Books, editing and running an editorial business

The emotional investment in editing

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:58:28 GMT

The emotional investment in editing for editors – where do we go from here?

More than one of my authors has moved me to tears. And I’ve told them so.

I’m an editor, and I’m deeply emotionally invested in the books I work on. I thought it couldn’t just be me. Is this universal?

One of my business values is ‘consistent curiosity’, and, in late 2024, I stopped just wondering and started asking. I began with an anonymous questionnaire for first-time authors . It was clear I was only scratching the surface. So, in late 2025, I turned my attention to other editors.

The results?

➡️The key message for authors : editors are on your side. Editors are an engaged part of your book team rather than being a transactional, unemotional part of the publication process.

➡️The key message for editors : you must set clear expectations. And this includes expectations to protect your mental well-being. There are misconceptions about editing all over the place.

Look at the shape of the graph – editors are clearly invested!

The emotional investment finding

No editor scored below 4 out of 10 for ‘How emotionally invested do you typically feel in the projects you edit?’

And 90% of editors scored over 7.

Look at the shape of the graph – editors are clearly invested!

This covered fiction and non-fiction editors. And those who edit both.

Respondents varied from a few who’d been editing for less than a year and more than a third who’d been editing for more than fifteen years.

Given all the split pie charts in the data, I’ve looked for high-level messages that can support authors and editors.

➡️Authors: editing is constantly evolving. Terminology changes and different editors may use different names for the same service.

It’s why you’ll often hear me say, you need to find an editor who suits you.

Misconceptions about editing all over the place

Only 2.4% of respondents have *never* had to correct a misunderstanding about what editing is.

➡️Authors: editing is constantly evolving. Terminology changes and different editors may use different names for the same service.

It’s why you’ll often hear me say, you need to find an editor who suits you.

➡️Editors: the message is clear. You must set expectations. And this includes expectations to protect your mental well-being.

It could be on your website, in person, in a blog, or on a social media post. Get the information out there early so authors know where they stand before they start a conversation!

You need to frame yourself!

This is something my mum used to say when I was flapping about or dragging my heels when I was a kid. It’s Yorkshire shorthand for: Sort yourself out. Make sure you know what you’re doing. Stop faffing and get on with it.

These days it’s become my business mantra. It’s in my head whenever I’m thinking about a tricky task, putting off something scary, or procrastinating for a bit too long.

Frame yourself! Make your service and your expectations clear.

An editor’s choice

When asked the question ‘Do you consider how a book may make you feel as part of deciding whether to accept an edit?’, answers ranged from ‘Absolutely’ through ‘Somewhat yes’ to ‘Not consciously’.

One editor put it clearly: ‘Yes, I have specific caveats on my website of what I will and will not work with mostly to protect my mental well being.’

This is a fantastic example of setting expectations.

And it demonstrates how editors need to consider their mental well-being.

➡️Authors: this is worth knowing. You and your potential editor need to suit each other to get the best out of the author–editor relationship.

The key thing about this pie chart is that *every* editor thinks about the project outside working hours.

What does emotional investment mean for an editor?

The key thing about this pie chart is that *every* editor thinks about the project outside working hours.

And every editor thinks rapport with an author is important to their emotional experience of a project. This varied from 80% who thought it was important or very important to 20% who thought it was ‘Somewhat important’.

There was no one who thought rapport with an author wasn’t important at all!

When I asked ‘How much does the way the author communicates with you affect your emotional energy?’, I received one of those split pie charts. ‘A great deal’ and ‘Quite a lot’ got 83% of the vote though.

‘Part of my role as their editor is to help them grow in confidence and support their growth as a writer.’

Emotional support

There were fascinating answers to the question about whether editors felt they provided emotional support to an author, as well as editorial support. Caveat: this provided many ‘it depends’ answers.

‘Part of my role as their editor is to help them grow in confidence and support their growth as a writer.’

‘I’m aware that I’m handling something very important to an author: their hopes, dreams, ambitions, and/or something they’ve perhaps spent years working on.’

Boundaries and emotional labour

Split pie charts were in evidence for a lot of questions about boundaries and emotional labour.

➡️Authors: Editors’ feedback is not given lightly.

Every editor worries about how an author will feel when reading their comments, varying from 22% who ‘Almost always’ worried to 41.5% who worry ‘Sometimes’.

No one said they ‘Never’ worried.

The due diligence question

I finished the questionnaire by asking: What would you like authors and publishers to understand about the emotional side of editing?

I learned about due diligence questions in my previous career (accountancy) – always provide an open question so the other person has a chance to answer the questions you didn’t ask. This is how you pick up thoughts and information you might otherwise have missed.

‘I like to think of editors as cheerleaders of the writing world. They understand that receiving feedback can be hard (even when delivered with love), but they want authors to succeed. All that scary tracking on the page sometimes disguises this.’

Here are some thoughts that editors shared:

‘I'd like them to know that, for so many of us, we're in the work with them. I'd like them to know that we're not robots, and that we're in this profession out of a desire to truly make work better so it can be presented to the world in the best possible way.’

‘Editing a book is an emotional investment for the editor as much as it is for the client. We spend hours upon hours staring at, thinking about, and dreaming about the books we work with, and it’s difficult to separate ourselves from them.’

‘That as their (probably) most intensive readers, we will be engaging deeply with their text on a human level; that we are trying to engage with them, the authors, on a similarly human level when we do our work. We don't want to upset them, we do want to help them – and we are affected by their responses to our work.’

Authors need to know that editors are on their side!

Where do we go from here? The key takeaways.

What an author needs to know

Editors are an engaged part of your book team rather than being a transactional, unemotional part of the publication process. Editors are on your side.

What an editor can do to support authors

Editors need to let authors know where they stand by setting clear expectations. Make it clear what you offer. And this includes setting expectations to protect your mental well-being.

(Though I’m sure this won’t come as news to my colleagues, it’s worth thinking about in the emotional investment context!)

Framing myself

I still feel like I’m scratching the surface of the emotional investment in editing and its impact on the author–editor relationship.

So I’m writing a book about it.

Authors need to know that editors are on their side!

Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to the survey – I appreciate you sharing your time and your energy!

I’m going to set up an email list to keep people informed about the book. Client deadlines are more important though, so I’ll sort this out once deadlines have been met!

If you just can’t wait , drop me a line now.

And I'm speaking about the emotional investment in editing at the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading conference on 12 September 2026.

Presenting tips from an editor: managing adrenaline, nerves and imposter syndrome

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 11:46:58 GMT

Setting the scene

My style sheet with editorial report session at the recent Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading conference (#ciep2025) has left me with many thoughts! Now that the conference is over, I’ve had time to reflect on the whole experience. My imposter syndrome flared up and led to blogging… This companion blog captures my thinking about my adrenaline response to my session.

What stands out most is how I’ve moved from “Who am I to do this?” to recognising that I have some useful presenting tips to share. And, for me, it revolves around understanding that the feeling we often call “nerves” is just adrenaline doing its job.

Anticipating the nerves

Before the event, I knew this was going to cause my imposter syndrome to flare up. It was my first live presentation since before Covid, and I was so worried about getting lost – yes, my sense of direction really is that bad! (Thank you to Melanie Cotton for getting me there and to the CIEP office team who patiently redirected me every time I asked which way to go.)

People asked if I was nervous. The answer is yes. The important caveat here is that I don’t think “nerves” are to be avoided. I think of my feeling as an adrenaline response rather than “nerves”. Though I do get nervous about all sorts of things (yes, getting lost!), presenting is different. I’m not worried about doing it; I just feel the adrenaline rise. And it makes my presentation better.

Though I do get nervous about all sorts of things, presenting is different. I’m not worried about doing it; I just feel the adrenaline rise. And it makes my presentation better.

The science behind the feeling

What you feel before presenting is a well-understood physiological and psychological pattern. When your brain senses that something important is about to happen – like speaking in front of a group – it triggers the sympathetic nervous system , releasing adrenaline and cortisol. Your heart beats faster, your senses sharpen, and your focus intensifies.

That rush is what we often call “nerves” – it’s your body preparing you to perform. In psychology, reframing that stress response as helpful is called reappraisal . It shifts your mindset from “I’m scared” to “I’m ready”. Some public-speaking experts encourage this reframe because it turns anxiety into energy. I’ve even seen this used in relation to jumping out of a plane to skydive!

After the talk, as the adrenaline fades, the parasympathetic system takes over – your body moves from “fight or flight” to “rest and digest”. That’s when the adrenaline crash hits and imposter syndrome likes to sneak in. The buzz that kept you confident ebbs away, and suddenly there’s space for self-doubt.

I knew it was coming so I prepared.

My coping strategies

Because I know what’s coming, I prepare for the whole cycle – rise, performance, and comedown.

Plan the outfit early. I chose what I’d wear months in advance. Purple is my favourite colour – it’s also my brand colour – and wearing it gives me confidence.
Wear something that makes you happy. In sixth form and at university, I used to wear silly socks for exams. It gave me a boost, a small reminder of something joyful.
Claim the space. I like to arrive early and be in the room first. It helps me feel like it’s my space, and that I’m welcoming others into it.
Hold something warm. I’d read that holding something warm can help calm you. So I took my branded mug and filled it with peppermint tea. People are used to seeing me on social media with a mug in hand! The warmth helps me feel grounded, and it’s a subtle cue to myself that I’m comfortable and in control.
Rehearse thoroughly. David Pullan once suggested rehearsing for an hour for every minute of a talk. I didn’t have a script, but I practised so much that I barely needed my slides. (David is a fabulous speaker who I became aware of when I had the pleasure of editing his book, The DNA of Engagement .)
Plan for the comedown. The crash is real, so I line up “comfort things” for afterwards – comfort telly, comfort reading, and my Feeling Good folder. Knowing that the crash is coming helps me prepare rather than panic.

Presenting well isn’t about banishing nerves; it’s about understanding them. Your body’s stress response is there to help you – it’s your built-in performance partner.

Final thoughts

Presenting well isn’t about banishing nerves; it’s about understanding them. Your body’s stress response is there to help you – it’s your built-in performance partner. When you accept that adrenaline rush as readiness, not fear, you can channel it into confidence and connection.

After #ciep2025, I realised that speaking had given me a fresh perspective – not just on the topic itself, but on my own growth. The imposter feelings still whisper, but they’re quieter now. I know that my coping strategies worked for me, so I’m confident to share them. I hope that they work for you too.

I’m Lisa. I’m an editor and proofreader, specialising in business books and fiction. I spent many years as a chartered accountant before retraining as an editor and proofreader. Now I get to embrace my degree in English Lit!

Please do drop me a line to talk about editing, proofreading, business mentoring for editorial professionals, or to be added to my waiting list.

Lessons learned from 7 years as a CIEP local group coordinator

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 14:24:04 GMT

Setting the scene

Seven years ago, I stepped into the role of Manchester local group coordinator for the CIEP – excited, nervous, and completely unprepared for just how much I would learn. At the time, I had just launched my editing business and was navigating a career change, so stepping into this vibrant professional community was both a challenge and an opportunity. Last week, I stood down from the role, and it feels like a good moment to reflect on the lessons, laughter, and learning these years have brought – and why being part of a supportive community has meant more than I could have imagined.

It was a way to start establishing myself. As a career changer, it also felt like a great way to demonstrate how serious I was about my new profession.

Taking the leap

When I started, I was shiny and new, having just launched my editing business. I was excited and keen to get stuck into this vibrant community I’d already begun to experience as a member. When Graham Hughes stood down, the chance to step into his shoes felt like a huge deal – and a huge opportunity. It was a way to start establishing myself. As a career changer, it also felt like a great way to demonstrate how serious I was about my new profession.

A full circle moment

When the institute chartered, it felt like a full circle moment for me. Ah, the exams and revision I went through to become a member of the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales). To be part of a respected professional community has always been a big deal to me.

Imposter syndrome doesn’t vanish; it just learns new disguises.

Facing the imposter

I vividly remember imposter syndrome striking as I drove to chair my first meeting – the anxious, looping kind that makes you rehearse your introductions three times before you’ve even parked. But once I was in the room, that anxiety eased. CIEP members have always felt like colleagues, not competition, and that spirit of mutual support is something that’s stayed constant throughout my time in the role.

I wrote about those nerves in my blog Dealing with Imposter Syndrome , back when I was an intermediate member of the then SfEP (now CIEP). I’ve recently revisited and republished that blog, reflecting on how those familiar twinges of doubt resurfaced after speaking at the CIEP conference. Imposter syndrome doesn’t vanish; it just learns new disguises.

What changes – and what doesn’t

Times change, and it’s really important to be flexible and take what you’ve learned with you. Some software and systems change, but the fundamentals stay the same: we’re part of a community that wants to do its best – supporting clients, whether they’re authors, traditional publishers, businesses or academics, and supporting each other, too. Having a place to ask questions and share ideas is vital, especially when you’re a solo business owner. It’s where you find your colleagues.

That sense of adaptability came to the forefront during Covid, when our group – like so many others – had to rethink how we met. Overnight, we went from meeting entirely in person to meeting entirely online. It could have been a setback, but instead it became an opportunity. Virtual meetings meant that people who couldn’t always make it into Manchester could still join in, and the group remained connected through those hard times.

