Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
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The Editing Blog: for Editors, Proofreaders and Writers

FOR EDITORS, PROOFREADERS AND WRITERS

5 tips for proofreading PDFs in Adobe Reader DC

22/6/2022

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Asian woman standing in front of desk and typing into computer
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​Summary of Episode 93

Discover 5 PDF proofreading tips you can apply when working with Adobe Reader DC. Listen to find out more about:
​
  • Rotating the page view
  • Using the ‘Show Cover View in Two Page View’ function
  • Attaching a Word file for large amounts of corrected text
  • Why you should avoid using ‘floating’ sticky notes
  • How to find invisible errors you know you’ve corrected
  • Free versus paid-for software: Is Adobe Reader DC good enough for PDF proofreading?


​Join our Patreon community

If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, thank you! That means the world to us.


Music credit

​‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/.
Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

Why editing is NOT about being ‘a bit OCD’

24/5/2022

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Silhouette of a person's head with scrunched up balls of paper around it
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Summary of Episode 92

We explore the term ‘OCD’ and why it has no place as a marker of attention to detail for the professional editor. Listen to find out more about:
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  • The difference between character traits of orderliness and the lived experience of OCD
  • What is OCD and how does it affect people?
  • Why OCD is a noun and what that means for how we use the term
  • How OCD might manifest
  • How flippant and colloquial references to OCD diminish lived experience
  • Intention versus perception of harm
  • Editing text: querying rather than prescribing problems and solutions
  • Does fiction offer more scope for use of harmful language?
  • Alternative words and phrases
  • Helping clients create engaging rather than distracting messages


​Join our Patreon community

If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, thank you! That means the world to us.
SUPPORT THE EDITING PODCAST


Music credit

​‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/.
Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

Editing the language of illness: With Louise Bolotin

12/5/2022

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Sunset and beach
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​Summary of Episode 91

Should editors be interrogating the language of illness? We chat with Louise Bolotin about challenging normative narratives around cancer and terminal illness. Listen to find out more about:
  • Louise Bolotin's cancer diagnosis
  • Why the language preferences of those with terminal illnesses aren't homogenous
  • Terms in the language of illness that can hurt and harm
  • Why editors have a duty to challenge normative narratives that sugarcoat dying and death
  • How asking how a person wants to talk about terminal illness is better than assuming


Louise Bolotin's Facebook and LinkedIn statements

If you want to see how our guest and edibuddy talks about her cancer diagnosis and the language that surrounds it, or follow her Last Hurrah, take a look at these announcements, threads and pics on social media.
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  • Facebook: The Last Hurrah album
  • Facebook: Statement about cancer diagnosis and language
  • LinkedIn: Announcement about cancer diagnosis and language


​Join our Patreon community

If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, thank you! That means the world to us.
SUPPORT THE EDITING PODCAST


Music credit

​‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/.
Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

What is subediting? With Louise Bolotin

11/5/2022

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Pile of newspapers
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Summary of Episode 90

Want to add subediting to your editorial skillset? Louise Bolotin has been subbing for 17 years and knows the job inside out. In this episode, she shares her knowledge and experience. Listen to find out more about:
​
  • What the different types of editors do in media publishing
  • The differences between subediting and copyediting
  • Editorial timescales for subeditors
  • Who controls the content
  • When things go wrong - legal responsibilities and insurance
  • Subediting lingo
  • A subeditor’s typical day
  • Transferring from copyediting to subediting - training and CPD
  • Core resources for the budding subber
  • How editing has changed over the years, especially for freelancers


Resources mentioned in the show

  • McNae's Essential Law for Journalists, 25th edition
  • National Council for the Training of Journalists
  • Subediting: London School of Journalism course
  • Practical English Usage, 4th edition (Michael Swan)


​Join our Patreon community

If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, thank you! That means the world to us.
SUPPORT THE EDITING PODCAST


Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/.
Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

Is proofreading or editing a good side hustle?

