Formatting attributes of speech alongside action in fiction I've written about the basics of formatting dialogue here. This blog is a...

"Passes" and "rounds" are common terms used in book publishing, but their meanings can often become confused. There are, in general,...

Style sheets are a mainstay of the traditional editing and publishing process. Yet many writers and authors don't know what they are or how they can be put to use. In this blog, I'll break down what types of information the style sheet records and ways that authors can use this information to support their writing endeavors. What a style sheet is An editorial style sheet is a record of all editorial decisions made in the editing and proofreading process. It ensures that an ed

(And why they have nothing to do with editing.) Whether you’re a writer or an editor, putting yourself and your writing in front of...

A grammar miniblog Most writers are familiar with the basics of formatting dialogue in fiction such as in the following examples: “I...

I’ve received quite a few questions about my new manuscript review service. First, I want to say, no, this is not a review like you might...

In the past, I’ve talked about how freelance editors might charge for their services. There are many ways professionals might do this, but one way I discussed was using the sample edit to determine how many hours a project is estimated to take, applying an hourly rate, and then charging a full project fee. Time is, therefore, money, as the saying goes. Logically, it makes sense then that saving time will also save you money. Now, before anyone objects, let me explain what I m

Finding a best-fit editor for your project can be a chore. There’s a sea full of editor-fish but not one of them are alike! A writer must...

Writers have a lot to consider when they choose the narrative tense of their novel. Deciding on the right tense for your story has a direct impact on world-building, character development, and creating an immersive story. A well-written story pulls the reader in, avoiding clunky writing or language that keeps readers at just the right level of closeness and intimacy with the characters. Tenses: past, present, and future Nowadays, writers can write in just about any tense they

Sometimes, it can be difficult to keep the stages of editing straight and remember exactly what each one includes. From my experience, copyediting and proofreading seem to cause the most confusion. In the business world, "proofreading" and "copyediting" are often used interchangeably. The differences, however, are distinct, and if you wish to self-publish, knowing the difference between the two is important. Stages of editing The most important part about any discussion of th

What developmental editors do can be a bit of a mystery to the uninitiated, so I asked some of my DE colleagues for a broad picture of how they go about the editing process. (No, I am not a developmental editor.) Developmental editing As described in other blog posts and places on my site, developmental editing is generally considered “big picture” editing. A developmental editor performs three tasks in the editing process: They read the client’s full manuscript at whatever s

In the editing world, time really is money. Editors have to strike a balance between setting a rate they can live on and completing work in a timely, methodical, and conscientious way, while keeping a good flow and not letting projects stagnate. So, the longer a manuscript takes to edit (no matter how long it is), the higher the cost for authors. Some editors may offer a flat or fixed rate, but many will adjust their per word, hourly, or project rates based on how long they p

It’s a wide world of freelance editors out there, and not every editor provides the same types, or levels, of editing. Start your search by determining what you think your manuscript needs. Levels of editing Traditional phases of editing come in four flavors: Developmental, story, or structural edits look at the “big picture”: character arcs, plot, pacing, creating action sequences, dialogue, narrative tense, and point of view. Line editing is editing at the sentence level, f

One of the first things I learned about that was new to me as a freelance proofreader and editor was style sheet creation. Yet, it’s probably the least heard of aspect of the editing and proofreading process for my clients. What is a style sheet? A style sheet is like the Wikipedia page for your book. While the name is usually singular (style sheet), a style sheet is typically much more than one page. Style sheets come in many different formats and … styles. They are as uniqu

In an unregulated industry that primarily takes place over the Internet, scammers abound. Indie authors often save for professional editing, and it can be a costly mistake to hire the “wrong one.” How do you know you’re hiring a reputable professional editor? More important, how do you know you’re hiring the right kind of editor for your manuscript? From an editor’s perspective, there are a few standard cues to look for when vetting your editor. Do they have a professional bu

There’s no beating around the bush here. Of course, I’m going to tell you that you can’t rely on grammar checking and proofreading software alone for editing your novel. If I didn’t, I’d be out of business! And I’m not going to discuss what I have talked about numerous times before about the importance of having another set of eyes on your manuscript. That’s a given at this point. Finding the “best” software, however, is a perennial favorite topic in writing groups across the

Independent authors are faced with many decisions during the self-publishing process, not least of which is determining what type of editing their manuscript needs. The decision to hire a professional editor, in itself, introduces a whole host of choices that can lead very quickly to decision fatigue. The editing trend There is a temptation, especially if one frequents writer Facebook groups and other corners of the Internet, to skimp on editing and instead rely on the help o

If you're an editor, copywriter, marketing guru, formatter, or any other professional in a freelancing field, and you're looking to level up your freelance gigs, Fired Up Freelance may have the resources for you. This page contains affiliate links to products. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Whether you're a self-publishing industry professional or a writer trying to fund your dreams of full-time novel writing, freelancing can be a daunting,

There are quite a few articles and blogs circulating around amongst indie author and editor Facebook groups on what goes into the cost of professional editing. I don’t know if it’s fueled by frustration from indie editors, a simple desire to educate, or both. Regardless, it’s a relevant topic and one that every editor with a blog should probably write about at some point. I can imagine the situation for indie authors searching for an editor. It’s probably bewildering to put f

When you hire a professional editor, the obvious benefit is a polished work as free of typos and mistakes as it possibly can be, but there are a few less obvious benefits as well. I am all about upholding industry standards in the self-publishing biz. I catch mistakes in my own writing all the time. In fact, I guarantee you'll find one in this blog post. I proofread my own work, and just like the authors I work with, my eye will likely skate over whatever is missing or out of