How to Get Started in Editing

 

You’ve determined that you want to edit and are ready to put your skills to use. So, how do you get started? In a nutshell: find your niche and spread the word.

 

Here are some steps to help you begin:

 

    Determine what type of editing you want to do. Did you know there are different types of editing? You will want to explore the types and see which one or ones you are drawn to. For example, do you prefer editing for the ‘big picture’ or the ‘nitty gritty’? Big picture editing would be editing a work of fiction, a short story, or a novel while nitty gritty editing is line by line, looking at things like grammar and punctuation.

The different types of editing include:

• Developmental/structural editing
• Line/stylistic editing
• Copyediting/mechanical editing
• Proofreading

If you’d like to know a bit more about the various types of editing, there are several articles and podcast episodes here on Editing with Kate that will describe them in more detail.

 

    Spread the word. Once you’ve figured out what type of editing you want to do, let your friends, coworkers, classmates, and family know that you are available to help them and anyone they know who might need a project, paper, or even their resume edited.

    Go online and get social. To promote yourself, you need to get online and tell your network. Ways to do that include:

a.    Post on your social media. Choose one or several of your social platforms to post messages letting people know to reach out to you if they need editing assistance and how you can help them.

b.    Join a freelance site(s) like Fiverr or Upwork. Once you create your profile and set your rates, you are ready to start building your business.

c.     Create a business page on Facebook or LinkedIn that’s separate from your personal page. This is a great space to not only advertise your business but to also create a community though posting articles and helpful information related to editing.

d.    Advertise your services on social media – for example, did you know that Facebook lets you create ads?

 

    Volunteer your editing services. By volunteering to help someone or an organization by editing their project, you will not only build your portfolio, but also your editing experience. This will give you practice using your editing skills while becoming familiar with details like how long it takes you to edit a certain number of pages or words, as well as how to organize your business – like tracking your time, setting up a style guide for the project, invoicing, etc. You may also get referrals from the person or organization, which can bring more business your way. 

    Always keep learning. Are you familiar with the various editing style guides like APA, MLA, AP, and CMOS? Chances are you will need to know at least one of them. You maybe even become an expert in one or two styles to set yourself apart.

 

Another way to keep learning is by taking online courses and/or getting certified in editing. Professional organizations like the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) and ACES: The Society for Editing regularly offer training and workshops for all types of editing.

 

A fun way I like to keep my skills fresh is to follow a few grammar websites and blogs that feature short videos about the English language and quizzes to test my vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation knowledge. Two sites I like are GrammarBook.com (for their quizzes) and Proofed.com (for their knowledge hub).

 

YouTube videos and podcasts are a great way to learn as well.

 

    Follow professional organizations and other editing groups on social media. I follow quite a few groups online related to editing – from EFA, ACES, and AP style to Grammar Girl and Dictionary.com’s Word of the Day. These groups will keep you connected to what’s happening in the field of editing and reinforce the of importance editing in today’s world.

 

    Create a portfolio of your work. There are many reasons to have a portfolio of your work. At the very minimum, it is the place to keep a list of the projects you’ve worked on. You may need to be creative with how you can show your work – the before and after edits – but it can give you talking points to discuss the project and what you did to improve it. A portfolio can also help you see a pattern of which types of projects you enjoy working on and what type of editing you are most drawn to.

 

It can be difficult to find a full-time editing gig, but you can put your skills to use in creative ways. If you’re a student – whether it be in high school or college – offer to edit a fellow student’s paper, or if your company often puts together reports or presentations, offer to edit the materials. Let your coworkers know that you’d be happy to edit their report or PowerPoint presentation. Let your network know that you’d gladly edit their resume for them. These are just a few examples of how to get yourself out there.

 

If editing is something you really enjoy and want to do, keep working towards that goal and spreading the word. You may find that you become the editing resource that everyone turns to.

Is Editing Your Superpower?

 

Do you like working with words? Do you often find typos and mistakes in the things you read?

 

Do you have a knack for making sentences sound better and helping words flow from paragraph to paragraph? Maybe you’re the go-to person that coworkers or friends ask to review what they’ve written.

 

If any of this sounds like you, then editing may just be your thing.

 

What Does Being an Editor Mean?

In basic terms, an editor is someone who reviews a piece of writing and makes it better by fixing mistakes and making sure it covers what author Amy Einsohn (The Copyeditor’s Handbook) calls the “4 Cs” – clarity, coherence, consistency, and correctness.

 

As they are reading, editors will want to ask themselves:

·      Is the writing clear (clarity)?

·      Is it logical and easy to follow (coherence)?

·      Is it consistent, for example, in the use of terms, verb tense, etc. (consistency)?

