Crafting a captivating novel is only half the battle. This webinar empowers writers with the essential tools to navigate the editing process, transforming their drafts into polished gems. This session equips you with the knowledge to:

Join us and unlock the secrets to a successful fiction editing journey!

The post FICTION EDITING ESSENTIALS – Free Webinar appeared first on Firstediting.com.

Now that it’s finished, it’s time to submit, right?

Not just yet! The next stages of the process are editing and proofreading, both of which are of the utmost importance when it comes to the quality, validity, and readability of your thesis.

You can either take on both tasks yourself, or you can reach out to professional thesis proofreading services to ensure that your work meets the highest standards.

But what does a thesis proofreading service comprise? And is it the right choice for you?

Let’s find out!

Thesis Proofreading Services: Why They’re Important & 7 Advantages

You’ve spent months, perhaps years, working on and perfecting your thesis. But let’s be honest – one pair of eyes can only do so much.

Sometimes, having a professional editor or proofreader go over your text is the best way to see your thesis from a different point of view and formulate your language in a way that brings out the best in your work.

While editors dive into the structure, argument flow, and organization of your thesis, proofreaders help you polish your language and writing tone.

Here are just some of the pros of hiring a thesis proofreading service:

What’s more, the process is usually very easy and efficient as most proofreaders track their changes and recommendations in Microsoft Word, which means you have full control over the modifications made to your thesis.

5 Reasons to Choose FirstEditing

Enter… FirstEditing!

FirstEditing is a team of professional editors & proofreaders and subject matter experts who have been helping thousands of academics enhance the quality of their work since 1994.

Here are the 5 reasons why FirstEditing makes for an excellent choice:

1. They possess the necessary qualifications and experience to proofread your work with the subtlety and confidence that this type of service requires
2. They have plenty of testimonials and reviews that show their expertise in the field and excellent communication skills
3. They offer a quick turnaround and competitive prices
4. They aim to help you make your thesis the absolute best it can be
5. They offer four different editing packages so that you can choose whichever service fits your needs the most

Standard: This is a technical copy edit, which is the absolutely final edit before submission. It’s essentially a proofreading service. If you’re fluent in English and are looking for a professional who will help you tweak the last bits and pieces of your thesis on a linguistic level, the Standard package is the perfect choice.

It includes services such as:

… and more.

Advanced: This is an academic English line edit. This package mainly focuses on your academic writing style, use of language, and substance of content at the sentence and paragraph level. It also looks at the clarity of your proposal, subject-verb agreement, and the proficiency of your English language.

It includes services such as:

… and more.

Premium: This is a substantive content edit. This package dives into the ins and outs of the content of your thesis – a professional expert in the field will offer valuable feedback on the quality & logic of your arguments, as well as the overall presentation and cohesion.

It includes services such as:

• Working with a subject matter expert in your field
• Checking your visual supporting elements
• Substantive editing (organization, content, structure, and presentation)
• Receiving an Abstract Critique and a Content Review
• Everything from the Standard and Advanced packages

… and more.

Graduate: This is a research support package. It’s the most comprehensive editing service out of the four packages, and it’s highly recommended to get this package in the early stages of your research as you will be able to have a consultation with an expert in your field and a technical editor in order to create a high-quality thesis.

It includes services such as:

• Consulting with a subject matter expert and a professional editor
• Enhancing the clarity of your abstract
• Validating the accuracy of your work on a technical level
• Free multi-round edits and final proofreading services
• Everything from the Standard, Advanced, and Premium packages

… and more.

Conclusion
Hiring a thesis proofreading service is an excellent way to increase the quality of your thesis and ensure your writing is as clear and concise as possible.

It is fully up to you to decide whether you’d like a professional to go over your work and polish your English language. If you want to get a free sample of what a collaboration with FirstEditing looks like, don’t hesitate to head over to the thesis services page.

The post Thesis Proofreading & Editing Services: 5 Reasons to Choose FirstEditing appeared first on Firstediting.com.

A revision can be dreaded because there’s usually a lot more to do, to fix, to restructure, and even rewrite. Before you put it off too long or sink into procrastination, let’s help you develop a plan so you can get to work with some strategy in mind.

Introduction
When revising a novel, it’s always good to think of working from big to small. That means tackling the larger aspects of the novel first, such as plot structure, characterization or setting elements, before getting into the nitty gritty of punctuation, grammar, word choice and other language elements. Here are some steps to help in this process.

Steps to revise a novel

Create some distance first
After you’ve written your first draft, take a short break. Give yourself a few weeks or even a few months of breathing space so that when you come back to the manuscript, you’re looking at it with fresh eyes and far more objectivity. You should be able to see things that aren’t working far clearer.

