Novel Editing
Friday, April 9th, 2010
Set up a successful blog to promote your writing career. With either your own website, or using a free blogging platform, you can attract readers from around the world.
 There is no doubt that the internet has changed the writing world. Not only does it provide a new means for writers to get published, but it also opens a new avenue for writers to promote and market themselves. The creation of a successful website can enhance a writer’s reputation, resulting in an increase in sales. It could also attract attention to the writing of an otherwise unpublished author, giving that author the exposure that he or she needs in order to secure an agent or publishing contract.
Blogging can be an excellent way to keep readers coming back to your website, and thus, to build a growing readership. When choosing a host for your blog, there are many free blogging platforms, such as Blogger or WordPress. These are ideal if you’re looking for a quick, cheap, and easy way to start your blog. Alternatively, if you’re interested in having more control over your website, buying your own web address could be the right choice. Either way, when choosing your web address, remember to keep it simple and logical, so that it’s easy for your readers to remember; simply using your pen name can be a good idea.
When it comes time to start uploading those all-important posts, remember to keep the content relevant. If you created the writing blog to help promote your writing career, then stick to that subject. This is what readers will come to your blog expecting and wanting to read more about: you as a writer. It’s best to keep any unrelated venting about your personal life on a separate blog. Additionally, it’s always good to offer your readers something useful to take away with them, such as information about your latest published work and where to find it, advice on the writing process, any writer’s workshops that you’ve enjoyed, or editors and editorial services that you’ve found helpful (such as, First Editing).
Of course, as with any piece of writing, make sure your blog posts read smoothly and cleanly, free from any distracting spelling and grammatical errors that may undermine your credibility as a writer. Remember to always proofread before you publish! If in doubt, submit it to a professional editing service, such as FirstEditing.com. We’ll be happy to polish your blog posts for you.
Tags: blog, blogging, blogging for writers, editing, Editing Skills & Services, editors, First, firstediting.com, How to, how to blog, Professional Editing, successful blogging, writers
Posted in Book Editing, Book Editors, Business Editing, Copy Editing, Editing Skills & Services, Fiction Editing, Manuscript Editing, Newsletters, Novel Editing, Proofreading, Writer's Tips, Writing for Publication | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 6th, 2010
 Author bios are one way for the reader to get to know you, the author of their favorite story, article, or book, a little bit more intimately. This is your time to sell yourself to potential readers and editors. Including your author bio with queries and submissions enables editors to get to know you; who you are, where you’re coming from, and whether or not you’re a good fit with their publication.
Three tips for writing a strong author bio:
- Always write in the third person. This is the mark of a professional; a bio written in the first person is seen as amateurish, whereas a bio in the third person shows you’re taking yourself seriously as a writer.
- Include a few relevant publishing credits, educational and work experiences. They key word here is relevant.
Non-fiction authors, emphasize your expertise. Sketch out your background, including your publishing history, education, or work experience that makes you the perfect author for the topic you’re tackling. Include the titles of books, articles, etc. that are relevant only to the project to which you are attaching this bio. Remember, your bio is a sales pitch, so if you’re writing a book on the state of health care in the US, including the title of your first photography book probably isn’t relevant.
Fiction authors, emphasize your influences and writing style. This will help to situate potential readers before they dive in, and may also give added context to your work. If it’s appropriate, include a line or two about your choice of subject matter. Also, like the non-fiction authors, only include previously published titles in your bio if they are relevant to your current project.
Unpublished? Your best bet is to keep it simple. Don’t overload on biographic detail and never, ever lie; you’ll always get caught. If you lack publishing credits, focus on your education, work, or other experience that enabled you to write this work. Important words to live by: When in doubt, leave it out.
3. State where you live – not your address, but state and country will do – readers want to know where you live, especially if your writing incorporates local elements. Also, you many include a few familial or biographic details to humanize you to readers and editors.
Key words to take away: Relevant and Brief. Make sure every detail in your bio is relevant to the project you have written/are pitching, and keep your writing concise. Author bios can be anywhere from a few paragraphs to three or four sentences long. Keep in mind that in the case of bios, shorter is always better than longer. Scope out bios in magazines and on book dust jackets; practice by copying someone else’s bio.
