Editors Help Business People Do the 'Write' Thing

It's not enough to know what you're talking about. You need to know how to put it on paper (or into a Word document). This post will show you the basics of writing with editors, what they do, and why they're important. Whether you're in a corporate environment or independent writer, this information will help make your writing more effective.

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

Actual Blog Post: How Editors Help Business People Do the 'Write' Thing ---------------------------------------------    ##

Please note that blog posts should be informative and factual. If you have been moved to do so, please let us know at [email protected] .

Leave a Comment on this Post  or post a Reply below. Your input is greatly appreciated. Thanks, and have a great day! Please visit all the

Please note that blog posts should be informative and factual. If you have been moved to do so, please let us know at [email protected] . Leave a Comment on this Postor post a Reply below. Your input is greatly appreciated. Thanks, and have a great day! Please visit all the other blogs here: We Are Bloggers Network

Welcome to our new series, Editors Help Business People Do the 'Write' Thing , where we'll discuss the various types of editors that can help you with your business writing needs. Editors are important because they will keep your writing free from spelling and grammatical errors, as well as make sure it is clear and concise. This is a nice refresher for those of us who have forgotten a lot of what we learned in English class, or for those who haven't taken any type of English class for that matter. Editors can also be the 'second pair of eyes' for you when it comes to reading and re-reading your work. There are many types of editors out there, but we'll focus on the most common: developmental and line.

How much does it cost?

Developmental editors go through your entire manuscript and give suggestions for improvement based upon content, grammar, organization and sentence structure. The cost of a developmental edit will vary depending on how long your manuscript is and how extensively it's edited. Many times developmental editing is included in a publishing contract as part of an overall service agreement between you (the author) and a publisher.

Developmental editors go through your entire manuscript and give suggestions for improvement based upon content, grammar, organization and sentence structure. The cost of a developmental edit will vary depending on how long your manuscript is and how extensively it's edited. Many times developmental editing is included in a publishing contract as part of an overall service agreement between you (the author) and a publisher .

As for line editing, this is the lightest level of editing that will be done to your manuscript. The editor will go through it with a fine-toothed comb, ensuring spelling and punctuation are correct, but won't make any content suggestions or questions grammatical changes. Line editing is more like a proofreading job, and shouldn't be taken lightly!

Developmental edits go through your entire manuscript and give suggestions for improvement based upon content, grammar, organization and sentence structure. The cost of a developmental edit will vary depending on how long your manuscript is and how extensively it's edited. Many times developmental editing is included in a publishing contract as part of an overall service agreement between you (the author) and a publisher . 

As for line editing, this is the lightest level of editing that will be done to your manuscript. The editor will go through it with a fine-toothed comb, ensuring spelling and punctuation are correct, but won't make any content suggestions or questions grammatical changes. Line editing is more like a proofreading job, and shouldn't be taken lightly!

How do you find great editors?

The first step in finding an editor for your projects is to put together a short list of companies that offer editing services. You can find companies that do this by searching on Google and other major search engines. Also, many large book publishing houses offer packages that include line/copy editing or developmental/content edits. Once you've done your research, contact the specific editor you're interested in hiring and discuss your needs with them.

How to work with editors

Editors are there to make your writing better—to help you succeed at putting your thoughts (or ideas) into words. Here are the five things editors will want to see when reading your work.

Editors are there to make your writing better—to help you succeed at putting your thoughts (or ideas) into words. Here are the five things editors will want to see when reading your work .

1. Content: Do I have enough information in this piece? Is it strong and clear? What should be moved, consolidated or eliminated?

2. Sample: Is your writing on point? Does it meet the standard that's been set for authors in your genre?

3. Style: Is your writing compelling and easy to read? Are you using incorrect verb tenses, misplaced modifiers or a verb with an unnecessary article (such as "the") at the end—all mistakes that will pull reader attention away from what you're trying to communicate? Also, are you using too many long words or overly complex sentences that are difficult to understand?

4. Ideas: Do I have new ideas to share or actual content that's worth sharing others' time and money on?

5. Editing: Has your editor read your entire piece—and not just the first fifty pages? Does the rest of the manuscript match up to what's been published so far and make sense? 

What are some other things to consider when publishing a work (book, magazine article, etc.) that has been edited?

One of my favorite questions to ask during editing is: What would you change? I love this question because it tells me whether or not an editor is willing to help me make my piece better. It also tells me if they're willing to go a little bit beyond what it takes to point out mistakes and actually give me suggestions that will improve my writing. It's also a great way to make sure you're getting your money's worth. If you go over your manuscript with an editor and they find something, but don't tell you what it is, then that's extra work for the author.

One of my favorite questions to ask during editing is: What would you change? I love this question because it tells me whether or not an editor is willing to help me make my piece better. It also tells me if they're willing to go a little bit beyond what it takes to point out mistakes and actually give me suggestions that will improve my writing. It's also a great way to make sure you're getting your money's worth.

Conclusion

There are many different approaches to finding, hiring, and working with editors. The best way to find the best fit for you and your project is to find a reputable publishing house that offers in-house editing services and discuss the idea with them. If you're interested in hiring out all or part of your book editing through an external company, be sure to find out exactly how much it will cost (per hour) and what their editorial style is like. If you have any questions about this article, please feel free to leave a comment!

There are many different approaches to finding, hiring, and working with editors.