Interview with Sally Bradley

October 12, 2:55 PMWriting ExaminerTiffany Colter

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Today we are interviewing Editor Sally Bradley.

Sally Bradley has worked for two Christian publishers, writing sales and marketing materials, sorting through the slush pile, and proofreading and editing fiction. She has a BA in English and a love for perfecting novels, whether it’s her own work or the work of others. A judge in fiction-writing contests, Sally is a member of ACFW, The Christian PEN (Proofreaders and Editors Network), and the Christian Editor Network. She’s a work-at-home mother of three and is married to a pastor who moonlights as a small-town cop.

Sally took a few minutes to talk about editing with Tiffany Colter.

Tiffany Colter: How can authors develop a good relationship with their freelance editor?

Sally Bradley: The biggest thing an author can do is to examine their expectations. Do you want to become a better writer? Do you want your book to be stronger than it already is? Or do you want someone to say you're so good that you don't need editing? Make sure you get rid of that last type of thinking, because we all need editing!

When you get those edits back, view them as ways to strengthen your work, not ways to tear it down. Remind yourself that your work will sparkle once you're all done.

From there, don't be afraid to ask questions. If you don't understand a comment, ask the editor. I encourage all of my clients to ask questions after the edit; I've found that's often where things really begin to click for writers.

TC: What are some of the best resources on writing well?

SB: For plotting, read James Scott Bells' Plot and Structure and Debra Dixon's GMC: Goal, Motivation, Conflict.

For revision and editing, read Bell's Revision and Self-Editing, Browne and King's Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, and Michael Seidman's Complete Guide to Editing Your Fiction.

Some of my other favorites are Writing the Breakout Novel and The Fire Within by Donald Maass. They're just plain fun and get the writing juices flowing.

As for online sites, visit Randy Ingermanson's site and Kaye Dacus' blog Write Time, Write Place. Both offer free, excellent teaching on novel writing.

 Read more of Sally’s interview here at WritingCareerCoach.com

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at http://www.writingcareercoach.com/

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