While you shouldn’t experience anxiety over writing it, it is important to feel comfortable with your author bio. You never know what door it could open next!
Keep in mind that there are professional editors who can create your author’s biography for you. An experienced professional editor, such as the editors at FirstEditing.com will create a professionally written bio which can be used on the back page of your novel or submitted with any publication.
Tags: Author Bio, biography, biography editing, editing, editors, firstediting, firstediting.com, manuscript editing, Professional Editing, publishing, self-publishing
Posted in Book Editors, Editing Skills & Services, Fiction Editing, Manuscript Editing, Novel Editing, Writing for Publication | No Comments »
Sunday, April 4th, 2010
 The saddest truth in book sales is that even the greatest story on the shelf can’t sell itself without solid packaging. Book marketing is a big business, and most publishing companies have staff devoted to book design above and beyond the editorial team, including graphic designers, cover artists, and copywriters.
Typically, a copywriter crafts the text that appears on the book jacket or paperback cover. A copywriter may either be on the staff at the publishing house, or the publisher may contract out, or outsource, to freelance copywriters. Either way, it’s the job of the copywriter to craft a paragraph or two about your book that will sell it to readers.
Otherwise, and this too occurs more often within larger publishing houses, an overworked and underpaid editorial assistant may be tasked with crafting your book jacket copy. This is often viewed as an onerous task and is obviously less than ideal; while editors (and editorial assistants) are useful in helping to shape and enhance your story, they may not have the necessary ‘sales writing’ skills to entice the reader to purchase your book on the shelf.
So, while most of the time you may not be writing your own book jacket copy, it’s still important for any writer to be able to do so. Here’s why:
- It allows you the opportunity to succinctly summarize your book and revisit the story – it’s like going through a copy edit of the plot.
- It allows you to make sure you’ve been writing towards your target audience, OR it can help you to determine the target audience for your book.
- If you’re sending query letters out to publishers with hopes of selling your manuscript, you’ll essentially have to write a paragraph to pitch your idea anyway.
Finally, once your dream publisher has picked up your book, you’ll be able to ensure that the copy your book jacket receives is the copy it deserves. Next week I’ll discuss tips on how to craft top-notch book jacket copy that will have readers grabbing your books off the shelves.
While you may try to design and format your book jacket cover on your own, know that there are professional editors who do it for you. An experienced professional editor, such as the editors at FirstEditing.com will create a professionally written book jacket cover that will capture your audience’s attention. This is short, succinct copy that sends a strong message about your writing.
Tags: book jacket cover, editing, fiction editing, firstediting, novel editing, professional editor, tips for authors
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Tuesday, March 30th, 2010
Editing, whether it is for an academic journal, a short story submission, or a non-fiction manuscript for publishing, always follows basic rules of grammar and punctuation. This blog will help you learn the basic rules of em dashes and ellipses, and how to use them accurately in your work. While this blog will assist fiction writers most often, this is a useful skill to have in your writing arsenal.
The em dash
 Em Dash The em dash is a longer dash that is similar to a hyphen. It is used to show a pause in a quote that is all one sentence, and it is also used to show when one sentence trails off and another begins.
For example,
“I hope that you have told me the truth – you don’t always.” This quote is all one sentence, but there was a pause in between the words truth and you that are represented by the em dash.
OR
“He just walked right in through the – He didn’t even think to announce his presence!” This shows that one sentence trailed off and another began – NOTE the capital letter to begin the second sentence.
When typing in Microsoft Word, you can prompt one of these dashes by placing a space after the last letter of the word, hitting the hyphen key (next to the zero) and then pressing your spacebar again before typing the next word. Most Microsoft Word applications use an auto format that will insert the em dash for you.
Ellipses
 Ellipsis
In contrast, the ellipsis is used to show when a thought trails off and the sentence is incomplete. It is a series of three dots.
For example,
“I just couldn’t believe what he was…” she muttered, as if to herself.