For the last couple of years we’ve kept a blend that works for us: virtual meetings in October and January, when the nights are darker and no one relishes trekking into the city, and in-person meetings in April and July, when the lighter evenings make travel easier and more appealing. The possibility of virtual meetings has opened our options and given us a new way to respond to members’ needs – something that feels like a small but lasting silver lining from that challenging period.

Having a co-coordinator (hat tip and many thanks to Laura Burge ) for a couple of years was another big change – and one that made a real difference. Sharing the role brought fresh perspectives and helped me approach meetings with more creativity. It was wonderful to be able to collaborate, to bounce ideas around, and to share the preparation. And that was when we experienced the velvet rope at our in-person meetings for the first time. So much fun! I learned a lot from that partnership, and it reminded me how much stronger we are when we work together.

The group is stronger together.

Practical lessons from the coordinator’s seat

I’ve learned some practical lessons along the way:

Don’t take minutes while you’re chairing a meeting.
Keep notes of any discussion topics you notice people talking about online – they might make great agenda items.
Discussion topics have a way of coming around again, so even if you cover something one year, it may well resurface later – and that’s fine. It’s a sign of an active, evolving group.
Polls are so helpful when making decisions (like which discussion topic to settle on).
Festive get-togethers need to be booked early as people’s time fills up quickly at this time of year.
Starting the January meeting with how last year went and plans for the coming year can be a straightforward and gentle lead in to the year.
Accept that when you send group emails, a fair few replies will be bounce-backs telling you an address no longer exists.
Hold onto things lightly (like all those email templates I painstakingly rewrote time and again).
The group is stronger together. Do accept the support that is often offered by members – whether it’s taking minutes or offering discussion topic ideas.

Stepping down feels a bit like returning a much-loved book to its rightful shelf – ready for the next reader to enjoy.

Seven years on, I’m proud of what the Manchester group has achieved, and grateful for the friendships, laughter and learning it’s brought. Stepping down feels a bit like returning a much-loved book to its rightful shelf – ready for the next reader to enjoy.

The new coordinator, Bethany Dahlstrom , will bring her own ideas and I fully support any changes she makes. It’s her book now. I look forward to continuing to be part of the supportive community I’ve enjoyed all these years.

Frame your year: how editors can plan with clarity and calm

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 12:15:09 GMT

Using SWOT and SMART goals to align action with purpose

“Strategy = aligning action with purpose.”

It’s a phrase I’ve used before, and it’s the foundation of this post – and, really, of how I think about editorial business planning.

When I worked as a group accountant for a plc, strategy and planning were part of the rhythm of the year, with spreadsheets and forecasts. And behind all that structure was a simple idea: clarity helps you make better decisions that connect with what you want to achieve.

That principle still applies when you’re a one-person business.

As editors, we don’t have departments or board packs – we have our clients, our calendars, and our mugs of tea. And we do have purpose. When we take time to align our actions with that purpose, we stop simply reacting and start running our businesses with confidence and calm.

That’s what this post is about: how to frame your year so it supports you.

What do you expect from your business? What do you want it to do for you?

This is your business’s mission. This is its purpose.

Know what you’re aiming for

What do you expect from your business? What do you want it to do for you?

This is your business’s mission. This is its purpose.

This could be: paying all your bills or supplying a second income that runs alongside a ‘day job’.

You could include scale and timescales.

Maybe you’re happy as a solo business owner or you want your business to grow until you can take on employees.

You might need to be up and running within a year or a slower burn may be possible.

Once you’ve defined your business’s mission, and you understand its purpose, planning becomes quite straightforward.

Understand where you are – your SWOT

Before you plan how to satisfy your mission, take a good look at where you are now. In the corporate world, we call this a SWOT analysis – examining your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

It’s a simple but powerful reflection tool for editorial professionals too.

Grab your favourite notebook (or spreadsheet!) and note:

Strengths: What do clients love about working with you? What do you do brilliantly?
Weaknesses: What parts of your workflow frustrate you or slow you down?
Opportunities: Are there new services, collaborations, or sectors you could explore?
Threats: What could derail your plans? Illness, tech issues, cashflow gaps, or too much work? (The latter would be a lovely problem, but it would still be a problem!)

This isn’t about judgement; it’s about awareness. Your strengths and opportunities are your launchpads. Your weaknesses and threats are your prompts to put better controls in place. This is where your risk assessment will be a powerful tool.

SMART goals stop you drifting. They keep you connected to what you want – intention with practical steps.

Set your direction – SMART goals

Once you’ve reflected on where you are, it’s time to decide where you want to go.

This is where SMART goals come in – a framework that turns vague intentions into tangible, trackable actions.

A SMART goal is:

Specific – clear and focused
Measurable – you measure your progress so you know when you’ve achieved it
Achievable – realistic for your resources
Relevant – aligned with your mission
Timely – with a defined timeframe

Examples:

Build a client base by securing two new ongoing business-book clients by June.
Work on visibility by posting once a week on LinkedIn for three months to increase engagement.

SMART goals stop you drifting. They keep you connected to what you want – intention with practical steps.

I’ve worked with more than one definition for SMART goals. You could use Realistic instead of Relevant and Time-bound instead of Timely. The definition I’ve listed is my current favourite!

Write it down

This might sound obvious, but it’s transformative.

When I worked as an accountant, nothing was real until it was written down. A plan in someone’s head was an idea; a plan on paper was a commitment.

Writing your goals down gives them weight and direction. It also gives you a reference point to return to when the year inevitably goes off script.

You don’t need a glossy document. A simple summary of your SWOT and SMART goals is enough. The

SMART goals include key actions – the practical steps that will move you forward.

Then keep it visible. Pin it above your desk, save it on your desktop, or write it in your planner. Make it part of your business, not a secret file you never open again.

Small, steady improvements are more sustainable than sweeping resolutions.

Keep improving – the PDCA mindset

Although this post focuses on SWOT and SMART, it’s worth noting that planning isn’t a one-off exercise. It’s cyclical. You’re aiming to create a virtuous circle.

In the business world, we use the PDCA framework – Plan, Do, Check, Act – to embed continuous improvement.

For editors, this can be as simple as:

Setting goals in January,
Checking in quarterly (ideally with tea and biscuits),
Adjusting what’s not working, and
Celebrating progress before looping back to plan again.

(This last part could easily be skipped. Don’t miss it out though. Patting yourself on the back and acknowledging a success is so valuable!)

Small, steady improvements are more sustainable than sweeping resolutions.

Think like a business owner

One of the biggest shifts for many editors is realising that we’re not simply freelance editorial professionals – we’re business owners.

You don’t need a corporate strategy department to plan your year. You just need reflection, intention, and a bit of structure.

Planning like a business owner gives your work direction.

This is how you’ll achieve your business’s mission.

Remind yourself that business planning isn’t about predicting the future.

It’s about preparing for it with intention .

Final thoughts

Strategy = aligning action with purpose.

That’s the thread running through it all – from your mission to SWOT to SMART to PDCA.

Frame your year with clarity and calm.

Write your goals down.

And remind yourself that business planning isn’t about predicting the future – it’s about preparing for it with intention.

If you’d like to explore this further, I’ll be covering annual planning and practical goal setting in my Frame Yourself! business mentoring programme . It's designed for editorial professionals who want to feel calm, capable, and confident about running their businesses.

I’m running a beta programme to test my programme. The beta programme is happening right now (autumn 2025), and I’m fine-tuning as we go! This is PDCA in action. Drop me a message to join the waiting list for 2026 when I go live.

Dealing with imposter syndrome

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 17:15:57 GMT

Speaking at the CIEP conference – the comedown phase and imposter syndrome

It’s been a couple of weeks since I spoke at #ciep2025 (the CIEP conference) and I'm starting to recover from the comedown phase… The imposter syndrome has been a bit of a monster!

Ah, the rise and fall of adrenaline…

The rise in adrenaline started a couple of weeks before I spoke and carried me through the event. I recognise that the adrenaline response is important to be able to deliver a performance that I could look back at and be proud of.

And I knew the fall was coming so I prepared.

I've started rewatching the Supergirl TV series and I've lined up a Chalet School book to read! (Comfort telly and reading!)

I published a blog on dealing with imposter syndrome for the CIEP in 2020 when it was the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP).

It's still relevant to me today. I continue to use a ‘sunshine file’. I call mine 'Feeling Good'. I’ve added to it after speaking at the 2025 conference.

Thank you to everyone whose kind words are there – you know who you are! And that’s a big help as I gently frame myself!

Here is the blog in hopes that it supports anyone else who’s coping:

Dealing with imposter syndrome

The Manchester CIEP local group meets every three months, and chooses a discussion topic in advance. ‘How to deal with self-doubt, lack of confidence and imposter syndrome’ was a very popular topic with those who attended the January 2020 meeting.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines imposter syndrome as ‘The persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills’. Meanwhile, googling ‘imposter syndrome’ brings up more than three million search results. And a quick survey of the CIEP’s forums reveals that it’s a problem familiar to many editors.

I posted on LinkedIn ahead of the meeting to elicit thoughts on #ImposterSyndrome. I had a fantastic response, and people were so willing to share their experiences, just as they were later in person. We had a lively and engaged meeting – we all had stories to share, from the newbies among us to more experienced members.

This post covers what came out of that meeting, focusing on imposter syndrome and editorial professionals. I’ve included a list of helpful resources at the end.

What is imposter syndrome?

I’ve shared the dictionary definition, but let’s talk about it in a less formal way. It’s the feeling that ‘I’m not good/qualified enough’. It’s about self-doubt and lack of confidence. We set ourselves exacting standards as we work on clients’ projects, and this tends to carry through into the standards we set for ourselves and our businesses. You don’t want to feel as though you haven’t met your own expectations.

Most of the people at our meeting were freelancers, so we concentrated on this area. As a freelancer, especially working from home on your own, you can experience feelings of isolation. While one of the benefits of being a freelancer is a lack of structure, which allows self-direction and taking control of your business, the flip side of this is there is no one to automatically check in with you. When you’re an employee, you have appraisals and regular meetings with your manager to provide validation, and you have conversations with colleagues about questions and minor hiccups while making a cup of tea. As a freelancer, there is no built-in interaction with people – you must build it yourself. It’s one of the reasons the CIEP’s forums are so popular – they provide a chance to talk to others who understand where you are coming from.

The CIEP has a newbies forum, where I posted about imposter syndrome after our meeting. It struck a chord with a lot of members. While imposter syndrome may be more common for newbies, it can come back in waves for more experienced professionals. As we moved through our meeting, we talked about how imposter syndrome might be triggered by changing your business’s direction (for example, moving from non-fiction to fiction) or by taking the next step professionally (for example, upgrading to a higher level of CIEP membership). Instead of taking pride in your achievement, you may feel anxiety in case people think that standards must have dropped for you to have succeeded. When something new and unexpected happens, you may feel that you *should* have known. Then imposter syndrome builds up and you discount your experience.

Recognising it

Whether you’re a newbie or an experienced editor, imposter syndrome reflects the level of stretch you’re going through and how far out of your comfort zone you are. We all agreed that it’s particularly important to acknowledge this feeling if it starts to take over more of your thoughts. It can impact your mental health, and then you need to take action. We talked about the practical impact of imposter syndrome too – for example, the knock-on effect on the way you quote for work. Imposter syndrome can encourage you to be apologetic about raising rates, especially for existing clients. Whether you’re thinking about your mental health or the practical impact, a strategy to cope with imposter syndrome needs to be found.

Overcoming imposter syndrome

The group suggested lots of ideas. Some come from external support (for instance, talking to people) and some are internal support mechanisms (like creating a win jar). What suits one person won’t necessarily suit another. Call it what you will – this is an individual demon/monster/battle to face.

We recognised that, as a newbie, you have less experience and less chance of positive feedback to turn to. At this stage, talking to people is so important. Then, as you complete more projects, you will, hopefully, receive good feedback. An even better weapon against imposter syndrome is repeat work. It’s a real vote of confidence in your service. Although experience brings great benefits, we spent a lot of time talking about coping strategies that are useful to all.

Coping strategies

You can record positive feedback in a notebook, a ‘sunshine file’ or a ‘win jar’. You could have a gratitude journal. It’s so useful to have tools that you can constantly keep updated. A ‘win jar’ is a jar you keep on your desk, where you leave positive feedback (for instance, a complimentary email). If you feel like you need it, reach in and pull out a win to read. A sunshine file is a similar concept. Since our meeting, I’ve created a Word document where I save screen shots of positive feedback.

Another way to cope is to understand the value that you provide – not everyone can do what you do. How do you track improvements over time? What experience and training do you have? When you’ve found a typo or factual error, what impact would it have had on the document if you hadn’t found it? Keep track of these achievements!

At the meeting, we were keen to embrace talking to friends and colleagues – CIEP local groups and forums really come into their own here. Attending face-to-face courses or professional development days can provide reassurance about what you do know.

