Posts Tagged ‘professional editor’
Saturday, April 10th, 2010
Write an engaging college essay to make your application stand out! A great essay could help you to pave the way to a brighter future.
Most college essay questions are designed as a way for colleges to learn more about you. So this is your chance to tell colleges about yourself. The first step to writing a successful college essay is choosing the right topic. Pick a topic that allows you to give colleges the best idea of who you are as a person. What are your interests? What are your dreams? What is important to you? These are all aspects of your personality that colleges are interested in.
Approach your college essay as you would any of your previous school essays. Begin with an outline detailing the structure of your essay, as well as emphasizing the main points. Think about your strengths and weaknesses, and then choose one or two positive aspects of your personality to demonstrate to the college committee. You can structure your essay in several basic ways. In your essay, you can focus on a single strength that you possess, elaborating on it in detail. Or, you can choose two or three significant aspects of your personality to discuss, devoting only a paragraph to each aspect. The narrative essay is also a common and effective format; in the narrative essay, begin with a short and engaging story about yourself, and then explain how that story relates to your personality. Illustrate your positive traits through the story, perhaps talking about an event that highlights your creativity, problem-solving skills, or your ability to help others.
When writing your essay, make sure to clarify the strengths of your personality, rather than simply stating things that you’ve done (ex. “I volunteered at an animal shelter”). Go the extra step to demonstrate how your activities reveal your personality and values (ex. “All my life, I’ve been extremely passionate about animal welfare and animal rights. While volunteering at the local animal shelter, I was able to put my passion into practice.”). Talking about your strengths and values gives a much deeper insight into your personality than merely listing some of your activities.
Finally, proofread and edit your essay. Make sure your writing reads smoothly, clearly, and is free from grammar and spelling errors. It never hurts to send it to a professional editing service for polishing, such as FirstEditing.com. Not only would a professional editor check for basic grammar errors, but an editor could also give you valuable feedback about the content of your essay. Also, many college essays have word count requirements; a professional reduction edit could neatly trim your writing down to the required word count.
A college essay is a great chance for you to show colleges your strengths. Approach it with confidence and dedication, and you’ll soon be off to a promising new future!
Tags: application, college essay, editing, editing service, essay, First, firstediting.com, How to, professional editor, student, successful, tips
Posted in Book Editors, Editing Skills & Services, Proofreading, Technical Editing, Thesis/Research Writing, Writer's Tips, Writing for Publication | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 7th, 2010
 A press, or news, release is a statement issued to the media to announce a range of news items, including events, awards, or new products or services, in order to generate feature news stories. In light of their aim, press releases need to be two things: accurate and interesting.
Journalists receive truckloads of press releases every day and therefore have standards as to what they expect to be included in each release.
The best way to tackle the fearsome press release is by answering the most basic questions every journalist asks when covering a story:
Who – What – Where – When – Why
Once you’ve got all of that information nailed down, you’re ready to begin drafting your press release.
The Headline
The headline is your chance to grab the attention of the journalist – remember, with press releases, you only get one shot. Encapsulate the content of your press release in one sharp, concise, and catchy sentence. Bold and center your headline on the page.
The Body
Begin with the date and city in which the news item originated; this can be done in point form.
Now, pull together your “who – what – where – when – why” into short, concise sentences that explains in brief detail what your press release is about.
Use the third paragraph to give your press release a personal touch here – expose the ‘human interest’ side of your news item. Why will people care? Who will be affected? Explain in further detail why your item is newsworthy. Make it engaging and make it catchy. If it’s appealing, a journalist will bite.
Finally, don’t forget to include your contact information. The contact info you include should be specific to each press release, and should include the following:
Company name
Media department’s name and contact person (if applicable)
Business address
Telephone & fax numbers with proper country/city codes and extension numbers
Mobile phone number
Email addresses
Website address
Time of availability for contact
Final Tips
Use the Times New Roman font in size 12 to keep your press release clean and simple. Flashy fonts and layouts aren’t going to win you any points – they just mean more work for editors.
