One of the easier ways to break into fiction editing is to offer a lower-priced, lower-skill service, such as proofreading. (Beta reading is another good possibility for a lower-priced, lower-skill service and actually the one I would recommend, since it can lead to developmental editing, a more lucrative and sustainable business.) The reason I don’t…
An editor is someone who takes written works (called “manuscripts” before publication) and helps to shape them so that they better serve the reader and, not incidentally, the author. Typically the editorial process involves the editor receiving the manuscript, marking it up with edits and suggestions (called editorial queries), and returning it to the author…
Back when I edited a custom magazine, I assigned and edited a package about an upcoming event (similar to a business conference) which included profiles of some of the attendees and speakers, a how-to-get ready checklist, a travel piece on side trips to take at the location, a celebration of highlights of the event over…
Once upon a time, I trained in the martial arts. When I was a brown belt, I hit someone pretty hard and broke his rib. We were supposed to demonstrate excellent physical control, and accidentally breaking someone’s rib does not equal excellent physical control. I felt terrible for causing him pain and for not having…
I once had a manuscript land on my desk was written in such an abstract way (“glorious silver moon moments brandish sparkles”) (not a direct quote) that I couldn’t figure out how to begin to edit it. This was for a publisher client who would send projects my way without giving me a chance to…
My daughter likes the idea of dogs more than she actually likes the reality of them, sort of like me and home ownership. So we both enjoy these things safely at a distance. “What a cute house!” I say as I walk on by. “What a cute dog!” she says as she walks on by….
Are you thinking about exploring a new career in the new year? If you love books, you might think about editing as a career. But it can be difficult to find out if it’s right for you. What skills and aptitudes do you need? What’s the difference between copyediting and developmental editing? How to Become…
Our upcoming Beginning Copyediting for Fiction class will educate anyone wanting to fix the errors seen on a daily basis in the real world! Over the past week or so, I’ve caught the following typos and grammatical awkwardness in major news media: USA Today: “publically released” USA Today: “could cause driver’s to crash” USA Today:…