Finally, our conversation moved gently into the positive side of self-doubt. A little (in moderation) will keep you learning and trying harder. It will improve your business. It may lead to a particular type of training. I was surprised to discover that a long course (like the PTC proofreading course) is not completed by everyone who signs up for it. Completing training acts as a confidence boost!

There’s such a lot to think about – at the end of the discussion, we were all ready for our mid-meeting comfort break.

You are not alone

I’ve focused on the editorial profession, but imposter syndrome does not have industry boundaries and it does not respect your level of experience. I recently caught up with a friend who’s an oncology consultant. I explained about writing this blog and asked if she’d come across imposter syndrome. She smiled in recognition – yes, she often feels it and often talks about it with her medical colleagues.

Every conversation gives me the clear message: you are not alone.

A lot of us are going through it, including the people you assume are absolutely fine. You can find a coping strategy that suits you. My own battle with imposter syndrome will continue, I’m sure. If you’re battling too, I wish you the very best!

Caveat as I republish this blog:

A lot of the helpful articles and blogs I offered back in 2020 are now defunct or have moved behind paywalls (fair enough!). These ones still work:

https://theserialistblog.wordpress.com/2018/03/19/how-to-vanquish-impostor-syndrome/

https://www.louiseharnbyproofreader.com/blog/im-a-newbie-proofreader-should-i-charge-a-lower-fee

Risk management for editors: turning red risks into green

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 15:16:08 GMT

Let’s be practical about risks and controls

In my last post , I introduced internal controls and the COSO framework – the corporate world’s way of keeping businesses steady.

Now, let’s be practical. How does risk management apply to editors and freelance business owners? You need to spot where your biggest headaches might come from and rate them. Then you identify controls to reduce them. When you control your risks, this turns theory into everyday business practice.

I produce a risk analysis document, so I have all the information at my fingertips.

You’re not trying to get rid of all risks – I don’t think that would be possible and unexpected events happen!

You’re looking to move as many risks as possible from red towards green by applying the right controls.

Risk analysis as a traffic-light system

Think of risk analysis as a traffic-light system:

Red – High risk: something that’s likely to happen, and if it did, it would cause real damage.
Amber – Medium risk: possible, inconvenient, but manageable.
Green – Low risk: unlikely, or the impact is small.

You’re not trying to get rid of all risks – I don’t think that would be possible and unexpected events happen! You’re looking to move as many risks as possible from red towards green by applying the right controls.

Example: technology failure

Risk : Your computer dies two days before a client deadline.
Initial rating : Red – it’s very disruptive and it’s quite possible that it will happen at some time.
Control : You back up all files to the cloud every day.
New rating : Amber – though the problem would still be inconvenient, at least you wouldn’t lose any files.

To keep reducing that risk, you could add another control. For instance, keep a spare device ready or know where to get access to one quickly. Then you might be able to bring that risk down to green .

Example: Falling ill

Risk : You fall ill partway through a project and can’t meet the agreed deadline.
Initial rating : Amber – though it’s not certain to happen, if it did, it could disrupt client relationships and mean you miss the deadline. (What would missing a deadline mean? I suggest considering this as a separate risk around contracts.)
Control : You build contingency time into your schedules, communicate openly with clients, and have a network of trusted colleagues you can recommend if you need to pass work on.
New rating : Green – though the risk is still there, as none of us are immune to illness, the impact is far less severe because you’ve got a plan.

Why this matters

As editors, we’re often so focused on the text in front of us that we forget about the ‘business scaffolding’ holding everything together. Risk management gives you:

Clarity – you can see where the real threats lie.
Control – you know what actions will make a difference.
Confidence – you’re better prepared when things do wobble.

It doesn’t need to be complicated. Start with a handful of risks, rate them honestly, and then decide what controls you can put in place.

By naming the risks and applying the right controls, you move your business out of the danger zone and into a steadier, calmer place. (I like to think of a bookshop…)

Final thoughts

What do you do if the thing you’re worried about actually happens? You take a deep breath, screw your courage to the sticking place, and know you’ll be okay.

Because you’ve already reduced the risk’s impact by controlling it.

Risk management turns theory into action. By naming the risks and applying the right controls, you move your business out of the danger zone and into a steadier, calmer place. (I like to think of a bookshop…)

You’re moving intentionally from a flashing red warning light to a steady green glow.

And now: breathe.

Building clarity and confidence in editorial businesses

This post is part of my series on building clarity and confidence in editorial businesses. If you’d like to learn more, check out this blog: my mentoring programme Frame Yourself!

Do drop me a line if you'd like to talk about mentoring for editorial professionals.

Internal controls for editors: what COSO can teach us about running a resilient business

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:38:45 GMT

Don’t forget the structures that keep your business steady

Running a solo editorial business can feel like juggling with one hand. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily to-do list and forget about the structures that quietly keep your business steady.

That’s where internal controls come in. In this blog, I’ll explain what they are, why COSO is famous in the corporate world, and how its principles can help editorial business owners too.

When you hear ‘internal controls’, you might picture a big corporation with endless policies, procedures, and an internal audit team. And yes – that’s where the COSO framework was born and where it’s most widely used.

The principles behind COSO are surprisingly useful for us as solo editorial business owners too. They’re not bureaucracy. They provide clarity and structure. They give you confidence that your business will work seamlessly.

What are internal controls?

An internal control is something you put in place to make sure your business achieves its goals, avoids unnecessary risks, and runs smoothly.

Here’s a simple way to think about it for editors and authors:

• Risk: Your book is published with errors.

• Control: Hire an editor.

A control is a step that reduces the risk.

In the publishing world, editing itself is one of the most powerful controls an author can invest in – it reduces the chance of bad reviews, poor sales, and reputational damage.

What is the COSO framework?

COSO (the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission) created one of the most widely used frameworks for internal controls. It’s built around five key components.

Control environment – the tone you set for your business: integrity, values, professionalism.
Risk assessment – identifying what could go wrong.
Control activities – the actions you take to reduce risks.
Information and communication – making sure the right people know what they need to know at the right time.
Monitoring activities – checking that your controls are actually working.

In a large company, these are rolled out with policies, committees, and entire departments. In a solo business, you scale them down.

What the COSO framework looks like for editorial business owners

Control environment: You decide your standards. For instance, always using contracts, keeping client information confidential, sticking to deadlines.

Risk assessment: You spot the risks – losing files, clients paying late, scope creep, tech failures.

Control activities: You set up processes – cloud backups, clear terms and conditions, project management tools, invoicing software.

Information and communication: You make sure your clients know what to expect and you keep them updated if anything changes.

Monitoring activities: You check in with yourself – are your systems working? Do you need to tweak your processes?

It's about creating a safety net, so that when things wobble, you're not left scrambling.

Why this matters

Big companies use COSO to reassure shareholders and regulators. You can use its principles to reassure yourself and your clients. It’s about creating a safe ty net, so that when things wobble, you’re not left scrambling.

And the beauty of being a solo business owner? You can employ the principles and phrase them in a way that suits you.

For me, this is where my operations manual comes in. It gives me great comfort when I need to check how to do something I only do every now and then. And it repays the time I’ve invested in it.

It gives me peace of mind.

Final thoughts

Internal controls sound heavy, but at heart they’re about protecting what matters most: your reputation, your relationships with clients, and your peace of mind.

Editing is a control. Contracts are a control. Backups are a control.

When you put them together, you are acting as the first line of defence against risks to your business, and you’re making sure your business is resilient.

Building a strong, sustainable editorial business

This post is part of my series on building strong, sustainable editorial businesses. If you’d like to explore these ideas further, keep an eye out for my mentoring programme, Frame Yourself! , designed especially for career changers and new editors.

And if you’re an author looking for editorial support, do get in touch at lisa@ldceditorial.co.uk

Frame yourself! Business Mentoring for Editorial Professionals

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 16:32:34 GMT

Why this Yorkshire phrase is the heart of my mentoring programme

‘Frame yourself!’

It’s something my mum used to say when I was flapping about or dragging my heels when I was a kid. It’s Yorkshire shorthand for: Sort yourself out. Make sure you know what you’re doing. Stop faffing and get on with it.

These days it’s become my business mantra. It pops into my head whenever I’m thinking about a tricky task, putting off something scary, or procrastinating for a bit too long.

That’s why, when I needed a name for my mentoring programme for editorial professionals, Frame yourself felt like a good idea.

I tested the potential title on social media to get some feedback. The comments coalesced round Frame yourself with an exclamation mark and ‘Business mentoring for editorial professionals’ (the Ronseal approach) as my subtitle.

What is Frame yourself! mentoring?

It’s a structured and supportive business mentoring offer, especially for newer editorial professionals or career changers who are finding their feet in freelance life.

The beta version ran over six weeks in autumn 2025 and included 1:1 support and a clear framework. It was a test run for the future six-month programme I’m offering in 2026 – something that combines thoughtful guidance with accountability and a bit of cheerleading. I'm letting all the feedback from the beta ferment as I fine-tune.

Because running a freelance editorial business isn’t just about working with words. It’s about finding clarity in your services, building business systems, and feeling confidence in yourself as a business owner.

Why I’m doing this

I’ve been where many of my mentees are.

I’m a career changer, an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (the CIEP), and someone who gained a degree in English Lit before spending years balancing spreadsheets and strategy (my chartered accountancy days).

I’ve edited projects from the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children’s Annual Report to Business Book Awards winners and finalists.

Along the way, I’ve built systems that work for me. I’ve found ways to manage my workflow and I’ve made the most of projects that light me up. But it’s taken time, experimentation, and plenty of framing myself.

This mentoring programme is about helping others do the same, just with a little less overwhelm and a lot more support.

What we’ll cover

The programme focuses on six key areas that gently build clarity and confidence in your editorial business:

Finding your direction – setting goals, understanding your current risks, and working out where you want to go
Defining what you offer – including your services, ideal clients, branding, and how niching (even softly) can help you stand out
Building strong business systems – from your operations manual and record-keeping to ethical use of AI and staying on top of finances
Making things manageable – with thoughtful planning, workflow design, contingency strategies, and sensible boundaries
Quoting with confidence – pricing your work, creating clear terms and conditions, and knowing when business research is needed
Planning for what’s next – reflecting on what you’ve learned, gathering feedback, and planning future steps

It’s supportive, practical and grounded. Framework, not formula.

For me, ‘Frame yourself!’ isn’t about hustle or pressure. It’s about intention.

What’s behind ‘Frame yourself!’

For me, ‘Frame yourself!’ isn’t about hustle or pressure. It’s about intention.

It’s about stepping out of default mode and into clarity. Whether you’re rethinking your pricing, changing direction, or just trying to stop comparing yourself to everyone else, framing yourself is about finding your centre.

Sometimes it’s gentle structure. Sometimes it’s a nudge. And it’s always about helping you feel equipped, not overwhelmed.

What’s Next

I’ve completed the closed beta of the programme with a small group of brilliant editorial professionals who kindly agreed to test, reflect and offer feedback. Their insight will help me fine-tune the longer-term six-month version I plan to launch in 2026.

If you’re interested in being part of future rounds – or just want to chat about whether mentoring might be for you – do drop me a message .

No pressure. No spam. Just a chance to frame yourself, with a little help.

☕ Want to stay in the loop?

You can follow my updates on LinkedIn or Instagram .

How to create an operations manual for your freelance editorial business: apply big-business structure to work smarter and stay consistent

Mon, 05 May 2025 13:07:24 GMT

Apply big-business structure to work smarter and stay consistent

An operations manual is a behind-the-scenes guide to how your editorial business works. It captures your key processes, tools, and templates in one place. It’s where you record everything from client onboarding steps and email templates to style guide preferences and invoicing routines. Think of it as a living document that gives you confidence, helps you work consistently, and keeps things running smoothly.

Why is it useful for big businesses?

In large organisations, an operations manual is essential for maintaining consistency, efficiency, and compliance across departments, locations, and teams. It serves as an official, centralised reference point for documented procedures, policies, and workflows. It’s a way of making sure that work is done the right way, every time, no matter who’s doing it.

It supports:

• Standardisation: Ensures processes (like payroll, client onboarding, or document control) are carried out uniformly.

• Quality assurance: Helps maintain high standards and reduce errors.

• Training and continuity: Aids onboarding of new staff and ensures continuity during absences or staffing changes.

• Accountability and audit readiness: Makes responsibilities clear, and provides evidence of controls and procedures in place.

• Risk management: Identifies key processes and embeds mitigation strategies (for instance, disaster recovery plans, approval hierarchies, data handling procedures).

At its core, it’s about clarity, control, and confidence – being able to show not just what is done, but how and why. It’s also a cornerstone of good governance.

Why solo businesses need an operations manual

In a one-person business, an operations manual is less about delegating tasks and more about creating structure, saving time, and protecting your sanity. It’s your go-to guide for how you run your business – capturing the decisions, processes, and templates that let you work consistently and confidently without having to reinvent the wheel each time.

It helps you:

• Stay organised: Everything from email templates to style preferences is in one place – no more hunting through old files or inboxes.

• Work efficiently: You spend less time figuring out how you did something last time and more time doing the work you love.

• Support Future You: It’s a gift to your forgetful self (and to my perimenopausal self!) – and possibly to a virtual assistant or collaborator if you ever bring one on board.