RELATED READ: Tips For Outlining a Novel

First read through
When you first pick up your novel again, don’t get bogged down in the nitty gritty. It should literally be a read-through assessing plot, characters, and setting elements. Think about plot holes that emerge, any character storylines or motivations that need to be stronger, anywhere the story lacks lags and pacing needs to pick up the tempo, or perhaps more description is needed to paint the scene. Make notes in the margins or somewhere so you can come back to it.

Once you’ve done this, you should be read to start work. Many of the first edits should be structural, on a story-wide basis, while others will work more scene by scene.

Plot: timeline and pacing
You should have accumulated a few notes from your read through, but let’s tackle plot elements first. First, consider the main plot points of the story. Do these come at the right point in the story and are they clear so readers understand what is happening? Does the plot make sense? Are there any holes you need to fill, contradictions or other issues? Does it have the right tension or pacing in scenes where there are moments or terror or action? Are romantic elements established so there are escalating feelings that build throughout?

Characters
From here, you can move to your characters and consider their role in the story. Are they interesting to readers, are their motivations clear, do they have distinct features, and are at least some of them likeable? Round out any flat characters and make sure each has a defined arc so they all experience change (for the good or bad) throughout the story. Characters should grow in some way and this should be clear and evident to readers, along with the reasons they have changed. While not all characters have the same screen time, each should have a distinct personality and behaviour.

Setting elements
Have you painted the world of your story well enough? A great story can be let down without enough sensory elements or description for it to play out in. Certain kinds of stories need more world-building than others. For example, a sci-fi story or something set in another world or era should be described in enough detail that readers understand it.

It can be helpful to think of the five sensory elements—touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing—to help describe your scenes.

However, don’t get bogged down in these details when perhaps there is something happening that is more important. Is there too much detail? Are you distracting the reader with long expositions when something else is more important? For example, you might not want to spend time too much describing the weather when characters are about to have their first kiss.

RELATED READ: Advice for first-time novel writers

The minutiae
Once you’ve handled the elements above, you would have worked on both the overall structure and individual scenes. You can now work on the page by page, or line by line elements such as spelling, grammar, tenses, and punctuation and even formatting. It can be helpful to consider the tense in which your story is told, or even the point of view. You may want to rewrite elements of passive voice into active sentences, cut unnecessary details, or just look at how scenes open and close and try to rewrite them into something more powerful. Much of this process can lead to some rewriting and take time, so make sure you’ve set additional time in the revision process for them.

Most common mistakes when revising a novel

Fixate on the details
As previously mentioned, revisions should start big and end small. The big picture editing is what has been described above. If you get caught up in word choices, spelling, and other minutiae first before you’ve tackled the big picture elements of it, you can lose track of what the revision process is about. You should tackle all of the elements above, before doing any other editing for style, grammar, punctuation, and formatting.

Not having a deadline and getting distracted
Setting yourself a deadline for your work can be useful, otherwise the revision process can be never ending. Perhaps give yourself a set time for each of the main editing elements above to help you keep on track. If you’re a procrastinator or find there are interruptions that could distract you from your writing, try to clear a time of the day when you are most efficient.

Not leaving enough time
The revision process takes as long as the first draft, if not far longer. Writers often think they’ve done all the when the first draft is completed, when actually this is more like the start of the process.

No story is perfect

When we invest a lot of time into anything, we can get emotionally attached. If you find the revision process is going on too long or you’re too invested in every change, take another short break, or engage your energy somewhere else for a while. Come back to it again, fresh, and have another go.

However, while we can think of a manuscript as our baby, there is a point at which you have to let it go. No story is every perfect and at some point, you will have to accept that you have done all you can on it and send it off for the next step. Remember, that if you’re publishing on an e-platform there may still be an opportunity to edit it again after its been published.

Once you’ve done all you can with your story, it can be helpful to seek further help. Beta readers, reader groups, and professional editing help are all useful resources. This might lead to the need for even more revising once you get feedback back from them. Remember they also seek to improve your story and while feedback can be hard to take, it ultimately should be used to better your story. Keep going and don’t give up.

The post Revising a Novel: The most effective way appeared first on Firstediting.com.

Dumbfounded, you’re not quite sure what to make of it, and so you turn to the internet for help.

And that’s where this article comes in!

Today, we’ll go through what all those hieroglyphs – that is, proofreading marks – mean. The next time you look at your edited manuscript, it will be like discovering a brand new language entirely and realizing you can now read it.

What are proofreading marks?

So, what are proofreading marks in the first place?

Proofreading marks are used to point out any operational, punctuation, typography, and other mistakes in your manuscript that ought to be edited.

You will usually find proofreading marks in the margins of a manuscript, although some proofreaders will insert them in the text itself, which is why it’s often recommended to create double-spaced manuscripts to give your proofreader more room.

Proofreading marks are most commonly applied to hard-copy manuscripts, which is why they’re becoming increasingly rare nowadays – after all, many editors now use tracked changes in Microsoft Word to edit manuscripts digitally.