These quotation marks most often trip up fiction writers, as they’re used often in dialogue. However, whether you are writing a fiction piece, or working on an academic submission, please remember that the professional editors at Firstediting.com are always here to assist you with your work. Happy Writing!
Tags: editing, editors, ellipses, firstediting, Professional Editing, Proofreading, The em dash, writing tips
Posted in Book Editing, Book Editors, Business Editing, Christian Writing, Copy Editing, Editing Skills & Services, Fiction Editing, Manuscript Editing, Newsletters, Novel Editing, Proofreading, Technical Editing, Thesis/Research Writing, Writer's Tips, Writing for Publication | No Comments »
Monday, March 22nd, 2010
Editing your own work can oftentimes be a daunting task; however, there are some basic guidelines you can follow while writing and editing your work or that of others, which can make the process much less challenging. The following guidelines, as well as some accompanying examples, have been cited directly from William Strunk JR. and E.B. White’s “The Elements of Style: 50th Anniversary Edition“, a definite must-read for every writer and editor!
1. Form the possessive of singular nouns by adding ’s, unless it is the possessive of an ancient proper name.
For example: James’s house Moses’ law
2. In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last. This is often referred to as the “serial comma.”
For example: apples, bananas, and oranges purple, yellow, and red
3. Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas.
For example: My brother, John Smith, is a well-renowned police officer. While we were on our way to New York, a tiring drive, to say the least, we stopped many times to enjoy the scenery.
4. Place a comma before a conjunction introducing an independent clause.
For example: The road was slippery, but we continued to drive to the movie theatre. The house was a beautiful sight, and the gardens were absolutely magnificent.
5. Do not break sentences in two. Basically, do not use periods for commas.
For example: Incorrect: She was an interesting talker. A woman who had traveled all over the world and lived in half a dozen countries. Correct: She was an interesting talker, a woman who traveled all over the world and lived in half a dozen countries.
6. Use a colon after an independent clause to introduce a list of particulars, an appositive, an amplification, or an illustrative quotation.
For example: Lisa’s grocery list contained a mere three important items: bread, milk, and eggs.
7. Use a dash to set off an abrupt break of interruption and to announce a long appositive or summary.
For example: His first thought on getting out of bed—if he had any thought at all—was to get back in again.
By no means are these seven items an exhaustive list of things to look out for while writing and editing; however, they’re definitely a good place to start. I will be sure to revisit this topic again in a future blog to highlight more items to take note of during the editing process. Hiring a professional editor, such as the editors at FirstEditing.com can ensure that your document is perfect and ready for publication.
Gina
Editor Specializing in Business Editing Services for FirstEditing.com
Tags: editing, editors, professional editor, Proofreading, punctuation, writing tips
Posted in Book Editing, Book Editors, Business Editing, Copy Editing, Editing Skills & Services, Fiction Editing, Manuscript Editing, Novel Editing, Proofreading, Writer's Tips, Writing for Publication | No Comments »
Saturday, March 20th, 2010
Editing, whether it is for an academic journal, a short story submission, or a non-fiction manuscript for publishing, always follows basic rules of grammar and punctuation. This article will be the first in a series to help you enhance your writing skills.
Basic editing skills are a must for any writer or editor. Good writing is a hallmark of professionalism; unfortunately, it is also a chance to make a first impression upon a client, supervisor, or potential publisher. While not all of us are born excellent writers, basic grammar and punctuation rules can be learned. Please allow this article to be of assistance.
Capitalization is a necessary grammar skill that can tangle even the best writers.
Please allow this professional editor a few moments to provide you with a few basic rules of capitalization:
* Capitalize the first word in each sentence.
* Capitalize the first word in a quoted sentence.
* Always capitalize I, no matter where in the sentence it appears.
* Capitalize proper nouns.
Some easy ones to remember (and some examples):
* States and countries – Texas, Canada
* Brand names – Gucci, Dr. Pepper, Disneyland
* Religions – Judaism, Roman Catholic
* Days of the week, months, holidays – Thursday, March, Easter
* Magazines, newspapers – Martha Stewart, Detroit Free Press
* Movies, TV shows – New Moon, American Idol
When you have a question about when or when not to capitalize something, a good rule of thumb is to ask yourself, “Is this specific?” For example, while you would not capitalize school (noun), you would capitalize “Parkside Elementary School.”