• Build a sustainable business: By treating your editorial practice like a larger business, you’re setting it up to thrive in the long term.

• Feel in control: When life throws curveballs (illness, urgent deadlines, holidays), your systems are already in place.

Why shouldn’t solo business owners have peace of mind and good governance too?! Here’s how I’ve made it work for me.

“It was unthinkable that I wouldn’t have an operations manual for my own business.”

How I use my operations manual

I set my operations manual up as I started my business. As a chartered accountant, I’d spent a lot of time auditing over the years. It was unthinkable that I wouldn’t have an operations manual for my own business.

I’ve changed it quite a bit over the years – keeping the document ‘live’ is critical to how it works. The benefit comes from documenting the processes as they change. And that’s also a way to double-check your internal controls. (Internal controls will be another blog!).

How I use the operations manual day-to-day

• To keep myself on track and accountable

It’s easy to drift when you’re working solo. Having my processes written down helps me stay consistent – and gives me a gentle nudge when I’m tempted to skip a step.

• To capture repeatable tasks

For anything I do regularly – from client onboarding to delivering a project – I have templates and checklists ready to go. It saves time and reduces the mental load.

• To record processes that I don't use every day

Some tasks only come around once a year – I’m thinking about my tax return! Rather than trying to remember how I did it last time, I just follow my own instructions.

To support business continuity – for Future Me or anyone else who might need to step in

My operations manual acts as a safety net. If I were ever unwell, away, or needed to delegate something, it’s all there – the key processes and preferences. It also helps Future Me when I’ve forgotten how I tackled something last year.

Even little things matter – like the steps for setting my out-of-office message when I’m away!

How I structure my operations manual

I start with the objectives of the manual: what it’s for and what’s in scope.

My mission statement sits here too, and it’s the same today as when I first started the business:

I partner with my clients to ensure that they

achieve the best possible standards of text.

I think of my business as a collection of departments, each with its own job to do.

My operations manual gives an overview of this structure – with links to key templates, checklists and resources that help everything run smoothly. Here’s how I organise it:

CIEP

The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading has been such an important part of my business that it deserves its own folder.

Clients

Each client – whether confirmed, potential or volunteering – has a dedicated folder. I also map out the client journey here.

Finance

This covers accounts, invoicing, expenses and tax.

Governance

This includes my operations manual, terms and conditions, and my annual business plan.

Marketing
A content library to track my marketing activities and ideas – as well as my own style guide.

Operations
How I deliver my services to clients – including the templates that are used throughout the client journey.

Technical
Everything related to hardware and software.

Training
Each training course I complete has its own folder, making it easy to find notes and certificates.

Trial
A safe space to try things out – experiments and tests.

However you decide to structure your operations manual, the key is to make it work for you – and to keep it alive as your business grows and evolves.

Final thoughts

My operations manual isn’t static – it grows with my business. It reflects how I work now, not just how I worked when I started. It gives me structure, saves me time, and brings me peace of mind.

If you’re running a freelance business and you haven’t created one yet, I'd heartily recommend it. You don’t need to build it all in one go. Start with what you do often, and add to it as you go. Even the smallest checklist or template is a step towards a more consistent and ultimately more enjoyable way of working.

And Future You will be very grateful.

Over dinner, I mentioned to a few of my former internal audit colleagues, ‘I have an operations manual.’ The response was immediate and unanimous: ‘Of course you do!’

Do you have an operations manual for your business – or are you thinking about creating one?

If you’d like support setting up your processes – or just want a second pair of eyes on what you already have – I offer consulting for freelancers and small businesses. If that sounds helpful, please do get in touch – I’d love to chat about how I could support you.

The emotional investment in editing

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 17:40:41 GMT

The emotional investment in editing for first-time authors – and editorial business recommendations

What do I mean by emotional investment? The time, energy, and feelings a first-time author puts into their books. An author typically cares deeply about their book, to the point where its progress towards publication affects their emotions.

When working with first-time authors, it’s clear that editors can play a crucial role in making suggestions to improve a manuscript. And they can support writers through a deeply personal and sometimes overwhelming process.

The key takeaway from my research

Editing is a vulnerable experience for authors.

Editors must establish and maintain trust with their authors.

This didn’t feel like a surprise to me and I know it won’t come as a surprise to my colleagues!

Where my research started

In late 2024, I decided it was time to investigate the emotional investment in editing for first-time authors properly. It had been on my mind for a while.

I had a couple of conversations with authors who’d worked with me and were willing to share their thoughts.

From there, it became clear that I needed to expand my research.

I created an anonymous questionnaire

It closed at the end of January 2025.

I’ve been understanding the responses, what I’ve learned from the exercise, and what could be useful to share with other editors.

Caveat: a couple of the authors got in touch separately so I can guess which responses were theirs.

Fiction, non-fiction and time taken to write

My research covered 70% non-fiction and 30% fiction authors.

Thank you so much to the authors who participated and shared their thoughts so openly and generously!

It was fascinating to learn that the emotional investment is similar between non-fiction and fiction authors.

It depends on the author, how long they’ve been working on their book, and what they’re hoping for from publication.

The time taken to write the book varied from five weeks to twelve years.

When I tried to generate a graph of time taken, it just looked like a squiggly line LOL

There is no one-size-fits-all answer.

The responses to the questionnaire revealed key insights into authors’ expectations, fears, and experiences with editing.

Interesting thoughts from the authors came from the ‘anything else to share’ question. I’ve reflected these answers where they're relevant to the main questions.

Findings from the questionnaire

Q: For your first published book, how did you feel about whether you needed an edit or not?

Uncertainty about the editing process

Though there was a general recognition that an edit would be needed, many first-time authors were unsure about what an editor does, the different types of editing available, and how the process would work.

Some expected minimal changes, while others were looking for significant guidance.

Some authors had doubts about how to establish an editor’s credibility.

Where their first book had been published by a traditional publisher, the authors had not typically known much about how editing fitted in to the process.

Positive recommendations

Some authors had received positive recommendations about editors from colleagues and friends.

Difficulty of working with co-authors

One author took account of the fact that their co-author was not sure about the need for an edit at all. Differing views added to the complexity of working (or not) with an editor.

Q: What were you feeling as you prepared to send your final draft to your editor?

Nerves and the emotional attachment to the book

Some authors had spent years working on their book and felt deeply connected to their words. This made handing over their manuscript a nerve-wracking experience.

Some authors noted that they wanted the editor to like the book, and hoped changes were minimal. Others knew that there were errors that needed fixing.

Concerns about marketing and other personal matters were also on authors’ minds.

Fear of harsh criticism

Some respondents were anxious about receiving overly negative feedback. They feared that extensive edits would undermine their confidence or alter their work too much.

Concerns about losing their voice

A recurring theme was the worry that editing would strip away their unique style and personal expression.

Hesitation about sending their manuscript

Authors often felt reluctant to let an editor review their work, stemming from self-doubt or lack of clarity about what would happen next.

Q: How did you feel about receiving the completed edit?

Lack of awareness about the publishing process

Many authors expected editing to be the final step and were surprised to learn that there were additional steps like formatting and proofreading.

Sensitivity to the time and effort invested

After working on their manuscript for years, some authors found it difficult to accept changes or criticism, even when constructive.

If a book had been worked on for a shorter time, the emotional investment was typically less.

Fear of criticism

Some respondents were so anxious that they did not want to look at the edit straight away. There was more than one reference to being reminded of school days.

Some authors worried about discovering that their book wasn’t as good as they’d hoped.

Q: Have you gone on to write more books and have them edited?

Some authors have continued to write, been prolific and continued to engage with editing.

A small percentage continued to write and self-edited, while one author’s editing experience had put them off publishing (though they’ve recently started writing again).

The main takeaways

One size does not fit all!

First-time authors are very likely to need guidance through the editing process and how that fits into the wider publishing process. Sending a manuscript to be edited and receiving a completed edit can be equally nerve-wracking.

Where an author is moving from traditional publishing to self-publishing, they may feel like a first-time author again.

First-time authors are likely to feel vulnerable.

The first book is widely recognised as requiring the highest level of emotional investment, due to the need to learn about the publishing process.

The emotional investment varies and typically reflects the amount of time the author has spent writing.

Key business recommendations for editors: understand the author’s context

Recognize the emotional investment

As soon as possible , discover how long the author has been writing and what they’re hoping for their book once it’s published.

Once you understand their context for writing, you’ll understand how to acknowledge the effort and emotional weight behind the book.

Given that authors may be unsure about the publishing process, early information is key

Be clear from the outset about the type of editing you provide and the scope of your work.

If you can direct authors to where you’ve already talked about your services (e.g. your website or a blog), it will reassure them that you know your stuff, demonstrating your credibility.

Bonus recommendation

Help authors navigate what comes next

Can you offer advice on what comes after editing?

Helping an author understand the bigger picture could add value to the author and the edit.

Key finding: building trust is critical to supporting a first-time author

The responses to the questionnaire were clear: it’s a vulnerable time and a first-time author’s experience with an editor can shape their entire perspective on the publishing process.

A positive first editing experience can determine whether an author embraces professional editing in the future or avoids it altogether.

My key finding is that trust is critical to the author’s emotional investment in editing.

�� I’m Lisa. I’m an editor and proofreader, specialising in business books and fiction. I spent many years as a chartered accountant before retraining as an editor and proofreader. Now I get to embrace my degree in English Lit!

Please do email me to talk about editing or proofreading, or to be added to my waiting list.

How I proofread

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 17:29:08 GMT

The importance of framing myself

My first task is framing myself.

I learned this Yorkshire expression from my mum when I was a kid.

When my mum said, ‘Frame yourself’, I knew she meant ‘Get on with it’, ‘Make sure you know what you’re doing’, and ‘Sort yourself out’.

That’s how I approach all elements of my business.

I need to frame myself – understand the context, be clear about my terms of reference, and get on with it.

Framing myself is how I start every project.

Understanding the client

I typically proofread for traditional publishers, first-time self-publishing authors, and self-publishing authors who’ve published already.

My process varies a bit for different types of client.

Brief overview of how I proofread for traditional publishers

Traditional publishers are very familiar with editing/proofreading terminology, and their expectations are clear. I know that their book will already have been edited and there’ll be a style sheet to accompany their house style guide.

They’ll share their house style guide as well as the book’s style sheet so I understand exactly what’s needed.

It is very easy to frame myself.

My proofreading process for a traditional publisher is streamlined.

I have templates for my checklists for each traditional publisher client. These reflect their individual house styles.

Proofreading for independent, self-publishing authors

The rest of this blog will focus on independent, self-publishing authors.

First-time self-publishing authors

Framing myself to work with a first-time self-publishing author needs a different mindset.

To understand what a potential client needs, I provide a questionnaire. I also offer a free introductory video call.

The questionnaire and video call give me the chance to ask important questions.

For instance, have you worked with an editorial professional before (maybe a developmental editor or a copyeditor). Have you published before?

If you’ve had a copyedit, I’ll use the copyeditor’s notes or style sheet so that I can ensure that you receive a consistent service.

If I’m the first editorial professional to work with the book, you may need more support.

If a style sheet doesn’t already exist for the book, I’ll provide one.

That’s why I ask questions about the publishing context for the book.

Self-publishing authors who’ve published already

If you’re familiar with the self-publishing process, you may have already worked with a professional editor or you may be satisfied that you can rely on your self-editing process.

You’ll need less practical support from me and the questionnaire will give me the information I need for consistency.

Checklists

Once I’ve established your fundamental needs, I can create a proofreading checklist.

I may use diagnostic macros or professional editing software, depending on whether the proofread is in Word or PDF.

The checklist keeps me on track.

And it gives me a real sense of satisfaction to tick a task off!

I’ve got checklist templates that I can adapt for each book.

You can be assured that this process is tried and tested.

And templates increase my efficiency.

I regularly review and update my templates.

What does a proofreading checklist include?

I make sure I’ve taken account of technical details shared through the questionnaire. Like whether you’re using British or American English. Or maybe you have a preferred dictionary. (Yes, some authors have a preference!)

I make notes to reflect self-editing or professional editing decisions that have already been taken. This is where the style guide and style sheet (or editor’s notes) need to be reflected.

If there isn’t already a style sheet, this is when I start to create one.

Proofreading comes at the end of the publishing process so it must be consistent with what’s come before.

The checklist pulls the proofreading process together.

The line-by-line close read

Once I’ve framed myself, I’m ready for the close read.

This does exactly what it says on the tin.

I read every line of your manuscript closely.

If I can’t read a sentence fluidly the first time, I read it aloud.

And I may read it aloud again.

I’ll have agreed with you in advance how to mark up my proofread suggestions. I’ll typically use Track Changes and comment boxes if the proofread is in Word and standard Adobe Acrobat tools if I’m proofreading a PDF.

Double-checking

After I’ve finished the close read, I take a break to let my thoughts ferment.

I always build in time to sleep on the proofread.

A change of perspective is valuable.

I double-check myself for consistency while I’m checking the book.

I review and revise the changes I’ve suggested on the proofread manuscript.