However, working with a pen and paper is another experience entirely, and some editors prefer it because it allows them to approach your text with a fresh perspective.

Your job as an author is to be able to decode the proofreading marks they leave behind and integrate your editor’s suggestions accordingly.

Of course, this isn’t very easy if you’re just seeing proofreading marks for the first time in your life. It’s a very specific language of its own, and there’s a high chance you will need to read through a guide in order to unpack the meaning of every single mark.

Luckily for you, that’s exactly what we’re about to do.

Punctuation Marks

Let’s start off with something simple – punctuation.

Punctuation marks are pretty straightforward because they’re all about inserting specific punctuation symbols, such as commas, apostrophes, dashes, and more.

Here’s a useful overview:

These marks tend to come with an up or down arrow.

The up arrow (⌃) is used for marks that appear at the bottom of letters, such as commas, while the down arrow (⌄) is often used for quotation or apostrophe marks.

Some marks – like periods or colons – can come in circles as well.

Please note: There is a difference between a hyphen, an Em dash, and an En dash.

• An Em dash is the longest one (—) and it’s often used to connect sentences (“Josh told her he was quite fond of her — something that was very much out of character for him — and left the room”)\
• An En dash has a medium length (–) and it tends to highlight a relationship between two words or numbers (“There were 10–15 people” or “The London–Prague flight takes two hours”)
• A hyphen (-) connects two words to create a meaning, for example, compound adjectives or compound nouns (“My mother-in-law is very kind” or “Write a one-page essay”)

Operational Marks

Alright, moving on to operational marks! These focus on spacing, paragraphs, deletion, and more.

Have a look at this image:

As you can see, operational marks are a tiny bit more complicated than punctuation marks.
But worry not! Here’s an overview of what all these marks mean:

• Delete: This refers to a word that should be deleted from the sentence
• Delete & close up: This refers to a letter within a word that should be deleted
• Close up: Delete space
• Mark new paragraph: Begin a new paragraph where the mark stands
• Spell out: Spell the word in full (e.g, “ok” -> “okay”)
• Move left: Move your writing left
• Move right: Move your writing right
• Let it stand: If the proofreader went through the text more than once and decided to alter their previous correction, they’ll put down “stet” to let you know you should leave the original version as it is
• Insert space: Insert space where the mark stands

Typography Marks

Next comes typography! This is the part where your proofreader tells you what you should capitalize, set in italics or boldface, and which words ought to be in lowercase.

These are the basics:

• caps: Set in capital letters
• Ic: Set in lowercase letters
• bf: Set in boldface
• ital: Set in italics
• rom: Set in roman
• wf: Wrong font
• sm cap: Set in small caps

Sometimes, capitalization is also shown as three horizontal lines.

Abbreviations

We’re not quite finished yet – there are a few more abbreviations you should memorize in order to understand the proofreading language in its entirety.

Here goes:

• tr: transpose two words the proofreader selected (change their order in the sentence)
• ww: wrong word
• dict: faulty diction
• rep: too repetitive
• awk: awkward construction
• wdw: too wordy, make more concise
• r-o: run-on sentence

Why is proofreading important?

Now that you know what proofreading marks are and how to decode them, it’s time to ask the question, “Why is proofreading important in the first place? And how is it different from editing?”

While some people use the two terms interchangeably, editing and proofreading are actually two different parts of the editing process.

In general, editing goes into much more depth – for example, structural editing looks at your story overall, including your character arcs and your plot development – while proofreading centers around grammar, punctuation, typography, and layout.

While proofreading tends to be quicker – it’s essentially the final correction before your manuscript goes to print or is submitted to the publisher – it’s just as important as editing.

Small details matter, so don’t underestimate the importance of proofreading.

Use proofreading marks to polish your own manuscript

Professional proofreaders aren’t the only ones who get to use proofreading marks.

If you are self-editing your own manuscript and want to do one final round of revisions on paper, using proofreading marks can help you get through the text faster and make the process much more effective.

Instead of coming up with your own elaborate system for inserting punctuation, changing word order, or deleting paragraphs, you already have a solid set of rules to learn and refer to.

Reach out to a professional proofreader for help

Of course, two sets of eyes are better than one, so it’s always a good idea to send your manuscript to a professional in the field.

Don’t worry, not all proofreaders use proofreading marks – tracked changes in Microsoft Word or Google Documents are much more common nowadays – but if they do, you now know how to decipher them!

A professional proofreader will ensure that your manuscript is free of errors, typos, and spelling mistakes, and what’s more, they’ll also look at technical aspects that many writers don’t pay as much attention to, such as your font, spacing, and typography.

At FirstEditing, for example, we offer proofreading services as well as high-quality editing packages. From copy editing to line editing and content editing, feel free to pick whichever package suits your needs.