Directions are tricky- Do not capitalize north, south, east, or west, when referring to direction, such as “Go east along I-4.” Capitalize them when a part of the name of a specific location, such as “North Carolina.”
Names and titles can be difficult as well, but the following should help clarify when and when not to capitalize:
Titles are always capitalized when they precede a name or an organization. For example, “Inspector Lukas,” or “President of the United States of America.” A title should not be capitalized when it is referred to in text with no name, no organization, and it is not part of dialogue. For example, you would not capitalize mayor in the following sentence:
“Are you really the manager?”
Capitalize any title when used in a direct address, e.g.
“Are you ready, Inspector?”
I hope that this has been helpful. Please remember that having a professional editor, such as the editors at Firstediting.com, will ensure your document is perfected and ready for publication.
Alison
Editor Specializing in Fiction Editing Services for FirstEditing.com
Tags: editing, editing tips, editors, fiction editing, firstediting, Professional Editing, writers tips
Posted in Book Editing, Book Editors, Copy Editing, Editing Skills & Services, Fiction Editing, Manuscript Editing, Novel Editing, Proofreading, Technical Editing, Writer's Tips, Writing for Publication | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
A literary agent is the person who will champion your story and get it into the hands of the right people at a publishing house. But while literary agents are always looking for a great story, it’s important to remember they receive many, many manuscripts – and they can’t represent everyone. Their stack of query letters and synopses is called the “slush pile”, and you need to make sure yours finds its way out of it.
The first step is to make sure your manuscript is in the best condition you can possibly make it. This means you have redrafted it, asked friends or a critique group to read it over, and finally given it to a professional editor, such as those at Firstediting.com, to repair any grammar problems, inconsistencies, or structural issues.
Now that your manuscript has been reshaped and in near perfect condition, the next step is to write a killer query letter and synopsis. Maybe you’ve been working on these alongside your manuscript, or maybe you will hire a professional to help you. These are vitally important – and they are the only way you will entice an agent to request a sample of your work. In addition, most agents have assistants who read the submissions for them, and only the best queries will actually get seen by the agent.
Begin your research for the perfect agent by creating a list of those who have worked with books that are a similar style to yours, and preferably books that you admire. Learn as much as you can about each agent, because finding the right person for this role means you will have someone who will fight to get your book into the marketplace and provide the vital link between you and the publishing house. If you send your work to a poor agent, your manuscript may never find its way to a publishing house.
Once you are satisfied with your list, check the agents’ submission guidelines very carefully. Like publishing houses, agents receive many manuscripts, and each may have specific requirements. While the merit of your story is the most important thing, don’t let yourself down by sending in your work in the wrong format or full of typos or awkward grammar. Contact by the method they request (i.e., do they prefer phone, email, or post?), and then send them only what they have requested; no more, no less.
If your query letter, synopsis, and sample pages shine like a diamond in the slush pile, you may just find the literary agent you always dreamed of.
Tags: editors, literary agent, Professional Editing, query letter, synopsis, writers
Posted in Book Editing, Book Editors, Fiction Editing, Manuscript Editing, Novel Editing, Writer's Tips, Writing for Publication | No Comments »
Friday, March 27th, 2009
Revising gives you the chance to preview your work on behalf of the eventual reader. Revision is much more than proofreading, though in the final editing stage it involves some checking of details. Good revision and editing can transform a mediocre first draft into an excellent final paper. It’s more work, but leads to real satisfaction when you find you’ve said what you wanted. It is truly rewarding.
Start Large, End Small
First check whether you have fulfilled the intention of the assignment. Look again at the instruction sheet, and revise your work to be sure you can say yes to these questions:
- Have you performed the kind of thinking the assignment sheet asked for (e.g., analyze, argue, compare, explore.)
- Have you written the genre of document called for (e.g., book review, critique, personal response, field notes, research report, lab report, essay)?
