Editorial, Ooligan Press

Editing Unreliable Narrators: Deception in Storytelling

Working at a publishing house and editing a manuscript with an unreliable narrator is both fascinating and complicated to deal with. These stories do not give one person the whole truth, as there are many varied perspectives and interpretations, rather than a straightforward narrative where we know which protagonist to trust. Editors must walk the line between that mystery and making it all too obvious without revealing too much. The worlds created must be balanced ultimately with how the material is pushed, advertised, and presented to readers in the publishing realm.

Pick the Perfect Word: Efforts in Translation Choice

It also raises the question: Is there such a thing as a perfect translation? The answer is along the lines of “it depends.”

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Editorial Calendars: How Publishers Plan Across a Season

In publishing, the timing of a book’s release can literally make or break its success. That’s where the editorial calendar comes in—it’s the master plan publishers use to map out every stage of a book’s life before it ever hits the shelves.

Giving Design Feedback

Design feedback can be tricky for the inexperienced. Even if you’ve been giving design feedback for years, it can be hard to express the feelings you have about a piece without discouraging your colleagues—or to put into words intuitive or feeling-based critique.

How Self-Publishing Authors Utilize Freelance Editors

Have you ever Googled “How to be a self-published author”? If you have, you’ve probably seen several blogs and websites that advertise a step-by-step process to be self-published. One of the most important steps, in both self-publishing and traditional publishing, is editing. Author’s going the self-publishing route typically find a freelance editor to perform these necessary editorial tasks.

What is a MSWL?

A manuscript wish list (MSWL) is a curated list created by literary agents, editors, and publishers that outlines the specific types of manuscripts or book projects they are currently interested in acquiring. By creating or viewing MSWLs, both authors and publishing professionals can streamline the process, ensuring that the right stories find their way to the right hands.

Common Misconceptions About Copyediting

There are multiple types of editing; copyediting is just one of them. Copyediting is what most people consider or think of when they think of “editing.” So what exactly is copyediting? How does it differ from other types of editing? What are some common misconceptions about copyediting?

Tips to Avoid Overediting

It all comes down to readability and ensuring the author’s message is being told in the best possible way for the readers while remaining true to the author’s voice.

Ampersand Versus And: When are They Appropriate?

The ampersand (&) is sometimes used in place of the word and in informal writing, like in lists and brand or company names (Johnson & Johnson, AT&T, Barnes & Noble, etc.). Where you don’t generally see ampersands in the place of the word and is in formal writing, like books. So when is it appropriate to use an ampersand, and when should you spell out and?

What Is Your Query?

Ooligan strives to handle every manuscript with care and to take into account every aspect, and angle, of the potential of each one that comes our way. It is an anxious time waiting for a publisher to get back to you about your story that has been worked on for years. That is not something that we take lightly.

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