Effective Editing ECS 3167 CW/CT FOCUS Wh t ki d f What kind of - PDF document

3/23/2010 Effective Editing ECS 3167 CW/CT FOCUS Wh t ki d f What kind of an edit are dit you being asked to do? What is your relationship to the writer? 1

3/23/2010 Reminders Substantive • Strength / quality of analysis and conclusions Copy-editing (biological and policy) • Structure / organization / g • Tone / style • Fact-checking • Grammar / typo /completeness of data PEERS Biologists Policy Administrators SUBORDINATES Short-Term Long-Term Developmental Responsibility? 2

3/23/2010 PEERS Biologists Policy Administrators SUBORDINATES Short-Term Long-Term Developmental Responsibility? Spotlight on the Writer 3

3/23/2010 3 Tips 1. Separate praise from criticism. 2. Group mistakes into categories. 3. Limit your feedback. It’s All About the Feedback! 1. Praise, praise, praise. 2. Ask questions. 3. Establish a checklist. 4

3/23/2010 The Subversive Copy Editor • Periodical • Book • Freelance Spotlight on the Reader 5

3/23/2010 Three Cardinal Rules • Careful • Transparent • Flexible Careful Grammar must be precise because it clarifies G t b i b it l ifi the content. Style must be consistent because it makes the document easier to process the document easier to process. Rules may need to be broken for the sake of clarity and communication. 6

3/23/2010 DO NO HARM 1. Ignorant of grammar or style. 2. Confuses grammar with style. 3. Enjoys the power trip. Careful • Know Your Grammar—refer to it. • Know Your Style Manual—read it. • Post tips till they’re mastered. Then post new ones. • Figure out the right answer AND the right way to do it way to do it. 7

3/23/2010 Transparent I ~~ You ~~ We Transparent 1. Assume the author is the content expert. 2. Ask before making major changes. 3. Don’t make “silent” changes. 4. Stay in clear, constant communication. 5. Maintain a professional demeanor. 6. Learn to say YES. 8

3/23/2010 Flexible 1. Pick your battles. 2. Admit when you’re wrong. 3. Ask for help. When You Disagree… …explain your reasoning, in terms of the reader in terms of the reader, and ask for an alternative solution. 9

3/23/2010 Dangerous Manuscripts Mindless Tasks 1. Automate. Complex Tasks 2. Delegate. 3. Reevaluate. 1. Is it wrong? 4. Accept your Fate. p y 2. Is it confusing? 3. Is it ugly? 10

3/23/2010 Read-Only Files Master BACKUP! BACKUP! C Copy Folders Clean out the t th Trial Runs T i l R Garbage! Fonts & Colors Resources • Saller, Carol Fisher. The Subversive Copy Editor: Or, How to Negotiate Good Relationships with your Writers, Your to Negotiate Good Relationships with your Writers, Your Colleagues, and Yourself . Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2009. • Zweifel, Frances W. A Handbook of Biological Illustration. • Experienced Editors’ Wisdom . www.Edsguild.org/wisdom.htm • Hart Geoff Effective On Screen Editing www Geoff • Hart, Geoff. Effective On-Screen Editing . www.Geoff- hart.com • The Word MVP Site . www.Wordmvps.org 11