Great interview. Very natural, and you both speak well. Thank you for sharing and being so positive on such a difficult difficult type of work; editing teams, and freelance work, creative pen.
Great interview! I haven’t puked yet, but I do set my work aside for awhile for fresh eyes. Listened to the podcast first and then revisited on TH-cam! Love that! Thanks!
Thank you for posting this! It helps to see that there are kind, caring people in the writing industry who truly want to help writers succeed. The candid conversation was really helpful in understanding more about that industry and others' perspectives :)
Great interview! 😁 Watched this while on the treadmill. (as always) lol I myself am looking for a serious editor. I've had bad experiences my previous work but I know these things happen, so I'm optimistic for the future. 😎
Great work on the treadmill. Best editor I've used was not a pro. But he was better than the high charging editors. But like Joanna said, you need one who suits you. Doesn't destroy your work but engances it.
TOTALLY agreed ! (re: putting the story away). When you can look at it with a reader's eyes , you will see what you couldn't see as the writer. And if you can't get through your story as a READER, then good luck getting book buyers to spend the money and time on it. If you aren't invested, why should the reader be?
How common is it for writers not to be readers? I’ve heard that advice quite a bit now and I cannot understand WHY anyone would become a writer unless they are a voracious reader...
I think it's more specific than that. You need to be a reader of the genre you want to write e.g. don't try to write a horror novel if you only read contemporary romance, or don't try to write literary fiction if you only read mysteries.
I was a voracious reader in high school, but since college I don't read very often. The question is how will I find the time to write if I spend it reading? I have a database of over 5,000 story ideas, not to mention all my other projects in film production, music recording, etc... You do what you can find the time for. #TheRebelWriter
Joanna great interview video blog. I learned and appreciated everything you two discussed. I’m looking forward to the day I research for one of the editors at New York editors group. Thanks again 😀👌🏾✌🏽🧐
Just a question. I have written my first novel and will be 73 when it is published by an on-line publisher in March of 2019. Is there a prejudice in the publishing industry against "mature" writers? I am very proud of my novel PINOCCHIO ISLAND and am so very happy I wrote it and it was accepted for publication. It was a story "that had to be told" and I did it. I just hope it will make some money!!! Thanks for answering.
No one knows how old you are on the internet :) There are lots of older writers doing very well as they have more time in retirement. My Mum is also very active in her 70s. See the interview with her here (at 71) th-cam.com/video/vNbqFO76WM4/w-d-xo.html
Joanna your vlog is very informative and smart!!! I love watching it. I was wondering though why you never interview persons of other ethnicities? If I am not mistaken everyone you interview is white. Haven't seen in Black, Asian, Latino, professionals. I think this would be great to seek out a more diverse selection of people. Not that their perspective will be different because of skin color but because it would really be worthwhile to expand your brand and give your loyal audience a sense that you are inclusive. Just a thought:)
Check out this playlist for diversity in my interviews - th-cam.com/video/RSZk5r4PCe8/w-d-xo.html I've also interviewed gay, lesbian and (coming soon) trans writers. I do try to be diverse :)
Hi Joanna. How are you? Great video and it came right on time for me. I tried to ask you this on twitter but learned you have to be followed to send a message. Still trying to find my tribe, as you suggested. LOL Have the rules, or better said, do's and don'ts of fiction writing changed? I keep getting so much conflicting advice. I get so far on my novel only to find that some of the things I was told not to do, are cool to do now. Like cutting words that end in "ly" I do that, then read some bestselling indie books and they have them all over the place. Show don't tell is another. Some say it's a must, but now I'm getting told it's old school and obsolete. That's just a couple of things confusing me. I know you're going to say, write what you feel, and do what works for you, but I want to be good at the craft, or as best I can be, but if you can break it down for me, I would be grateful, because I'm lost. Rewrites, especially after an editor, is such a grind. I feel what you're saying Natasa, in reference to a light at the end of the tunnel, but sometimes, especially when you think you've nailed it, and you're like man, I thought I had it this time. I think, what gets me most is, I see what the editor said, and wish I had thought of it. Sometimes, i feel like with all the great ideas the editor came up with, it's not just my book anymore. As for being a reader, do audio books count? I'm visually impaired, and am late to the reading game. I am, to this day, seeing words I've never seen before, for the first time, because growing up all my books were on audio. Then I got lazy. LOL
Basically, you need to know the rules before you break them. But yes, trends change - and also differ by genre and age group. Different editors would have different standards. You have to find someone who matches you. And absolutely audiobooks count as reading! Many authors write specifically for the audio audience these days. It's a fast growing segment of the publishing market.
