Immersion Editing Is Listening

Do you have a great listener in your life? I hope you do. A friend. A partner. A parent. A sibling. A child. A colleague. A coach, mentor, or counsellor. Whoever it may be, I bet that person is a blessing in your life.

woman listening

When you share something—whether it be a hilarious tale, stressful problem, or vulnerable confession—they lock onto your every word.

They lean in intently, as if listening with their entire body and being.

They nod or laugh or gasp or clutch their heart at just the right moment.

They focus on your facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice as much as—if not more than—your actual words. It’s a holistic, multidimensional type of listening.

Their eyes are mirrors, reflecting back what you are feeling. It’s empathy, plain and simple.

They don’t interrupt but instead offer short but powerful validations: “Oh man!” or “Wow!” or “No way!” or “I can only imagine . . .”

If they ask questions, it’s not to criticize or challenge but to urge you to go deeper or to help you discover a new angle.

They know how and when to gently guide you back on track when you lose your train of thought.

They have a knack for synthesizing all that unfiltered stuff streaming out of your mouth and offering it back to you in a beautifully clarified statement—as if they somehow know what you’re saying better than you do.

In fact, they even listen to what you’re not saying. They have this downright spooky sense that allows them to hear between the lines.

With all this and more, they make you feel heard, seen, understood, safe, validated, valued.

Not everyone is a great listener, though. Truth be told, most people aren’t. Most people fall somewhere on an ever-shifting spectrum between “pretty good listener” to “serviceable listener” to “Huh? Did you say something?”

And that’s OK. That’s human nature. I hope we’re all at least trying our best. Thankfully, listening is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and strengthened, if we’re so inclined.

So in a world of mediocre listeners, there’s something special and rare about these naturally gifted ones. They are truly amazing. As I said above, I hope you have one in your life.

And if you’re an author, I hope you have one as your editor.

Because editing is listening.

Look back at the descriptions above and scan for the keywords: lock on, lean in, focus, holistic, multidimensional, mirrors, reflecting back, empathy, powerful validation, go deeper, discover a new angle, gently guide, synthesizing, clarified, spooky sense, hear between the lines.

Those concepts apply to editing in roughly the same ways they apply to interpersonal communication.

As an author, don’t you want to feel heard, seen, understood, safe, validated, valued? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to feel that way during your edit?

My number one goal is not to help you improve your book. Now don’t fret—improving your book is, indeed, one of my goals. A really big one, yes. Just not the biggest.

Rather, my most important goal is to be a great listener for your book as well as for you. If I can’t be a great listener, then I can’t begin to help you improve your book—at least not beyond putting some commas in the right spots.

As I was writing this post, I decided to check out the testimonials on my home page. I hoped I’d be lucky enough to find something, somewhere, from someone who mentioned listening, being heard, or a related idea.

I was delightfully shocked, then, to see the very first words of the very first testimonial: “Angie takes time to listen . . .” (Thanks, Joan—you’re the best!)

I’d love to tell you that all editors approach this work the same way I do.

Some do. I’m amazed and inspired to see how many people take my immersion editing classes because they, too, believe in this approach. They, too, understand that this is about so much more than words on a page.

But other editors—surface editors—are often not so great when it comes to this listening concept. At best, they might land in that “serviceable” spot on the spectrum. At worst, they might be the editorial equivalent of “Huh?”

How do you know an editor is a not-so-great listener?

Well, how do you know a friend, colleague, or family member is a not-so-great listener?

You just know, right? You can feel it. You feel dismissed. Ignored. Belittled. Misunderstood. Disrespected. Annoyed. Hurt. Miffed. You name it—you’ve felt it. We all have.

It’s the same thing with editors. You just know it.

You might detect poor listening in a literal sense, with the editor not taking time to chat with you, not replying to emails, or not allowing you to raise comments and questions.

Or maybe you’ll detect it in a literary sense, with the editor misunderstanding your voice, message, and intentions and therefore editing your manuscript so poorly that you don’t even recognize it anymore.

Either way, it’s bad.

Do you remember the statement on my home page that says, “You deserve an immersion experience”? Let’s build on that now and say, “You deserve an editor who’s a great listener.”

You flat-out deserve it.

Working with a great listener is not a luxury or some pie in the sky. Don’t ever tell yourself you’re not worth it or that something as fundamental as engaged, empathic listening doesn’t matter in editing.

Writing, editing, and publishing a book is an emotional, meaningful, and vulnerable experience. You need and deserve to feel heard, seen, understood, safe, validated, valued.

I’m listening . . .

Two Classes This Fall

What’s better than one immersion editing class? Two immersion editing classes, of course. The fun begins on September 15 for Going Deeper: Immerse Yourself in Immersion Editing. Then join me again for Immersion in Proofreading and Copyediting on Tuesday evenings, October 9 through November 13.