29/3/2022

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​Summary of Episode 88

Think proofreading or editing would be a good side hustle? Two professional editors tell you what you need to know so you don't make mistakes. Listen to find out more about:
  • What a side hustle is and why it's popular
  • Why there's resistance to the term 'side hustle' in the professional editorial community
  • Whether an editorial business can be set up overnight
  • The importance of skilling up and marketing
  • The competition side hustlers have to deal with
  • The different levels of editing
  • How to find work
  • Business-critical considerations


Join our Patreon community

If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, thank you! That means the world to us. There are two tiers to choose from: 
​
  • EditPod Tea Pot: Buy us a cuppa and help keep the podcast ad-free and independent.
  • EditPod Tea Party: All of the above, plus you get exclusive access to quarterly live Q&As that help you keep your business on track.
SUPPORT THE EDITING PODCAST


​Music credit

​‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/.
Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

Academic developmental editing

29/3/2022

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Want to know more about academic developmental editing? Laura Portwood-Stacer discusses what it involves and how to develop your skills.
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​Summary of Episode 87

In this episode, Louise and Denise chat with Laura Portwood-Stacer about:

  • What academic developmental editing is
  • Required skills and background
  • Why academic authors seek help from developmental editors
  • What do academic developmental editors do?
  • Why it's different from other types of non-fiction editing
  • The benefits to editors of offering an academic developmental editing service
  • How academic developmental editors find clients
  • Training and resources for academic developmental editors


​Useful links and resources

  • Contact Laura
  • Read The Book Proposal Book
  • Train as an academic developmental editor


​Join our Patreon community

If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, thank you! That means the world to us. There are two tiers to choose from: 
​
  • EditPod Tea Pot: Buy us a cuppa and help keep the podcast ad-free and independent.
  • EditPod Tea Party: All of the above, plus you get exclusive access to quarterly live Q&As that help you keep your business on track.
SUPPORT THE EDITING PODCAST


Music credit

​‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/.
Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

Book-writing for editors

16/3/2022

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Thinking about writing a book for editors and proofreaders? Find out how Brittany Dowdle and Linda Ruggeri navigated their authorial collaboration.
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​Summary of Episode 86

In this episode, Louise, Denise and their guests chat about:
  • Networking for Freelance Editors: Intended readership
  • Challenging assumptions about networking
  • Why write a book?
  • Writing for editors: The burden of scrutiny
  • Co-authorship: Syncing schedules
  • Working efficiently and productively
  • The power of collaboration
  • The importance of trust in a writing partnership
  • Book-creation process: Beyond writing
  • Tips for editors who want to write a book​


Useful links and resources

  • Find out more about the book: Networking for Freelance Editors
  • The Networking for Freelance Editors website
  • FREE downloadable networking worksheets
  • Contact Brittany Dowdle
  • Contact Linda Ruggeri


​Join our Patreon community

If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, thank you! That means the world to us. There are two tiers to choose from: 
​
  • EditPod Tea Pot: Buy us a cuppa and help keep the podcast ad-free and independent.
  • EditPod Tea Party: All of the above, plus you get exclusive access to quarterly live Q&As that help you keep your business on track.
SUPPORT THE EDITING PODCAST


​Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/.

Discover how to scale your editing business and earn extra income

Learn how to supplement your editing earnings by creating problem-solving products, including books, that customers will love to buy, and all using your existing knowledge base.
TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE BOOK
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Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

​She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

Do editors and proofreaders need a website?

4/3/2022

0 Comments

 
Find out why you need a website if you want your editing or proofreading business to be visible and verifiable.
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​Summary of Episode 85

In this episode, Louise and Denise chat about:
​
  • Why you need a website even if you work only with publishers and packagers
  • Why editorial directories aren't enough
  • Why word of mouth has limitations
  • How clients use websites for quality control
  • Why a website future-proofs your business
  • Current audience expectations around professionalism
  • Websites versus social media presence
  • Controlling your own land
  • Creating a branded digital space
  • Competing with colleagues who have websites


Join our Patreon community

If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, thank you! That means the world to us. There are two tiers to choose from: 
​
  • EditPod Tea Pot: Buy us a cuppa and help keep the podcast ad-free and independent.
  • EditPod Tea Party: All of the above, plus you get exclusive access to quarterly live Q&As that help you keep your business on track.
SUPPORT THE EDITING PODCAST


Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/


Craft a website that gets you work!