Keep it to one page. Once you’ve got a feel for writing press releases your goal should be to have your press releases published as-is. Papers today have shrinking page counts and are often short-staffed; if you can provide copy that’s publishable with little-to-no editing, you’re more likely to see your press release in print.
While creating a press release may need some practice, remember that you are not alone. Having another pair of eyes reviewing your press release is a very good idea. A professional editor, such as the editors at FirstEditing.com will review your press release for editing and formatting to ensure your press release is perfected and ready for media submission.
Come back tomorrow when we explain “How to send your press release”
Tags: editing, editors, First, firstediting.com, formatting, How to, How to write a press release, journalists, media, news, news release, Press, Press Release, Professional Editing, professional editor
Posted in Book Editors, Business Editing, Editing Skills & Services, Newsletters, Writer's Tips, 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
Posted in Book Editing, Book Editors, Editing Skills & Services, Manuscript Editing, Novel Editing, 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 »
Friday, May 22nd, 2009
Now that your paper is done or your novel written, you want to make sure it’s as perfect as possible before turning it in or submitting it to a publisher. Obviously, the first step toward that goal is to proofread your work.
“Huh? My word processing program includes a spell checker and it even checks grammar, too—why should I proofread my document?”
Elementary, my dear Watson: spell/grammar checkers don’t always catch all the typos your work may contain. To prevent (or maybe just lessen) panic at the notion of proofreading, below are some easy steps to guide you through the process:
- Use your word processing program’s spell/grammar check for basic proofreading; it’s a good place to start and usually catches the most egregious errors.
- Don’t blindly accept all the suggestions that spell/grammar check recommends: for instance, in the paragraph above (you know, the one beginning with the Sherlock Holmes cliché), my spell-grammar check recommends a semi-colon rather than a comma between “proofreading” and “below.” Ummm…nope, sorry. That’s not an appropriate place for a semi-colon, but the comma works just fine, thanks.
- Read through your work slowly and carefully—you’ll be surprised at the number of errors a human proofreader will catch that were totally missed by a spell/grammar check program.
- If you have the time, now read your document from end to beginning as part of the proofreading process. Why? Because reading your work backwards focuses your attention on the spelling and grammar; when you read from beginning to end, it’s just human nature to unconsciously fill in missing words and see the correct spelling, even when words are missing or spelling is incorrect.
- Have a friend or family member proof your document. Is it a subject they know little or nothing about? Even better: then their focus will be on grammar and spelling, since they can’t really help you with content!
If all this still sounds too daunting, why not just save yourself the frustration (and possibly your friendships and family relationships, as well), and hire a professional editor from a firm like FirstEditing to not only proofread but also edit your work?
Tags: Professional Editing, professional editor, Proofreading
Posted in Proofreading | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
It is important for your writing project to be consistent, which can be defined as accepting a style guide appropriate for your type of writing, (e.g., APA, MLA)* or by adopting a style of your own and using it throughout the project.
Examples of using consistency in writing include adopting:
- one font style and only a few font sizes (body font and title font)
- set margins, paragraph style, (e.g., justified), tabs, and bullets
- similar numbering, lettering and grammar for lists and bullet points
- terminology
- spelling style, (e.g., U.S. versus U.K.)
It is very difficult for a reader to look at multiple types of fonts, and mixed uses of italics, bold and underlined lettering. It is distracting, contributing to the view that the manuscript is disorganized and unclear. Headings, titles, and bullets or numbered lists should be consistent within the manuscript. The statements in these sections should be parallel (consistent in how they are presented in terms of the use of a verb tense or descriptive phrase). As an example, the list above uses a noun in each statement. The list below uses an action verb. The manuscript will appear to be well organized and readability and clarity will be improved.
What other steps should the writer include to ensure consistency?