Let’s take a closer look at each course.

 

Going Deeper class title

Going Deeper: Immerse Yourself in Immersion Editing

September 15

This is the foundational class for immersion editing and what it truly means to go deeper. This one-day intensive is a game-changer for editors of all levels, authors, project managers, and basically anyone who works with writing.

We’ll discuss how immersion editing is like scuba diving and what it has in common with servant leadership, emotional intelligence, and even “whispering.” It’s a whole new—and better—way to take authors, manuscripts, and your own career to the next level.

 

Immersion in Proofreading and Copyediting

Tuesdays, October 9 through November 13

Editors, this is the nitty-gritty, in-the-trenches, getting-your-hands-dirty class you’ve all been waiting for. In this in-depth six-week course, we’ll explore all sorts of “secrets” about proofreading and copyediting—from mechanics and style sheets to best practices and tips. I’ll walk through sample edits to give you a glimpse into my mind. (Scary stuff—I know.) And you’ll get plenty of hands-on exercises to practice what you’ve learned. Authors, come join us too if you’ve ever wanted to be your own first editor or perhaps get a foot in the editorial door.

 

With both courses, what excites me the most is that they bring like-minded people together in our growing network of immersion editors. It’s a bit of a revolution, and it’s incredible to see how it’s growing.

I wholeheartedly believe that editors learn best from each other. In these classes, I swear I learn more from the participants than they learn from me. It’s an enlightening experience for all.

Immersion editing is about making the world a better place for authors, manuscripts, and editors. So come take not one but two plunges with me this fall.

Immersion Editing as a Journey

The scuba-diving analogy is of course the heart of immersion editing. It’s a great way to capture the concept of “going deeper.” But diving isn’t the only analogy for this approach. I often describe immersion editing as a journey.

Editing as a journey has special meaning for me. I love hiking, especially in the mountains. Something magical happens the moment I lace up my boots (or better yet, have my husband lace them up because I never remember how to do the special ankle-lock tie). I love setting out with my poles, my pack, and my camera, breathing in the cedar-scented air.

Before long, I find myself huffing and puffing, trudging my way up steep inclines and winding switchbacks. I need to be surefooted and fearless up there in those heights, so I repeat my mantra: “Mountain goat. Mountain goat. Mountain goat.” Sometimes I even catch a glimpse of those agile animals, and they steel my resolve.

Most trails lead to beautiful vistas that serve as worthy rewards for all those miles. Really, though, the reward is the satisfaction of knowing I pushed myself to the limit and made it there and back again, just like Bilbo. (By the way, ever notice that the “back again” is the hardest? You’d think going downhill would be a cinch, but it kills the ol’ knee joints.)

Uphill, downhill, and in between, hiking is invigorating, challenging, and sometimes even arduous. But it’s worth every moment. It makes me feel alive as nothing else can.

 

So imagine, if you will, immersion editing as a journey. As your editor, I’ll be your trusty trail guide. I’ll walk right alongside you, taking every step with you. With positive encouragement and real understanding, I’ll help you achieve feats you maybe couldn’t achieve alone. I’ll help you see your book and yourself in new ways as we go deeper and deeper on our path.

Yes, it may be challenging at times. It can be a long process. This is a journey, after all—not a jaunt. (Be sure to pack some water and protein bars. Maybe some jerky.)

But again, it’ll be worth every moment. Every step will reveal something new and exciting. Every step will be meaningful. Together, we’ll reach our destination. That is, both you and your manuscript will reach full potential. Your book will transform, and so will you as a writer and a person.

Actually, the journey of immersion editing is the journey of servant leadership. Servant leadership, as the name suggests, is a bit of a paradox. How can you serve and lead?

The key is in the leader’s mind-set. A trail guide may stand out front with the map and the compass, but she isn’t concerned about wielding power, control, and authority. It’s not about her. She just wants to help you get up that mountain because she knows how much this journey means to you. It’s all about you. She leads you with her knowledge, experience, and insight in order to serve you. And first and foremost, she understands that she needs to earn your trust and rapport before you take step one.

The true measure of servant leadership is whether a leader can inspire growth. For sure, the true measure of immersion editing is the growth and transformation of the manuscript and the author. That’s the destination of the journey.

In contrast, there’s no journey, no serving, no leading, no growth with run-of-the-mill editing experiences, which I call surface editing. You hand your manuscript over to someone, he finds typos and wrangles commas, then he hands it back to you before walking away.

It’s the equivalent of a trail guide snatching your camera from your hands, hiking up the mountain on his own, returning a while later with your camera, and leaving you to flip through a couple of photos he took on your behalf. Or it’s the equivalent of the trail guide giving you a crummy map, pointing you in the general direction of the trailhead, and wishing you luck before he goes back to the lodge to take a nap.