·      Is the information accurate (correctness)?

 

What Skills do Editors Need?

A good editor will have these skills:

·      A good vocabulary

·      An eye for detail

·      Grammar and punctuation sense

·      Ability to read a variety of materials written in different styles

·      Love of reading

 

While editors are reading for grammar and punctuation mistakes, they are also looking at other details like readability, sentence structure, and word flow. They look at the nitty-gritty details as well as the whole picture. That being said, there are different types of editing.

 

Let’s explore the types of editing to see which one piques your interest or lends itself to your strengths. You may even find more than one type appeals to you.

 

Types of Editing

Here is a brief summary of the different types of editing.

 

1.    Developmental/structural editing. Developmental editing looks at the big picture, like a novel or short story’s plot, theme, and characters. A developmental editor examines the whole project and its structure and may rearrange sections, identify confusing content, and add features like headings and bulleted lists. They assess the tone and voice and make sure the work meets brand/style guide requirements, if there are any.

2.    Line/stylistic editing. Line editing is done line by line, paragraph by paragraph. It looks at word choice, sentence structure, verb tense, and scene and image descriptions like in books. This type of editing also ensures the words and prose flow and the tone and style are consistent. Line editing can be done in conjunction with developmental editing.

 

3.    Copyediting/mechanical editing. Copyediting or mechanical editing looks closely for grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and word usage mistakes. Copy editors also do fact-checking and follow style guides. These types of editors are called mechanical editors because they aren’t concerned with the content of the story as much as the correctness or “mechanics” of the language.

 

4.    Proofreading. Proofreading is the last step in the editing process before going to print (aka hitting the publish button or going live). Proofreaders look for the same issues as a copy editor, and many perform their editing on a printed, hard copy (especially for books). Proofreaders also look at formatting details like typesetting, line breaks, etc. Hence, this is the reason for working on a printed copy.

 

Getting Started

If any of these editing styles appeal to you and you feel editing is something you’d like to do, check out some of the professional organizations like The Society for Editing (ACES), Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), and the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors   NAIWE.

 

Let your social network know you’re offering editing services – both by word of mouth and by creating social media posts. And to start practicing your skills, offer to help a friend by editing their resume or a coworker by reviewing their annual report.

 

Also, look into freelance sites like Fiverr where you can set up a profile with your editing services and start building your business.

 

Whichever type of editing calls to you, know that your talents are needed. Now, go out and put your superpowers to work!

 

 

Resources

Einsohn, Amy (2011). The Copyeditor's Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications, with Exercises and Answer Keys. Berkeley, California: University of California.

Proofed.com -- Knowledge Hub  

Writing and AI Detectors

 

 

Artificial Intelligence, AI, is all around us and is being used for some incredible things. Many of these things are new and exciting. Some even make our lives easier.

 

For writers, there are a plethora of AI writing tools (aka content generators) that do all sorts of things—create outlines, brainstorm ideas, summarize a topic, or fix grammar mistakes. These programs can also help you with your writing style. Need your prose to sound more conversational, formal, or witty? There’s an AI program for that.

 

As more and more AI writing tools are created, so are programs detecting their use. So, if you’re a student using AI to write your papers or essays for you, be aware that teachers and schools can use AI detectors to find out. The same goes for anyone writing scholarly research papers, blogs, professional articles, or other materials—publishers and employers may use AI detectors, too.

 

So, what do AI detectors look for? These detectors are looking to see if a machine or a human has done the writing. They look for specific characteristics in the text. Is the text predictable and a bit generic? Are the sentences of similar length and the structure more conventional? It could be AI. Or are they dynamic with a richer vocabulary and less predictable sentence structure? Perhaps they have some typos and missing punctuation. Probably human.

 

Two terms related to detecting AI versus human content are the “burstiness” and “perplexity” of text. According to an article in scribbr.com, burstiness is “a measure of variation in sentence structure and length.” Low burstiness means the content is most likely AI-generated. Scribbr.com describes perplexity as “a measure of how unpredictable text is.” Like burstiness, the lower the perplexity, the more likely the material is AI-generated.

 

There are dozens of AI detectors on the market. Some, like copyleaks.com and gptzero.me, have you copy and paste your text into a box on their website and they will instantly “detect” the source it’s from. Is it ChatGPT? ChatGPT 4? Bard? Human? Human + AI? They can tell. Others like Winston AI and crossplag.com require you to sign up and create an account before you can try their detection tool.

 

Concerns have been raised about the accuracy of AI detectors. Some detectors are better than others. According to theblogsmith.com, one of the reasons the accuracy of these detectors varies is because each AI tool is (1) trained on different content datasets, and (2) AI detectors are “based in large part on probabilities.” While no detectors are 100% accurate and each has limitations, as AI content generators get more sophisticated, detectors will as well.