I've heard of that "success visualization" method before. I don't think it works. It's all dream and not enough tough reality. It is best not to get our hopes up too high when we are starting out.
I disagree. I have always used affirmations and they help your mind see the future before it becomes reality. The important thing is also to TAKE ACTION towards those goals. It's the Law of AttrACTION :)
Isn't it interesting that a great many editors always have some hints and tips even for the best selling authors how to improve their manuscripts, yet they themselves usually never publish one single novel? Also, if someone needs all of that help with character and story development, should such a person write at all? Are editors dishonest with their clients and fabricating work for themselves by motivating engineers without talent (but with a lot of money) to keep buying their services knowing that the vast majority of their clients will never get traditionally published?
@@thecreativepenn Does that mean that an architect should hire a bricklayer to help her/him design a house? Instead of hiring an editor to help them develop their characters and stories, for writers it would be better to hire "Time". Leave your manuscript on the side and revisit it later. Be your own editor. That was a fair piece of advice by Ms. Lekic. And editors should sit down and write their own novels since they already know how that should be done, right? Otherwise they should be doing line editing, which is their job. Any writer who needs help with story and character development has no imagination and should not be writing at all. To encourage people without talent to keep on writing is unethical.
This was an amazing interview with a treasure trove of insights.
Wonderful! Really enjoyed this one! Thanks Joanna and Natasa!
Great interview. I loved Natasa's insights and tips. Very helpful!
Very entertaining and instructive video. It's time for another interview with Natasa Lekic.
Thanks for this frank discussion. Affirming in many ways.
Great interview. Very natural, and you both speak well. Thank you for sharing and being so positive on such a difficult difficult type of work; editing teams, and freelance work, creative pen.
I thought, I will never watch 40 minutes - but I couldn't turn it off. Learned LOTS
Glad it helped :)
I find this perspective enlightening. Much insight gleaned.
A very informative interview of what editors do and how to find the right one for your work.
Thanks for this conversation.
Joanna thank you for all your advice and help. You are an inspiration and I’m so grateful I found your channel and books!
Glad you're enjoying it!
Great interview! I haven’t puked yet, but I do set my work aside for awhile for fresh eyes. Listened to the podcast first and then revisited on TH-cam! Love that! Thanks!
Thanks - glad it was useful :)
A fantastic interview. And very good to put a face to the fabulous blogs and emails. NY Editors coaching and mentoring is hugely beneficial.
Glad you find them useful :)
Thank you for posting this! It helps to see that there are kind, caring people in the writing industry who truly want to help writers succeed. The candid conversation was really helpful in understanding more about that industry and others' perspectives :)
Glad you found it interesting!
Great interview! 😁 Watched this while on the treadmill. (as always) lol I myself am looking for a serious editor. I've had bad experiences my previous work but I know these things happen, so I'm optimistic for the future. 😎
It's like dating - you have to try a few until you find one that fits!
Great work on the treadmill. Best editor I've used was not a pro. But he was better than the high charging editors. But like Joanna said, you need one who suits you. Doesn't destroy your work but engances it.
Phenomenal interview. Such generosity of spirit with just the right dose of truth. Can't thank you enough.
Thanks, glad it was useful :)
TOTALLY agreed ! (re: putting the story away). When you can look at it with a reader's eyes , you will see what you couldn't see as the writer. And if you can't get through your story as a READER, then good luck getting book buyers to spend the money and time on it.
If you aren't invested, why should the reader be?
How common is it for writers not to be readers? I’ve heard that advice quite a bit now and I cannot understand WHY anyone would become a writer unless they are a voracious reader...
I think it's more specific than that. You need to be a reader of the genre you want to write e.g. don't try to write a horror novel if you only read contemporary romance, or don't try to write literary fiction if you only read mysteries.
I was a voracious reader in high school, but since college I don't read very often. The question is how will I find the time to write if I spend it reading? I have a database of over 5,000 story ideas, not to mention all my other projects in film production, music recording, etc... You do what you can find the time for. #TheRebelWriter
Joanna great interview video blog. I learned and appreciated everything you two discussed. I’m looking forward to the day I research for one of the editors at New York editors group. Thanks again 😀👌🏾✌🏽🧐
Glad you found it useful :)
Just a question. I have written my first novel and will be 73 when it is published by an on-line publisher in March of 2019. Is there a prejudice in the publishing industry against "mature" writers? I am very proud of my novel PINOCCHIO ISLAND and am so very happy I wrote it and it was accepted for publication. It was a story "that had to be told" and I did it. I just hope it will make some money!!! Thanks for answering.
