Category Archives: Working with an editor

A leap of faith: so you want to go freelance?

Author standing looking out at the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Halloween, or 31 October, is a big anniversary for me. This one marks 7 years from the day I packed up my London life and hit the road as a digital nomad editor. That also means that it’s been 7 years of running my editing business. Every so often, usually after a LinkedIn or Instagram […]

The nuances of editing for academics and PhD candidates

Photo showing the ornate ceiling of the interior of Boston public libary

Any manuscript, whatever the topic or format, is unique. Every writer, whether seasoned or beginner, has their own inimitable style. Some may be more experienced than others, while others may have more of a way with words than some. One thing academics and PhD candidates have in common is a deep knowledge of their subject […]

Proofreading verbatim texts: how it works

The blog writer sitting at a tall table on a rooftop garden, surrounded by green plants. The town of Oaxaca, Mexico, is in the far background.

Proofreading verbatim texts is its own art form. With any text that reports verbatim on something, you can’t edit for bad grammar or words that are used incorrectly or out of context. The text must show exactly what was said. So when I began a more unusual type of proofreading work – US court and […]

Useful tools for working remotely

Laptop by a window overlooking mountains. Having the right tools for remote working.

When I first started my editing business, it was so that I could travel while working remotely. Yes, I was (and still am) one of those digital nomads. The ones you see sitting in cafes with a laptop and a cup of coffee – earphones optional! It’s so easy to do nowadays that more and […]

How being part of an accountability group improved my business

Hands next to each other signalling support on the trunk of a tree

In the summer of 2020, I set up an accountability group of fellow editors. I wanted some support with setting marketing goals and putting them into action. Normally a confident self-starter, it was something I was struggling to do working from home alone. What does this have to do with editing and why should you […]

7 things to include in the brief to your copyeditor or proofreader

The number seven on a signpost

Congratulations! You’ve made the business decision to hire an editor or proofreader to get your written material in good shape. Now what? The next step is to put together a brief that will show them what it is you would like them to do. This will help you find the right person, and it will […]

The difference between proofreading and copyediting: which do you need?

Write without fear, edit without mercy sign

If you don’t work in the publishing industry, you may not know the difference between proofreading and copyediting. And that’s okay. There’s probably no need for you to know, is there? When it comes to finalising your work, before pressing the “publish now” or “convert to PDF” button, though, you want to know that there […]