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​Want to learn how to craft a standout editorial website that makes you visible in the search engines and compels your ideal clients to hire you? 

​Check out Editor Website Essentials, my flagship online training course created just for editors and proofreaders.
TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE COURSE
Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

Why editors and proofreaders should be networking

16/2/2022

0 Comments

 
Learn about the power of networking with Brittany Dowdle and Linda Ruggeri, two professional editors who've honed the art of building relationships and exchanging ideas to grow their businesses.
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​Summary of Episode 84

​Brittany Dowdle and Linda Ruggeri chat with Louise and Denise about:
  • Networking for Freelance Editors (book)
  • Personality types and networking
  • Positive outcomes from networking
  • Organic vs salesy approaches to networking
  • The power of volunteering
  • Top tips for networking


Useful links and resources

  • Find out more about the book: Networking for Freelance Editors
  • The Networking for Freelance Editors website
  • FREE downloadable networking worksheets
  • Contact Brittany Dowdle
  • Contact Linda Ruggeri
  • EFA Diversity Initiative
  • Writer’s Digest
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Join our Patreon community

If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, thank you! That means the world to us. There are two tiers to choose from: 
​
  • EditPod Tea Pot: Buy us a cuppa and help keep the podcast ad-free and independent.
  • EditPod Tea Party: All of the above, plus you get exclusive access to quarterly live Q&As that help you keep your business on track.
SUPPORT THE EDITING PODCAST


​Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

3 quick ways to improve the design of your editing website

2/2/2022

0 Comments

 
Discover 3 actions you can take to improve the design of your editorial website and that can be implemented within only 24 hours.
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Summary of Episode 83

Denise and I chat about how editors and proofreaders can improve the user experience on their websites with 3 easy-to-implement actions. Listen to find out more about:
  • Navigation buttons
  • Paragraph headings
  • ​Short paragraphs

​
Join our Patreon community

If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, thank you! That means the world to us. There are two tiers to choose from: 
​
  • EditPod Tea Pot: Buy us a cuppa and help keep the podcast ad-free and independent.
  • EditPod Tea Party: All of the above, plus you get exclusive access to quarterly live Q&As that help you keep your business on track.
SUPPORT THE EDITING PODCAST


​Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/


Craft a website that gets you work!

Want to craft a standout editorial website that makes you visible in the search engines and compels your ideal clients to hire you? Check out Editor Website Essentials, my flagship online training course created just for editors and proofreaders.
TELL ME ABOUT THE COURSE
Picture
Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

5 ways to spruce up your editing or proofreading business in the year ahead

5/1/2022

0 Comments

 
Learn about 5 things you can do to give your editing and proofreading business a new-year polish.
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Listen to find out more about:

  • How to be the editor who says, 'It's down to me.'
  • Reviewing which changes you can make to your business.
  • How to measure your editorial-business success fairly.
  • Organizational tips to help you track, plan and schedule.
  • Creating templates and resources that will save you time.


​Join our Patreon community

If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, thank you! That means the world to us. There are two tiers to choose from: 
  • EditPod Tea Pot: Buy us a cuppa and help keep the podcast ad-free and independent.
  • EditPod Tea Party: All of the above plus you get exclusive access to quarterly live Q&As that help you keep your business on track.
SUPPORT THE EDITING PODCAST


​Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

How we’re ramping up The Editing Podcast!