The final step in my process is returning the manuscript to the author.

When I return a proofread, I’ll typically provide two documents: the proofread manuscript with changes marked up, and the style sheet.

I say ‘typically’ as we may have agreed something different.

I am happy to be flexible!

I’ll email the documents or use WeTransfer, depending on the size of the files.

And I’ll ask you to confirm receipt.

That way I’m sure your proofread is safely with you, and we haven’t been beset by any techie gremlins!

You can drop me an email if you have any follow-up questions, or we might arrange a Zoom call.

And I’ll look forward to hearing about your publication date ��

�� Stop your readers getting distracted by wordy niggles.

I’m Lisa. I’m an editor and proofreader, specialising in business books and fiction. I spent many years as a chartered accountant before retraining as an editor and proofreader. Now I get to embrace my degree in English Lit!

Please do email me to talk about editing or proofreading, or to be added to my waiting list.

What are prelims for your book? And why are they important?

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:53:10 GMT

Prelims will set the stage for your book

What are prelims for your book and why are they important?

The prelims (aka the ‘front matter’) are the pages that come before the main content of the book. For example, a list of other books by the same author, the copyright page and the contents page.

Why are prelims important?

You want to give your readers a good reading experience and, if you’ve set the stage properly, they will engage with your book, which hopefully leads to positive reviews.

Setting the stage

The prelims will set the stage for your book.

They prepare the reader to receive the book – like the curtain at the theatre before the show starts.

They guide the reader.

For instance, the contents page is a map for the reader to follow through the book.

Prelims give the reader key publication information. The title page and copyright page provide details about the book’s title, author, publisher, and edition.

The prelims support legal and scholarly needs – the ISBN number, copyright notice, disclaimers. This is about proper attribution and protecting your rights as the book’s author.

Who organises the prelims?

If you’re working with a traditional publisher, they’ll generally organise them for you. They may include layout in their style guide, so there’ll be guidelines for consistency across all their titles.

If you’re self-publishing, you’ll need to pay attention to your own prelims.

When prelims become ‘postlims’

It’s important to note that some publishers may prefer to include conventional prelims as ‘postlims’. For instance, acknowledgements may appear at the back of the book.

It’s a choice for self-publishing authors, though you may prefer to stick with convention.

My top tip if you’re self-publishing is to check how prelims are laid out in any books you’re reading, especially books published in the same genre as the book you’re writing. This will give you guidance on what your readers will expect to see.

Essential prelims for fiction and non-fiction

Title page

Title and subtitles of the books, author(s) full name(s) or editor’s) full names, and edition of the books.

Copyright page

Contains copyright information, the ISBN,* edition details, publisher’s info, and legal disclaimers. This protects the author’s rights and helps with cataloguing.

*More information on ISBNs at the end of this blog ⬇️

If your book is a novel, it will need a different copyright statement from a non-fiction publication.

After this point, you’ll see a difference between fiction and non-fiction prelims.

Not all prelims are relevant for every book, whether fiction or non-fiction. This is an ‘it depends’ choice for an author.

Prelims in fiction books (usually simpler)

A list of other books by the same author

Dedication

A short, personal note from the author dedicating the book to someone.

Acknowledgements

A section thanking those who helped in the book’s creation (sometimes placed at the back as a postlim).

Prologue

A brief scene or background information before the main story begins.

Maps

If location is critical to the plot (like a murder mystery set in a rural location), or if the story is set in a fictional location (think about Narnia), maps may be helpful.

Glossary

This may be a list of characters and their relation to each other, or a list of definitions for concepts specific to the fictional universe.

Prelims in non-fiction books (may be more extensive)

A list of other books by the same author

Table of contents (TOC or contents page)

A TOC provides a structured outline of your book. It’s a map to help readers navigate chapters and sections. It’s essential in non-fiction and academic books, though a novel may be fine without a contents page.

Foreword

This is written by someone else (often someone likely to be familiar to the readers), explaining the book’s significance or the author’s credibility.

Preface

The author’s explanation of why the book was written and what the reader can expect.

Acknowledgments

A section thanking those who helped in the book’s creation (sometimes placed at the back as a postlim). For a research-heavy book this is likely to be used.

List of illustrations/tables

This helps readers find important visual elements.

Introduction

Provides background information and context for the main content (sometimes replacing the preface).

Maps

Where a geographical reference is needed to help readers understand the context and follow the narrative.

Glossary

A list of important words and their definitions mentioned in the book.

Key differences between fiction and non-fiction prelims

Fiction: You’ll find fewer prelims and they’ll be focused on storytelling. Prologues may be included, but contents lists are rare.

Non-fiction: You’ll find more structured prelims, often with a foreword, preface, introduction, and it’s very likely that there’ll be a table of contents to aid readability and credibility.

Prelims – what next?

Consider how you want to set the stage for your book with your readers.

I’ve talked at a high level about the conventional prelims that you’ll see most often. Not all prelims will be appropriate for every book. It depends!

For more information I use Butcher’s Copy-editing (Fourth Edition) . I heartily recommend it. There’s a section about preliminary pages.

My top tip for self-publishing authors is worth repeating: I recommend looking at the prelims for the book you’re currently reading, and any published books that fall into the same genre as your book. You’ll get a feel for what your readers will expect.

What's an ISBN?

An International Standard Book Number is a unique identifier. It's a 13-digit number that distinguishes one title or edition from another. It's a 'fingerprint' for your book.

If you haven't bought an ISBN yet, here's the link to the International ISBN Agency:

https://www.isbn-international.org/content/what-isbn/10

This will give you more information and can direct you to your national ISBN agency.

If you're publishing only via Amazon, here's the link to their ISBN. Caveat – they've got a table that compares KDP ISBN with using your own ISBN, so you'll be able to decide which you prefer.

https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201834170

�� Stop your readers getting distracted by wordy niggles.

Please do get in touch to talk about editing or proofreading, or to be added to my waiting list.

Looking back before I move forward: 2024

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 19:33:07 GMT

Start at the end!

On Christmas Eve, I received confirmation that I have become an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)!

This means that I’ve demonstrated ‘a high level of professional competence and substantial experience’.

I can’t begin to say how chuffed I am about this. This was a goal on my five-year plan and I’ve arrived a year earlier than I’d planned.

APM has been in my plan since I started LdC Editorial in 2017.

Going back to the start of the year for a whistle-stop tour of my business highlights

I decided my business was sufficiently established to warrant a logo.

Thank you to Claire Peacock !

I won two prizes

Best Independent Proof Reader & Editor – Northern England

And from the IE 100 Awards: LdC Editorial - Independent Proof Reader & Editor of The Year - Manchester – UK

Thank you so much to whoever nominated me ��

CPD – co-mentoring

I got to co-mentor with Hazel Bird. Co-mentoring is an arrangement to give feedback on each other's working practices – we learned from each other.

It felt like receiving a prize when Hazel suggested it after I'd got in touch about an Editorial Cuppa mentoring question!

Do check out Hazel's blog if you'd like to know more about the exercise.

I highly recommend giving it a try!

I’ve got the hang of making videos for #TheEditorialCuppa and I’ve got a YouTube channel .

It’s a pleasure to answer questions from authors and editorial colleagues.

I’ve always been nervous about marketing so this is a win in itself!

Podcasts

I enjoyed chatting with Erin Buck , Deborah Kevin and Gillian Whitney this year about my career change from accountant to editor and demystifying editing for an author.

Business Book Awards 2024

I stepped head first out of my comfort zone to join the Intellectual Perspective Press table at the Business Book Awards in London in September.

It was such a big deal to meet Debbie Jenkins in real life! I'd have been so gutted to miss the chance!

I got to meet some of my brilliant authors, share time with friends, and see a book I copyedited win an award.

I was properly stressed about fatigue, aching joints and perimenopause stuff. And I was so grateful for the generous support I received – thank you so much!

I was glad that I went. Though I needed recovery time afterwards, attending felt like a triumph! And I really enjoyed myself ��

This is a perfect place to put my reminiscing about 2024 on hold. Time to think about the future now ��

When I deliver a business book edit, I provide a style sheet with editorial report

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 16:40:26 GMT

A style sheet is about structure, consistency and efficiency

When I deliver a business book edit, I provide a style sheet with editorial report.

A style sheet is a regular tool used by traditional publishers.

It’s used to ensure internal consistency for the author and consistency between the author and other parts of the publishing process e.g. the copyeditor and the proofreader.

It's a bit like how a roofer uses scaffolding.

Structure, consistency and efficiency ��

Who creates a style sheet?

You’ll find a style sheet is traditionally created by an editor, and may include any parts of the book that deviate from the publisher’s style guide.

For example, any particular spellings and hyphenation choices that have been agreed.

For example, the author is keen to use ‘wellbeing’ without a hyphen while the publisher’s style guide calls an author to follow the Oxford English Dictionary , which gives ‘well-being’ with a hyphen.

This needs to be noted, so that the author’s choice is respected.

What about self-publishing authors?

A style sheet may be a completely new concept for self-publishing authors of business books.

I share my suggestions in report format so that authors have clarity about what the edit and the style sheet are showing them.

What does a style sheet with editorial report include?

The editorial report is specific to the author’s book.

I may talk about particular themes or imagery the author has used, and any areas I need to draw to their attention.

When I reach the more traditional style sheet, I explain how it works.

Here’s an example:

The following notes show the spellings and style conventions I’ve used for consistency throughout the edit. These are based on your questionnaire,* the [relevant] style guide, and items I’ve noted during the edit.

⭐ I send out a questionnaire before I start an edit so that I understand the author’s preferences.

Great feedback

My style sheet with editorial report has been received well by business book authors.

Here’s what Sharon Eden, author of RE-DISCOVERED, due to be published in October 2024, had to say:

“Your style sheet was a revelation for me and enhanced my writing voice for ever. Who knew???”

Please drop me an email if you'd like to talk about your book and be added to my waiting list.

#Editing

#Proofreading

#BusinessBooks

***

�� Stop your readers getting distracted by wordy niggles.

Professional mentoring for the field of editing

183:734881588 (Lisa De Caux) — Thu, 16 May 2024 16:14:12 GMT

Starting from a question

A mentor is defined as an ‘experienced and trusted adviser’ by the OED (my dictionary of choice).

How to find one in the field of editing?

I was asked a question specifically about ‘professional mentoring’ for my video series, The Editorial Cuppa .

Professional mentoring has a formality to it that implies more than a casual relationship, so it may come with a commitment of time, energy or money.

Is there a professional scheme?

I turned to the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP).

The CIEP’s mentoring scheme is currently on hold as they go through a strategic review. The scheme was respected. I have #edibuddies who’ve participated and been pleased. You can sign up to join the waiting list .

And there’s a Society of Young Publishers mentorship scheme. They describe ‘a fantastic opportunity to receive personalised and structured career guidance from publishing experts, learn more about the industry, and work on the key skills needed to progress within it!’

The scheme for 2025 has closed, so I recommend watching out for 2026.

Do individual editors offer mentoring?

Mentoring for writers is a service often offered by editors. And quite a few editors offer training too.

A different service to mentoring in the field of editing.

Business mentoring

As I was changing career (from accountancy to editing), I benefitted from some business mentoring as part of the New Enterprise Allowance scheme, funded by the Department of Work and Pensions.

Though sadly this scheme has been discontinued, alternatives can be found through local councils.

It may be worth checking out what’s available in your area.

From autumn 2025 , I'm running a closed beta of the programme with a small group of brilliant editorial professionals who’ve kindly agreed to test, reflect and offer feedback. Their insight will help me shape the longer-term six-month version I plan to launch in 2026. Drop me a line to be added to the waiting list.

Check out the Frame yourself blog to find out a bit more.

Informal mentoring

A mentor could be an experienced and trusted person that you strike up a relationship with. Someone you can turn to for advice every so often.

I’m a fan of talking to other editors at CIEP local group meetings and on forums. I also recommend attending editing conferences, and finding #edibuddies on social media.

Caveat: I don’t think of CIEP local group meetings as networking… For me, the CIEP meetings are a chance to catch up with colleagues ��

There’ve been a number of editing and business people over the years who’ve generously shared their time with me. The editing community is collegiate and editors tend to be very willing to share their thoughts with each other.

Co-mentoring

I came across co-mentoring when I read Hazel Bird's blog:

‘Co-mentoring involves a mutually beneficial agreement between peers to provide feedback on each other’s working practices. … In the editing (or proofreading or indexing) world, this would involve swapping completed pieces of work with another freelancer and giving feedback.’

I messaged Hazel about her blog, and we ended up chatting.

Hazel suggested, and I thought it was a fantastic idea, that the two of us try co-mentoring.

We’ve both edited business books and we have experience to offer each other.

Here's Hazel's blog about how our exercise went. Now we catch up at regular intervals.

Research

My research showed me more than I could share in a short video. There are so many options!

Thank you for your question, Aparna Sharma!

My research has led me to an unexpected CPD opportunity and I’ve been left with an ‘it depends’ moment: what kind of mentoring are you looking for?

I hope my research helps as you’re looking at mentoring.

Do get in touch if you'd like to be added to the waiting list for the full business mentoring programme in 2026.