No one knows how old you are on the internet :)
There are lots of older writers doing very well as they have more time in retirement. My Mum is also very active in her 70s. See the interview with her here (at 71) th-cam.com/video/vNbqFO76WM4/w-d-xo.html
Joanna your vlog is very informative and smart!!! I love watching it. I was wondering though why you never interview persons of other ethnicities? If I am not mistaken everyone you interview is white. Haven't seen in Black, Asian, Latino, professionals. I think this would be great to seek out a more diverse selection of people. Not that their perspective will be different because of skin color but because it would really be worthwhile to expand your brand and give your loyal audience a sense that you are inclusive. Just a thought:)
Check out this playlist for diversity in my interviews - th-cam.com/video/RSZk5r4PCe8/w-d-xo.html
I've also interviewed gay, lesbian and (coming soon) trans writers.
I do try to be diverse :)
Great! Your brand is wonderful. More is better!
Where I can find a translator from romanian to English- I have the script but I need some help
Big Picture Awareness is crucial.
Hi Joanna. How are you? Great video and it came right on time for me. I tried to ask you this on twitter but learned you have to be followed to send a message. Still trying to find my tribe, as you suggested. LOL
Have the rules, or better said, do's and don'ts of fiction writing changed? I keep getting so much conflicting advice. I get so far on my novel only to find that some of the things I was told not to do, are cool to do now. Like cutting words that end in "ly" I do that, then read some bestselling indie books and they have them all over the place. Show don't tell is another. Some say it's a must, but now I'm getting told it's old school and obsolete. That's just a couple of things confusing me. I know you're going to say, write what you feel, and do what works for you, but I want to be good at the craft, or as best I can be, but if you can break it down for me, I would be grateful, because I'm lost.
Rewrites, especially after an editor, is such a grind. I feel what you're saying Natasa, in reference to a light at the end of the tunnel, but sometimes, especially when you think you've nailed it, and you're like man, I thought I had it this time. I think, what gets me most is, I see what the editor said, and wish I had thought of it. Sometimes, i feel like with all the great ideas the editor came up with, it's not just my book anymore.
As for being a reader, do audio books count? I'm visually impaired, and am late to the reading game. I am, to this day, seeing words I've never seen before, for the first time, because growing up all my books were on audio. Then I got lazy. LOL
Basically, you need to know the rules before you break them. But yes, trends change - and also differ by genre and age group. Different editors would have different standards.
You have to find someone who matches you.
And absolutely audiobooks count as reading! Many authors write specifically for the audio audience these days. It's a fast growing segment of the publishing market.
This video purports to give tips for editing "your" book. I'm 12 minutes into this video and still have heard no tips for editing MY book.
I've heard of that "success visualization" method before. I don't think it works. It's all dream and not enough tough reality. It is best not to get our hopes up too high when we are starting out.
I disagree. I have always used affirmations and they help your mind see the future before it becomes reality. The important thing is also to TAKE ACTION towards those goals. It's the Law of AttrACTION :)
Isn't it interesting that a great many editors always have some hints and tips even for the best selling authors how to improve their manuscripts, yet they themselves usually never publish one single novel? Also, if someone needs all of that help with character and story development, should such a person write at all? Are editors dishonest with their clients and fabricating work for themselves by motivating engineers without talent (but with a lot of money) to keep buying their services knowing that the vast majority of their clients will never get traditionally published?
The job of editor is different to the job of writer.
Compare it to other careers. For example, does an architect ever need to lay a brick?
@@thecreativepenn Does that mean that an architect should hire a bricklayer to help her/him design a house? Instead of hiring an editor to help them develop their characters and stories, for writers it would be better to hire "Time". Leave your manuscript on the side and revisit it later. Be your own editor. That was a fair piece of advice by Ms. Lekic. And editors should sit down and write their own novels since they already know how that should be done, right? Otherwise they should be doing line editing, which is their job. Any writer who needs help with story and character development has no imagination and should not be writing at all. To encourage people without talent to keep on writing is unethical.
Does Stephen King use NY Book Editors?
I believe one of his editors now freelances with them - check the team.