Category Archives: Editing

If You Want to Be an Editor

Good editing is integral to the success of a book. A good editor can do wonders even with the worst of manuscripts, and authors who find good editors are grateful and will spread the word about the editors’ skills. However, editing is not solely about fixing grammar errors or even suggesting places where a manuscript…

Hire a Copy Editor

The copy edit is clean up work. Once the manuscript is complete you become more concerned with punctuation, grammar and style. Now is the time to make your information more readable. There is nothing wrong with unpolished writing, but there is no excuse for not having it cleaned up by an editor. Hire a wordsmith,…

POD Publishing and Editing Your Book

Self-published books are often frowned upon because of poor editing. While some authors try to save money by not having their books professionally edited, other authors find they have hired incompetent editors or print-on-demand publishers who produce a flawed product. Authors need to know what to expect before they agree to any editing. Where do…

Five Proofreading Tips You Cannot Afford to Ignore

While it is the content of your writing that will draw readers to your work, it is the quality of your writing that will keep them coming back. In order to gain success as a writer, you must ensure that every piece that you publish is accurate in terms of grammar, spelling, formatting and style….

A Book Copyeditor’s Well-trained Eye

Is it essential that you send your book manuscript to a professional copyeditor before you attempt to self-publish or contact an agent? Absolutely. The message that you want to convey through your book would be distorted, tarnished, or even ruined if readers discover that the text is riddled with errors. The solution: hire a topnotch…

Write First…Edit Later

There is a mistake new writers make which turns a short writing process into a full day drudgery. And it’s also a problem which isn’t limited only to new writers. Experienced writers go through periods of time where it weighs them down. I’m talking about editing at the same time you’re writing. If you try…

Simple Proofreading Tips

Proofreading can make the difference between a mediocre and dismissed manuscript and a standout book. Skimping on the proofreading can result in a series of embarrassing errors. A few simple steps and a lot of patience can make proofreading pay off in the book printing long run. Proofreading is not simple or easy. Nor should…

How to Find a Good Editor

Authors submit manuscripts to publishers believing the publisher will simply have an editor fix any grammatical problems with the book. While publishers do have editors, if the book is filled with grammatical errors, the publisher is unlikely to consider it. Authors should get their books edited first before submitting to a publisher. Recently, I heard…

Book Proofs – Errors to Look For

Proofreading doesn’t end with sending the book to the printer. Proofreading the proofs is extremely important to make sure no last minute errors creep in before the final print run. Once the proofs for your book, both text and cover, arrive, you will have already had your book read and re-read and proofread and hopefully…

The Value of the Editor

The editor is an important member of any publication. Among other things, the editor acts as a gatekeeper, in addition to editing your articles. Some writers hate editors because they are afraid that if the editor changes their copy, he/she will destroy the integrity of their work. The reality is a different story. The editor…