Author Versus Editor -- Can A Writer Really Be Both?
This last year, I became an editor for a couple of different publishing houses. Since then, I've dropped the one publisher, for a number of reasons, including the fact that I don't think their standards were up to snuff. Now, I just act as an editor for one company, Red Rose Publishing.
Do I enjoy being an editor? Yes, I do. It's fun to help other authors make the best of their novels. This is true even when some of those authors fight tooth and nail to preserve their "baby" exactly as it is, and despite numerous problems.
Usually, they come around in the end, or we meet halfway to resolve issues. As with most things, editing is a matter of give and take, although on some issues, the authors won't budge, but then neither will I. I will not have my name put to something that I clearly consider inferior work. It's my reputation at stake, too, as an editor. If I go hunting for other work, these books form my resume, and if they are badly edited, I "ain't gonna" get that job!
So you can see that doing my best as an editor is important to me. I always want to do my best and achieve the best from the authors for both our sakes. On a happy note, the last book I edited is now out, and has made the Red Rose Bestseller Publishing List, and the book was only released a few weeks ago. Obviously, the author has done her job, and I feel I've done mine. We're both very happy with the results. It makes me feel rather like a proud father in a way.
However, I also am a writer. And, I am a writer first and foremost. It is my main love in life. I enjoy it thoroughly, Whether science fiction, horror, fantasy, mystery, macabre, romances (yes, I write those, too, and even won an in-house competition for best Regency), articles -- you name it -- I enjoy writing it.
Now comes the problem. Of late, I find myself being more of an editor than an author. I've seen this happen with many other writers in the past. They begin to make a (small) name for themselves and so are able to become editors. Then, suddenly, they seem to stop writing. Their output slows to a trickle and sometimes ceases altogether. For all intents and purposes, they are now editors and not authors at all. Many seem to end their literary careers this way.
I fear of late that this is happening to me. Although I'm pumping out the books for other authors as their editor, I find my own work beginning to suffer. A novel, my fifth, waits to be finished. It doesn't need a lot more done to it, editing mostly, ironically enough, but I just don't seem to have the time. I have two stories near completion, and can't seem to get the time to complete those, either.
Yes, I do have stories coming out still. I just signed a contract for a "long" short story (or novella -- take your pick), entitled Light On The Moor. It's a paranormal love story. If you like ghosts and moors, you'll like this one -- I hope! And, I have a longer novella coming out with Aberrant Dreams' new hardcover anthology, The Awakening. That story is Avenger Of The People. Want one more? Well, this March, I have another paranormal horror story coming out with Sonar 4's new anthology, Phase 4. The story, Green Waters, is a paranormal time travel story of sorts.
So you see, so far, so good, when it comes to my getting published of late. For my story, Light On The Moor, I actually had three publishers wanting it. In future, I would recommend that authors do not do simultaneous submissions for this reason. It may save time, but it can also cause uncomfortable situations. (I've learned my lesson on that! No more simultaneous submissions for me.)
However, my concern is that the story pipeline will run dry soon. I have stories coming out one end of it, but nothing going in of late. Of course, this is a bit like crying hungry with a loaf of bread under my arm, because I also just signed contracts for three novels with Red Rose Publishing, one time travel, and two Regency romances.
But all these things take time to write, to produce, and of late, I've done very little in this regard. I find this disturbing. It seems that being an editor and an author, this wearing of two hats, however similar in nature, is a real balancing act. Balancing my time seems to be the critical issue here. And how much work I choose to take on, is a major factor, as well, and one with which I must now contend.
Mind you, I like the money I get for editing, since it is a portion of the royalties on every book sold, and although print books are great, and we do distribute them through Baker & Taylor, no less, ebooks seem to have an infinite shelf life, and therefore, so will the royalty checks. (I hope.)
But again, I love to write far more than I love to edit. And this must be my ultimate goal. So, will I stay on as an editor? Tough question, because I'm so torn, and truthfully? I haven't found the answer yet. There are things that both attract and repel me about editing. And when an author's work is released, it bothers me, because I feel that if I'd devoted more time to my own writing, that might be me! Yes, it's jealousy...of a sort. I'm not jealous of that author, but jealous of the fact that they had time to write their novel! So again, this is a tough question for me.
Will I stay on as an editor? Or should I devote myself wholeheartedly to my own writing? Time marches on and I'm not getting any younger, so it isn't as if I have forever to decide this question. Of course, there is always the possibility that I find that perfect balance and can do both, and do them both well. That is my goal, my dream, if you will. However, I wonder. I have seen so many other authors before me try for this and fail, and end their careers being known as editors, rather than writers. I don't want that!
So stay tuned to this blog and eventually I may have an answer on this issue for you. In other words, when it comes to blogs, I'll keep you posted! (Hmm...maybe I should edit out that last poor joke -- ya think?)
Rob Shelsky
