Your post was a very fun and informative read. I am halfway through the 5th draft of my first novel and on the hunt for a copy editor.
I need a specific type though. I'm making use of Pidgin English and African languages. This is among other cultural idiosyncrasies pertinent to my book.
Anyway, thanks for reminding me the process is worth it! The hunt continues.
I appreciate this. I'm going into my first professional copyediting stage any time now ( like in the next hour or two). I was using google docs with my friends to beta read and I accepted or deleted their comments and then lost track of wtf was going.
I'm so looking forward to using Microsoft Word Free.
In spite of they're being saints, it's hard to be corrected when we write for ourselves (which, admittedly, is not a good strategy for success, although one for happiness).
In my old life I wrote grants and policies and procedures and other boring things. Everything was reviewed by one or two people. I understand the track changes little bubbles. Yes, they can be annoying, but these papers needed to be in tip top, perfect shape, something that wouldn't embarrass me or the top brass. Those edit bubbles saved my life more than once and I am forever grateful.
I can say the only word changes my copyeditor made were for grammar or clarity. None whatsoever for style and that included a good handful of ungrammatical things I did on purpose!
I’m sure there are a million good reasons why Word docs are the standard. And, fwiw, I write and edit almost exclusively in Word. But dammmmmn if Google Docs’ editing and suggesting interface isn’t a million times easier and more intuitive than Track Changes
There are hundreds of thousands of multi-authored and compiled documents published every year without the use of Microsoft Word. Just not by the book publishing industry. It still fascinates me why the necessary step-changes haven't occurred to release countless hours of productivity for authors and editors alike. "Because we've always done it like this" is often the prelude to being wiped out by a disruptor.
My 92-year-old Dad is about to publish his 2nd biography (and his 20-somethingth book) and was absolutely flummoxed by Word's Track Changes (he still writes in WordPerfect). So I set aside my own writing for a week to review the 8,000+ comments/changes his AMAZING copyeditor made on his 400-page manuscript , and then, after a second round of proofreading, review another 1,200. Many of them I was able to accept, some I needed to confer with my Dad to clarify wording, confirm facts, and hunt down sources. Copyeditors are right up there with librarians and public school teachers for me--they don't get nearly enough credit for the work they do; I admire them so much.
I'm volunteering at the kids' newspaper club now. I told the kids not to be butthurt about editorial comments; they come for us all. I'm sure they will not listen to this advice for 30 years.
Another copy editor here! One thing I say to try to reassure writers is that my role is to be an advocate for *you* and for the *reader*. I'm trying to catch all the places a reader might get tripped up or distracted, whether that's lack of clarity or consistency or correctness. I'm trying to make sure your voice and your text are shining as brightly and cleanly as possible.
What I am *not* doing is grading your manuscript! Sometimes great writers have SO MANY copyedits. It's fine! There are no stickers or trophies awarded for "Fewest Copy Edits Ever." The readers (and reviewers, and awards judges) are not ever going to see all the copy edit notes. This does not go on your permanent record.
Final note: Every copy editor knows that it is the author's name on the front cover, not the name of the copy editor. (Although -- please do thank us in your acknowledgements!) We are not interested in ego tussles with authors. We almost all have a story about an author who insisted on mixing US and UK spellings or wanted to die on a hill of split infinitives or had a tantrum over a query. And if that is ever you -- which of course you WOULD NEVER -- then just know that you're sapping the energy of the copy editor to advocate for your voice, your text, and your readers.
This is my first comment on Substack.
Your post was a very fun and informative read. I am halfway through the 5th draft of my first novel and on the hunt for a copy editor.
I need a specific type though. I'm making use of Pidgin English and African languages. This is among other cultural idiosyncrasies pertinent to my book.
Anyway, thanks for reminding me the process is worth it! The hunt continues.
You’re not alone about the misery of Track Changes. And also in your gratitude for the work of editors…the mortification they have saved me from!
I appreciate this. I'm going into my first professional copyediting stage any time now ( like in the next hour or two). I was using google docs with my friends to beta read and I accepted or deleted their comments and then lost track of wtf was going.
I'm so looking forward to using Microsoft Word Free.
In spite of they're being saints, it's hard to be corrected when we write for ourselves (which, admittedly, is not a good strategy for success, although one for happiness).
In my old life I wrote grants and policies and procedures and other boring things. Everything was reviewed by one or two people. I understand the track changes little bubbles. Yes, they can be annoying, but these papers needed to be in tip top, perfect shape, something that wouldn't embarrass me or the top brass. Those edit bubbles saved my life more than once and I am forever grateful.
I see both sides. As a writer I’m extremely intentional on the words I choose. I also know as a Dyslexic I get grammar wrong.
I can say the only word changes my copyeditor made were for grammar or clarity. None whatsoever for style and that included a good handful of ungrammatical things I did on purpose!
As an editor I appreciate you! And I must admit to a slight overusage of commas in my own writing. :-)
Literally all my authors rn. Tis the season for CE ire!!
(And immense gratitude!)
I’m sure there are a million good reasons why Word docs are the standard. And, fwiw, I write and edit almost exclusively in Word. But dammmmmn if Google Docs’ editing and suggesting interface isn’t a million times easier and more intuitive than Track Changes
❤️❤️🙏
What an important slog and yes, copy editors are incredible!
There are hundreds of thousands of multi-authored and compiled documents published every year without the use of Microsoft Word. Just not by the book publishing industry. It still fascinates me why the necessary step-changes haven't occurred to release countless hours of productivity for authors and editors alike. "Because we've always done it like this" is often the prelude to being wiped out by a disruptor.
My 92-year-old Dad is about to publish his 2nd biography (and his 20-somethingth book) and was absolutely flummoxed by Word's Track Changes (he still writes in WordPerfect). So I set aside my own writing for a week to review the 8,000+ comments/changes his AMAZING copyeditor made on his 400-page manuscript , and then, after a second round of proofreading, review another 1,200. Many of them I was able to accept, some I needed to confer with my Dad to clarify wording, confirm facts, and hunt down sources. Copyeditors are right up there with librarians and public school teachers for me--they don't get nearly enough credit for the work they do; I admire them so much.
I'm volunteering at the kids' newspaper club now. I told the kids not to be butthurt about editorial comments; they come for us all. I'm sure they will not listen to this advice for 30 years.
Another copy editor here! One thing I say to try to reassure writers is that my role is to be an advocate for *you* and for the *reader*. I'm trying to catch all the places a reader might get tripped up or distracted, whether that's lack of clarity or consistency or correctness. I'm trying to make sure your voice and your text are shining as brightly and cleanly as possible.
What I am *not* doing is grading your manuscript! Sometimes great writers have SO MANY copyedits. It's fine! There are no stickers or trophies awarded for "Fewest Copy Edits Ever." The readers (and reviewers, and awards judges) are not ever going to see all the copy edit notes. This does not go on your permanent record.
Final note: Every copy editor knows that it is the author's name on the front cover, not the name of the copy editor. (Although -- please do thank us in your acknowledgements!) We are not interested in ego tussles with authors. We almost all have a story about an author who insisted on mixing US and UK spellings or wanted to die on a hill of split infinitives or had a tantrum over a query. And if that is ever you -- which of course you WOULD NEVER -- then just know that you're sapping the energy of the copy editor to advocate for your voice, your text, and your readers.
Ugh I have LOTS of trouble with the bubbles!