And remember – now that you know how to use proofreading marks, why not print out your manuscript and go over it with these new symbols in mind before you submit it to a professional editor or proofreader?

You’ve just learned a whole new language, so have some fun with it!

The post What Are Proofreading Marks? A Complete Guide appeared first on Firstediting.com.

Most people use the two terms interchangeably, but there’s actually a difference between them. While editing generally goes into more depth, proofreading is the final run-through before everything goes to print.

Together, let’s look at all the different stages of editing and compare the process to proofreading. Based on that, you’ll be able to figure out which of the two you need right now.

The ABCs of Editing

When an editor looks at your work, they don’t just tell you, “Oh, you’ve misspelled something on page eight.”

The process is much more complex, and in many ways, it is just as important as writing itself. What’s more, there isn’t just one kind of editing – there’s developmental editing, content editing, line editing, copyediting…

It’s a lot, I know.

When it comes down to it, though, the two most important types of editing are…

Developmental editing

This is where an editor looks at your story in-depth. Instead of focusing on misspelled names or grammar checks, they dig deep into your plotline, character development, and world-building.

Some of the questions a developmental editor will ask themselves while reading your manuscript are:

• Is this story complete? Is there something missing?
• Is the plotline resolved?
• Does the story flow smoothly and is there a clearly defined plot structure?
• Is the ultimate message clear enough?
• Does the protagonist’s development make sense?
• Do all characters serve a clear purpose?
• Are there any plot holes?

The feedback you’ll receive should be very comprehensive and detailed, and it should ultimately help you bring your storytelling to a new level.

In other words, developmental editing ensures that you’re telling a killer of a story.

RELATED READ: How to Perform a Sentence-Level Copy Edit

Copyediting

While a developmental edit focuses on your story as a whole, a copyedit looks at your language from up close.

A copyeditor will typically watch out for:

• Grammar mistakes
• Spelling and punctuation errors
• Typos
• The tone of voice (and its consistency throughout the text)
• Rhythm and pace
• Writing style and how appropriate it is to the genre

If you’re looking to hire an editor, the best course of action is to ask for developmental editing first and copyediting second. This is because a developmental edit might have such an impact on your work that you’ll end up reworking whole paragraphs, scenes, or chapters.

Copyediting comes at a stage where your story and plot are complete and fully wrapped up.

How to Self-Edit

Every writer self-edits to a certain degree. Self-editing is what happens when you read through your draft and make corrections.

However, it’s important not to spend too much time on editing and too little on writing. After all, it can be very easy to get lost in details and not put a single word down during a whole writing session. This is why many writers edit after they’ve finished their first draft.

During the editing process, you’ll want to ask yourself:Every writer self-edits to a certain degree. Self-editing is what happens when you read through your draft and make corrections.

However, it’s important not to spend too much time on editing and too little on writing. After all, it can be very easy to get lost in details and not put a single word down during a whole writing session. This is why many writers edit after they’ve finished their first draft.

During the editing process, you’ll want to ask yourself:

• Is your story complete?
• Is the point of view consistent?
• Are you reaching your audience?
• Does your story flow well?
• How is the imagery?
• How is the character development?

And if you’re still unsure, you can always reach out to an editing service that will help you bring all the different aspects of your book into one cohesive whole.

RELATED READ: 5 Principles of a Thorough Self-Editing Process

Your Final Run-Through

Proofreading is the final run-through before your writing is submitted or goes to print.

It’s where you concentrate on spelling, grammar, punctuation, and syntax. You’re dotting all the “i’s” and crossing all the “t’s.” It’s also where you polish your formatting and make sure you’re consistent.

In traditional publishing, proofreading takes place right before the manuscript is sent off to print. It’s essentially the final check, so no big changes take place at this stage.

A proofread will ask:

• Is the font consistent throughout the text?
• Are all the chapter headings in the correct numerical order?
• Does the style format adhere to the genre requirements?
• Are there any typos or misspellings the editors missed?
• Do any slight changes need to be made, such as exchanging one word for another?
• How does the text look on the page?

All in all, the editing process is more intensive, while proofreading catches overlooked errors. While proofreading usually takes a shorter amount of time than editing, it is still a vital part of the publishing process.

Proofreading or Editing: How Do You Know Which One You Need?
So, how do you know whether your manuscript is in need of editing or proofreading?

It depends on what stage you’re at.

If you’ve just finished your first or second draft and want someone to look at your story in-depth, hiring a developmental editor is the way to go.

If your story and plot are in order but you’re unsure about the language and style, a copyeditor will help you elevate your manuscript and polish your writing skills.

And finally, if you’re just looking for someone to do a final check before you submit or print out your work, proofreading is the right service for you.

Don’t know where to start? Head to the FirstEditing Services page and look at their most popular editing bundles.

Get Profession

The post Proofreading or Editing: How Do You Know Which One You Need? appeared first on Firstediting.com.

