I’m reading a fairly popular thriller author’s newest novel, and I’m finding it a slog because while the story holds up, she really needed a line editor to pare back her worst habits. Here’s an example (I’m inventing this but it conveys the general problem): Janet clutched the steering wheel. The rain was pouring down!…
If you’re a copy editor who knows how to copyedit dialogue, a line like this: “I would never let you go.” She said. . . . probably causes you physical pain. So you’d fix it. But as a copy editor, you typically don’t make a lot of content changes, especially in fiction. If you’re tired…
A while back, I wrote a post on LinkedIn about income freelance editors could expect to make, and a bunch of editors responded, and one lone writer asked me to look at his book because he was sure I would love it. I haven’t been in book acquisitions for ten years, and even if I…
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…
I’ve edited a fair amount of fiction over the years, but I’ve never edited horror. I’m not a horror reader and I don’t understand the genre. But ever since I started teaching at Club Ed, I’ve wanted to add a horror class because I know it’s a hugely popular genre and it feels like a…
AI is going to kill routine jobs. But it won’t kill jobs that require expertise and human judgment. That’s why it’s important for editors to move beyond basic skills like proofreading. It’s not enough to say, “But homophones!” Most people will accept a small error rate if it means they can save three thousand dollars….
My best book editing tip is just three words: Less is more. The deliverables for a developmental edit are (1) an edited manuscript and (2) a revision letter. It doesn’t get any more basic than that! A Simple Book Editing Tip – Less is More That’s it. Sometimes newer editors also add charts, spreadsheets, color…
How can someone effectively combine writing and editing skills? By establishing what I call a “hyphenated career,” precisely that of a Writer-Editor! Combine Writing and Editing Skills – Become a Writer-Editor In my book The Business of Storytelling, I talk about how to create a writer-editor career, where you use what you learn as a…
Eliminating or reducing flashbacks in stories may be necessary to help with the narrative flow and keep readers interested in what’s ahead. Tips for Eliminating or Reducing Flashbacks in Stories Authors like to use flashbacks to show backstory. Unfortunately, flashbacks can stop the narrative flow in its tracks. Rather than increasing dramatic tension, flashbacks tend…
Let’s discuss why book editors need a content strategy in order to market their business effectively. Why Book Editors Need a Content Strategy A while back, I mentioned on a LinkedIn post that for years, my best-performing content for my personal website had been a screed about how I hated wind chimes. That post drew…