Category: Editors On The Blog

Editors on the Blog: September 2018

12/9/2018

Editors on the Blog is a monthly column curating some of the best posts from the editing community – articles written by editors and proofreaders for colleagues and clients alike.

My thanks to this month's contributors!

THE BUSINESS OF EDITING

How to minimize cancellations and non-payment for editing and proofreading services by Louise Harnby, published on The Parlour. Louise writes: ‘Every professional editor and proofreader wants to attract best-fit clients who are prepared to commit to a contract of editorial services. For the most part, bookings go smoothly – cancellations, delays, and failures to pay are unusual. Still, editorial business owners need to protect themselves ... just in case.'

CLIENT FOCUS: BUSINESS AND OTHER NON-FICTION

Does your language editor need to know your subject? by Claire Bacon, published on Bacon Editing Blog. Claire writes: ‘Here, I explain why subject-specific knowledge is sometimes – but not always – helpful when it comes to getting your research paper ready for publication. It all depends what you need.'
Knowing Your Culture – The C Word In Financial Firms by Howard Walwyn, published on Prism-Clarity. Howard writes: ‘Culture in financial services firms is more of a concern to regulators today than some of the themes that have historically preoccupied them. I focus on what culture in financial services firms means.'

CLIENT FOCUS: FICTION

Finally – a short blog post! by Lesley Jones, published on Perfect the Word. Lesley writes: ‘Authors sometimes find their writing is padded out with favourite and filler words. This post contains a couple of tips on how to cut them down. Plus a book recommendation!’
How to punctuate dialogue in a novel by Louise Harnby, published on The Parlour. Louise writes: ‘If the thought of punctuating your novel’s dialogue brings you out in a sweat, let me mop your brow with these 7 tips.'
Kick-start your own career development program for new novelists by Lisa Poisso, published on Clarity: Tools and Skills for Authors. Lisa writes: ‘The hardest part of breaking into anything new is that you’re not even aware of what you don’t yet know, so dig in!’
Research tools for crime and thriller writers by Louise Harnby, published on The Parlour. Louise writes: ‘If you’re including authentic technical or procedural information in your crime writing, you’ll be wearing your research hat. Your story should come first, of course. However, be sure to get your facts straight before you decide if and how far you’re going to bend reality.'

EDITING IN PRACTICE

Proofreading designed page proofs: knock-on effects by Louise Harnby, published on The Parlour. Louise writes: ‘Good proofreading practice means acknowledging that changing one word, or moving one line, can have unintended and damaging consequences throughout the rest of the book if we aren’t careful.'

LANGUAGE MATTERS

Develop your writing muscle through imitation by Lisa Poisso, published on Clarity: Tools and Skills for Authors. Lisa writes: ‘One of the best ways to stretch your writing skills is to draw inspiration from those who are writing the kind of novels you want to write. What do the authors you admire do best? Can you emulate that?’
Simple or simplistic? – and other tricky word choices by Helen Stevens and Laura Ripper, published on the School Proof blog. Helen writes: ‘Choosing between two closely related words whose meanings are similar can sometimes be difficult. Here are some commonly confused pairs – with examples of their uses – to help you make the right choice.’

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Editors on the Blog: August 2018

15/8/2018

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THE BUSINESS OF EDITING

10 tips for proofreading and copyediting self-published fiction by Louise Harnby, published on The Parlour: Louise writes: 'Here are 10 tips to help you prepare a mindful way for editing and proofreading fiction for independent authors and self-publishers.'
How to create an amazing portfolio: Using stories to stand out by Louise Harnby, published on The Parlour: Louise writes: 'An editing site without a visible portfolio is at a disadvantage. It’s the next best thing to the social proof of a testimonial because it demonstrates that you practise what you preach. Using stories is a method every editor can use to bring their portfolio page to life.'

CLIENT FOCUS: BUSINESS AND OTHER NON-FICTION

Business communication layering: Technical content for different audiences by Howard Walwyn, published on Prism-Clarity.com. Howard writes: ‘I’m not usually a fan of writing templates, but this one can be used across a wide range of business formats and is a great way of reaching different audiences with the same content.’
It’s good to make mistakes by Claire Bacon, published on Bacon Editing Blog. Claire writes: ‘Writing a research paper in a second language is hard. In this post, I encourage non-native English-speaking scientists to improve their writing by learning from their mistakes.’