#TheEditorialCuppa

#editing

#proofreading

***

�� I’m Lisa. I’m an editor and proofreader, specialising in business books and fiction. I spent many years as a chartered accountant before retraining as an editor and proofreader. Now I get to embrace my degree in English literature! It’d be great to be part of your book team. Please do get in touch to talk about editing or proofreading.

#PreparingToPublish: I’m writing a book. When can an editor help?

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 12:44:35 GMT

Understanding where you are in the publishing process

The publishing process can be daunting for a first-time author. There’s a lot to it.

I’m going to talk about the production part of the process and how editing fits in.

It’s a big process so we’ll break it down, and you’ll be able to see when editors could be part of your book team.

Where are you in the publishing process?

Understanding where you are in the publishing process is the first step.

This blog aims to help you with that.

Here’s a quick view of editing in the traditional publishing process:

Understanding the order of editing helps get the best value for your time, effort and money.

This way you can avoid stumbling over the process.

For instance, stay on top of version control. If you’ve sent your final draft for copyediting, don’t make changes until the copyeditor returns your manuscript.

I’m going to give a high-level overview of each type of editing, and refer to the major milestones.

If you’d prefer to talk about this, you could book an editorial cuppa or drop me an email , so we can talk about your book, how you’d prefer to publish, and where you’re up to.

Self-editing

You know what you want to share with your readers, you’ve completed your first draft, and you’ve got all your thoughts out of your head and onto the page.

Self-editing is your own first double-check. (Double-checking is crucial to editing.)

Now you can read your book, and move chapters, paragraphs, sentences and words around.

You may also spot typos at this stage.

My top four self-editing tips:

Read it aloud

Read it slowly. You’ll engage your ears as well as your eyes and you’ll pick things up – like repeated words or phrases that don’t sound quite right.

Zoom in

It’s easier to spot unintended typos when you zoom in – like two full stops in a row or if your quotation marks are facing the wrong way.

Build a checklist

A checklist keeps you on track. There’s so much involved in editing, and this keeps your mind in the game. Even if it’s only how many times you’ve reread your manuscript and which version number you’ve reached.

Take a break

I always sleep on an edit before I finalise it. This is about a shift in perspective. And it’s valuable.

After self-editing, you’re ready to get someone else involved.

It’s so important to have another set of eyes on your words.

Developmental editing

We’re looking at your first draft and the big picture now – a revision of content and structure. Your book's framework.

Developmental editing can be helpful, and can be accessed, at different stages.

You might work with a traditional publisher and their commissioning editor could give you a proposal, or you could build a content outline with a book coach.

Then, after you’ve completed your first draft, you could work with a developmental editor, and book a manuscript review.

A book coach could support, and perhaps guide, your writing throughout the process.

And you can work with beta readers. Beta reading can come before or after copyediting. Whichever you prefer.

You may have a professional beta read (a service I offer for business books), or your beta reader may be someone engaged in the area you’re writing in, a friend or a colleague.

At the developmental editing stage, you might hear that Chapter 5 is really good, and it would be even better if it became Chapter 2, as it would be more powerful if it came earlier.

The focus is on structure. Developmental editing helps you focus on your reader.

Grammar, spelling and punctuation aren’t the priority at this point.

Once all changes are processed, you will have reached your final draft. A major milestone.

Copyediting

Copyediting is the line-by-line edit before typesetting.

You may hear copyediting and line editing offered as two separate services (especially if you're writing fiction). This depends on the editor you choose to work with.

I’m going to talk about it all as one service, as that’s how I work.

If you’re publishing with a traditional publisher, they’ll probably choose the professional copyeditor for you, and, if you’re self-publishing, you’ll need to find a copyeditor who suits you and your book.

Authors worry about handing their book over to an editor. They worry that it will come back and their voice will have been changed.

If the editor is worth their salt, that won’t happen.

This is why it’s important that you find the right editor for you.

Respecting your voice is really important to me, and, when I talk about this with my colleagues, they feel the same way.

It’s your book. And getting to be part of your book team is such a pleasure!

At this stage, editing is about consistency, readability, accuracy, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

This is the first time professional editing will look at grammar, spelling and punctuation.

If you’d like to take a deeper look at how I edit, here’s a blog about it.

Typesetting and design

We’re up to a huge milestone.

This stage is when your manuscript starts to look like a book.

Your copyeditor will have worked on a Word document. Your typesetter/designer will transform it.

A different programme will be used now – something like InDesign.

This transformation will come after discussions with your typesetter/designer, so they can put your book together.

Publication will start to feel very real now!

I’m not an expert in this area – and I’d recommend that you work with a professional.

It’s too important to the editing process not to talk about this stage though.

This is how you get your proofs, which will lead us to proofreading.

Proofreading

Proofreading is the double-check before publication.

Your first proofs are likely to be a PDF showing the layout of the pages of your book.

They’ll come from your typesetter/designer.

Having received your PDF proofs, you send them to your proofreader.

In traditional publishing, you would expect to have a different editor and proofreader – it’s best practice.

Having as many sets of eyes on your book as possible will help to pick up any niggles that could distract your reader.

At this stage, editing is about how things look on the page.

The focus is consistency, grammar, spelling and punctuation.

Your proofreader will also check things like sequential numbering of pages and word breaks.

They’ll refer to the relevant style guide and the copyeditor’s style sheet or their notes.

After this first proofread, the proofs go back to your typesetter/designer to make any amendments needed.

You can see why a ‘quick’ proofread wouldn’t be possible.

If you hear that phrase, people probably mean a quick high-level review.

Now you’re almost ready to put your book into your readers’ hands.

Publication is close!

Proof-editing

Proof-editing is for independent authors who’d like a little more intervention before publication.

There’s no simple definition for proof-editing.

It varies from editor to editor, and it depends…

Maybe you added an extra chapter after the copyedit, and so you’d like a little more intervention using the style sheet you’ve already received…

Maybe it’s still in Word or maybe it’s already been typeset…

Maybe this is the first time in the publishing process that you’ve worked with a professional editor, and you’re wondering how they can help you…

This is where you’ll want to have a proper conversation with your proof-editor to make sure they understand where you’re up to.

Once they understand your context, they’ll be able to support you towards publication!

Publication

Although there are other steps in the publishing process when it comes to production and marketing, I’ve talked about where an editor can help.

Now you, your project manager or coordinating editor can bring the editing together.

For instance, you’ll probably get a second set of proofs, so you can double-check all your amendments have been made.

And if you get an advance reader copy (ARC), this is a chance for more proofreading, and more sets of eyes on the book.

Top tip – double-check the front cover, the back cover and the spine of the book!

Very soon you’ll be ready to enjoy publication. This is a fantastic achievement ��

�� I’m Lisa. I’m an editor and proofreader, specialising in business books and fiction. I spent many years as a chartered accountant before retraining as an editor and proofreader. Now I get to embrace my degree in English lit! Please do book a video call or email me to talk about your book.

#PreparingToPublish

#Editing

#Proofreading

#RespectingYourVoice

#PreparingToPublish: How I edit

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 12:42:33 GMT

The eight steps of my editing process

Step 1: Understanding what’s needed

I’ll start with a Zoom call and a questionnaire.

The questionnaire will give me techie details. For instance, American or British English, how you feel about the Oxford (or serial) comma, any words you choose to capitalise.

Some authors may wonder what’s the point of a Zoom call as well?

This is about respecting your voice.

A Zoom call gives me the chance to hear your voice.

Once I’ve heard it, it’s easier to recognise in your book.

And respecting your voice is critical to my edit.

Step 2: Receiving your final manuscript

I ask for this in Word because it opens so many ways to check consistency throughout the book.

It has the added benefit of being great for version control.

Word is so well recognised in the editorial community that there’s a Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading course on ‘Word for Practical Editing’.

When your manuscript arrives, I double-check that I can open it, and I’ve got everything I expected.

I email you so that you know your manuscript has arrived safely.

I’ll confirm the date of my first email update.

Now I can get into the edit seriously.

Step 3: Setting up the editing checklist

The checklist keeps me on track.

And it gives me a real sense of satisfaction to tick a task off!

I’ve got a template for each of my regular clients and I’ve got a template that I adapt for new clients.

You can be assured that this process is tried and tested.

And templates increase my efficiency.

I regularly review and update my templates.

What does an editing checklist include?

I make sure I’ve taken account of technical details shared through your questionnaire.

I make notes about your preferences and your voice.

The checklist pulls the editing process together.

In practice, I tend to work on these steps together: the checklist, the style sheet, and professional editing software and macros.

They’re like a jigsaw puzzle.

Step 4: Style sheet

A style sheet details editorial decisions. It’s my main tool for reviewing consistency.

It works in conjunction with a style guide, for instance, New Hart’s Rules (The Oxford Style Guide) or The Chicago Manual of Style.

I learn your preferences while understanding what’s needed. I add your preferences to the editing checklist and I record them in your style sheet.

I add to the style sheet as I go through the edit.

This might be a particular spelling choice or it might be words that you’ve chosen to capitalise in a particular context.

If you make further changes to your manuscript after the edit (for instance, you choose to add another chapter), you can use the style sheet to stay consistent.

If you choose to write a sequel, this will be an effective tool for maintaining consistency across the series.

If you ask me a question after the edit has finished, I’ll double-check the style sheet!

Step 5: Professional editing software and macros

Professional editing software and macros are powerful tools for consistency and efficiency.

I use them to boost and complete the checklist, and to double-check the edit.

My process always starts with running a diagnostic macro.

It’s a straightforward way to get a feel for the shape of the book, add to my checklist and identify any quick wins.

For instance, it’s very easy to identify straight quotation marks and change them to curly quotation marks. (It’s conventional to use curly quote marks.)

When it comes to editing software, there are plenty of options.

I use PerfectIt – it’s highly respected among professional proofreaders and editors.

As a bonus, if I’m working with an author who’s using American English, the Chicago Manual of Style is available in PerfectIt for CMOS Online subscribers.

I moved from my hardback to CMOS Online because of PerfectIt and I've never looked back.

As with any editing software, you have to use caution.

Double-check the suggestions before you apply them!

And now it’s time for my favourite part of the edit.

Step 6: Line-by-line close read

This does exactly what it says on the tin.

I read every line of your manuscript closely.

I read the manuscript at 180% (that works for my screen set-up).

Zooming in makes it easier to pay attention to punctuation.

If I can’t read a sentence fluidly the first time, I read it aloud.

And I may read it aloud again.

I use Track Changes and comment boxes to ask questions and make suggestions.

I’m updating and checking the style sheet as I’m reading. And I keep the style sheet and relevant dictionary open on my second screen for reference while I work.

Your manuscript is front and centre on my main screen.

Step 7: Final double-check

After I’ve finished my close read, I take a break to let my thoughts ferment.

I always build in time to sleep on the edit.

A change of perspective before I go through my comments is valuable.

I double-check myself for consistency while I’m checking the book.

I review and revise the style sheet and every comment I’ve made on the edited manuscript.

Step 8: Returning the edited manuscript

The final step in my process is returning the edited manuscript.

When I return an edit, I’ll typically provide three documents: the edit with Track Changes, the clean edit (all Track Changes accepted so it’s easier to see my comments), and the style sheet.

I say ‘typically’ as we may have agreed something different.

I am happy to be flexible!

I’ll email the documents or use WeTransfer, depending on the size of the files.

And I’ll ask you to confirm receipt.

That way I’m sure your edit is safely with you, and we haven’t been beset by any techie gremlins!

You can drop me an email if you have any follow-up questions, or we might arrange a Zoom call.

And I’ll look forward to hearing how you get on as you get closer to publication ��

�� I’m Lisa. I’m an editor and proofreader, specialising in business books and fiction. I spent many years as a chartered accountant before retraining as an editor and proofreader. Now I get to embrace my degree in English lit! Please do book a video call or email me to talk about editing or proofreading for your book.

#PreparingToPublish

#Editing

#Proofreading

#RespectingYourVoice

Books Light Me Up: Katheryn Howard. The Tainted Queen by Alison Weir

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 11:01:26 GMT

Looking for a historical novel related to a musical?

�� I’ve been told that books light me up. Fiction and non-fiction. Ones that are new to me and ones that I’m rereading.

My daughter has just had her birthday, and it made me think how she tends to receive gifts of books I’d enjoy too. She got this series a couple of years ago, and she let me borrow the fifth book, Katheryn Howard. The Tainted Queen by Alison Weir.

Why did I start with book five of the Six Tudor Queens series?

We’ve seen Six the Musical a couple of times. It’s one of my daughter’s favourites. And I’m a big fan too.

It’s a musical about the six wives of Henry VIII, and the historical research is really detailed and fulsome. After we saw it for the first time (back in December 2021), I did a bit of research myself!

Divorced. Beheaded. Died. Divorced. Beheaded. Survived.

I suspect that most of us are familiar with the rhyme.

My favourite song (and my favourite choreography) is Katheryn Howard’s song, ‘All you wanna do’. She was the fifth queen – it’s why I started at the fifth book!

Reading a relevant book

When the song was still stuck in my head the morning after the show, I wanted to read a relevant book.