You would hardly guess that based on the final product, though. If you look at an error-free and high-quality research paper, your assumption might be that the author is just really smart.

The truth is, the text you’re reading has been reviewed by at least two different people who collaborate together in order to make sure the world only gets to see the absolute best version.

If you’re an academic, it’s highly likely you will want to work with an academic copy editor so that your manuscript is as polished as can be.

It’s not as simple as hiring just anybody, though. Today, let’s have a look at how to choose an academic copy editor and what to expect!

Recap: What Is Academic Copy Editing?

Academic copy editing is a service that aims to improve your academic language. As opposed to structural editing (where consistency of arguments and logical flow play a major role), copy editing is all about the linguistic side of things.

That doesn’t mean it’s any less important, however. A great academic copyeditor will be a subject matter expert in your field who knows the right lingo and has an eagle eye.

This in and of itself is a very specialized skill as it means they have studied the subject for years and are highly proficient in linguistics alongside their background knowledge on the topic.

How to Choose the Right Academic Copy Editor

Academic editing is different from regular editing in so that it requires specialized and in-depth knowledge.

That’s not all, though. When choosing the right academic copyeditor, make sure that they:

• Have qualifications that prove their expertise in the field
• Are familiar with the lingo and terminology used in your field of interest (someone with a Ph.D. in literature may not be completely familiar with biology-related definitions and vice versa)
• Have a keen eye for detail (your manuscript should ideally be completely error-free once the editor has done their job)
• Know the correct procedures when it comes to referencing and quoting (for example, an academic copyeditor ought to know the difference between MLA and APA and edit your manuscript accordingly)
• Display punctuality (this is extremely important as deadlines are often non-negotiable in the academic world)
• Communicate clearly, effectively, and respectfully
• Have positive reviews that show why they’re the right person for the job

A high-quality editing service goes hand in hand with a well-designed website, great testimonials, and easy customer experience. FirstEditing, for example, has a team of Ph.D. editors who deliver highly valuable feedback and thoroughly check your language as well as your citation style.

7 Tips for Working With an Academic Editor

Amazing, you’ve chosen your copy editor!

The time has come to begin your collaboration. The process isn’t as easy as you might expect, though. While you probably think that you can just send off your manuscript and then receive the most polished version that can be, communication is completely vital.

Therefore, keep the following 7 tips in mind:

1. Speak to your editor about the expected timeline (ensure there is a sufficient amount of time left after the completion of the project in case you’d like any changes made)
2. Make sure you have a clear understanding of what the service includes (for example, a copyeditor will look at your text on a linguistic level but may not go into that much depth as far as content goes)
3. Consider whether their pricing fits within your budget (top academic copyeditors can be quite pricy as their knowledge is highly specialized, and what’s more, revisions may be at an extra cost)
4. Ask yourself whether your manuscript needs structural editing, too (and if it does, hire a structural editor first and only then look for a copyeditor; this is because a structural edit is about reworking your content in depth, which may include rewriting entire paragraphs)
5. Brief your copyeditor properly (tell them what your preferred citation style is, which journal or publication house you want to publish the manuscript with, what your concerns are, and how you feel about the text as a whole)
6. Be open to feedback (it isn’t easy to receive some negative critique, but in many cases, that’s precisely what your manuscript needs in order to evolve. If you disagree with your copyeditor, ask them further questions or find another independent party that could provide objective feedback)
7. Make your manuscript the best it can be before submission (just because you hire someone to edit your text doesn’t mean you shouldn’t polish it yourself beforehand. Trust me, a good editor will give you more than enough feedback even after you’ve put all your effort in)

Conclusion

The reason many research papers are so brilliant isn’t only because they’ve been written by some great minds; it’s also because high-quality editors have done their job well, ensuring the final product is smooth and error-free.

If you’re looking for an academic copyeditor, it’s time to research your options and get in touch with the FirstEditing team.

The post 7 Tips for Working With an Academic Copy Editor appeared first on Firstediting.com.

Self-editing is the part of the writing process that helps you arrange thousands of random puzzle pieces into one cohesive picture.

Contrary to popular belief, self-editing isn’t only about checking for grammar, typos, and punctuation errors, though. It’s about bringing your whole book, article, or dissertation closer to reaching its full potential.

Have you ever committed some of the following mistakes when self-editing? It might be time to switch things up!

Mistake 1: Editing while you’re still writing

Look, I’ll be the first person to say that editing while writing isn’t all bad. However, it’s the amount of editing you do that matters.

For instance, I like to read the previous scene before writing a new one to get back into the atmosphere of my story. Naturally, things that need editing will pop up during the reading experience.

However, I only choose to edit about 10% of them – mostly typos and grammatical errors. Sentences I’m unsure about stay in for future reference.

I do this because it’s very easy to get tangled up in details. Before you know it, you’ve spent an hour editing one paragraph and writing zero new words.

