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Check out Kate's tips about editing papers, blogs, social media, reports, newsletters, and resumes through a series of interviews with Simone Conceição.

Questions for an Editor

 

I’m Kate Devlin, a freelance editor and writer. I thought I’d tell you a little about me and answer some questions about editing. I currently work full time for an IT recruiting company on our communications and marketing team. My job involves writing for our company blog, editing marketing materials, and reviewing and editing resumes before they are submitted to clients. As a side hustle, I do freelance editing for a variety of projects.

 

I’ve been using my editing skills for more than 20 years, and while not all my jobs have been editing roles, I have used my editing skills in every one of them. 

For some reason, I have always been drawn to grammar and writing and the rules that go along with writing. Honestly, I’m not quite sure why I retain that information. 

 

As a child, I read all the time and wrote short stories that I submitted to contests. My earliest editing gigs were for my college roommate when she asked me to read her English papers; I even tried to start my own proofreading/editing company in college but unfortunately that didn’t go anywhere at the time.

 

Through my freelance work, I have read and edited some really interesting works from business proposals, resumes for a variety of careers, college admission letters, master’s dissertations, blog posts, company websites, government annual reports, and so much more.

 

Types of things I most like to edit

I like to edit anything, but I am particularly drawn to technical materials, documents, and non-fiction. While I like to read fiction, I don’t feel as comfortable editing those types of materials.

 

Enough about me, let’s talk editing.

 

Different types of editing

There are five types of editing:

1. Developmental editing looks at the big picture, like plot, theme, and characters, like in a novel or short story.
2. Structural editing looks at the story’s structure and content and how to make it better, like chapter lengths, storyline, etc.; it’s similar to developmental editing and can be done in conjunction with it.
3. Line/stylistic editing looks at word choice, sentence structure, verb tense, description of scenes and images, etc. and makes sure the prose flows.
4. Copy editing/mechanical editing looks for errors like typos, inconsistencies, or confusing sentence structure that affects readability. Copy editors are often called mechanical editors since they aren’t concerned with the content of the story as much as the correctness of the language and information presented. They look closely at:

a.     Punctuation

b.     Capitalization

c.     Spelling

d.     Grammar

e.     Word usage

 

This type of editing often involves fact-checking, as well.

 

5.  Proofreading is the last step in editing process before going to print and looks for the same issues as a copy editor but it’s often done on a printed, hard copy version. Proofreading is looking for typos, spelling errors, as well as issues with typesetting, line breaks, images, etc.

 

Copy editing and proofreading are my strengths and what I enjoy the most. I like looking for what I call the “nitty gritty” details (typos, punctuation and grammar issues, and inconsistencies).

 

What is so important about editing? Why would someone need an editor for their project?

Editors make you look (and sound) good. It’s all too easy to miss that typo or comma that’s in the wrong place or to use a commonly misused word (for example, affect/effect; assure/ensure). Editors make sure your copy reads well and is polished before it’s published. A well-written piece reflects well on the writer and creates a good impression.

 

Can editors edit materials they are not familiar with?

Yes, in fact I’ve read lots of different technical documents and don’t always know the topic the writer is writing about (nuclear power, cryptocurrency, British football/soccer), but I’m still able to edit for the things mentioned above (grammar, punctuation, readability, consistency, etc.).

 

What are some editing tips you can share with us?

The most important tip I can give is to read through the document more than once—at least twice at a minimum. It’s easy to miss things on the first reading.

 

Here’s my editing process:

1.     Glance over whole document for anything (format, wording, etc.) that jumps out at me and fix right away.

2.     Read line by line and correct typos/errors.

3.     Keep a “style guide” for consistency—this includes terminology, formatting details, etc.

4.     After first thorough read-through, fix any formatting issues (margins, headings).

5.     Put the document away for a while—a few hours or even a day or two.

6.     Read through again to catch things you may have missed on the first go around.

7.     Add comments/questions in the document for author—this you can do any time during the editing process.

 

One other thing I do when I’m editing is keep a notebook handy to jot down anything I need to double check or fact-check.

I’d love to answer any questions about editing or help you with your next project. You can post a question on the comments area here.

You can find me at Kate Devlin Editing Services or devlin.kate@gmail.com.

Editing with Kate! milestone for our podcast episodes

Editing with Kate! has published 25 podcast episodes since its launching. Check all the episodes:

Episode 1: What Can an Editor do for You?
Episode 2: Writing a Paper – How do I Get Started?
Episode 3: Six Tips for Putting Together Your Resume
Episode 4: Eight Tips for Creating Social Media Postings
Episode 5: Seven Tips for Creating Your LinkedIn Profile
Episode 6: Tips for Using Social Media to Promote a Business and Create a Community
Episode 7: Using APA Style and Common APA Mistakes
Episode 8: Eight Things to Remember When Editing Your Paper Using APA Style
Episode 9: Tips for Writing a Podcast Script
Episode 10: Brainstorming: Principles and Techniques
Episode 11: Types of Style Guides and Tips for Using Them
Episode 12: Why Join a Virtual Community?
Episode 13: Getting it Done! Using a Coach to Help with your Dissertation
Episode 14: Benefits of Writing
Episode 15: Journaling 101
Episode 16: From Student to Scholar, What’s in it for You?
Episode 17: Writing and Getting Published in an Open-Access Journal
Episode 18: Starting a Blog and Getting Noticed
Episode 19: Top 8 Tips to Know about The Chicago Manual of Style
Episode 20: Things to Know about MLA Style
Episode 21: Self-Reflection and Its Benefits
Episode 22: 8 Steps to Report Writing
Episode 23: The Importance of Digital Literacy
Episode 24: Interviewing a Subject Matter Expert
Episode 25: 12 Tips for eNewsletters

Podcast available on Apple, Spotify, and Google.

Search for Adult Learning Exchange Virtual Community Podcast 

and Select Season 2

12 Tips for eNewsletters

 

Creating and having an eNewsletter can be a great way to market your business. Once you know who your audience is and what content you want to share, it’s time to start putting it together. Check out our 12 tips for eNewletters. 

 

Do you have any tips that you’d like to share? Share them in this space.

 

Listen to Podcast

Editing with Kate! Episode 25 Transcript

 

Reference

• What Is a Newsletter: The Ultimate Guide

 

Interviewing a Subject Matter Expert

 

Interviewing a subject matter expert (SME) doesn’t need to be intimidating if you are prepared. Do your homework and reach out to the SME with your questions. This episode is about interviewing a subject matter expert. 

 

What are some tips that work for you when you are interviewing someone?

 

Listen to Podcast  

 Editing with Kate! Episode 24 Transcript

 

References

• The Do’s and Don'ts of Subject Matter Expert Interviews

• How to Conduct a Good Interview