- Have you used concepts and methods of reasoning discussed in the course? Don’t be shy of using theoretical terms from the course. Also beware of just retelling stories or listing information. Looking at your topic sentences in sequence will show what kinds of ideas you have emphasized.
- Have you given adequate evidence for your argument or interpretation? Be sure that the reader knows why and how your ideas are important. A quick way of checking is to note where your paragraphs go after their topic sentences. Watch out for repetitions of general ideas — look for progression into detailed reasoning, usually including source referencing.
Now polish and edit your style by moving to smaller matters such as word choice, sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, and spelling. You may already have passages that you know need further work. Here are some tips:
- Read passages aloud to see if you have achieved the emphasis you want. Look for places to use short sentences to draw attention to key ideas, questions, or argumentative statements. If you can’t read a sentence all the way through with expression, try cutting it into two or more.
- Be sure to use spell check. I have learned how crucial this is before and after each document! It will help you catch most typos and many wrongly spelled words. But don’t let it replace anything automatically, or you’ll end up with nonsense words. You will still have to read through your piece and use a print dictionary or writer’s handbook to look up words that you suspect are not right.
- Don’t depend on a thesaurus. It will supply you with lists of words in the same general category as the one you have tried-but most of them won’t make sense. Use plain clear words instead. Use a print dictionary and look up synonyms given as part of definitions. Always look at the samples of usage too.
- Don’t depend on a grammar checker. The best ones still miss many errors, and they give a lot of bad advice. If you know that you overuse slang or the passive voice, you may find some of the “hits” useful, but be sure to make your own choice of replacement phrases. A few of the explanations may be useful.
Nothing can substitute for your own judgment. You will become quite comfortable with your own style and creativity.
Tags: Professional Editing, Proofreading
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Monday, December 22nd, 2008
You’ve written a killer research paper or maybe the next Great American (or British or Canadian or…) Novel, and now you’re ready to submit it for grading or for publication—but wait! Has your work been professionally edited?
“Why do I need a professional editor? My word processing program has a spell/grammar check—isn’t that enough?” you ask suspiciously.
Not really. Many times, spell/grammar checks are inconsistent, they can often miss really obvious mistakes, and they frequently suggest horribly wrong “corrections.” A human eye is best for the final edit of your document, and a professional editor is the best person for that job.
Why? Consider this. Professional editors are those annoying people who find grammar and spelling mistakes in books they’re reading for pleasure, as well as in magazines, journals, newspapers—pretty much anything they set eyes on—without even trying. They just can’t help themselves: the errors leap off the page at them.
Further, they’re the folks who, after reading a paragraph, will say, “That’s nice, but you know, wouldn’t it be better to put that paragraph before this one? And by the way, if you move that sentence over here and rephrase this one, it’ll read much more smoothly. Try wording it like this…”
What’s more, professional editors know the various style manuals used by academia, professional journals and so forth, and can make sure your paper meets whatever style manual your professor or journal prefers. Need all citations and references done in MLA format when you’re more familiar with Turabian?
Turn the paper over to a professional editor, who can correct all your citations and references to the required style. When your grade depends on perfection (or as close to it as any human can manage), you want to call in the big guns!
Understand, however, that no truly professional editor is going to do all your work for you: your paper or novel or whatever other document you submit for editing must be complete. Editors don’t do your research; they don’t write your paper; they don’t dig up references for you. What they do is take YOUR work and make it better through rewording awkward phrases or sentences, moving entire paragraphs around, correcting grammar and punctuation, and sometimes asking questions or making comments that force you to re-evaluate a conclusion or a scene—this is what makes them professionals!
After spending hours, maybe weeks or months, laboring over your written creation, don’t put blind faith in computer spell/grammar checks. Hire a professional editor through a firm such as FirstEditing (www.firstediting.com) and know that your work has been given the attention to detail that it deserves.
Tags: Professional Editor, Submitting for Publication, Technical Editing
Posted in Book Editors, Copy Editing, Editing Skills & Services, Manuscript Editing, Novel Editing | 1 Comment »
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