The Frugal Editor: Do-It-Yourself Editing Secrets—From Your Query Letters to Final Manuscript to the Marketing of Your New Bestseller
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Modern History Press
If You Write Anything, You Need The Frugal Editor
I’ve always appreciated the reality of gatekeepers—those people you must get past to get to the person you want to reach. Of the many things that will get you blocked by a gatekeeper in the writing and publishing world, poor editing is at the top of the list.
Carolyn Howard-Johnson makes that point early and often in the third edition of The Frugal Editor: Do-It-Yourself Editing Secrets. While much of this book is geared toward the book publishing industry, the information is invaluable for anyone who writes anything, including books, blogs, reports, web copy, even emails—and we all do that.
Howard-Johnson writes:
“The most important part of the editing process is getting over the idea that readers won’t notice or care, or that someone else does or doesn’t do this editing stuff for you. Editing matters big. It matters in places you never suspected it would.”
The Frugal Editor is not another dry, textbook-style list of grammar rules (although it has plenty of those). It’s entertaining and obvious that Howard-Johnson had a lot of fun writing it. As you read, sometimes you’ll nod in agreement that a particular error is irritating to the reader or cringe in embarrassment because you’re making the mistake being discussed.
If your goal is to have your book traditionally published, you’ll want to pay careful attention to the chapter where Howard-Johnson lists 21 literary agents’ pet peeves. She put a request out to agents and shared their specific responses. Following their advice will significantly increase your chances of getting representation for your book.
Language is always evolving, and so is the editing process. We need to keep up with the changes and the tools that help us produce a final product that is as sharp, crisp, and clear as possible. The Frugal Editor does that in discussions of AI editing tools, up-to-date rules for how to avoid running afoul of the PC police, techniques for improving your writing, and much more.
Howard-Johnson includes detailed information on publishing shams and scams—a subject dear to my heart. She explains how to spot rip-offs and provides basic information on self-publishing.
The appendices and Frugal Editor’s Extras are worth the price of the book. The appendices include recommended reading and resources, a list of literary agents, sample query and cover letters, and more. The Extras are real-life lessons from Howard-Johnson’s experiences so you can learn from her mistakes.
Whether your goal is to write a Nobel Prize-winning book or simply to send error-free emails, you need The Frugal Editor: Do-It-Yourself Editing Secrets. I recommend reading (or skimming) the entire book so you know what’s in it and then keeping it handy for reference as you’re working.
Jacquelyn's latest book is Christian Business Almanac: The Ultimate Daily Guide for Kingdom-Driven Entrepreneurs and Leaders.
She is the author of the nonfiction books Simple Facts About Self-Publishing (Second Edition), Words to Work By: 31 devotions for the workplace based on the Book of Proverbs and Finding Joy in the Morning: You can make it through the night as well as the novel Choices (A Joyful Cup Story). With her husband, she is the co-creator of several coloring books for adults and the novelty My Book About series.
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