 

If you choose to use AI-generated content, remember to:

 

1.     Use it wisely—use it in conjunction with your writing, like a writing assistant, to generate ideas or outlines, but not to write your work for you.

2.     Double-check the information it generates for accuracy and if it makes sense.

3.     Cite the AI tool you used as one of your sources. Any AI material you include needs to be acknowledged. You can’t claim it as your original work if you didn’t write it yourself.

 

As someone with a lifelong passion for writing, I have conflicting feelings about AI and its impact on what is being written and published. Who will monitor the AI-generated content to ensure it’s being used correctly and that the information it generates is accurate and true?

 

Have you used any of the AI-generating tools? Which ones? Have you—or anyone you know—used an AI detector for their work? Let us know.

 

Resources

·      14 Best AI Plagiarism Checkers to Detect ChatGPT-Generated Content

·      10 Best AI Detection Tools for Teachers & Professors

·      10 AI Content Detection Tools You Should Know About

Let’s Get Write on It

 

As writers, we choose to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard for all sorts of reasons. We write because we feel compelled to share our story or weave a new one or just to express ourselves. Or we need to write that report for school or work.

 

Let’s explore more reasons why—and what—we write.

 

Why do we write?

People write for all sorts of reasons—to express themselves, to be creative, to share an experience, to get published, or to reflect. These are just a few of the many reasons. Some people write for professional reasons and some just for themselves.

 

Writing can be a way to sort our thoughts or write down our frustrations. Or perhaps we’re finally ready to write that story we’ve been carrying around in our head.

 

What do we write?

There are all sorts of things to write—from journaling and poetry to novels and short stories—to sharing a life experience. There are academic papers that include research and technical manuals outlining instructions. Some of us write songs, podcast scripts, blogs, and even letters.

 

What are some benefits of writing?

Writing can have all sorts of benefits. It’s good for your mental health. It generates creativity, improves concentration, widens your vocabulary, and reduces stress. These are just some of the benefits—I’m sure many of us could add to this list.

 

How do I get started writing?

If you’re thinking about writing—just start. No need to wait for the perfect moment. It’s about getting your thoughts, notes, and ideas written down. There’s no right or wrong way to start. The key is to just begin. Writers all have to start somewhere.

 

If you’re writing for your job or school, you most likely will have a style and guidelines to follow. But if it’s for yourself, anything goes. You decide your format and your style.

 

Now that you’re ready to write, it’s time to decide on your medium. Is it a pen and paper like a journal or notebook? Or is it on your laptop using Microsoft Word or OneNote or Google Docs? Maybe it’s your iPad or tablet.

 

Next, find a comfortable writing spot and start jotting down your words and ideas. If you get stumped, that’s ok. Don’t let that stop you. Plus, if you get stuck, there are plenty of books and online resources to help you.

 

Finally, make writing a habit if you can or at the very least take advantage of a free moment or two to jot things down.

 

What types of writing tools are out there?

There are plenty of tools—from grammar checkers to writing guides to AI writing software. There are books and blogs and podcasts with all sorts of helpful information.

 

Is this the year you’re going to embark on your writing journey? Now’s the time to get right (pun intended) on it and get started!

Tips for Using Grammarly and Other AI Editing Tools Effectively

 

If you need some extra help with editing your writing project, consider using one of the many online AI editing tools that are now available. For help with grammar, typos, word usage, plagiarism, sentence structure, and more, these tools can help you polish your writing. Grammarly, ProWritingAid, QuillBot, WhiteSmoke, Readable, WordTune, Ginger, Sapling, and PaperRater—just to name a few—each offers assistance in their own unique ways. In this podcast episode, Kate talks about using an AI editing tool like Grammarly to help with your writing. Have you used any of these tools? Do you have a favorite one? Let us know in our discussion area.

 

Listen to Podcast

 

Editing with Kate! Episode 28 Transcripts

Resources

• The Top 13 Grammarly Alternatives in 2023
• Grammarly Grammar Checker

 

AI Editing Tools

• ProWritingAid
• QuillBot
• WhiteSmoke
• Readable
• WordTune
• Ginger
• Sapling
• PaperRater

Exploring the Role of ChatGPT in Teaching, Learning, and Publishing

 

Join us for a free webinar on the role of ChatGPT in teaching, learning, and publishing. For more information and how to register for the webinar go to https://scoc-consulting.com/free-webinar-on-chatgpt.