Authors, what kind of experience do you want? Are you ready and eager to take a journey? Wouldn’t you like the company of a guide who’s ready and eager to climb that mountain with you?

And editors, what kind of experience do you want? Do you want to journey alongside authors? Do you understand the paradox of servant leadership and how it relates to editing? (Stay tuned, as I have a few editing classes launching this fall.)

Immersion editing is a journey, and it’s one I enjoy taking. I hope to see you out on the trail.

 

Editing Secrets Made Easy: April 19

hand on laptop

There’s so much to remember when it comes to grammar, punctuation, style, and other mechanics. Sometimes it seems as though these are secrets only your eighth-grade English teacher knows. With that said, I’m happy to invite editors and authors to Editing Secrets Made Easy on April 19, 6:30–8:30 p.m. at Beaver’s Pond Press. (Many thanks to the Pond for graciously opening their office for these classes. It’s a wonderfully creative and inspirational space for bookish folks to gather.)

This will be my second time presenting this class. It’s easily my most popular class to date. Last time, we packed in nearly twenty people, a mix of editors and authors and a few in-betweens. Here’s hoping we get a big turnout this time too. If you didn’t join us for the first go-around, please check it out this time.

I think the class is so popular because everyone wants and needs a better grasp on grammar, punctuation, style—the nuts and bolts. Specifically, everyone wants and needs someone to explain it all in simple, common-sense, easy-to-remember terms. That’s true not only for writers but for editors, and we’re the so-called experts.

Case in point, I’m the first to admit I’m no grammarian. I often forget the difference between a misplaced modifier and a dangling participle. But it doesn’t really matter, so long as I know how to identify each of them in a manuscript and polish them up.

Along those same lines, the class won’t focus on jargon. Rather, it’ll help you recognize there’s something wrong with this sentence: “Sensing a collision, the oncoming bus made Sherry brace herself.” (By the way, that’s a misplaced modifier. I think…)

The other reason Editing Secrets Made Easy is so popular is because these “secrets” are culled from real experiences, real manuscripts, real authors, real editors. With eighteen years of professional editing, I’ve seen these issues pop up in countless raw manuscripts from authors. I’ve also seen them pop up in countless copyedited manuscripts when I do proofreads. For that matter, some of these issues have baffled me too for years. (Lay versus lie. I swear I have to look it up every time, just to be safe.)

Authors, this is a great way to boost your writing. Knowing the ins and outs of mechanics will make you a better writer, hands down. Fact is, master wordsmiths have also mastered the basics of language. And the more you know about mechanics, the better shape your manuscript will be in when it comes time to start the publishing process. You will save yourself time and quite possibly money.

Learning the basics will make all your writing better, including the pieces that don’t go through a professional editor. Think about every tweet, blog post, email, cover letter, and so on. What effect will you create as a professional author if you mistakenly use affect instead of effect?

Editors, this is a great chance for us to gather and learn together. I’m all about sharing knowledge, especially because we no longer have an apprenticeship model in our industry. (Something I’ll discuss more in posts to come.) We need to find our own ways to share trade secrets. There’s something here for everyone, from newbies to seasoned pros.

This particular class creates a unique experience to learn alongside authors. You’ll see how to approach copyediting mechanics in an author-friendly, common-sense way. So, let me break out some jargon here: Maybe you know the difference between a restrictive and nonrestrictive appositive, but do you know how to explain it to an author without making her eyes cross—or worst yet, without sounding patronizing?

So, come one, come all—join us for Editing Secrets Made Easy on April 19. Let’s shed some much-needed light on these secrets!

Immersion Editing vs. Surface Editing

I’m thrilled to report that the Going Deeper class on February 24 was a smashing success. By immersing ourselves in immersion editing, we uncovered what the mantra of “going deeper” really means. For starters, “going deeper” begs the question, “Deeper than . . . what?”

The short answer is, immersion editing goes deeper than surface editing.

For the long answer, let’s imagine we’re on an ocean excursion to check out a coral reef forty feet below the surface.

When the boat comes to a stop above the reef, many people roll up their pant cuffs, dangle their legs over the edge, and dip their toes into the water.

dipping toes in water

Maybe they look down every now and then, squinting and trying to peer through the blindly bright sun bouncing off the surface. Honestly, they can’t see a thing. They have no clue whether a reef is even down there. They might as well be back on land.

Meanwhile, a few other people eagerly don scuba gear and flip into the water. They are properly trained and properly equipped to dive deep and explore the reef up close and in-depth. They see firsthand that it’s teeming with exotic marine life. When they eventually reemerge, they’re bursting with incredible details about being in this amazing underwater world. Just from the way they talk and the expressions on their faces, you can tell it was a meaningful, transformative experience.

