Good Copy Editing –and Editing in General

Before the Internet and social media took the world by storm, proofreaders, copy editors, and editors were three distinct positions. Nowadays, it’s a blurred line. Some of you may even use them interchangeably –when in reality they’re not.

To better explain what copy editors do, let’s look at the late Bill Walsh’s definition, “Copy editors check written material, usually as the final step before it is set into type, to correct errors in grammar, spelling, usage and style (in this case, style refers to a given publication's guidelines for consistency in how words, phrases, typographical elements, etc., are to be used -- or not used).” Walsh, a copy editor for the Washington Post, was passionate about his craft. His three books are witty, humorous, yet filled with great advice on how to apply the basic rules to unique, modern grammar issues.

When I took an editing class at Concordia University in Montreal, we read the book, “Creative Editing” (I still use this book as a reference), which I consider the bible for copy editors. On page four, the following sentence validates my love for editing: “Copy editors are the very heart of the media organization, supplying the lifeblood for healthy existence and serving as gatekeepers of the news for the public.” This concept refers to both newspaper and magazine copy editing.

No matter what you write or for whom you write, if your text is not edited, you run the risk of confusing your readers.

You may even say that “the editing process begins before a story is ever written” as it’s cleverly put in “Creative Editing”. Unless you’ve been in this business for some time, you won’t appreciate the beauty and intricacies of the craft. In essence, if you write, you edit; if you edit, your write. And you want to produce the cleanest, most concise copy that will keep your audience reading!

Be humble and write your way to success

*Note: for clarity and brevity the male pronoun has been used in this post.

Whether you are an aspiring writer or an established one, your writing can only get better by two obvious factors: writing as much as you can and being open to constructive criticism.

A lot of amateur writers make the mistake of not paying heed to feedback from fellow writers and/or mentors. Even when they’ve published some of their work (i.e., short stories, articles, novella, novel, etc.), they still need a support system.

A humble writer is a smart writer; he is more interested in honing his writing skills than tooting his own horn. Leave the ego at the door! Even great writers need an editor and a healthy dose of criticism from his peers.

Carver was known for his realistic portrayals of characters and his minimalist style. Nonetheless, Carver still needed an editor to bring his work to the next level. Remember, editors work hard to improve fiction, and as writers, you don’t want to get reputations of being difficult to work with. Although the story is indeed yours, you still want to put your best work out there. What good is it to write it if it’s not worth publishing it?

Ernest Hemingway also believed that writing in the euphoria of the moment (whether you're drunk or not) is advisable, but editing should be done when the ecstasy of writing has left you. Edit your work after you’ve taken a break from writing. If you can't edit your own work (for whatever the reason: lack of time, inspiration, or skills), ask a colleague to do it for you or hire a professional editor.

In conclusion, a good writer will not only write as often as he can but will also be open to constructive criticism. A good writer invests time in researching, writing, getting feedback, editing, and re-writing the piece (if necessary).

As Indian composer and singer-songwriter, A. R. Rahman said, "Success comes to those who dedicate everything to their passion in life. To be successful, it is also very important to be humble and never let fame or money travel to your head."

The countdown begins!

In the spirit of Christmas and with only twelve days left to this celebration, I wanted to write a checklist that we can use when revising our work (hopefully before we open our gifts). 

1)      Read, read, read! You can get inspired, emulate style, and learn more about your genre by reading someone else’s work.

2)      Read your story aloud.

3)      Have a fellow writer read it.

4)      Strengthen your scenes by being an actor and playing the main character (or any character you may think is weak). Relive the action in your head.

5)      Polish your dialogue; make sure it flows and it’s not contrived.

6)      Check the tone. This means the author’s attitude toward his subject: grave, amused, scientific, intimate, aggrieved, authoritative, whatever.

7)      Make every word count; that means use strong verbs and adjectives.

8)      Keep in mind the story arc. The purpose of a story arc is to move a character or a situation from one state to another.

9)      Let the plot guide the story. A short story must immediately pull the reader out of her world and drop her into the world of the story.

10)  Put your work away for a few days and then come back to it. Tired eyes never see mistakes.

11)  Punctuation is everything, period! Be mindful of your commas, semicolon, and especially those exclamation marks; they’re not Christmas tree ornaments.

12)  Edit, edit, edit! You can never do enough editing. Any good writer knows that editing is at the top of the list, like the star at the top of the tree. 

Do you use a checklist? Are you counting your days to Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, or getting published in 2012?

Did Your Manuscript Pass with Flying Colors?

A lot of you are getting ready for National Novel Writing Month better known as nanowrimo. Some of you continue to work on your manuscript. What important factors do you keep present when writing your MS?

I think everyone can agree that editing is vital no matter what part of your MS you’re writing.
Here are some of the things I keep in mind:

1)      Don’t be too obvious by explaining too much.

2)      Make sure your diction and dialogue are believable.

3)      Be sure you have a plot and an emotional arc.

4)      Arouse curiosity by keeping your reader wondering, yet engaged in the story and/or characters.

5)      Choose your verbs and adjectives wisely. They have to help the story move along. 

I know there are more elements that we can include in this list. Is there anything else you can add? 

Just pretend your MS is a student that needs to pass a test before sending it off to a publisher.