Tess Forte

Why the middle third of your manuscript? A 1000 words or so from the middle third will probably be most representative of your writing, and context doesn't matter so much to a copy editor at this stage. As an author you have probably polished the first third quite a lot, and possibly the final third as well. The middle third will give your potential editor a good idea of what they will be working with. I offer a free, no-obligation 1000-word sample edit for authors writing in the following areas: Equestrian (fiction and non-fiction) Art (fiction and non-fiction) Romance Cozy Mystery If you're ready for copyediting, drop me a line!

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Should I trust Grammarly with my writing? A 5-Part Argument I get this question a lot from writers looking to self-edit their works. I also hear a lot of other writers and editors respond that editing software isn’t the best. Here are the top five arguments I hear against using editing software and what I think about them. 📣 They say… Grammar checkers and auto-corrections make writers lazy at catching and fixing their own mistakes. 💬 I say…Laziness? Or efficiency? I agree, hitting Accept All is NOT going to help you learn. But if you pay attention to the changes you’re making and understand why, then grammar checkers can be great teachers. 📣 They say… “An editor will fix all of my mistakes for me.” 💬 I say… Oh god, please don’t do that. Self-editing is a vital part of the editing process before your work gets into a professional’s hands. A grammar checker can remove many obvious problems so an editor can look more deeply at the text. 📣 They say… Grammar checkers are inherently flawed, constantly make incorrect suggestions, and should not be trusted. 💬 I say… Grammar checkers are not magical or perfect; it’s true. What they do well is flag POTENTIAL errors, drawing your attention to that part of the manuscript so you’ll at least double-check. 📣 They say… Editing programs are trying to turn everyone’s writing into the same style and voice. 💬 I say… If your style is being overwritten by editing software, then you’re using the software incorrectly. Yeah, it might suggest that everyone use less passive voice or turn fragments into full sentences, but you have full control to ignore that suggestion if you have a stylistic reason. 📣 They say… Grammar-checking programs don’t really know an individual’s writing and, therefore, won’t be useful. 💬 I say… Grammar checkers will probably never come to know our individual styles, but we can learn how to use the programs better to fit our needs. Many editing tools will have options for you to indicate the type of writing it is (business, fiction, etc.), the level of your reader (beginner, expert, etc.), and the type of English (US, UK, etc.). Don’t be scared of grammar-checking programs. But use them wisely. === Do you use grammar-checking programs? Why or why not? === I’m Jeanette 👋 a copyeditor and self-editing instructor whose aim is to demystify the editing process. In my spare time, I’m a content writer and fiction writer, and my nonfiction mermaiding book (Modern Mer) is available on Amazon. Follow my profile or #Jeanettediting to see more of me in your feed! #writer #writing #editor #editing #writingcommunity #creativity

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🧰 What's in your #editing toolbox? As a copy editor and proofreader, I do a lot of fact-checking. That (already complex) process can hit a snag since many primary sources are now gated or behind paywalls. One of my favorite tools for navigating this is https://archive.is/, which provides viewable screenshots for many webpages, enabling me to quickly check a stat or quote or date without having to pay for an endless number of subscriptions. While I definitely believe in supporting good journalism and careful research (as a few examples), I also believe tools like this are fair given the specific and limited purpose for which I'm using them. Do you agree? What's one of your favorite tools in your editing toolbox? I’m Kelsey. 👋 Editing is my bread and butter—and it’s also my jam. I copy edit and proofread for publishers and nonfiction writers. 📚✍️ Follow Kelsey Mitchener Editing for thoughts and updates on #editing and #freelancelife.

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Some good points here. Know when to break a rule!

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Ready to crack the code on real earnings in the publishing world? Tune into "Beyond the Bookshelf: Unpacking the Real Money in Publishing," where we reveal the surprising truths behind author earnings. Forget about simply selling thousands of copies—learn how savvy authors leverage their books for bigger paydays through unexpected channels. Whether you're an aspiring writer or a seasoned scribe, this episode will open your eyes to the real goldmines in publishing. Get ready for some eye-opening insights that will change how you think about your next book's value! https://lnkd.in/gXMkM9Kk #ghostwriter #bookpublishing #bookwritingtips #bookwritinghelp