- use an appropriate verb tense throughout the project
- incorporate one style for footnotes, citations and references
- develop spacing rules for sentences, paragraphs, and lines (single versus double-space)
- use one person style, (e.g., first versus third person)
- include a hierarchical system for titles and headings, (e.g., centered, flush left, capitalized, italic)
Being consistent in your writing and editing professionalizes the project whether it is a fiction or non-fiction manuscript. Two good references for font readability include: The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst and The Elements of Typographic Style Applied to the Web. Italicizing book titles and putting a hyperlink in blue and underlining it are examples of a style that you would incorporate every time you include similar references.
The best way to ensure consistency is in the editing of the project. If you are using a style manual, most of the rules are outlined and the major task is to follow the guide. However, if the writing style is unique, the professional editor (or writer completing the editing) should keep a log as the project is reviewed to keep track of the different styles incorporated. The styles can be applied later on in the project. For example, note that your first use of a book title was underlined, and use this similar style each time a book title is used in the manuscript.
Style consistency is a characteristic of a serious and excellent writer. It also demonstrates to many of us who write and read and edit, a love of writing and the appreciation of a well-edited manuscript as an art form.
* APA is the American Psychological Association
MLA is the Modern Language Association
Tags: Add new tag, professional editor, Submitting for Publication, Writing for Publication, writing tips
Posted in Writer's Tips, Writing for Publication | No Comments »
Sunday, May 17th, 2009
The font of your text says a lot more than you might think. In addition to being a creative way to present your text, various fonts convey various ideas and attitudes. For example, Times New Roman, the most popular font in the United States and the preferred font for printed books and magazines, is known to convey authority and information.
When writing a manuscript for publication, it is important to use a non-proportional font, a font with each character having the same width. This includes Times New Roman and Courier, the most common fonts for manuscripts. Non-proportional fonts make the text appear to have been typed on a typewriter, and the publishing industry is known for being anti-computer. This is changing and will change, but for now it is still important to submit your manuscript in an acceptable font if you plan to have your book printed.
Ebooks are another story. In an ebook, fonts can be used very creatively. The trick is to use restraint and balance. Do not use more than 4 fonts, as this can be very obnoxious for readers. Be consistent with fonts too—use the same font for all headings, even if you use a different font for the body text. You might use one font only for the cover or title page, or one font for one section, depending on the subject matter.
Font size is also worth considering. A traditional manuscript needs to be set in 12pt font, while an ebook can use another size, usually larger because the text is designed to be read onscreen. The same rule goes for font size: do not vary the size too often. Yes, headings might look better in a larger font in your ebook, but do not change the font size of the body text from paragraph to paragraph.
For a traditional manuscript (for your novel for example) should always be in all black. Ebooks may use other colors. The reason a printed manuscript must be in all black is mainly because there is no point in using color—the manuscript is designed to be easily read by a potential agent or publisher, and odd colors can make it hard to read. Also, the manuscript you turn in for possible publication is no the same as the printed manuscript which goes to press, so your color choices will not be reflected in the final copy or the actual book if it is published.
Of course, there are always exceptions to these rules, and some vanity publishers have no regard for the “old school” guidelines, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Some publishers will not read your manuscript if the fonts are wrong. Some will. It’s your choice ultimately.
Often, writers do not have time to care for all the nuances of manuscript preparation, and a professional editor is hired to format the manuscript. In addition to proofreading your work, professional editors are available to properly format your manuscript. Therefore, if you don’t have time to go back through and correct all the odd fonts and varied sizes or colors, you can simply enlist a professional editor. I have done this work many times, and it is always satisfying to maximize the potential of good content by ensuring it is properly presented.