5/1/2022

0 Comments

 
Find out more about the new broadcast schedule for The Editing Podcast and how you can join our community and access quarterly live Zoom Q&As!
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Summary of Episode 80

  • Our brand-new year-round fortnightly broadcasting schedule 
  • The Editing Podcast audience stats
  • How to support us via Patreon
  • How to join an exclusive community with access to quarterly live Zoom Q&As


​Join our exclusive Patreon community

We’re so grateful for all the kind messages of support we’ve received over the years, including some that asked offered to buy us a cup of tea or coffee as a thank-you.

In response to that, we've now set up a Patreon community with two tiers.
Tier 1: EditPod Tea Pot
Perhaps you’d like to buy us a pot of tea to help fuel us during the writing and recording process!
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Tier 2: EditPod Tea Party
Or for just a few quid more, meet and chat with us live during our quarterly tea parties.
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With the tea-party tier, you’ll receive exclusive invitations every 3 months to join us on Zoom for an hour’s conversation about topics related to editing and running an editorial business.

​Ask questions, get guidance on how to solve your editorial business problems, or just sit back and soak up the chat. 
​
BECOME A PATRON!


​Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

Blogging tips for editors and authors #3: With Carol Saller

13/10/2021

0 Comments

 
Subversive copy editor Carol Saller offers yet more top tips on blogging for editors, proofreaders and writers! Join Carol, Louise and Denise on The Editing Podcast to find out more.
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Listen to find out more about:

  • In #1: Carol's blogging journey: The Subversive Copy Editor blog; Lingua Franca (for the Chronicle of Higher Education); Editor's Corner (for The Chicago Manual of Style); Fiction+ (for The Chicago Manual of Style)
  • In #1: Blogging goals
  • In #1: Coming up with ideas: two tips
  • In #1: Blog promotion strategies
  • In #2: Repurposing blog content
  • In #2: Analytics, and how to avoid the rabbit hole
  • In #3: Monetizing your blog
  • In #3: Understanding the sales funnel
  • In #3: Managing reader engagement
  • In #3: Blogging trajectory: Deciding who to write for and when to stop


Related resources

  • About Carol Saller
  • Blogging for Business Growth (course)
  • 'Blogging for writers' (Jane Friedman)
  • But Can I Start a Sentence with “But”? (University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff)
  • Content Chemistry (Andy Crestodina)
  • 'Getting the Most from LinkedIn' (YouTube tutorial)
  • 'Google Analytics Tutorial 2021 – Learn Google Analytics 4 (GA4) & Universal Analytics Step-By-Step' (YouTube tutorial)
  • How to Build an Editorial Blog (book)
  • 'How to promote your blog' (Blogging Wizard)


​Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

Blogging tips for editors and authors #2: With Carol Saller

5/10/2021

0 Comments

 
Subversive copy editor Carol Saller offers more top tips on blogging for editors, proofreaders and writers! Join Carol, Louise and Denise on The Editing Podcast to find out more.
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Listen to #2 to find out more about

  • In #1: Carol's blogging journey: The Subversive Copy Editor blog; Lingua Franca (for the Chronicle of Higher Education); Editor's Corner (for The Chicago Manual of Style); Fiction+ (for The Chicago Manual of Style)
  • In #1: Blogging goals
  • In #1: Coming up with ideas: two tips
  • In #1: Blog promotion strategies
  • In #2: Repurposing blog content
  • In #2: Analytics, and how to avoid the rabbit hole
  • In #3: Monetizing your blog
  • In #3: Understanding the sales funnel
  • In #3: Managing reader engagement
  • In #3: Blogging trajectory: Deciding who to write for and when to stop


Related resources

  • About Carol Saller
  • Blogging for Business Growth (course)
  • 'Blogging for writers' (Jane Friedman)
  • But Can I Start a Sentence with “But”? (University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff)
  • Content Chemistry (Andy Crestodina)
  • 'Getting the Most from LinkedIn' (YouTube tutorial)
  • 'Google Analytics Tutorial 2021 – Learn Google Analytics 4 (GA4) & Universal Analytics Step-By-Step' (YouTube tutorial)
  • How to Build an Editorial Blog (book)
  • 'How to promote your blog' (Blogging Wizard)


​Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

Becoming a fiction editor: 4 things you need to know

18/8/2021

0 Comments

 
Find out about 4 key things you need to know if you want to become a fiction editor. Denise Cowle puts Louise Harnby under the microscope!
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​Listen to find out more about

  • The main types of fiction editing and the kinds of things a fiction editor needs to look out for
  • What additional training you might need
  • The market and client expectations
  • The need for a flexible hand
  • Becoming a fiction editor (free booklet)
  • Switching to Fiction (course)


Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/


More fiction-skills resources

​Check out these additional resources that will help you develop your fiction-editing business.
  • ​Conscious language resources (free booklet for editors)
  • ​​Fiction editing learning centre
  • How to Start a Fiction Editing Business (free webinar for editors)
  • Blog post: How to spell in a novel – wherever your characters are from
  • Blog post: 3 ways to reduce word count and write a leaner thriller
  • Book: Editing Fiction at Sentence Level
  • Book: ​Making Sense of 'Show, Don't Tell'
  • Business Skills Collection (6 ebooks)
  • Switching to Fiction (course for editors)
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Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

Editing with The Chicago Manual of Style for PerfectIt

11/8/2021

0 Comments

 
Find out more about The Chicago Manual of Style for PerfectIt. Developer Daniel Heuman talks with Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle about the union of a 115-year-old style guide and advanced copyediting software technology, and how it will help you edit faster and better.
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Listen to find out more about

  • What The Chicago Manual of Style for PerfectIt is
  • How much it costs
  • How the union came about
  • Full integration of CMOS into PerfectIt 5
  • Why it's free to subscribers of both products
  • What PerfectIt can and can't do
  • Working with the CMOS team
  • Favourite features that help editors learn
  • Why CMOS is a style guide rather than a rule book
  • How users can suggest additions
  • Customizing the CMOS style sheet
  • The Mac-user experience
  • Accessing The Chicago Manual of Style for PerfectIt


Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/


More fiction-skills resources

​Check out these additional resources that will help you develop your fiction-editing business.
​
  • ​Skills and training learning centre
  • Becoming a Fiction Editor (free webinar for editors)
  • Editing Fiction at Sentence Level (book for editors and authors)
  • Business Skills Collection (6 ebooks)
  • How to Write the Perfect Fiction Editorial Report (course)
  • Marketing Toolbox for Editors (course)
  • Switching to Fiction (course for editors)
  • ​The Editing Podcast: The editorial business tips collection
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Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

Style: What editors and proofreaders need to know

4/8/2021

0 Comments

 
Find out what editorial style is, why it’s important, and how editors work to create, evaluate and enforce style.
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​Listen to find out more about

  • What is style?
  • The differences between rules, preferences and conventions
  • Flexibility in fiction and non-fiction
  • What is a style guide?
  • Why style guides aren't rule books
  • When editors need to respect tone, register, voice and brand identity
  • What is a style sheet?


Music credit

​‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/


More editorial-skills resources

Check out these additional resources that will help you develop your fiction-editing business.
​
  • ​Skills and training learning centre
  • Becoming a Fiction Editor (free booklet for editors)
  • Editing Fiction at Sentence Level (book for editors and authors)
  • Business Skills Collection (6 ebooks)
  • Marketing Toolbox for Editors (course)
  • Switching to Fiction (course for editors)
  • ​The Editing Podcast: The editorial business tips collection
Picture
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Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

Is professional editing and proofreading training necessary?