The Alison Weir novel is historical fiction.

Alison Weir is a respected and best-selling historian with nineteen history books under her belt (at the time of writing this blog). Consequently, her novels are known for their accurate period details.

[Tangent: a friend got to see and meet Alison Weir at a talk in London recently. So cool ��]

Beheaded

It’s clear from the records that Katheryn Howard had more than one relationship before and at the same time as her relationship with Henry VIII – it’s the reason she ended up ‘Beheaded’ as per the rhyme.

Her date of birth is open to some debate. Alison Weir has her aged between sixteen and eighteen for her first relationship and the lyrics of Six the Musical suggest she was thirteen.

Her age has had a big impact on the way she is viewed and has been discussed for historical purposes over the years. Lots to think about as I read this book.

The songs from the musical were still stuck in my head a week after we’d seen it, and I was thinking about how we don’t remember the name of Henry VII’s wife – a good point made during the musical.

What lights me up?

Reading the book gave so much historical, legal and political background. Just what I wanted. I spent ages poring over the timeline and the family trees.

How a musical led me to a book lights me up ��

#BooksLightMeUp

#Editing

#Proofreading

***

#BooksLightMeUp: New Hart’s Rules. The Oxford Style Guide

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 13:42:31 GMT

Looking for a style guide for people writing or working with text in English?

�� I’ve been told that books light me up. Fiction and non-fiction. Ones that are new to me and ones that I’m rereading.

This month I’m going to talk about a book that I refer to almost every day.

New Hart’s Rules. The Oxford Style Guide.

I came across New Hart’s Rules (NHR) during my initial training as I changed career – Essential Proofreading from the Publishing Training Centre.

And it’s kept coming up. I often talk about it with colleagues.

And anyone who’s worked with me will probably have heard me mention it.

Getting into the nitty-gritty of editing and knowing that I have a book to turn to, that goes down to a deep level of detail, gives me great pleasure.

Printed in 1893

Not bad for a book that was first printed in 1893. There have been more editions since then, and it’s evolved.

Now it’s part of a trio designed specifically for writers and editors.

The other books are t he New Oxford Dictionary for Writers & Editors and the New Oxford Spelling Dictionary (a massive help with word division).

New Hart’s Rules has 21 chapters, which include spelling, hyphenation, punctuation, capitalization, quotations, numbers, notes and references, and bibliography.

And one of the entries in punctuation often causes a debate.

Serial commas

If I used the phrase ‘serial comma’, what would you think?

New Hart’s Rules notes that it is the ‘presence or lack of a comma before and or or in a list of three or more items’.

A couple of clients have asked if I meant the Oxford or Harvard comma when I mentioned the serial comma. Yes, the convention has come to be known by those names.

While the use of the serial comma is subject to much debate (it’s even had a song written about it: Oxford Comma by Vampire Weekend), I believe it’s the author’s choice whether or not to use it, and their choice should be checked for consistency of use.

What does NHR say?

Of course, I double-checked what NHR had to say.

Although NHR is in favour of the serial comma, it notes: ‘The general rule is that one style or the other should be used consistently.’

Other style guides

There are other style guides I like – I’m particularly looking at you, The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS)! And yes, it’s in favour of the serial comma!

Different pieces of work call for different style guides, so I discuss this with clients in advance.

I’ve even signed up for Oxford Dictionaries Premium to access NHR online. This is very useful for efficiency. Highly recommended.

I’m a fan of CMOS online too.

What lights me up?

This book is the go-to reference guide for many editors working with British English. NHR is often mentioned when I’m chatting to colleagues. And when a question comes up during an edit, I know NHR will be there for me. That lights me up ��

#BooksLightMeUp

#Editing

#Proofreading

***

�� I’m Lisa. I’m an editor and proofreader, specialising in business books and fiction. I spent many years as a chartered accountant before retraining as an editor and proofreader. Now I get to embrace my degree in English lit! I’d love to connect with your book too. Drop me an email or book an editorial cuppa if you'd like to chat.

#BooksLightMeUp: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 15:42:17 GMT

Looking for ‘Instructions on Writing and Life’?

�� I’ve been told that books light me up. Fiction and non-fiction. Ones that are new to me and ones that I’m rereading.

This month I want to talk about a book that was recommended on LinkedIn in 2023 and has been steadily climbing my book pile.

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.

Memoir and writing guide

Bird by Bird combines memoir and writing guide. Plenty of useful ideas for writers, couched in engaging stories.

You’re not going to get grammar advice here.

There are cracking chapters on dialogue and ‘Set Design’ though.

This book will invite you into a writer’s world and help you experience some of their feelings.

What does the title mean?

The title comes from a time when the author’s brother was overwhelmed by a school project about birds. There was a great deal of information.

Their father told him to just take it bird by bird.

Sensible advice that can apply to so many situations.

Sharing your writing

Anne Lamott talks about sharing her books with one or two people before she sends them to her editor or publisher:

‘Theoretically I could do it alone, but it sure makes it easier to have people helping.’

This may be a family member or a close friend. I’ve heard these referred to as ‘alpha readers’ before.

And there was a whole chapter about writing groups, and the way that those connections can grow and become valuable.

Publication

Anne Lamott’s comments on publication struck a chord with me. I thought of conversations I’ve had with authors as publication approaches.

She said, ‘There is something mythic about the date of publication, and you actually come to believe that on this one particular morning you will wake up to a phone ringing off the hook’.

Your readers and everyone who’s supported you through to publication will be excited too!

Though, as Anne Lamott shares, the actual date may not lead to incessant phone calls…

The most important thought for me was that you ‘acquire a rank that you never lose. Now you’re a published writer’.

Recognising this achievement is so important after all the time and energy spent on writing a book and preparing it for publication.

What lights me up?

Anne Lamott’s stories are memorable, always make her point, and are enjoyable to read. The way she describes the act of writing, and what you can gain from it, gives me a great insight into how authors feel as they write their books. That lights me up ��

#BooksLightMeUp

#Editing

#Proofreading

***

�� I’m Lisa. I’m an editor and proofreader, specialising in business books and fiction. I spent many years as a chartered accountant before retraining as an editor and proofreader. Now I get to embrace my degree in English lit! I’d love to connect with your book too. Drop me an email or book an editorial cuppa if you'd like to chat..

#BooksLightMeUp: The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 14:53:58 GMT

Looking for some festive reading?

�� I’ve been told that books light me up. Fiction and non-fiction. Ones that are new to me and ones that I’m rereading.

This year is the 50th anniversary of The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper.

I read this book every year – it’s part of my festive reading tradition.

What’s the book about?

The Dark Is Rising is aimed at kids aged 9 to 11. These days it’s referred to as a modern classic.

On midwinter's eve, the night before Will's eleventh birthday, there's an atmosphere of fear in his full house (he’s the seventh son of a seventh son) and the Buckinghamshire countryside.

In the first few pages, he’s told that “this night will be bad, and tomorrow will be beyond imagining.”

He’s about to discover that he is the last Old One, and as a guardian of the Light he must begin a quest to vanquish the evil of the Dark.

There’s magic, symbols, and adventure, and it incorporates British mythology like the Arthurian legends.

Susan Cooper and C.S. Lewis

The Dark Is Rising ’s been important to me since I read it as a kid. So much so that I wrote my dissertation about it at university.

I wrote about good and evil in Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising sequence and C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia. Many late nights in the computer lab (showing my age here)!

I hadn’t realised then that Susan Cooper was actually taught by C.S. Lewis when she was at the University of Oxford herself.

I’m always delighted to see the connections ❣

The Natalie Haynes link

I recently watched a fascinating online video event: Susan Cooper in conversation with Natalie Haynes.

After about half an hour, they were also joined by Rob MacFarlane and Simon McBurney who had made a radio version of The Dark Is Rising (Complicité BBC radio adaptation).

I learned so much from this event.

A sense of place is critical throughout the sequence.

Susan Cooper had grown up in Buckinghamshire, spent years in Wales, and then moved to the USA when she got married.

Writing The Dark Is Rising helped with her homesickness.

Community

And it’s been such a pleasure to know that this book that’s meant so much to me has meant a lot to other people too.

How fabulous to know that this experience is shared!

The last few years I have participated in #TheDarkIsReading on Twitter (now X).

All around the world, we read the book together.

I’ll be starting the first chapter (Midwinter’s Eve) on Thursday 21st December.

What lights me up?

This book is part of my festive reading tradition, every year I discover something new, and I’ve become part of a worldwide community. This book gives me so much pleasure, and I expect it will continue to do so for many years to come. That lights me up ��

#BooksLightMeUp

#Editing

#Proofreading

***

#BooksLightMeUp: Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 17:34:33 GMT

Looking for a book that can help you learn about sleep?

�� I’ve been told that books light me up. Fiction and non-fiction. Ones that are new to me and ones that I’m rereading.

This month the non-fiction book that’s lighting me up is Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker.

This book gave me a deeper understanding of an important topic. It’s one of the pillars in Dr Rangan Chatterjee’s The 4 Pillar Plan that I talked about recently.

Taking a nap

I have trouble sleeping and I often investigate routes to improving matters and understanding more about it.

I think taking a nap is important ��

Matthew Walker talks about your ‘sleep opportunity’ and what sleep does for you.

Talking to my mum

I came across this book after a conversation with my mum.

If I’m feeling poorly, my mum always says you ‘sleep yourself better’. Of course, she’s right.

And now I can see the science that supports her words.

This book provides that detailed scientific information.

The link to language

The link to language becomes explicit in Why We Sleep when Matthew Walker says:

‘Little wonder, then, that you have never been told to “stay awake on a problem.” Instead, you are instructed to “sleep on it.” Interestingly, this phrase, or something close to it, exists in most languages … indicating that the problem-solving benefit of dream sleep is universal, common across the globe.’

What’s the link to editing?

I sleep on an edit or a proofread and come back to it the next day, so I can double-check my questions/suggestions.

It gives me a new perspective.

This book opens up new understanding about the sleep science behind my way of working.

What lights me up?

I enjoyed the foray into science experiments. It gave extra depth to a phrase I’d been familiar with all my life, and it gave me an unexpected way of thinking about one of my business practices.

This book lights me up ��

If you have sleep on your mind, this is highly recommended.

PS I'm wearing my sleep mask in the photo – so useful!

#BooksLightMeUp

#Editing

#Proofreading

***

�� I’m Lisa. I’m an editor and proofreader, specialising in business books and fiction. I spent many years as a chartered accountant before retraining as an editor and proofreader. Now I get to embrace my degree in English lit! I’d love to connect with your book too. Please do book a video call or email me to talk about editing or proofreading for your book.

#BooksLightMeUp: Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 15:24:46 GMT

Looking for a book that has a powerful use of punctuation?

This book has been an unusual experience for me.

I usually prefer to read the book before I watch the TV programme.

In this case I’d watched about five episodes and was really enjoying the series before I even registered that it was based on a book.

So I ordered the book. I waited to read it until I’d finished watching the series though. I was enjoying listening to the music!

The Fleetwood Mac link

I adore Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks. The links are clear.

As you can see from my screenshot of her tweet/X post, Stevie Nicks appreciated this!

The story starts with Daisy Jones and The Six doing fine. And then they are brought together. Their impact on the ’70s music scene is undeniable.

A powerful use of punctuation!

New Hart’s Rules says, ‘Avoid ampersands except in established combinations’.

Even the punctuation is telling us that Daisy Jones & The Six are recognised and accepted as a combination.

Show rather than tell

Their split in 1979 is shown through interviews with the relevant people – Daisy Jones, members of the The Six, friends, management, and so on…

This is very much show rather than tell – a phrase we often hear when it comes to fiction.

Like reading a play

As I was reading, I kept thinking about how tricky this book must have been to write. It is presented as a series of interviews with nuggets from different characters being shared at an appropriate point in the story.

It reminded me of reading a play.

There’s a lot for the author to keep track of.

It makes sense that the TV programme was so good. And it had music too!

What lights me up?

I enjoy books about music, I love the Fleetwood Mac link, and the style of writing really caught my attention. This book lights me up ��

#BooksLightMeUp

#Editing

#Proofreading

***

�� I’m Lisa. I’m an editor and proofreader, specialising in business books and fiction. I’d love to connect with your book and understand your context too. Please do book a video call or email me to talk about editing or proofreading for your book.

#BooksLightMeUp: The 4 Pillar Plan: How to Relax, Eat, Move and Sleep Your Way to a Longer, Healthier Life by Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 16:02:07 GMT

Looking for a book that could help you be healthier?

�� I’ve been told that books light me up. Fiction and non-fiction. Ones that are new to me and ones that I’m rereading.

The kids are about to go back to school, and my inclination to learn is heightened at this time of year.

So it’s a good time to reflect on books that have had (and are still having) an impact on my day-to-day life.

Where does The 4 Pillar Plan fit in?

A good friend gave me a copy of The 4 Pillar Plan a couple of years ago, and I’ve often referred to it.

It’s accessible and has actions that are oh-so-easy to take. While it’s certainly supported by science, it’s straightforward and easy to understand.

I do a ‘Wake up your sleepy glutes’ exercise every day.

