Directory Writing Workshops

Writing Workshop: Writer/Editor Insight

Dancing Word Writers Workshop

With Traci DePree

March 24, 2002

Hosted by: Anne McDonald

Dancing Word Publisher/Editor

*This chat has been edited for clarity

Anne McDonald: Lord, thank You so much for Your grace and mercy. Thank You for the opportunity to meet tonight. Bless those of our group that are at Mt. Hermon, and help us have such a great time that they will wish they had been here. (lol) Bless our guest, and all the chat participants. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Protocol reminder: type ! for comments, ? for questions, and ga when you are finished. Please wait to be called on in turn.

*Annie turns up the spotlight

I have the pleasure of introducing editor and author Traci DePree, who has come all the way from Minnesota to be with us tonight.

*Annie leads the applause

Anne McDonald: Traci has graciously agreed to field questions from us from an editor's standpoint. And I want to make sure that we also get to ask her about the upcoming release of her novel A Can of Peas . Traci, the floor is yours.

*Annie hands the floor over to Traci

Traci DePree: What would you like to know first?

Anne McDonald: What kind of editing do you do?

Traci DePree: I am a freelance editor for a number of Christian publishers including Tyndale, W Pub and WaterBrook. I do substantive edits--reading that first draft-- and line edits

Pam: So you receive requests to read mss from those houses, or directly from authors?

Traci DePree: The publishing house hires me to edit a book once it's contracted.

Anne McDonald: Do you ever contract with an author to edit his/her book before it goes to the publisher?

Traci DePree: I've had requests for this kind of thing but because I'm usually scheduled out a year or more most authors aren't willing to wait that long for me to fit their book in.

Pam: What is one of the biggest areas of 'corrections' you find?

Traci DePree: It depends on the author. I edit only fiction. Some authors have problems with Telling while other authors get caught up on characterization.

linda mae: I know you work with top authors, and it is hard to generalize, but, do you find the manuscripts need limited editing?? I guess this is like Pam's question....do you make suggestions? I've never been edited...

Traci DePree: I make a lot of suggestions! Some authors, even top authors, need a lot of editing. Others are so clean I don't have to do a whole lot. The trick is knowing when to let my pen do it's work and when to leave perfection alone. In the first stage I only make suggestions for the author to rewrite. In the line edit I actually put pen to paper.

melly: How do you and the author collaberate on suggested changes?

Traci DePree