CLIENT FOCUS: FICTION

10 ways a book editor can help besides editing by Lisa Poisso, published on Clarity. Lisa writes: ‘An editor can give you a hand out of all sorts of tight spots in your book’s development, not just writing and editing. A seasoned outside eye can help you smooth out story issues before you start writing or help you sell your novel effectively once you’ve finished.’
Everything wrong with your vovel in 15 minutes by Kerri Miller, published on Utopian Editing. Kerri writes: ‘If you’ve ever watched CinemaSins on YouTube, you know their movie critiques are harsh but all too often true. As an author, you need to steel yourself and find a developmental editor who will help save your book from a similar fate (though hopefully with a little more tact).’
Is your book ready for editing? by Lisa Poisso, published on Clarity.
Lisa writes: ‘When it’s time to come back to the drafting table to rework your manuscript, how many drafts is enough? The answer: as many as it takes to develop and polish all the elements that support your story.’
Playing with the rhythm of fiction: commas and conjunctions by Louise Harnby, published on The Parlour. Louise writes: 'By playing with commas and conjunctions you can alter the rhythm of a sentence. Changing the rhythm can help your readers immerse themselves deeper in the mood of your narrative and the emotions of your characters.'
Should I ask for feedback on my novel while I’m still writing it? by Sophie Playle, published on Liminal Pages. Sophie writes: ‘Feedback on an incomplete first draft can assure an author they’re on the right path and inspire them to keep going, but it can equally knock their confidence and cause them to give up … So what should they do? Here’s my advice.’
Trim the fat from your fiction: Redundancy by Kerri Miller, published on Utopian Editing. Kerri writes: ‘Redundancy can bloat your manuscript and bog down the reader. Learn how to recognize and trim the most common types in fiction.’
What kind of editing do I need? by Kerri Miller, published on Utopian Editing. Kerri writes: ‘First-time authors might find the editing process confusing. What types of editing are there? When should each kind be performed? Read on for a lifeline.’
Writing a crime novel – should you plan or go with the flow? by Louise Harnby, published on The Parlour. Louise writes: 'Some crime writers are planners. Some are pantsers (so called because they fly by the seat of their pants). Neither is better than the other. What matters is that the method you choose to write your story works for you and results in a tale well told.'

EDITING IN PRACTICE

Help! My edit is choking my computer! by Lisa Poisso, published on Clarity.
Lisa writes: ‘Word takes a lot of heat for choking on big documents when it’s really the user’s computer hardware at fault. The little laptop or older computer that’s served you so loyally for writing may not be able to keep up now that you’re showing and hiding tracked changes and formatting marks and forcing your system to repaginate on the fly.’
PerfectIt, the copyeditor’s meticulous sidekick by Kerri Miller, published on Utopian Editing. Kerri writes: ‘Thinking about trying PerfectIt but can’t make up your mind? I documented my first experience with it and shared some thoughts that might help.’

LANGUAGE MATTERS

Affordable ways to learn to be a better writer by Lisa Poisso, published on Clarity. Lisa writes: ‘Professional editing is overkill when you’re still getting basic writing skills under your belt—grammar, spelling, punctuation, usage, and fiction-specific narrative techniques such as dialogue and point of view. If you’re still learning to write, don’t invest in editing. Invest in writing.'
Better words than 'said' by David Mundy, published on FPI Proofreading. David writes: 'Gustave Flaubert would spend an age looking for "le mot juste" in his writing! Here is a list, amassed by my 13 year-old students, of 180 words that can be used to replace the ubiquitous and over-used "said" in dialogue.'

To include your article in next month's edition of Editors on the Blog, click on the button below. The deadline is 10 September 2018.

Submit a link to EOTB

Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with independent authors of commercial fiction, particularly crime, thriller and mystery writers. She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP), a member of ACES, and a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi).

Visit her business website at Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor, say hello on Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, or connect via Facebook and LinkedIn.

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Editors on the Blog: July 2018

18/7/2018

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THE BUSINESS OF EDITING

6 tips to help you speak in public with confidence by Simon Raybould, published on The Parlour. Simon writes: 'A good presentation will change someone’s mind ... and with it, their world. A good presentation is a form of telepathy – sending ideas from your mind to someone else’s.'
How to become a better editor while secretly promoting your business by Louise Harnby, published on The Parlour. Louise writes: 'If you love learning about how to do your job better, and are prepared to make time in your business schedule for this continued professional development (CPD), you have at your fingertips all the marketing tools you need.'

