The publication of journalist Tim Teeman's biography In Bed with Gore Vidal: Hustlers, Hollywood, and the Private World of an American Master (Magnus) for the first time looks at Vidal's romantic and sexual lives and their influence on his writing and political...
The differences between editing for grammar and professional book editing.
It's that time of year when many of my writer and illustrator friends and I are deep in preparation for what many of us consider the highlight our creative year-our regional Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) conference. As an aside, if you're...
No matter which original font the author uses, Word changes the quotes, single and double, to straight quotes, when it goes from the author’s computer to mine.
by Sarah Anderson Much of the advice for writers is targeted toward fiction writing and is not particularly helpful for nonfiction writers, many of whom are not writers by vocation or avocation. They did not start writing stories or poems when they were in grade school, and they have not spent years honing the use […]
At a recent panel discussion with the Central Oregon Writer’s Guild, I fielded a question I hadn’t heard before: What is the difference between ghostwriting and a heavy developmental edit?
A good editor will have relevant work experience and testimonials from published authors who have worked with her. She will ask what your goals are and customize her work to fit your needs. A good editor will be professional, honest, courteous, and timely in her communications. It should go without saying that she will respect […]
“He left the theatre, contemplating his own intensity.” line in a recent manuscript Last week I edited a sample chapter from a dystopian chick-lit manuscript. The author thought my advice was spot on and my open time slot fit her deadline. I quoted her 2.5 cents per word for a developmental edit of her […]
I believe in beta readers. Anyone can be a beta reader (also called a first reader), from your mom to your best friend to your coworker to your favorite librarian. A beta reader is anyone who reads your work and tells you what they think. Their feedback can be...
In my experience, many writers don’t know the difference between developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading. To further muddy things, a developmental edit may also be called a content edit, or a substantive edit, or even a full edit or a deep edit. So where to start? Before we get into what these terms mean, I say, start with how you feel about your manuscript.
1) Give your brain the time and space it needs to think clearly. Unless there’s a looming deadline, there’s no reason to rush. We’re often in such a hurry to get to the final draft, that we don’t allow ourselves the time to listen for what the work needs. If you require a quiet […]
Students ask us questions regarding the APA editing process. Here are some answers to help you know with certainty that choosing an APA editor from this network is the right decision.