In sci-fi, it can be easy to get caught up in the new jargon or futuristic technology without noticing the fact that a character, who previously had an important role in a scene, has seemingly disappeared out of nowhere while the action continued without them. It is important to be mindful of every element within an active scene and how it connects to everything else. Where did that character go?
Just how accurate would it be to claim that there are now more publishing opportunities for people of color and other marginalized persons if only one side of the coin is polished? The publishing industry doesn’t just need to diversify its writers, but the people who help and support those writers too.
If you have ADHD, you’ve heard it before. Just use a timer. Make detailed lists. Try this app. As if the problem is not knowing these tools exist, rather than how to adapt them for ADHD. Building a sustainable editing practice isn’t about finding the right system. It’s about building one around how your brain actually works.
On its face, copyediting is a relatively simple prospect. Find grammatical and spelling errors, highlight them and then send them to the author. But is there more to it than that? To be honest, not really, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy! During my forays into copyediting both as a freelancer and as an Oolie, I’ve picked up a number of tips and tricks that I’m now obligated to share with you.
Satisfaction clauses can be a way for a publisher to ensure that they will get a return on their investment. However, these kinds of clauses often hold a level of subjectivity that make them controversial in the publishing industry, and not everyone chooses to use them.
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.
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?
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.
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?
When you’re editing a manuscript, there are an abundance of reasons why you might want to pose a query. For example, if you’re copyediting, you may want to point out a spelling you’ve found that’s inconsistent, ask for clarification about ambiguous wording, or find out more about an author’s intended meaning, just to name a few. Although the best method of query writing may vary by author based on what they respond well to, there are a few best practices when it comes to writing effective author queries.