So, lesson number one: leave most of your editing until you’ve finished writing the first draft.

Mistake 2: Immediately jumping from draft 1 to draft 2

Editing right after you’re done writing is a bad idea, and I’ll tell you why: it doesn’t allow any space for gaining new perspectives.

This is also why postponing everything until the day of the deadline is not very effective. It usually means your editing process won’t be great, decreasing the overall quality of your work.

When I write articles and essays, I give myself at least one day before I go over the text again and tweak it. As far as books are concerned, a few months will do the trick.

In Czechia, people say that “patience brings roses.” A high-quality manuscript is the rose you receive in return for your patience.

Don’t rush.

Mistake 3: Refusing all help

Every writer needs help. It’s kind of the rule of writing. You won’t ever write a perfect book or academic paper because something will always need tweaking, even if it’s just one scene or a couple of sentences.

Here’s where professional editors and free online tools come to the rescue. While Grammarly and Hemingway Editor check for grammatical errors and syntax structure, a professional editor will look at your manuscript through a fresh pair of eyes and provide complex feedback.

You may know all the self-editing tips, have a keen eye for catching errors, or even work as an editor yourself. The truth of the matter is you’re just one person with one mind.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Mistake 4: Looking at the trees before polishing the forest

All right, here comes a big one: structural editing should come before copy editing.

And what do I mean by that?

Sort out your story before you take a deep dive into the linguistic side of things. If there’s a gaping plot hole in your scene but you’ve already spent hours making the language the best it can be, you’ll have a much harder time cutting it out.

Ask yourself:

• Do all of my scenes and chapters serve a clear purpose that propels the story forward?
• Does my character development work?
• Is my main message clear enough?

Only when you’ve got your narrative sorted out should you truly focus on the details.

Mistake 5: Giving yourself too much leeway

Finally, one of the key rules of self-editing your writing is to be ruthless.

Well, maybe don’t take it too far . . . For example, you should always save all previous versions of your manuscript in case you later decide to put a deleted scene back in. But don’t treat the text with kid gloves, either.

You may like how a particular sentence sounds, but if it’s completely irrelevant to the story, it has to go.

You might really like a side character you threw in at the last minute, but what is their purpose in the story?

And what about that phrase you keep using? Isn’t it time to switch it up a little so it’s not too repetitive?

The moment you put the editing hat on is the moment you are ready to “kill your darlings.”

This is when the emotional part of the writing process takes a backseat. It’s time to detach yourself.

Conclusion

When you self-edit, it is important to distance yourself from the manuscript and view it as objectively as possible. Of course, this isn’t easy – after all the hard work you’ve put in, you’ve created an emotional bond to the text.

This is why many writers hire professional editors. The editors at FirstEditing will go through your text, deliver complex and nuanced critique, and help you elevate your manuscript to a new level.

The post 5 Most Common Mistakes When Self-Editing appeared first on Firstediting.com.

The purpose and process of all these editing levels is slightly different, and clearly all require trying to improve your document in some way. It’s useful to understand the nuances between them, so you know what kind of editing your document requires. You never know, line editing could well be it.

Let’s take a look.

What is line editing?

The most basic definition of line editing is that it deals with flow, style and readability. As the name suggests, it looks at the writing line by line at the sentence and paragraph level.

So instead of matters of syntax (grammar, punctuation and spelling), line editing looks at any areas sentences can be tweaked for readability, a better presentation of ideas, clarity of phrasing or improved word choice. It’s all about fine-tuning clunky elements that can be removed or switched up.

RELATED READ: How to Perform a Sentence-Level Copy Edit

The importance of line editing

If you look at editing in terms of a large to small focus, copyediting focuses on the minutiae—the spelling, tenses, punctuation and grammar. Line editing takes a step back to consider how sentences and paragraphs hang together, so it’s a slightly bigger picture edit.

It considers things like the kind of language used to illustrate a setting and the atmosphere, emotion, or tone it invokes. It might adjust cliches or broad generalizations so fresher language is used and new ideas. And it edits any areas where the language or structure needs a cleaner, more fluid flow.

Redundancies, unnatural phrasing, consistency, style, overused words, incorrect word use and run-on sentences are bread and butter for the line editor to get their editing fingers into.

Tips and steps for line editing

If you would like to tackle some line editing yourself, here are some areas to consider looking at.

Tone of the passage

A line editor should assess a writer’s style as they progress and ensure that this remains consistent throughout, with no narrative digresses, and that the tone of the actual passage is in keeping with this and with what is happening in the plot. So, at a climactic point, humour might not be the best choice, nor sarcasm. Whereas increasing tension to a culminating point might work best with high action, pithy dialogue and fast-paced sequences.

Run-on sentences
A run-on sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses that are not joined correctly or should be made into separate sentences. The length of these sentences is not the problem, but the grammatical makeup of them.

