What Your Copyeditor Wishes You Knew
4-minute read
There are a few things I wish every writer knew about the editing process. In this blog post, I want to share these key insights with you to help you understand how to streamline the editing process and establish a strong working relationship with your editor. From booking in advance to recognising different editing types, let's explore what your copyeditor wishes you knew.
Before You Hire Us
Know that editing takes time (more than you might anticipate). To ensure a seamless process, book your copyeditor in advance and provide them with your desired timeline. This will ensure you are on the same page from the get-go and allow them sufficient time to provide a thorough edit.
Value our work and pay us properly. Professional editing is an investment in the quality and success of your writing. Recognise your copyeditor’s time and expertise by compensating them fairly for their valuable contribution.
Understand the different types of editing, such as developmental editing, line editing, and proofreading. Not only are there different types of editing, but every editor also brings a unique set of skills and experiences. Take the time to research and find an editor who specialises in the level of edit you are looking for as well as your genre or field to ensure they have the expertise necessary to elevate your work effectively.
Step away from the introduction. While a strong introduction is essential, fixating on perfecting it can hinder progress and quality through the rest of your manuscript. Use an up-to-date table of contents to navigate to specific sections, allowing you to address the parts you need to focus on most.
When preparing your manuscript, use the styling tools (in the top right corner of Word) instead of the formatting tools (top left). Remember that your manuscript doesn't need to be perfectly formatted for your copyeditor.
Before You Send Us Your Manuscript
Remember, every writer makes mistakes. Your job as a writer is to create a first draft, and it's our role as copyeditors to help you refine and perfect it. That being said, staying aware of common vague or indecisive phrases and instead striving for specificity and clarity in your writing will save your copyeditor some time (and you some cash).
Perform a spell/grammar check. Before submitting your manuscript to a copyeditor, run a spell and grammar check using tools like Word or plugins like 'PerfectIt'. This preliminary check can catch basic errors and save you time and money during the editing process.
When We Send Your Manuscript Back to You
Know that we're not judging your grammar. Copyeditors aren't here to judge your writing skills and we recognise that language is ever-evolving (besides, if authors wrote perfect books, we copyeditors would be out of our jobs). We acknowledge that your manuscript is a draft, and our role is to refine and clarify your work.
Constructive ‘criticism’ is inevitable and part of the process, so embrace the feedback you receive. Remember that these suggestions are meant to improve the overall quality, clarity, and effectiveness of your writing. Our goal is to help you produce the best version of your work (the finished product is also a reflection of our work).
By keeping these key points in mind, you can establish a fruitful collaboration with your copyeditor. Appreciate their time and expertise, communicate effectively, and embrace feedback. Remember that editing is a partnership aimed at enhancing your work, and by working together, you can have fun, learn, and create an exceptional manuscript.