27/7/2021

0 Comments

 
Learn about why editing and proofreading training is necessary if you want to run a professional editorial practice. Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle talk skills!
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Listen to find out more about

  • The client's perspective
  • Doing the job to industry-recognized standards
  • The marketing benefits for the editor and proofreader
  • How training forges a healthy business mindset


Music credit

​‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/


More business-skills resources

​Check out these additional resources that will help you develop your fiction-editing business.
​
  • ​Skills and training learning centre
  • Becoming a Fiction Editor (free booklet for editors)
  • Editing Fiction at Sentence Level (book for editors and authors)
  • Business Skills Collection (6 ebooks)
  • Marketing Toolbox for Editors (course)
  • Switching to Fiction (course for editors)
  • ​The Editing Podcast: The editorial business tips collection
Picture
Picture
Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

LGBTQ+ editing, with guest Nick Taylor

21/7/2021

0 Comments

 
LGBTQ+ editing is the topic. Nick Taylor is the expert! Join Nick, Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle on The Editing Podcast.
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Listen to find out more about

  • Poor representation in the traditional publishing model
  • How self-publishing has driven the publication of more LGBTQ+ inclusive books
  • Recording collective history
  • The LGBTQ+ market and subgenres
  • Tropes that should be avoided
  • Can we edit and write beyond our own lived experience?


Music credit

​‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/


More fiction-editing resources

​Check out these additional resources that will help you develop your fiction-editing business.
​
  • Topic-based resource library
  • ​Fiction editing learning centre
  • Becoming a Fiction Editor (free booklet for editors)
  • Editing Fiction at Sentence Level (book for editors and authors)
  • Business Skills Collection (6 ebooks)
  • Marketing Toolbox for Editors (course)
  • Switching to Fiction (course for editors)
Picture
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Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

Should editors and proofreaders specialize?

7/7/2021

0 Comments

 
Even if you don't specialize in your editorial practice, it's still worth using the language of specialism in your marketing. That's what Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle are chatting about in this episode of The Editing Podcast.
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Listen to find out more about ...

  • The different ways in which we might specialize
  • Helping clients understand how we can help them
  • What does the client want to know?
  • Why saying we can edit 'everything' is a weak message
  • Why the language of specialization is interesting


Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/


More business-growth tools

​Discover more ways to get noticed by your ideal clients with this toolbox of resources:
​
  • 3 ways to make your editing and proofreading website better – fast! (blog)
  • Branding for Business Growth (multimedia course)
  • Editor Website Essentials (multimedia course)
  • How to do Content Marketing (book)
  • Marketing Your Editing and Proofreading Business (book)
  • Marketing resource library (books, booklets and blogs and podcasts)
  • Marketing Toolbox for Editors (course)
  • Overcoming marketing paralysis: How to turn overwhelm into action (blog and booklet)
  • Using 'show, don't tell' as an editorial business tool (booklet)
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Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

2 more zombie rules we can do without

30/6/2021

0 Comments

 
Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle talk about two more zombie rules that have no place in a professional editor's toolbox.
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​​
​Listen to find out more about ...

  • What a zombie rule is
  • The power of a double negative in rich narrative and dialogue
  • Why singular 'they' is a grammatically correct gender-neutral pronoun


​Mentioned in the show

  • Welcome, singular “they”: Lee, C. (2019, October 31). Welcome, singular “they”. APA Style. http://apastyle.apa.org/blog/singular-they


​Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/


More grammar and line-craft resources

Learn about how to use grammar and punctuation to amplify prose rather than butchering it with a rule book.
​
  • Author and editor resources library​
  • Book: Editing Fiction at Sentence Level
  • Book: ​Making Sense of 'Show, Don't Tell'
  • Blog post: How to spell in a novel – wherever your characters are from
  • Booklet: British English and US English in your fiction, and why you should be consistent
  • Podcast: Think it’s American? Think again!
  • Podcast: Linguist Rob Drummond on grammar pedantry, peevery and youth language​
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Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

3 more tips on how editors can beat the marketing blues

23/6/2021

0 Comments

 
Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle share 3 more tips about how to beat the overwhelm that can come with making your editing and proofreading business visible.
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​Listen to find out more about ...

