As practitioners, copyeditors know why editing is important. But those who would hire us sometimes need convincing.
Teaching Editors: Developing Editorial Judgment
It’s not enough for copyeditors to know the rules of grammar; we must have editorial judgment on how and when to apply those rules. Editing instructors can give their students that judgment.
The Editor’s Guide to Cold-Calling Publishers
Cold-calling potential clients is not one of my favorite marketing activities. Yet it can be a way to win a new client or two.
Griping About Published Errors: No One Wins
When we find errors in published works, it’s tempting to take the writer and/or editor to task. Doing so helps no one, however.
Grammar Bite: Adjective Basics
Adjectives can be a writer’s greatest friend, creating rich images and clear meaning. They can also be a writer’s worst enemy.
Email Is Temporary; Create a Folder for It
It was bound to happen – I ran out of storage space in Gmail. Fortunately, there are ways to fix that problem, and prevent it from recurring.
Researching Freelance Editing Rates
It’s frustrating not to know what acceptable freelance editing rates are in a certain location. There are ways to calculate them, however.
What Low Editing Rates Teach Us
It’s tempting to take low-paying work when you’re short on clients. But this not only hurts you, but other editors as well.
Word Story: Prevaricate
Though it can be conflated with “procrastinate,” the verb “prevaricate” means “to speak or act evasively; to avoid telling the truth; to lie.”
Own Your Document: Maintaining Version Control
Don’t split the publishing process. It may seem more efficient, but in reality it costs time and risks errors making it into the final copy.