Tags: Font, professional editor, Submitting for Publication
Posted in Writer's Tips, Writing for Publication | No Comments »
Friday, May 1st, 2009
As an author, you will, at some point, have someone critique your writing; that is, if you plan on having it published in some way. Someone’s going to read it and give their opinion about your writing. Most authors are very protective of their writing and find that any negative feedback is either a direct reflection of their writing abilities or an attack on their story. If you want an honest, unbiased critique of your story, then you will have to loosen the reigns and step back away from the story and see it from the eyes of the reader. For some, this is very difficult to do and so most authors will have to incorporate the help of an outside editor, versus doing it themselves. I personally recommend getting a professional editor to edit your story because as an author, you are often times too close to the story to see any flaws. It may be difficult, but it is important for you to take those editing notes seriously and not take it personally. If the editor is confused by your plotline or sees a flaw in one of the characters, then most likely, so will the reader. The positive feedback is good and necessary, but so is the negative; it could save you from embarrassment or more importantly, help you to have a more polished story that is ready for publishing. But there are always two sides to every coin and the editor has to take some things into account also.
As an editor, you must keep in mind that you are editing something that holds a lot of value to someone. With that in mind, you should edit with professionalism, care, tact, and honesty. It’s not your job to rewrite the story. However, it is your job to tell the author if you believe it should be rewritten. It is not your job to just be nice and agreeable and say, “This story is excellent,” if you know that it’s not. You’re not doing the author any favors by restraining the negative comments. On the flip side, your comments should not all be negative either, otherwise it will seem as though you are making a personal attack on the author and/or their work. If you happen to be reading an exceptionally poorly written story, it’s okay to point out what’s wrong with the story and how it can be better, but you can also point out something positive. Maybe the plot line is confusing and jumbled and some of the characters don’t make sense, but the author’s use of imagery is good; it is important to say both.
Accepting and giving critiques may not always be easy, but it’s a necessary part of the author/editor relationship.
Tags: Add new tag, Critique, critiques, professional editor
Posted in Writer's Tips | No Comments »
Friday, April 10th, 2009
Whether you’re a great writer or one who struggles, it is always important to improve your skills and take your writing to the next level. When it comes to writing an essay, there are 3 proven strategies that you can use to get ahead.
First, pre-planning and brainstorming is key. Although some people are able to write a great essay in one sitting or on the spot with a time limit, most GREAT essays took some time. Research your topic and write down or record any useful notes and facts. Plan out the order in which you will present your ideas in writing. It is not enough to just have a topic; it is just equally necessary to have a logical organization and presentation.
Secondly, streamlining your text can take a mediocre essay to a higher level. Simplifying your sentences and using precise grammar and structure can make your essay easier and more fun to read, more comprehensible, and more stylistically appealing. Although some people call those who have mastered these skills “professionals” or “naturally talented,” anyone can become a skilled writer with practice. Rewrite one of your old essays and see how much you can improve it. Remove any unnecessary words or phrases, change passive voice to active voice, and include more visual imagery or explanation. It is also great to utilize creative writing techniques to balance out the academic content of your essay-especially if you’re writing your essay for a magazine or website.
Finally, a surefire way to improve your essay is to hire a professional editor to go over your work and correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and typos. You as the writer of your own work are unlikely to catch ALL the errors, and your word processing software’s spell/grammar check is no genius. At the very least, have a friend or colleague read and check your essay, and then revise accordingly. The advantage of using a professional editor comes in handy for those big projects-your college essays, a journal or newsletter article, a magazine or website article, or an important academic or work-related presentation. Editing can also improve your essay’s overall clarity, format, organization, and even content and style. If you’re ever in a hurry and you don’t have time to utilize the first two strategies, a professional touch can potentially make up for both.
So whether your goal is to become a better writer or to simply turn in or submit better essays, these 3 strategies will give you results. Often, all it takes to turn a good idea into a great essay is a little time. Fortunately, if you don’t have the time, you can still improve your essay by hiring a professional editor.
Tags: essay, essays, professional editor
Posted in Editing Skills & Services, Manuscript Editing, Writer's Tips | No Comments »
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