Editing | Proofreading
Is getting your manuscript perfect stopping you from moving forwards with it? Is a fear of it “not being right” preventing you from submitting to agents and publishers or even self-publishing?
Here’s why the dream of “perfection” might be holding you back and why good enough, is good enough.
Continue reading “Can you have the perfect manuscript?”
Life as a freelance editor and proofreader can be unpredictable. From times of feeling swamped with work and under pressure to get it all done to worries about the future as you having nothing in your inbox.
How do you cope with the down time and what do you do to fill the schedule in the quiet periods?
Continue reading “No work? No problem!”
Writers, whether experienced or new, frequently come across this problem. It’s easily done, I’m sure we’ve all been guilty of doing it. What is it? Overwriting. In this post, we’ll take a look at how to identify and remove instances of overwriting from your manuscript.
Continue reading “Saying too much”
A client recently asked me if I ever have an opinion on certain words. I don’t. Words are there to communicate a message – to tell a story. I do not sit with a dictionary ticking off the words I love and scratching out the words I hate.
Except one.
Continue reading “Suddenly, the editor deleted my words”
Editors and proofreaders all work ever so slightly differently, especially when working with Word documents. Here is a quick guide to what all the marks on your manuscript mean. If there’s anything that doesn’t make sense, is confusing, or you are unsure of, always ask. I am always happy to answer questions.
Continue reading “How to understand my editing”
We’ll look back at 2020 and decide that it was a year that changed a lot of things for a lot of people. Inspired by some of my fellow editors, here’s a review of my year.
Continue reading “A year in review”
Well, we made it …
After the year that was, I expect we are all looking forward to a different 2021. I hope that, for you, 2020 wasn’t too hard. I hope that you’ve managed to keep safe and well and those who you love have done so too.
When I’m editing or proofreading, I’ll use a variety of tools and reference materials in order to get things right. Along with spelling, one of the biggest things to watch for is hyphenation, closing up or opening up of words.
And sometimes, the technical dictionaries that I use just don’t cut it. Especially for the wide variety of language that we use in fiction.
Continue reading “A Very Sweary Dictionary”
In this final part, we’ll look at why LGBTQ+ editing is so important and what you can do if you’re not an expert. In this miniseries we have explored LGBTQ+ characters and language. If you haven’t already, take a look at the previous posts and subscribe to get all the latest blog posts direct to your inbox.
Receive my newsletter!
Your support helps!
Your Ko-fi donations help keep me blogging about writing and editing. They also ensure that I can create and provide free resources for editors and writers. Please consider buying me a cuppa!
Editorial Services for Indie Authors
An ebook available on Amazon. Click here to find out more.
You don’t have to be LGBTQ+ to read, write, edit or proofread LGBTQ+ fiction. After all, stories are stories and the conventions of genre and language still remain. Whatever the story’s genre, we need strong characters that readers can empathise with, whatever their sexuality or none. Readers need language that is authentic, readable and allows them into the world the writer has created.
Just like any other writing, you need to get the basics right. A strong story, spelling, punctuation and grammar and good characterisation. Plots need to drive forward and readers need to be sucked into the writing. So what makes LGBTQ+ editing different?
The difference with LGBTQ+ editing is the same reason why I do not edit medical textbooks. (You really wouldn’t want that!) As with any writing or editing, your research is crucial. As with medical textbooks, you need to know your stuff. And while nobody is at risk of death with a fiction book, it’s still important you get things right.
Like many other genres of fiction, LGBTQ+ fiction allows readers to identify something within themselves. Historically, LGBTQ+ people have been underrepresented in fiction. Everybody needs a hero.
But what if you’re not LGBTQ+ and you are writing or editing a story with LGBTQ+ characters? Does it matter? Didn’t you say I need to be an expert?
No! I’m not a spy but I’m able to edit spy thrillers. I’m not an alien from the planet Zorg but I can edit science fiction. (There are some who would disagree that I’m human … but, honestly, I am.)
Writers, have the confidence in your plots and your characters. Tell genuine stories with a diverse cast and you will get it right. If you’re not sure, ask! Fiction editors, have the confidence in your research and if you’re not sure, ask! There are plenty of LGBTQ+ people who would be delighted to help you with your project and point you in the right direction. You can always ask me a question, either in the comments or by getting in touch.
Growing up, I didn’t have access to the books that I needed. LGBTQ+ fiction may have been out there but I didn’t know it. It wasn’t featured in the bookshops I went to or the libraries I visited. With section 28, there weren’t going to be any books in school that I could find. Today’s world has moved on, thankfully, and we can flood the bookshops and the libraries and the schools with great LGBTQ+ fiction.
So what’s stopping you? Get writing! Get editing! Get publishing those fabulous stories!
Receive my newsletter!
Your support helps!
Your Ko-fi donations help keep me blogging about writing and editing. They also ensure that I can create and provide free resources for editors and writers. Please consider buying me a cuppa!
Editorial Services for Indie Authors
An ebook available on Amazon. Click here to find out more.
Receive my newsletter!
Your support helps!
Your Ko-fi donations help keep me blogging about writing and editing. They also ensure that I can create and provide free resources for editors and writers. Please consider buying me a cuppa!
Editorial Services for Indie Authors
An ebook available on Amazon. Click here to find out more.
