I'm a copy-editor - ask me anything

[copyeditorAMA]

I'm an editor. I work on fiction (for kids, adults and YA), non-fiction, academic texts, websites, and material for businesses.

If anyone's interested, AMA!

Ok, what's your most frequent typo?

What, one I make or one I spot?

Things like 'form' for 'from' are very common. Spell-checkers don't pick them up so they slip through. And repeated words - especially 'the'. You just don't see them!

I always check for 'pubic' (for 'public'), 'shit' ('shift'), etc.

How do you become a copy editor?

Oooh I'm a writer and when my first book was copy-edited I thought "That's a job I'd like to do!"

How did you get into it?

Do you do freelance work for self-published writers?

Do you get flaws or loopholes in plots? Is that part of what you look for?

Sorry, meant to ask whether you work specifically for one publishing house or whether you get work from several.

@sunshine - Are you asking for yourself?

I suggest you join the Society for Editors and Proofreaders, do some training (this is essential), join some of the Facebook groups for editors, read books on editing (New Hart's Rules, Butcher's Copy-editing), and read as much as you can.

You have to have a great knowledge of punctuation, spelling and grammar - and it helps if you love books and reading.

You have to be able to follow a style guide and work with clients.

You also have to be able to run your own business - do your books, keep records, send invoices, do your tax return, market yourself.

But the main one is fab SpAG.

How did you get into you job? Sounds interesting.

Do you have to sign a cofidentality agreement about new books / papers etc eg what would stop you telling someone else what you’ve read?

@HollowTalk - I started working in a STM publisher 20 years ago and after a few years went freelance. Did training courses, learned along the way (there was no internet then!).

Yes, I do a lot of work for independent/self publishing authors.

Congrats on your book! What's it about?

I work for several publishers - as well as businesses, government departments and individuals.

@eeeshewasthin - Yes! That's one of the things I look for when editing fiction.

I also look out for (as well as SPaG) changes in tense, and changes from first to third person; plot, pace and timeline; characterisation (what is each character's motivation? are characters real? Are they believable and likeable? Do they have different voices? Is their dialogue realistic?); check that the text is appropriate for the intended reader, etc.

It's a psychological thriller, published by Headline.

It sounds like a great job - is there plenty of work around or is there a big scramble for jobs?

@orchidflower1 - see above!

I've been freelance for 20 years now. Over the years the work I do has changed as external influences have changed - when the internet came along, I cold build a website and use that to attract clients.

Over the last 5 years, thanks to the huge rise in popularity of self publishing, I now work for lots more self publishers... things are always changing.

Some clients ask me to sign an NDA. I point out to some that I wouldn't survive as an editor if I blabbed about every great book I read/stole ideas from clients!

@HollowTalk - I work for them! :) How exciting. Will PM you.

There is plenty of work around - if you are qualified and have experience.

But lots and lots of people try to break into editing every year. It takes approx 2 years to build up a steady stream of clients so you can support yourself.

I was more curious than anything but I think it could suit me as a career. I'm currently on maternity leave but my old colleagues would always get me to proof read their work and I would always be correcting their SPaG.
Thanks for answering

That’s a good sign, @Dreamingofsunshine!

I have sent you a PM, @copyeditorAMA

I have been a proofreader in the past (and it’s Sod’s law that there will be a typo in this post now ), so I notice errors. I also read a lot - books and Kindle - and I’m noticing more and more errors in print. The most recent one was in Dawn O’Porter’s The Cows where “queue” was used instead of “cue”.

My question is, are copy-editors not being used due to cost, or is the new generation of copy-editors just not very good at English?

How much do you earn?

@AgentProvocateur, if you're reading books from places like NetGalley, then they will be proof copies, sent out before publication for review purposes. They may well contain errors.

No, it’s printed books - big runs - and genuine kindle editions of published books. Not vanity press or proof copies.

There are so many mistakes to be found in self-published books. The best mistake I saw was a guy calling himself Davyd on the cover and then David inside.

I once worked for a leading advertising agency and was told that the reason car dealerships don’t put the apostrophe in “3 years’ free credit” is because it “looks messy.”

It drives me BANANAS!!

How does it make you feel?

@BossWitch - £30k-£35k

@BischBaschBosch - it does drive me mad, but if I’m not being paid to edit it, I try not to care!!

@AgentProvocateur - the rise in self publishing means it's easier than ever to upload books to Amazon without the usual quality checks that are in place if you are published (copy-edit, proofread). So some authors do without.

Big publishers sometimes work to such tight deadlines that there’s no time in the schedule for a proofread - and if the book is by a big name author, they know people will buy it whether or not there are a few typos in it!

Some small presses may not pay much, so may only be able to attract new editors or ones who need the work/experience. The ‘new’ generation of editors I know are all very professional, have a great command of SPaG, and a real feel for writing and what works.

Also, remember that it’s impossible to make a book 100% perfect! You can not eliminate all the errors - in just an edit and a proofread. Readers notice errors; they don’t see all the errors the editor caught!