I love ice cream I would eat one every day if I could

→ I love ice cream. I would eat one every day if I could.

Another common problem is separating ideas that should be joined.

I wanted to go to New York. To visit the Statue of Liberty and watch baseball in Central Park.

→ I wanted to go to New York to visit the Statute of Liberty and watch baseball in Central Park

Tighten it up
Part of line editing is to improve phrasing and some of that means trimming off unwanted fat in the use of unnecessary words, repetition and overused words. Words like that, also, very, honestly, absolutely and always are sometimes unnecessary in sentences and add little to the meaning of it. Here are some examples of ways to trim sentences:

a little bit of → a little / a bit

James was on his way to → James went to

he said that he was hungry → he was hungry

often, she sometimes went out → she sometimes went out

immediately now → now

RELATED READ: Online Editing Services – What Do I Really Need?

Better word choices
Cliches like star-crossed lovers, a perfect storm, a can of worms and plenty of fish in the sea are phrases that have been used a million times. They can be tired and old, and you can inject a fresh feel and novelty into your work by trying to think of alternatives.

Along with consistent narrative presentations, the line editor might also consider if word choice is clear or ambiguous. For example, is “a boiling orb” understood as the sun, or it’s best to stick to the names of known planetary bodies?

Why hire a professional editor to do your line editing?
While you might be able to do a bit of self-editing, it is always wise to hire a professional editor to look at your work. This is an important process in the development of your manuscript, as editors are not only objective and able to look at your work more clinically, but trained to look for the kind of sentence structure issues mentioned above. They handle cliches, sentence structure, language tone, and word choice every day. In short, they have an arsenal of suggestions ready that will benefit you.

Useful links
If you would like more advice on the services we offer at First Editing, the prices for different levels of editing and what the different levels are that we offer, please consider these helpful blogs:

Editing Services Prices

Online Editing Services – What Do I Really Need?

The post What is line editing and why does it matter? appeared first on Firstediting.com.

Oh, but a long journey still lies ahead!

Why?

Because “perfection” is subjective. You only have one pair of eyes, after all, and no matter how great of a writer you are, there’ll always be something you’ve accidentally missed.

Once a professional editor takes a look at your manuscript and gives you some feedback, you’ll see just how many typos, grammatical errors, and plot holes you’ve completely glossed over.

(Trust me – as a published author, I speak from experience.)

What’s more, there isn’t just one book editing stage, but . . . drumroll, please . . . six! Ideally, your story should go through six separate rounds, each with a slightly different focus.

So, what are the six stages of editing all about? Let’s jump right in!

Stage #1: Self-Edits

You’re probably already quite familiar with this one. Self-editing is something writers do automatically as they go through multiple drafts, rewrite scenes, polish their language, and brainstorm plot holes.

What’s really important at this stage is to take book editing seriously. Personally, I went through my manuscript at least three times before it was accepted by a publisher, but your experience may differ based on what country you live in and what your writing process is like.

Don’t make any rash decisions, such as looking for an agent or self-publishing too soon.

When you’re done editing, let your manuscript sit for a few weeks or months and then begin another round of self-edits. You’ll be surprised by how many things still need working on!

RELATED READ: Edit vs. Revise

Stage #2: Beta Readers
Beta readers focus primarily on the reading experience and offer valuable feedback about the story itself, which is why sending your manuscript to some beta readers is a great starting point.

Beta readers can be found online—sometimes, it’s great to receive feedback from people who don’t know you since they tend to be more objective—but they can also be your family and friends.

In that case, remember to tell your loved ones that what you want is honesty, not just praise.

Stage #3: Developmental Editing
Now we’re getting into the high-level stuff: hiring professional editors.

If your book is getting traditionally published, your editors will be most likely assigned to you, but if you’ve decided to go down the road of self-publishing, it is up to you to find a high-quality editing service.

However, it’s not as easy as typing “I want an editor” into the Google search bar. Different editors focus on different aspects of your book, and you should ideally cover all your bases.

Enter . . . developmental editing! This could be considered the most complex editing stage since it’s all about the story itself.

A developmental (or structural) editor will offer in-depth feedback on your plot, story arc, character development, pacing, flow, consistency, and more.

Once they’re finished editing, you’ll most likely have to go through another round of self-edits since most editors will provide you with suggestions and comments rather than complete rewrites.

RELATED READ: What Type of Editing Do You Need?

Stage #4: Line Editing
A line editor will look at your writing on a sentence level. Their main focus is consistency, tone, and style.

Do all of your sentences serve a clear function that fits in with the story’s mood? Is there a paragraph that doesn’t seem to fit the context? Is your language consistent throughout, or are there chapters that differ from the rest of the book for no reason?

A line editor will ask themselves these questions as they go through your manuscript. They will offer suggestions or track their changes so you can always see all the edits they’ve made.

