the hippie, artsy, bohemian soul in me can’t wait
until I have long silver hair that flows down my back. I want to be that lady
who never dyes her hair and embraces all the white hairs the pop up. I have
never dyed my hair yet. Let those white buggers come!
Jamie: I’m a natural dark blonde/light brown, and I’ve already tried
different shades of red, dark brown, and black and have loved most of them.
There was one time when my husband said I looked like I’d dyed my hair
“pumpkin”, but thankfully that faded in a week or two—ha! Lately I’ve been
trying out a more natural ombre, but some day, I’d like to try blue or rainbow
colors.
Meredith: What's
your favorite type of cookie?
Alta: Oatmeal
Raisin.
Jamie: A quick note to interested readers—if Meredith asks your favorite
type of cookie, beware!! She’ll probably end up making you some, and then any
healthy eating habits and self-control will vanish and you will be moaning and
groaning with your mouth full of delicious cookies… But, to answer the question, chocolate chip is
definitely the best.
Meredith: If
you were offered the choice of having a: maid, chef, or a driver for life,
which one would you choose and why?
Alta: I
already have a maid. Which by the way is WAY cheaper than marriage counseling,
and I highly recommend it. So I guess I would have to say a chef.
Jamie: A maid! I wouldn’t turn my nose up at a cook either, but
cooking can be relaxing and rewarding. Cleaning never ends.
Meredith: If
you could visit a place anywhere in the world that you haven't ever been, where
would you go?
Alta: Italy,
Spain, Morocco, Tibet…I could do this all day.
Jamie: Paris or Bordeaux, so that I could go on a wine tour!
Meredith: If
you could have any pet that you wanted, what would it be and what would you
name it?
Alta: Okay,
I will be honest here. I wouldn’t. I’m not a huge animal lover. I like them at
a distance…but I just don’t want to have to care for them. I’m not a fan of
hair, poop, slobber, stink and all that. I have a dog and a cat that I love,
but that’s my limit. You won’t get an answer out of me like a monkey or an
elephant. All I can picture is poop.
Jamie: A cat with a cuddly but aloof attitude. Not too needy, but one
that will sit on my lap occasionally and be all warm and snuggly at random
times when I least expect it.
Meredith: When
you were seven, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Alta: Rich.
I used to only say “Rich.” $$$$
Clearly,
I haven’t reached that goal…yet. But I honestly can say that I am living the
dream. I either get to read or write romance all day, every day. I am one lucky
gal.
Jamie: I’m not positive, but I probably wanted to be either a nurse
or an actress, which makes little sense, as I was a painfully shy child and
really scared of needles.
I want to thank Alta and Jamie for taking the time out of your busy schedules to come stop by and answer my questions for me. I really appreciate it. Maybe I'll send you both some cookies to thank you, since I now know each of your favorite cookie recipes. ;-)
Have a great day, everyone!!