CLIENT FOCUS: BUSINESS AND OTHER NON-FICTION

A sound experiment: Writing by voice and ear alone by Howard Walwyn, published on Prism-Clarity. Howard writes: ‘Writing using Voice Recognition software has lots of benefits. It is quick, easy to edit, fluent and conversational. This blog tests the theory.’
Writing winning proposals, part one by Tanya Preston, published on Engineered Copy. Tanya writes: ‘Writing proposals is something most businesses and freelancers need to do to win more work. Here’s some tips for making your proposals stand out from the competition.’
Plain English – what are the business benefits? by Laura Ripper, published on Laura’s blog. Laura writes: ‘It’s not just a box you have to tick to show you’re being a responsible company – there are plenty of financial benefits for your business, too.’

CLIENT FOCUS: FICTION

3 reasons to use free indirect speech in your crime fiction by Louise Harnby, published on The Parlour. Louise writes: 'Are you using free indirect speech in your writing? This article provides an overview of what it is and how it can spice up your crime fiction.'
12 reasons to learn how to write a brilliant synopsis by Lisa Poisso, published on Clarity. Lisa writes: 'You can quit holding your nose now—this whole synopsis thing is going to take more than a single held breath. Writing your synopsis is a must-have writing skill for every successful novelist. Consider how many times and how many ways you’re going to have to summarize your novel over the course of the publishing process.'
How to write the best blurb by Aimee Walker, published on Aimee Walker Proofreader & Writer. Aimee writes: 'It is in an author’s best interests to write their blurb early on in the process, to attract their test readers – once it is written it will then be adaptable for other uses.'
How to write the best opening to your novel by Aimee Walker, published on Aimee Walker Proofreader & Writer. Aimee writes: 'The first lines need to be concise and generally action-heavy; you can elaborate on reasons and details later. If you try to explain the action too much, too early, you risk losing the intrigue and curiosity that you are trying to hook your reader with.'
Why your first book should not be part of a series by Lisa Poisso, published on Clarity. Lisa writes: 'Tackling a series is a serious handicap for freshman authors who are still mastering the mechanics of how to craft a story. That’s a ridiculously high difficulty setting, and it’s no wonder many authors crumple before the finish line or produce a series that peters out with a whimper.'

EDITING IN PRACTICE

Disengage, re-engage: 13 tips for proofreading text you’ve already copy-edited by Hazel Bird, published on The Wordstitch Blog. Hazel writes: ‘In an ideal world, the copy-editor and proofreader should always be different people; however, reality doesn’t conform to ideals. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s important to be prepared, so that you can mitigate the natural disadvantages and turn everything you can to your advantage.’

LANGUAGE MATTERS

Mental illness and the editorial profession: Erasing the stigma by Denise Foster, published on Fostered Creativity. Denise writes: ‘This is one of my most popular blog posts to date and a topic that is important to me as someone who has an anxiety disorder. The language we use when we discuss mental health is important – paying attention to small details and valuing consistency, accuracy, and order are important attributes for proofreaders and editors to have, but this doesn’t equate to having OCD or an anxiety disorder.’
Publishing scientific research: challenges and solutions by Claire Bacon, published on Bacon Editing Blog. Claire writes: ‘Language editors can teach academics a lot about how to write well. This article summarizes valuable insights from the recent SENSE 2018 conference that will help researchers get their work published faster.’

To include your article in next month's edition of Editors on the Blog, click on the button below. The deadline is 16 July 2018.

Submit a link to EOTB

Louise Harnby is a fiction line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in supporting self-publishing authors, particularly crime writers. She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP) and an Author Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi).

Visit her business website at Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor, say hello on Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, or connect via Facebook and LinkedIn.

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Editors on the Blog: April 2018

12/4/2018

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Editors on the Blog is a monthly column curating some of the posts from the editing community – articles written by editors and proofreaders for colleagues and clients alike.

There are some absolute corkers in this inaugural edition. Thank you so much for contributing!

THE BUSINESS OF EDITING

‘How do I get freelance copywriting work?’ by John Espirian, published on Espirian. John writes: ‘One of the commonest questions I’m asked is: How do I get copywriting work? I hope it helps a few of you newbie copywriters to get started.'
‘How to get fiction editing and proofreading work’ by Louise Harnby, published on The Proofreader's Parlour. Louise writes: ‘This post looks at how specialization, training, directory advertising, content marketing, events and festivals, workshops and webinars, and reading fiction help to get us fiction editing work.'