Using AI Writing and Editing Tools

 

The use and influence of AI—Artificial Intelligence—is all around us. It’s in our GPS, our music streaming, our online shopping, our apps, our texts (thank you, autocorrect), and so on. It’s used by banks, the military, in education, by retailers, healthcare, the list goes on and on. With the influence of AI in our everyday lives, it’s not surprising that it also might influence many of our livelihoods—and probably has already for many of us. On this episode of Editing with Kate, Kate describes her experience with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Bard, Grammarly, and Wordtune. Do you think these technologies are going to change the lives of students, writers, and editors? Let us know in this space.

Grammarly is planning to release a tool called GrammarlyGo. You may want to check it out!

 

Listen to Podcast

Editing with Kate! Episode 27 Transcript

 

-------------------------

TRANSCRIPTS

As you can see, the answers I received were well written and neatly organized. And they saved a lot of time. The results came in seconds. It actually was fun to see the results come through.

 

OpenAI’s ChatGPT First Response

What are the pros and cons for using AI to write and edit blogs? Pros: Efficiency: Using AI to write and edit blogs can save a significant amount of time and effort. The AI can quickly generate and revise content, which would have taken a human writer much longer. Consistency: AI can produce consistent content in terms of tone, style, and formatting. This can help maintain brand identity and voice across multiple blog posts. Speed: AI can generate content much faster than human writers, which can be beneficial in situations where speed is a priority, such as breaking news or trending topics. Accuracy: AI can be programmed to follow specific guidelines and rules, ensuring that the content is accurate, factually correct, and free from errors. Cons: Lack of creativity: AI writing may lack the creativity and originality of human writing. AI-generated content may be formulaic and lack the nuance and complexity of human language. Limited scope: AI may have difficulty understanding and writing about topics that are abstract, complex, or nuanced. This can limit the range of topics that AI can cover in blogs. Limited context: AI may have difficulty understanding the broader context of a topic or understanding the tone and style of a particular publication or audience. Cost: The cost of developing and maintaining an AI system for writing and editing blogs can be high, especially for small businesses or individuals.

 

ChatGPT’s Regenerated Response

There are several pros and cons to using AI to write and edit blogs. Here are some of the most significant: Pros: Time-saving: AI can quickly generate content, which can save a lot of time for writers and editors. Consistency: AI can maintain consistency in tone, language, and formatting, making the content more professional and coherent. Scalability: AI can generate content in large quantities, making it easier to produce a high volume of blog posts or articles. Customization: AI can generate content based on specific parameters, such as target audience, topic, and style. Cons: Lack of creativity: AI lacks the creativity and originality that humans possess. As a result, the content generated by AI can be dull and uninteresting. Limited understanding: AI can struggle to understand context, nuance, and tone, which can result in inappropriate language and messaging. Inaccuracies: AI can produce inaccurate information, which can be harmful to readers. Cost: AI technology can be expensive to implement, and the cost of using it may outweigh the benefits. Overall, while AI can be a useful tool in generating content, it should be used in conjunction with human expertise and oversight to ensure the accuracy, relevance, and quality of the content.

 

Bard’s Response, which was much the same as ChatGPT’s

What are the pros and cons of using AI to write blogs? Here are some of the pros and cons of using AI to write blogs: Pros: AI can help you write blogs faster and more efficiently. AI can help you write blogs that are more engaging and interesting to read. AI can help you write blogs that are more SEO-friendly. AI can help you write blogs that are more tailored to your target audience. Cons: AI-generated content may not be as high quality as human-generated content. AI-generated content may not be as original as human-generated content. AI-generated content may not be as creative as human-generated content. AI-generated content may not be as well-researched as human-generated content.   Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use AI to write blogs is up to you. If you are looking for a way to save time and produce high-quality content, then AI may be a good option for you. However, if you are looking for content that is truly unique and original, then you may want to consider hiring a human writer.   Here are some additional things to consider when using AI to write blogs: Make sure that you are using a reputable AI writing tool. There are many AI writing tools available, but not all of them are created equal. Do some research to find a tool that has a good reputation and that produces high-quality content. Be clear about your goals for your blog. What do you want to achieve with your blog? Are you trying to inform, entertain, or persuade your readers? Once you know your goals, you can choose an AI writing tool that is best suited for those goals. Be prepared to edit and proofread the content that AI generates. AI writing tools can be very helpful, but they are not perfect. You will still need to edit and proofread the content to make sure that it is free of errors and that it meets your standards. Be aware of the potential for plagiarism. AI writing tools can sometimes generate content that is plagiarized from other sources. Be sure to check the content that AI generates for plagiarism before you publish it.   Overall, AI can be a valuable tool for bloggers, but it is important to use it wisely. By following the tips above, you can use AI to write high-quality content that will help you achieve your blogging goals.