Stage #5: Copyediting
It’s time to get into the nitty-gritty and look at grammar, punctuation, and any errors or typos you’ve accidentally left behind!

Copyediting is all about the details. Incorrect spelling or strange sentence structures can be very distracting during the reading experience, so it’s absolutely vital your book is error-free.

A great copyeditor will catch every single mistake, but at the end of the day, we’re only humans, which means that your work should go through one final round of edits afterward.

And that stage is called . . .

Stage #6: Proofreading
Out of all the stages of editing, this one should take the shortest amount of time. A proofreader will read your book for the very last time before it goes to print to ensure there are no issues with formatting and no leftover typos.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that proofreading is easy.

Proofreaders need to have a keen eye for detail as they check font sizes, line spacing, and everything else that makes your book look like a complete and finished product.

Why Hire a Professional Editor
Even the best writers make mistakes. After all, your job isn’t to obsess over grammar or the size of your font. It’s to write an amazing story.

A professional editing service like First Editing will help you understand your manuscript on a deeper level and bring it to its full potential. Choose from multiple different book editing packages, including developmental editing, line editing, and copyediting, and watch your story thrive.

The post What Are the Stages of Book Editing? appeared first on Firstediting.com.

So, what is an editorial review? And what does it include?

Let’s unpack everything there is to know!

What is an editorial review?
“Editorial review” sounds like something akin to editing, right?

Well, it’s not too far off from the truth – if we’re talking academic publishing, that is.

In academia, an editorial review happens after you submit a paper to a specific journal. An academic editor who has knowledge in the field will go through your manuscript, recommend changes, and offer expert feedback.

This helps you polish your paper to perfection before everything goes to print.

In the realm of commercial book publishing, things are a bit different. An editorial review comes after your book has been accepted for publication and often after its publication date.

In practice, it’s what it says on the label – a public review. However, it should come from an editor, a critic, or another expert in the field rather than a reader who bought the book.

Let’s say you’ve written a non-fiction book on manifestation or spirituality. A psychologist or neuroscientist might receive a copy of your book, agree with your arguments from a scientific point of view, and then praise your book publicly. It’s essentially a form of endorsement.

Why is an editorial review important?
An editorial review is always written by a third party, which means it looks at your work objectively and with minimal subconscious bias. As such, positive feedback has more value – it means an expert who doesn’t know you has read your work and loved it.

That’s not all, though. In book publishing, editorial reviews also serve for marketing purposes.

Ever looked at a book cover and seen “completely dazzling” or such by a highly established source like Publishers Weekly?

That’s also an editorial review, as is another author’s opinion. Right now, I have The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang open in front of me, and the citation on the cover says:

“Parallels with modern Chinese history resonate deeply and darkly in this blood-soaked epic of orphans and empresses, gods and shamans.” – Daily Mail

The back cover adds:

“The best fantasy debut of 2018.” – WIRED

When you see something like that in a bookstore, you think to yourself, “Oh, interesting! These people say it’s great, so I want to read the book now!”

Of course, editorial reviews are important for different reasons as far as academic journals are concerned – they’re mostly there to keep the journal’s quality and reputation as high as possible.

RELATED READ: Using Professional Editing Services is Cost-Effective

What does an editorial review include?
In academic publishing, an editor will read through the draft you’ve submitted and:

Look at how you’ve organized your paper, from the sequence of arguments to the paragraphs and sentences
Point out sections that aren’t entirely clear and need rephrasing
Read through the eyes of the journal’s audience (scanning the text for purpose and context)
Mark grammatical errors or typos
Think over the logic behind your arguments to see whether you’ve made a good case
In book publishing, you can send out copies of your book to other authors, editors, or experts on the subject, and ask whether they’d be happy to provide a review if they decide to read your work.

You can then use the quote for marketing purposes:

Place it on the front or back cover of your book
Use it in your social media posts or other promotional materials
Add it to the “editorial reviews” section on your Amazon page
If your book is getting traditionally published, your publisher may do some of the legwork for you. However, you can always take the time to think of people you’d like a review from and then ask your editor or literary agent if they think it’s a good idea to send your work to so-and-so.

The format of the editorial review varies depending on what each person says, of course – sometimes, it’s very short (“captivating”), and other times, it’s a bit longer. Usually, though, the review shouldn’t go on for too long because otherwise it will be very difficult to use it in your marketing materials.

RELATED READ: A Critique Helps – Find Out Why

Conclusion
Now that you know what an editorial review is, what it includes, and why it’s so important, go ahead and work hard on your novel or paper. After all, the best chance to get amazing feedback is to polish your manuscript until it glistens.

Good luck and happy writing!

ORDER YOUR EDITORIAL REVIEW TODAY!

The post Why Do You Need a Professional Editorial Review? appeared first on Firstediting.com.