  • Why everyone has something to shout about, even if they think they don't
  • Why some editors appear to do more marketing that is humanly possible, and why that shouldn't deter you
  • The tricks those busy editorial marketers have up their sleeve and how you can mimic them
  • Managing marketing by thinking in ones


​Music Credit

'Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/


​More help with marketing and being visible

Marketing can be learned! Here are some of my most popular teaching tools, all created specifically for editors and proofreaders working in a global freelance market.
​
  • Learn more about marketing with my marketing resources library
  • Marketing Your Editing and Proofreading Business​ (book)
  • Marketing Toolbox for Editors (course)
  • Editor Website Essentials (course)
  • Branding for Business Growth (course)
  • How to do Content Marketing (book)
  • To Visibility and Beyond (course)
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Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

  • Get in touch: Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader
  • Connect: Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Learn: Books and courses
  • Discover: Resources for authors and editors
0 Comments

Writing screenplays and novels: With Rich Leder

1/1/2021

0 Comments

 
In this episode of The Editing Podcast, Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle talk to Rich Leder about writing screenplays and novels. Rich has worked with some of the biggest names in the movie industry. He shares what he's learned about Hollywood, TV and novel craft.
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​Listen to find out more about
  • The differences between writing a screenplay and novel from scratch
  • Cooking for Cannibals: Being edited and receiving feedback
  • Converting film to novel, or novel to film
  • Primal, and why Nicolas Cage makes the perfect Frank Walsh
  • Stage direction during the screenplay-writing stage
  • Character descriptions, noise and environment, and writing a screenplay
  • How does the editing process differ for screenplays and novels?
  • How much is the author involved in the making of the movie?
  • How long does it take to get a movie made? From treatment to option to production
  • Impactful career moments, including how working with Sidney Poitier changed his life

About Rich Leder
Rich has been a working writer for more than three decades. His credits include 19 produced movies—television films for CBS, Lifetime, and Hallmark and feature films for Lionsgate, Paramount Pictures, Tri-Star Pictures, Longridge Productions, and Left Bank Films—and six novels for Laugh Riot Press.

He’s been the lead singer in a Detroit rock band, a restaurateur, a Little League coach, an indie film director, a literacy tutor, a magazine editor, a screenwriting coach, a wedding guru, a PTA board member, a commercial real estate agent, and a visiting artist for the UNCW Film Studies Department, among other things, all of which, it turns out, was grist for the mill.

He resides on the North Carolina coast with his awesome wife, Lulu, and is sustained by the visits home of their three fabulous children. 
​
  • Website 
  • Amazon 
  • Good Reads
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pre-order Cooking for Cannibals here
​
Music Credit
'Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

Visit her business website at Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader, say hello on Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, connect via Facebook and LinkedIn, and check out her books and courses.
0 Comments

Editing short-form content

21/12/2020

0 Comments

 
In this episode of The Editing Podcast, Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle talk about editing short-form content such as newsletters, letters, blog posts, short stories, essays and reports.
Editing short-form content
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Listen to find out more about
  • The different types of content that fall into the short-form category
  • The benefits and challenges of short-form content editing
  • Advice on the remit: client expectations, the brief, ethical issues and practical responsibilities
  • Consistency and style
  • Scheduling issues
  • Pricing
  • Marketing​
​
Music Credit
'Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

Visit her business website at Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader, say hello on Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, connect via Facebook and LinkedIn, and check out her books and courses.
0 Comments

Accountability groups for editors and proofreaders

14/12/2020

0 Comments

 
In this episode of The Editing Podcast, Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle talk about accountability groups, and how they can help editors and other freelance editorial professionals emotionally and practically.
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Listen to find out more about
  • Taking plans beyond the planning stage
  • How an accountability group can help you
  • How you set one up.
  • How many people to include in a group
  • How often an accountability group meets
  • Online or in-person works
  • How long a meeting should be
  • What tools are useful
  • What you might contribute
  • Accountability and what can go wrong​
​
Music Credit
'Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

Visit her business website at Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor & Proofreader, say hello on Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, connect via Facebook and LinkedIn, and check out her books and courses.
0 Comments
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