Services
- Information design and project management, using plain English principles
- Write and edit office and how-to manuals
- Write and edit correspondence, documents and forms, using plain English
- Write and edit newsletters for print, email and web
- Lecturer - writing film and television, comedy and drama
- Train in-house staff to write correspondence and other material in plain English
- Manuscript appraisal
- Manuscript editing
- Manuscript development
- TV script editing
- Film script editing
- Story editor
- Script editor
- Web editor
- Writing for television
- Writing for film
- Writing for the web, radio and theatre
Explanation of the different types of editing
Plain English writing and rewriting
Plain English looks for the layout of the information structure. The writer or editor has to establish a conceptual overview of the material and design the document so that it is easy to read, communicates clear concepts, transfers knowledge and gives information you can use.
Rewriting involves taking complex, bureaucratic or technical
material often from many authors and makes sure the meaning
is clear to a layperson. Also called information or project
management.
Manuscript assessment
Reading the manuscript or a representative section, advising on stylistic matters and (if requested) commercial potential, and offering general advice on development.
Manuscript development
Working with an author to develop a manuscript.
Copy-editing
Editing for grammar, spelling, punctuation and other mechanics of style; checking for internal consistency of presentation and facts; marking heading levels and approximate placement of art; highlighting copyright and legal issues; and notifying design and production staff of any unusual requirements. May also involve incorporating the client/author's replies to queries (the brief should specify whether this work is to be included in the copy editing fee or performed for an additional fee).
Substantive (structural and stylistic) editing
Ensuring that the structure, content, language and style of the document are effective and clear.
How to hire an editor
Be clear about what you want the editor to do. If possible, involve the editor early in the process of producing the publication, rather than later. This saves time and money.
Do you want the editor simply to assess the document, to edit or proofread it on hard copy, to edit it on disk, or to take full responsibility for producing the finished product?
You also need to be clear about accountability. Does someone in your organisation need to approve editorial changes (and if so, at what stages) or does the editor have a relatively 'free hand'?
Ideally the tasks, roles and responsibilities should be set out in a written brief. Feel free to discuss the project with the editor in developing this brief. Editors might be able to provide a 'ballpark' quote for a particular job before they have a detailed look at the project. A more accurate costing can only be provided, however, once they have a brief and have seen and assessed the document. It pays to confirm with the editor whether the quote is firm or an estimate only. Extra charges may be incurred by late changes to the brief.
Editorial corrections and other suggestions (such as improvements to the structure) are easier and cheaper to incorporate while the text is still in the developmental or editing phase, i.e. before it goes into the page layout or formatting stage.
Adapted, with permission, from the Freelance Register of the Society of Editors (Vic.) by Society of Editors, NSW
Professional standards: The Council of Australian Societies of Editors (CASE) published Australian Standards for editing Practice in 2001, which sets out the knowledge and skills expected of experienced editors. This publication is available on the CASE website: www.case-editors.org
Confidentiality
I provide the same degree of confidentiality that you would expect from consultation with a doctor or a lawyer. I can offer advice on intellectual property, copyright and protection of your work - talk to me first before you give your material to anyone else.
Fees
The fees charged are the same as those recommended by the Society of Editors, The Australian Writers' Guild and the Australian Society of Authors.
Terms
To save us both embarrassment please do not ask me to work 'on spec' or 'look at something and tell me what you think" or for free. My fees reflect my professional ability and are fair. I will save you money in the long run. All work is subject to a written brief before commencement. If the work subsequently involves my writing over 50 percent of the work, providing original material or deviating from the original agreement then the fee and the conditions will be renegotiated. |