As the scuba divers rave on and on, you can’t help but look over at those who never left the boat. The whole point of this excursion was to explore the reef. So why didn’t they dive in too? Do they not know how to scuba dive? Or do they know how to scuba dive, yet they choose not to? If so . . . why not? It’s hard not to draw some bleak conclusions about their motives.

Now let’s translate this little allegory into reality. As I’m sure you’ve already figured out, the coral reef represents a manuscript that needs editing. But what you might not realize is that it also represents the author behind the manuscript, the person who wants a positive connection with the editor, one built on trust.

The people with their toes in the water are surface editors. They barely engage themselves with manuscripts. They typically do the bare minimum—if that. They exert little to no energy on connecting with authors. I’ve seen surface editing’s effects on manuscripts and authors. It’s heartbreaking. And maddening.

As for the scuba divers, they are immersion editors. Immersion editing is my special approach because I know authors and manuscripts deserve much more.

Yep, you guessed it: immersion editing is about going deeper. I know that truly great editing can only be achieved if I immerse myself in the manuscript, truly understand it and its message. I also immerse myself in a relationship with the author because I know the entire edit is built on rapport and trust.

If you’re an author, what do you want for your manuscript? (And let’s be frank: for your time and money?) Which type of editor do you want to work with: someone who’s ready and able to dive down deep to discover the wonders below, or someone who barely breaks the surface and hardly gets wet? If immersion editing sounds like a fit for you, let’s chat about your project and your goals.

If you’re an editor, what do you want for your career? Do you want to just sit there with your toes skimming the surface, never knowing the amazing underwater world below? Or do you want to take the plunge and go deeper? If immersion editing sounds like a fit for you too, stay tuned, as I have more classes planned for the spring and summer. My goal is to train and equip more editors to dive in and go deeper.

Now, who’s ready to check out that reef?

Immersion Editing Class: February 24

So, are you ready to take the plunge? I’m proud to announce my next class—Going Deeper: An Immersion in Immersion Editing. In this one-day intensive, I’ll share the secrets of the immersion editing approach.

Going Deeper class title

Editors, come unlock your power to take your career and craft to real depths. Authors, don’t feel left out. This is a great chance to explore the other side of the editing experience and learn how to deepen your own critique skills.

Come join us too if you’re a project manager or designer or if you work with writers in virtually any way. Whatever your experience, this class will inspire and challenge you to go deeper. It’s a fun time, if I do say so myself.

We won’t talk about serial commas and who versus whom. Rather, we’ll discuss how immersion editing is like scuba diving and what it has in common with servant leadership, emotional intelligence, and even “whispering.”

If you are indeed ready to take the plunge—and I hope you are—then check out the Eventbrite listing for Going Deeper: An Immersion in Immersion Editing. Seats are limited, so sign up today.

I hope to see you there!

Welcome to Immersion Editing

Hello and welcome! Today I proudly launch AngelaWiechmann.com out into the wild blue yonder of the internet.

Light through water

This momentous occasion has been a long time coming. I’ve never had a website before. Truth be told, outside of a simple LinkedIn page, I’ve had zero online presence until this moment. I know, I know—it’s 2018. It’s ridiculous that it’s taken me this long. (If you’ve seen my phone, though, you understand.)

So, however overdue this may be, I’m eager to share my website with you now. More importantly, I’m eager to share my vision of immersion editing.

We’ll explore immersion editing in blog posts to come, so stay tuned. In a nutshell, though, I can sum it up with the mantra-slash-tagline: Let’s go deeper.

You see, most editors skim the surface, dipping their toes into their work. For them, it’s about commas and typos and barely knowing their authors’ names. They’re in and out, and authors are left to slog through manuscripts full of track changes on their own.

But truly great editing can only be accomplished if you go deeper. Me, I immerse myself in the manuscript and in a relationship with the author. I dive down to reach a deeper understanding that helps both the manuscript and the author reach full potential. My goal is to make every editing project meaningful—meaningful edits, meaningful guidance, meaningful connection, meaningful results. This is the editing all authors and all books deserve.

If you’re one of my authors, you know firsthand what immersion editing is all about. You and your books are the proof in the pudding. The amazing, humbling testimonials speak louder than I ever could about this approach.

If you’re a new author lucky enough to have found your way to my site, I hope it piques your interest. Please drop me a line if you’d like to learn more about me, immersion editing, and how I can help you.

If you’re an editor yourself, I’d love to connect with you too. I offer classes on immersion editing and other topics, and I hope you can join me sometime. (Keep an eye on the blog posts for updates about the next class starting soon.)

So yes, AngelaWiechmann.com is finally here at long last. All good things are worth waiting for, right? And no matter how long it took me to get online, I can’t express how excited I am to share this moment with you. Welcome to the immersion experience.

Let’s go deeper.