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As a copyeditor, I’m often briefed to remove wordiness. But what is it, why is it bad and where do you draw the line? First, let’s get clear on what it is. Wordiness is when you use more words than necessary to express an idea. This can include: 👉 Fillers (e.g. needless to say, sort of) 👉 Redundancies (e.g. end result, PIN number) 👉 Too many intensifiers (e.g. very, really) 👉 Too many moderators (e.g. quite, somewhat) 👉 Too many mitigators (e.g. slightly, a little) 👉 Lengthy constructions (e.g. has the effect of, finding yourself having to) 👉 Too many long or complex words (e.g. evidenced, utilisation) If your writing is too wordy, readers get bored, impatient or confused. And that’s the last thing you need if you want to educate, build trust or prompt readers to take action. So here are some examples of wordy sentences and how you might correct them: ❌ People are finding themselves having to use public transport. ✅ People are using public transport. ❌ These are quite literally the worst results we’ve had. ✅ These are the worst results we’ve had.   ❌ When I was working as a chiropractor, I worked with a lot of sportspeople. ✅ As a chiropractor, I worked with a lot of sportspeople.   ❌ Try and make an effort to be polite. ✅ Make an effort to be polite.   ❌ If you struggle to pay your bills, I would suggest that you consider seeing a financial counsellor. ✅ If you struggle to pay your bills, consider seeing a financial counsellor.   ❌ Each of us needs to try harder as individuals. ✅ We need to try harder. ❌ We use social media platforms to interface with our customers. ✅ We use social media to communicate with our customers. As you can see, the second ones are shorter, tighter and easier to read. And I didn’t have to do any rewriting or recasting (except for the last two). All I did was remove a couple of words. Of course, there are times when fillers or intensifiers ARE appropriate (e.g. if you’re emphasising a point or writing in a conversational style). But in general, keep them to a minimum to avoid unnecessary friction. That said, eliminating wordiness is always a delicate balance. Going too far can strip your writing of personality and make it sound like everyone’s favourite AI minion (you know who I mean)! In the end, it’s about clarity and always keeping your target audience in mind. So when you’re editing for wordiness, ask yourself: 📌 Do I have to read the sentence twice to understand its meaning? 📌 Will those extra words engage or put off my target audience? 📌 Is every word in the sentence necessary? 📌 Am I explaining things that are obvious? 📌 Am I making an idea unnecessarily complicated? 📌 Am I out of breath when I read the sentence out loud? And then edit accordingly … or better yet, let me do the hard yakka for you! 😊 -------------- Hi, I’m Gabriella, a freelance editor for non-fiction authors, businesses and marketers. Shoot me a DM if you need an eagle-eyed editor on your team.

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Something I'm constantly doing as a copyeditor is looking things up, and perhaps compound words are what I look up most. Should a compound word be open (like "rib cage")? Should a compound word be closed (like "windowsill")? Should a compound word be hyphenated (like the noun "run-in")? It can be easy to know how to write many compound words we encounter regularly, but while editing manuscripts it's very common to stumble upon those that require a look-up. That's why I always, always have Merriam-Webster open in one of my browser tabs. (And, yes, M-W actually lists both "look-up" and "lookup" as acceptable spellings of the noun, so in a case like that, it's my job to ensure each instance of such words is written consistently throughout a manuscript.) Let me tell you about "motor home." I recently did a sample edit for a potential new client. His story features a motor home. He had written it as "motorhome" throughout his first chapter. As this is a compound I don't come across every day, I needed to look it up and, lo and behold, M-W lists it as "motor home." Apparently, many sites that sell motor homes write this as a closed compound, so it's completely understandable that this author went with that spelling; he clearly did his research. I decided to leave a query in the sample edit, explaining what I found in M-W. There's more leeway in fiction writing as compared to formal writing, so it would have been completely acceptable for this author to have gone with "motorhome" as a closed compound if that's what he thought looked better or if he wanted to stick with how many retailers write the noun. What's most important is maintaining consistency throughout a manuscript. It should either be always written as a closed compound or always written as an open compound. In this case, the author ended up choosing to go with the M-W entry, and he was so impressed with my desire to be meticulous that he's chosen to hire me to proofread his manuscript. I couldn't be happier. Copyediting is slow work. Nobody can memorize every compound in the English language, and that's only one sliver of the job. But it's worth doing it slowly and correctly. Having this mindset can help you be a better editor, and even land you projects that might've otherwise passed you by. (And, yes, M-W also lists "mind-set" as an acceptable, though less common, spelling.) Need an editor who'll check all those compounds for you? I'm Timothy, a fiction editor. My schedule is full for the remainder of 2024, but I'd love to start chatting about working together in 2025. Feel free to reach out if you're interested. Timothy #amediting #writingcommunity #editing #copyediting #proofreading #books #fiction 

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Most copy editors chase the never-ending deadline. Then they burn out. Smart copy editors prioritize: Physical health (daily workout) Craft (focused writing time) Nourishment (balanced meals) Growth (industry updates) Connection (quality time) Recharge (nature breaks) Reflection (mindful moments) You don’t want to work longer hours. You want to work smarter hours. Success isn’t just about perfect copy. It’s about building a fulfilling life. Agreed? #copyeditor #freelancer 

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