Copyediting is a great second career for word lovers, but getting started can be a mystery. I started this series by exploring how to get training and how to continue that training. Last week, I shared several tips for applying to editing jobs, encouraging readers to apply only to jobs they’re qualified for. Not being
Breaking into Copyediting, Part 3: Getting Your First Editing Job
In this series, I’ve been digging into how to get started in copyediting. In part 1, I outlined the knowledge and skills you need to get started. In part 2, I discussed how you’ll need to continue your education to move into the journeyman stage. But how do you get that first editing job? Do
Breaking into Copyediting, Part 2: Continuing Your Training
In part 1 I outlined the basic knowledge and skills you need to become a copyeditor. The list is long, but even the longest training programs (university certificate programs with several courses) can be finished within a year. And once you’ve done the training, you’re ready to go, right? Well … Editing is a craft.
Breaking into Copyediting, Part 1: Training Required
There’s a popular idea that if you’re good at spotting typos, you can be a copyeditor. Spotting typos shows an eye for—and an interest in—details, and that’s a great start. But there’s so much more to catch. A colleague recently shared some typical editing math. Given 15,540 words in a book chapter (62 manuscript pages)
Freelance Editors, Stop Discounting Your Rates
Q. This is kind of a copyedit, but I don’t have to edit footnotes. What should I charge? A. Charge your copyediting rate. Q. This is a developmental edit, but it’s a second pass. What should I charge? A. Charge your developmental editing rate. Q. This is mostly a proofread … A. (say it with
How to Grow Your Editing Business with Referrals
One goal of my editorial services business is to gain more clients who are similar to my favorite clients. A while back, at Communication Central’s annual conference, I attended “Rev Up Your Business with Referral Power” presented by Jake Poinier, aka Dr. Freelance. Poinier outlined how I can find those desired clients. Why Referrals? I
6 Tips to Fact-Checking as a Copyeditor
Fact-checking is often an added task to a copyeditor’s already long list of duties. 6 tips to doing it better.
Making the Case for Copyediting
Last week, one of my corporate clients asked me to do a rush proofread on a PDF file. Time was short, but the team publishing the document had reviewed and approved all the text. There had been no copyediting stage, however.
Oh boy.
7 Tips to Mastering a Style Manual Update
The 2017 print edition of AP Stylebook will publish next week.* The 17th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) will publish in the fall. Considering how much we editors depend on style manuals, major updates can leave us feeling a little anxious. How can we transition to the new styles? 1. Review the
