Blog

Want to find out more about writing, editing, publishing or the vagaries of freelance life? Of course you do! Then dip your toe into my blog.

How to write a book conclusion people actually want to read

After you’ve written the last chapter of your book, there’s one more hurdle to jump: the book conclusion. But what should it include? And...

Sep 44 min read

Why do editors follow style guides?

Unless you work in publishing or marketing, you’ve probably never used a style guide. You just write up your report or email and send it...

Sep 25 min read

Silent changes: What's marked up and what isn't?

There seems to be a divide in the editing community when it comes to marking up pages: some editors make silent edits while others track...

Aug 144 min read

Should you hire an editor before sending your book to an agent or a publisher?

When it comes to self-publishing, editing is a no-brainer. You need to get your book in the best shape possible before publication, and...

Jul 254 min read

How to write a compelling book introduction

As a non-fiction editor, I read a lot of book introductions (and I mean A LOT). Whether they’re long or short, detailed or brief, they...

Jun 256 min read

Blue puzzle with a missing piece in the centre

Should you send an unfinished manuscript to a copyeditor?

I tend to work with book publishers, so the non-fiction books I work on are finished. In other words, they’ve been through a...

Jun 94 min read

How to self-edit your non-fiction book

Editors always talk about the importance of self-editing. But it's not just about catching typos and spelling errors. Sure, that’s part...

May 56 min read

How to prepare your non-fiction manuscript for an editor

So you’ve finished your non-fiction book. Congratulations! Now it’s time to send it to a copyeditor. Well, not so fast. There are a few...

May 16 min read

Why I charge for a sample edit

I started charging for sample edits a few years ago. Before that, I used to do them for free (because I thought they’d win me the job)....

Apr 134 min read

Over-editing and under-editing: How to get it just right

When I was training to become an editor, our instructor gave us a writing sample to edit in class. I remember whipping through it:...

Apr 35 min read

How to use ellipses correctly: Punctuation tip #4

A while back, I proofread a book that was full of ellipses. If the manuscript hadn’t already been typeset, I would’ve asked the author to...

Jan 263 min read

Is it worth using an editor?

I’ve been on both sides of the editing fence. Not only have I edited other people’s work, but I’ve also had my own writing edited. When I...

Jan 113 min read

How long does it take to copyedit a book?

A few years ago, I was asked to copyedit a 50,000-word book in 24–48 hours. At first I thought it was a joke – or an error (did they mean...

Jan 17 min read

Beyond grammar: What's really included in a website copyedit

One of the first jobs I got when I started freelancing again (yes, this is my second run!) was a website copyedit. The client accepted my...

Nov 14, 20244 min read

How to evaluate a sample edit

Editors often bang on about the importance of sample edits. But once you’ve got one (or three), how do you evaluate them? The truth is,...

Sep 26, 20244 min read

Cookbook editing: A step-by-step guide

I’m a foodie. So it should come as no surprise that I used to work for a food publisher (I love test kitchens!) and that I still edit...

Sep 12, 20247 min read

What to include in an editor's brief

There’s one step in the editing process that’s usually rushed or overlooked – and that's the editor's brief. This is the email or...

Aug 16, 20244 min read

How to use parentheses correctly: Punctuation tip #3

I recently edited two non-fiction books with a lot of parentheses. They were mostly used for witty asides or extra detail. (Both authors...

Aug 10, 20244 min read

Why you need a style sheet

I was watching a TV show recently (it was Gilmore Girls , if you must know) in which the main character’s hairstyle kept changing from...

Jul 29, 20245 min read

9 reasons why I’m not the right editor for you

It may seem counterintuitive to push business away, but sharing my preferences and editing style is a great way to find out if our...

Jul 26, 20245 min read