Category: Editors On The Blog

Editors on the Blog: June 2018

13/6/2018

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

2018 goals: Midyear update by Denise Foster, published on Fostered Creativity. Denise writes: ‘At the end of 2017, I published my Year in Review and Goals for 2018. I promised I’d post a midyear update to take stock of where I’m at now with my business, so enjoy!’
5-minute branding by John Espirian, published on Espirian. John writes: ‘This quick exercise will help you sharpen your written voice and add consistency to all your communications.’
Compromise or opportunity? How does your editing garden grow? by Louise Harnby, published on The Parlour. Louise writes: 'Running an editing or proofreading business is a journey, not a moment in time. Some of us will be offered work that’s not ideal. Is accepting this work a compromise or an opportunity?'
How to use bubble charts to get a snapshot of your clients' value to your business by Hazel Bird, published on The Wordstitch Blog. Hazel writes: ‘A bubble chart is a great way to get a snapshot of your clients’ value to your business, both monetarily and in terms of how much you like working with them. It can provide helpful clarity about how you conceptualise your clients’ value to your business, enabling you to set smarter goals for the future.’
Pricing models II; or why a per-word rate benefits freelance copyeditors by Jeanette Fast Redmond, published on the FastEditing Eye. Jeanette writes: 'I review a common pricing model for copyediting – namely, the per-word rate – and examine how a per-word rate lets freelancers separate money from time in our pricing models.'
Pricing models IV; or why copyeditors should pitch a flat fee (and why clients should accept) by Jeanette Fast Redmond, published on the FastEditing Eye. Jeanette writes: 'These days I often convert my word rate to a project rate so I can pitch a flat fee to my copyediting clients. In this post I look at project rates, or flat fees: what they are, why to pitch them, when to pitch them, and how to calculate them.'

CLIENT FOCUS

A beginner's guide to narrative point of view in crime writing by Louise Harnby, published on The Parlour. Louise writes: 'Beginner authors sometimes get in a tangle with narrative POV. This post offers an overview, and features examples from published crime fiction.'
Author revision time: what should you do after you’ve received your sample edit? by Lesley Jones, published on Perfect the Word. Lesley writes: ‘Authors sometimes have between a few weeks and several months to wait from receiving their sample edit and the substantive work commencing. Should they be thinking of tweaking their manuscript during that time in the light of their editor’s comments?’
Be irresistible: The secret of good scientific writing by Claire Bacon, published on Bacon Editing blog. Claire writes: ‘Many scientists think that their writing should be dull and complicated. I challenge this view and explain how to liven it up.’
How to get an agent by Rachel Rowlands, published on The Parlour. Rachel writes: 'If you want to get published traditionally, agent are key. Getting an agent is competitive, and it isn’t easy. I hope my journey and what I’ve learned along the way will inspire you and help you.'
Theses and dissertations (part 1): An easy way to make sure tense is consistent by Beverley Sykes, published on Superscript Proofreading. Bev writes: ‘Tense is almost always inconsistent in the theses and dissertations I work on, but you can easily avoid this by following the simple guidance I suggest in this blog post.’
Theses and dissertations (part 2): How to avoid inconsistency of style by Beverley Sykes, published on Superscript Proofreading. Bev writes: ‘Inconsistency of style might seem like a difficult problem to sort out, but there is a really simple way of tackling this early on to save yourself time.’

EDITING IN PRACTICE

When editorial project managers expect too much by Hazel Bird, published on The Wordstitch Blog. Hazel writes: ‘When a project manager expects too much of a freelancer – or of themselves – it can introduce the risk of things going awry. This post considers three key ways to mitigate the risks that will inevitably arise in text-based projects of all sizes.’

LANGUAGE MATTERS

A very sweary dictionary by Kia Thomas, published on Kia Thomas Editing. Kia writes: 'I like to swear, so much so that last year I decided to do daily tweets of my sweary style choices, under the hashtag #TheDailySwear. This post is a compilation of those tweets, resulting in a resource you never knew you needed – a dictionary of compound swearwords.'

How Star Trek: The Next Generation predicted meme culture by Madeleine Vasaly, published on Twin Cities Geek. Madeleine writes: ‘A comment that editor and linguist James Harbeck made at the ACES conference in April comparing the classic Star Trek episode "Darmok" and how we use memes online inspired me to write a whole article about the subject. I reached out to James and to “Internet linguist” Gretchen McCulloch for insight.’