CLIENT FOCUS

'6 ways to improve your big-picture revision skills' by Lisa Poisso, published on JamiGold.com. Lisa writes: ‘Building your story sensibilities will give you the confidence to begin your revisions where they count: at the story level.’
‘Document content formats: pros and cons’ by John Espirian, published on Espirian. John writes: ‘My clients are often unsure about which document format they should use for their content. In this article, I look at the pros and cons of HTML, PDF, Word and PowerPoint.’
'How to cope when your manuscript query is rejected' by Lisa Poisso, published on lisapoisso.com. Lisa writes: ‘Your soul is not being judged at the pearly gates. You’re pitching a book in an industry based on pitching books. Toughen up. Lean into the punches and push back.’
‘How to start writing your novel’ by Cally Worden, published on The Enigma Blog. Cally writes: ‘If you perpetually avoid putting pen to paper (or fingers to keys) here are five possible reasons why, with some ideas to help you out of each particular novel-writing rut.’
'Crime fiction subgenres: Where does your novel fit?' by Louise Harnby, published on The Proofreader’s Parlour. Louise writes: ‘Understanding your crime-fiction subgenre(s) helps you tell readers where to find you, agents where to place you, and publishers where to shelve you. This article covers some of the biggies.’

EDITING IN PRACTICE

‘The art of being invisible’ by Brian Langan, published on Storyline Editing. Brian writes: ‘Book editors measure their success by their invisibility. Yet they share the emotional highs and lows of the authors, depending on the books’ critical reception.’
‘Proofreading pitfalls: Nine tips to improve your proofreading strategy’ by Hazel Bird, published on The Wordstitch Blog. Hazel writes: ‘How methodical is your proofreading approach? My latest blog post has nine tips on proofreading strategy from my experience as a project manager and proofreader.’

FREELANCE LIFE

'Business continuity planning for your proofreading service' by Pete Haigh, published on Kateproof. Pete writes: ‘My laptop broke. I thought it would be helpful to share my experience of what I did to get my editing and proofreading service back up and running and the lessons learnt (some the hard way!) from this process.’
‘Getting better and getting organised’ by Sarah Dronfield, published on Sarah Dronfield Proofreader. Sarah writes: ‘I hope that sharing my experiences will help others recognise when they need a break and/or what they could do to be more productive.’
‘Introductory post to my series on being a nomadic editor and proofreader’ by Kate Haigh, published on Kateproof. Kate writes: ‘As the world’s workforce has the technology at hand to become less geographically fixed, I thought it might help other proofreaders and editors if I shared my experiences of being a nomadic editor and proofreader.’

LANGUAGE MATTERS

‘Cambridge Analytica Debacle – The Definition of Breach’ by Laureen Hudson, published on AlienVault. Laureen writes: ‘It's incredibly important, when explaining technology to those who are not fluent in its nuance, to use your words precisely, in a consistent and clear way. And as much as little sideslips like “on premise” and “crypto” make us all twitch, the use of the term “breach” when no actual breach occurred not only misleads people, it blurs the line between those victimized by breaches, and those manipulated without their explicit consent.’
‘Shakespeare’s Netymology’ by Laureen Hudson, published on AlienVault. Laureen writes: ‘Because technical editors and technical writers are also looking for ways to describe that thing that happens, we tend to be early adopters of protologisms, and move words along the spectrum to neologisms as fast as we upgrade the technology itself. As Shakespeare said in Henry V, “We, my dear, are the makers of fashion.”’

To include your article in next month's edition of Editors on the Blog, click on the button below. The deadline is 15 May 2018.

Submit a link to EOTB

Louise Harnby is a fiction copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in helping self-publishing writers prepare their novels for market.

She is the author of several books on business planning and marketing for editors, and runs online courses from within the Craft Your Editorial Fingerprint series. She is also an Advanced Professional Member of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders. Louise loves books, coffee and craft gin, though not always in that order.

Visit her business website at Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor, say hello on Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, or connect via Facebook and LinkedIn.

If you're an author, take a look at Louise’s Writing Library and access her latest self-publishing resources, all of which are free and available instantly.

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