As many of my readers know—those who follow my career, not just my published writing—writing is not an easy effort. It takes time and careful attention to detail. One of my methods to insure this care is seeking out and having an excellent copyeditor. I have known Cathy for years, since she was an undergraduate at Southwest Minnesota State University. Several years ago, she edited Book One and then Book Two for me. She is onboard to do both remaining books in The Marsco Saga as well. But, here are her words to explain what this all means.
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“With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility”
By Cathy Bernardy Jones, the copyeditor of The Marsco Saga
When Jim Zarzana asked me to copyedit Book One, The Marsco Dissident, of his saga, I didn’t believe him at first. Until that point, my entire publishing career had been spent in nonfiction: news, music, general interest, sports, crafts, education, and even business marketing materials.
For his first book, though, he wasn’t going to go through some random résumés of editorial candidates who’d have no investment in the project other than the check.
As an alumna of the creative writing/literature department at Southwest Minnesota State University, he knew I knew my stuff and that I’d be invested, that I’d use my powers for good.
When I finally got over the shock, the honor of it all sank in. I was being entrusted with a project that Zarzana had been working on literally for years. It was finally going to come to fruition, and I’d be helping it along. I would be polishing the text and caring for his characters, his places, his entire Marsco world.
Editing fiction isn’t the same as nonfiction—it’s not only about spelling, grammar, and punctuation fixes. It’s also all the behind-the-scenes effort that makes sure the story is believable and allows the reader to be transported.
It’s about making sure the timeline works. If eighteen months pass in the dates, the text needs to coincide.
It’s about believable dialogue and actions of a character. Would Tessa really have said such a thing, or was she still ticked off at that point in the story?
It’s about continuity. If Mei-Ling’s nightgowns are blue and white in Book One, when they show up again in Book Two they must still be blue and white.
It’s about accuracy. If the book says the Mars day is 24 hours 37 minutes, then it sure had better be in reality. (I trusted NASA’s figures, no one else’s.)
I was the guardian over readers’ willing suspension of disbelief. If a typo, factual error, continuity error, or plot hole would distract the reader from the worldbuilding and break that reverie, that would be a huge problem.
The last thing a writer wants is a reader to put the book down and not come back. That’s what I had to prevent through careful attention to detail, my knowledge of grammar, and lists—lots and lots of lists.
It has been a joy to bring the series out of the depths of Zarzana’s computer and put it into readers’ hands.
I’m sure you’ll find the world compelling, engrossing, thought-provoking and well worth every page.
Enjoy.
Cathy Jones
www.bernardyjones.com
*
“With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility”
By Cathy Bernardy Jones, the copyeditor of The Marsco Saga
When Jim Zarzana asked me to copyedit Book One, The Marsco Dissident, of his saga, I didn’t believe him at first. Until that point, my entire publishing career had been spent in nonfiction: news, music, general interest, sports, crafts, education, and even business marketing materials.
For his first book, though, he wasn’t going to go through some random résumés of editorial candidates who’d have no investment in the project other than the check.
As an alumna of the creative writing/literature department at Southwest Minnesota State University, he knew I knew my stuff and that I’d be invested, that I’d use my powers for good.
When I finally got over the shock, the honor of it all sank in. I was being entrusted with a project that Zarzana had been working on literally for years. It was finally going to come to fruition, and I’d be helping it along. I would be polishing the text and caring for his characters, his places, his entire Marsco world.
Editing fiction isn’t the same as nonfiction—it’s not only about spelling, grammar, and punctuation fixes. It’s also all the behind-the-scenes effort that makes sure the story is believable and allows the reader to be transported.
It’s about making sure the timeline works. If eighteen months pass in the dates, the text needs to coincide.
It’s about believable dialogue and actions of a character. Would Tessa really have said such a thing, or was she still ticked off at that point in the story?
It’s about continuity. If Mei-Ling’s nightgowns are blue and white in Book One, when they show up again in Book Two they must still be blue and white.
It’s about accuracy. If the book says the Mars day is 24 hours 37 minutes, then it sure had better be in reality. (I trusted NASA’s figures, no one else’s.)
I was the guardian over readers’ willing suspension of disbelief. If a typo, factual error, continuity error, or plot hole would distract the reader from the worldbuilding and break that reverie, that would be a huge problem.
The last thing a writer wants is a reader to put the book down and not come back. That’s what I had to prevent through careful attention to detail, my knowledge of grammar, and lists—lots and lots of lists.
It has been a joy to bring the series out of the depths of Zarzana’s computer and put it into readers’ hands.
I’m sure you’ll find the world compelling, engrossing, thought-provoking and well worth every page.
Enjoy.
Cathy Jones
www.bernardyjones.com
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