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 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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Editors on the Blog: May 2018

17/5/2018

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THE BUSINESS OF EDITING

5-minute branding by John Espirian, published on Espirian. John writes: ‘This quick exercise will help you sharpen your written voice and add consistency to all your communications.’
Blog republishing strategy by John Espirian, published on Espirian. John writes: ‘Bloggers can stop worrying about duplicate content penalties from Google. With this advice, they can press ahead with republishing their articles on LinkedIn and Medium, helping their content reach a wider audience.’
Overcoming marketing paralysis: How to turn overwhelm into action by Louise Harnby on The Parlour. Louise writes: 'Business promotion can feel overwhelming, and that can lead to inaction. This article includes some tips to help you move forward ... gently.'
PayPal fees and your right to profits by Erin Brenner, published on Copyediting. Erin writes: 'The world does not owe you a profitable business. If you run a business to make money, the general rule is that you have to spend money first.'
The editorial rates debate – why I don’t charge by the hour by Jen Toyne, published on the Jet Proofreading blog. Jen writes: ‘This article is about how charging by the hour does not work for me and how I made peace with my simple approach to pricing based on number of words.’
Things I have learned in a year of running a business by Renee Moodie, published on the Safe Hands Web & Content Services blog. Renee writes: 'There’s been much to learn in a year of freelancing, starting with understanding that I am not in fact a freelancer but rather the owner of a business.'
What to do when someone asks, 'What’s your rate?' by Molly McCowan, published on Copyediting. Molly writes: 'Do what you can to avoid offering up your hourly rate. Instead, gracefully “pivot” by answering with a question that will give you more insight into the project.'

CLIENT FOCUS

Q&A on what to expect from a thesis proofreading service by Kate Haigh, published on the Kateproof blog. Kate writes: 'I work with a lot of postgraduate students and often get asked the same or similar questions. This blog post is a collation of the most common questions, with answers, which will hopefully help prospective clients but also other editors and proofreaders looking to work with this client set.'
Proofreading tip – checking for mistyped words by Laura Ripper and Helen Stevens, published on the School Proof blog. ‘Teachers often have to proofread their own or their colleagues' student reports. We share some tips to help teachers and other professionals spot commonly mistyped words that Spellcheck won't flag up.’
What is your writing worth to you? by Lisa Poisso, published on Clarity. Lisa writes, ‘Where’s the rule that says novelists have to accelerate from zero to pro with no professional guidance – and at no cost? Help clients put their editing costs into perspective.'
Why ‘suddenly’ can spoil your crime fiction: Advice for new writers by Louise Harnby, published on The Parlour. Louise writes: ‘I discuss the negative impact that just one word can have on narrative tension: Suddenly. I don't suggest that writers should eradicate it, but rather use it judiciously and with intention.'

EDITING IN PRACTICE

How to close an editorial project effectively by Hazel Bird, published on The Wordstitch Blog. Hazel writes: ‘Adding that last missing comma is not the end of a project. The way you close an editorial project has a huge bearing on how clients remember you (and thus whether your name pops into their head for future work) and how you manage your business’s development.’
Silent Changes by Eleanor Abraham, published on eleanorabraham.com. Eleanor writes: ‘Word’s Track Changes is an amazing function letting you see all the revisions your editor is suggesting. But is it really necessary to see all the changes they make to your Word file?’
Sorting text in Microsoft Word by Denise Foster, published on Fostered Creativity. Denise writes: ‘I recently participated in a Facebook discussion on this topic and then decided to write a blog post about it. I hope this is helpful to other writers and editors!’
The editing and revision process for self-publishers by Lisa Poisso, published on Clarity. In this newly revised article, Lisa writes, ‘Add more opportunities for feedback, more opportunities to check specific elements, and more opportunities for a fresh look.’

FREELANCE LIFE

Success in freelancing: Is it luck or hard work? by Denise Foster, published on Fostered Creativity. Denise writes: ‘I’ve always been interested in this topic—what factors determine success? (And what defines “success” anyway?) I decided to share my thoughts about how this specifically relates to freelancing.’
The Perfectpreneur by Sara Donaldson, published on Northern Editorial. Sara writes: ‘If you find you’re constantly comparing yourself to the Perfectpreneur – the businessperson who has it all – here’s an exercise that can help you come back down to earth.’
This proofreader’s approach to GDPR by Kate Haigh, published on the Kateproof blog. Kate writes: 'With the new General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) coming into force in May 2018, affecting anyone working with clients in the EU, I thought it would be useful for clients and colleagues to see how I have approached compliance. This blog post has more detail than my new privacy policy, giving detailed reasons about why I store what data and where.'
Unimposter-able me by Kia Thomas, published on Kia Thomas Editing. Kia writes: 'Imposter syndrome comes for most of us at some point in our careers. But lately I’ve been learning how to fight it, with the help of some classic 90s pop.'

To include your article in next month's edition of Editors on the Blog, click on the button below. The deadline is 11 June 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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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.”’