Moving

And I joined the local gym. My programme is not very full-on.

However, as Jessica Smith, of jessicasmithtv.com, often says, ‘Something is better than nothing’.

I’ve followed a lot of her videos and I quote her often…

What to do when the commas get a bit much?

I invested in Dr Rangan Chatterjee’s Feel Better in 5 book.

I like going out in the garden to have five minutes in nature when I find the commas are all getting a bit much!

This is probably my favourite five-minute snack.

Unprocessing my diet

When I started writing this post, I’d intended to write about Ultra-Processed People: Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn’t Food … and Why Can’t We Stop? by Chris van Tulleken.

It’s a book I’m reading on my friend’s recommendation.

And it’s building on what I’ve learned through The 4 Pillar Plan .

Ultra-Processed People is not a read it all in one sitting kind of book. I knew that straight away – there’s a lot to take in and it’s scientific.

I am enjoying dipping in and out of it and it’s already given me plenty of food for thought about food!

What lights me up?

I find it valuable when all signals point the same way. The direction becomes clear!

Would I recommend The 4 Pillar Plan ? Yes, heartily. Gaining new knowledge is always rewarding. And even better when it can help me to be healthier! This book lights me up ��

#BooksLightMeUp

#Editing

#Proofreading

***

#BooksLightMeUp: Run Rose Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 05:58:39 GMT

Looking for a book about songs telling stories?

�� I’ve been told that books that light me up. Fiction and non-fiction. Ones that are new to me and ones that I’m rereading.

Run Rose Run wouldn’t usually be up my street. I generally prefer more dragons.

However, it’s by Dolly Parton, and a phrase in the blurb, ‘Every song tells a story’, got me straight away.

And Val McDermid said, ‘Warm, feisty. Like having Dolly in the room with you.’

I’m a Dolly fan. I’ve seen her live twice.

What’s the link with marketing?

Run Rose Run ties back to talking about how to market a book last month.

This is the first time I’ve seen a book advertised in quite this way.

I was just watching the telly, and suddenly I saw Dolly Parton with James Patterson and their book.

This was unusual.

My attention was caught.

I bought the book immediately.

Storytelling

My first thought was that that James Patterson would do the heavy lifting. However, it was crystal clear that Dolly was seriously involved. So many details about musicians in rehearsal rooms and country music.

And without doubt, she’s a storyteller.

The two authors together wrote a good story. I enjoyed it. And I lent it to my mum.

The piece of history rabbit hole

The rabbit hole I want to go down is that when we went over to see my mum and dad this weekend, my mum gave the book back to me, and I knew it would be this month’s post.

I got my daughter to take the photos in my mum and dad’s garden.

Can you see the ladder on the wall with plants standing on or hanging down from it?

My mum had the idea to make this and my dad executed her idea. The ladder is about a hundred years old – it belonged to my grandad.

This feels like a beautiful piece of history.

What lights me up?

This book has so many routes to resonance for me: the Dolly link, the unusual marketing, sharing it with my mum, my daughter taking these photos, and the beautiful piece of history in the garden. This book lights me up ��

#BooksLightMeUp

#RoutesToResonance

#Editing

#Proofreading

***

#BooksLightMeUp: The Most Amazing Marketing Book Ever by Mark Schaefer & Friends

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 16:03:06 GMT

Looking for a masterclass in marketing a book?

�� I’ve been told that books that light me up. Fiction and non-fiction. Ones that are new to me and ones that I’m rereading.

I’d been seeing The Most Amazing Marketing Book Ever by Mark Schaefer & Friends pop up on my LinkedIn feed for ages.

And from all sorts of angles.

This book was created through Mark Schaefer's RISE community, and certainly has plenty of heart.

I’m not a natural marketer. Marketing makes me a bit nervous.

Books light me up though, so this felt like it could be a big help.

The parts and the chapters

The book’s split into five parts, including Strategy Fundamentals and Social Media (these are the parts that attracted me to start with).

And then you’re into the chapters, each written by a different author, who has relevant expertise.

One of my favourite things about this book is the length of the chapters.

None of them are overwhelming. They each provide ten ideas. This is the framework for the book. And it makes the actions oh-so-easy to take.

Thank you, Joanne Taylor!

I bought the Kindle version first, and I was so grateful when my friend Joanne Taylor sent me a paperback copy. Thank you again, Joanne!

Joanne is the author of chapter 17, ‘Catching Cultural Waves on TikTok’.

I got brownie points with my daughter!

A masterclass in marketing a book

Marketing has been approached from so many angles.

I voted on the choice of front cover (yes, I did vote for the cover that was selected!). There’s a great blog on Frank and Marci’s website on how AI was used to design the cover.

There have been emails – not too many though. Enough to keep my attention, without becoming overwhelming.

I watched some of the ‘24 Hours of Amazing Marketing Ideas’ on YouTube as the videos went live, and I watched some on replay.

The sound of actual crickets in Sri Lanka was unforgettable for me! Hats off to Joanne Taylor for recording this in the middle of her night!

There are too many chapters and people to reference everyone individually. Picture me saluting them all!

What lights me up?

I’ve learned so much from the way this book has been marketed as well as enjoying the lessons in the book itself! This book lights me up ��

#BooksLightMeUp

#AmazingMarketingBook

#BusinessBooks

#Editing

#Proofreading

***

�� I’m Lisa. I’m an editor and proofreader, specialising in business books and fiction. I’d love to connect with your book too. Please do book a video call or email me to talk about editing or proofreading for your book.

#BooksLightMeUp: Starless by Jacqueline Carey

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 11:36:38 GMT

Looking for a stand-alone epic fantasy?

�� I’ve been told that books that light me up. Fiction and non-fiction. Ones that are new to me and ones that I’m rereading.

‘I was nine years old the first time I tried to kill a man …’

After catching our attention, Starless ’s blurb holds it by telling us: ‘Destined from birth to serve as protector of the princess Zariya, Khai is trained in the arts of killing and stealth … yet there is one profound truth that has been withheld from him.’

Don’t worry! I’ll avoid spoilers!

This is a stand-alone epic fantasy – a rarity in a genre where we’re used to trilogies and series.

And it’s unusual in another area too.

As Jacqueline Carey tweeted in November 2021, ‘Princess Zariya on her crutches is fierce as hell, relentless polite, and carries lightning in the palm of her hand. Disability impossible in fantasy? Not even the slightest little bit, my darlings! ;)’

And the detailed research that Jacqueline Carey uses to support her story is typical of her work.

I first came across Jacqueline Carey with Kushiel’s Dart

I first came across Jacqueline Carey with Kushiel’s Dart , an ‘intoxicating fantasy of intrigue and betrayal’. It’s set in what feels like a fantasy version of Europe in the Renaissance era. The quote is on the cover of the new version of the paperback.

My favourite quote from the book is 'All knowledge is worth having.' You may have heard me say it!

Jacqueline Carey’s website notes that ‘Tor Books is relaunching the original Kushiel’s Legacy series in a shiny new trade paperback edition! The idea is to give a whole new generation of readers the opportunity to discover Terre d’Ange.’

I’d love to be reading it for the first time again!

This is on the run-up to the release of Cassiel’s Servant in August 2023. It’s the Kushiel’s Dart story told from the point of view of a favourite ancillary character. I’m delighted!

So what’s in the photo?

The photo shows my Jacqueline Carey books. My earlier purchases are paperbacks. Then I knew I just couldn’t wait and started to buy hardbacks. The framed picture on the right-hand side of my paperbacks is a signed bookplate from Jacqueline Carey in response to a fan letter I sent her.

I kept the envelope – you can see in the frame that she scribbled ‘Loved your letter’ on it!

This was a huge deal for me! And in 2018 when she retweeted my tweet about Starless, I thought I might burst!

Prescient?

I thought Jacqueline Carey was prescient when she released Santa Olivia in 2009. In the book, a pandemic leads to a demilitarised zone between the USA and Mexico. It was published just weeks after my mum and dad rushed home from their holiday in Mexico due to the swine flu epidemic.

And in the post-Covid-19 world, it's even more thought-provoking.

What lights me up?

Thinking about the joy I’ve had from small interactions with the author and all the connections I’ve had with Jacqueline Carey’s books over the years lights me up ��

#BooksLightMeUp

#Fiction

#Editing

#Proofreading

***

�� I’m Lisa. I’m an editor and proofreader, specialising in business books and fiction. I’d love to connect with your book and understand your context and research too. Please do book a video call or email me to talk about editing or proofreading for your book.

#BooksLightMeUp: Stop writing books nobody reads by Debbie Jenkins

Fri, 12 May 2023 10:59:35 GMT

Planning to write a business book? A great place to start.

I’ve been told that books light me up. Fiction and non-fiction. Ones that are new to me and ones that I’m rereading.

If you’re planning to write a business book, this would be a great place to start.

The subtitle is ‘ The dangerously effective way to write and publish a book that people read and refer ’.

It gets to the point quickly.

And you’ll get value just from reading the contents page.

I recommend getting into the detail though.

As ‘moreish as the next Netflix series’

Debs suggests that you aim to make your book as ‘moreish as the next Netflix series.’

And that describes this book ��

I was chuffed to have the chance to edit this book – the close read part of my edit felt like I was chatting with Debs! That’s her style.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Debs Jenkins for the last couple of years on a number of projects. She’s infectious, engaging, so very knowledgeable, curious about everything, and fun ��

Short-listed for the Business Book Awards

This book is a Short Valuable Book from Intellectual Perspective Press , using cohort publishing.

Stop writing books nobody reads and DOING intentionally by Karen Currier, both from the first cohort, were finalists in the Business Book Awards 2023.

Every page offers value

There are stacks of endorsements inside Stop writing books nobody reads .

One that really caught my eye was: ‘Short, sharp and shrewd – a dazzling two-hour crash course in how to get your business book right first time.’ Ian Shircore, pro ghostwriter, author of Conspiracy , NLP and the New Manager , and many more.

Every page offers value. And it feels easy to wrap your arms around this book, engage with it, and use its thoughts (and straightforward lists) to take action. Stop writing books nobody reads lights me up ��

And the title makes me smile ��

#BooksLightMeUp

#BusinessBooks

#Editing

#Proofreading

***

�� I’m Lisa. I’m an editor and proofreader, specialising in business books and fiction. I’d love to connect with your book and understand your context. Please do book a video call or email me to talk about editing or proofreading for your book.

#BooksLightMeUp: The Chicago Guide to Copyediting Fiction by Amy J. Schneider

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 16:36:14 GMT

A guide dedicated to copyediting fiction

I've been told that books that light me up. Fiction and non-fiction. Ones that are new to me and ones that I’m rereading.

I’ve been looking forward to The Chicago Guide to Copyediting Fiction . It was lighting me up before it was published!

It hasn’t disappointed me.

I’m a big fan of The Chicago Manual of Style . I lean into it as I work on business books for American authors.

Having a guide that is specifically dedicated to copyediting fiction is incredibly useful. It assumes that you already have a familiarity with copyediting, and then this is a ‘guide to Copyediting Fiction 101’.

And the guide provides rabbit holes to go down.

It’s split into helpful sections, including one on style sheets.

Style sheets

I love a style sheet.

Recently a client got in touch to double-check something. We’d worked together a couple of months earlier, so the information wasn’t as fresh in my mind as it had been. I was delighted to be able to refer to their style sheet and get an answer for them straight away. Consistency is key!

A fiction style sheet is likely to include characters, places and timelines. It’s so important to be able to keep track of your manuscript and be consistent.

A valued endorsement

There’s an endorsement on the back cover of the book from Louise Harnby. She’s the current chair of the CIEP and I’ve taken more than one of her courses (they’re highly recommended). I value her opinion!

In the conclusion, Amy notes ‘Part of the pleasure of copyediting fiction is getting to enjoy the story along with the readers.’ She’s so right! I can tell immediately that I’ll be referring to this often. The Chicago Guide to Copyediting Fiction lights me up ��

#BooksLightMeUp

#Fiction

#Editing

#Proofreading

***

#BooksLightMeUp: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 17:09:52 GMT

A family book experience

I've been told that books that light me up. Fiction and non-fiction. Ones that are new to me and ones that I’m rereading.

To coincide with my daughter's twelfth birthday, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is lighting me up.

I came across The Hunger Games in 2009 before it was a film.

I’m confident that you’ll be aware of the story, so I’m going to talk about the whole trilogy ( The Hunger Games , Catching Fire and Mockingjay ).

The rabbit holes and the impact of the trilogy

I fell in love straight away. The story demanded my attention.

And there are so many rabbit holes to go down. Google Scholar has got articles from more than one angle.

Potential rabbit holes include: the books as a call to social action; the importance of ‘Real or not real?’, Peeta’s question to Katniss; the impact of the games on the survivors.

There is a recognition of the pain the situation causes – it has to be dealt with. Though Katniss wins the games, the first book does not have a happy ending.

The end of Catching Fire (‘there is no District Twelve’) is one of the best cliffhanger endings I’ve read. I was desperate to know what happened next.

You want your reader to be invested when there’s another book to be published.

The bit that reduces me to tears every time is the end of Mockingjay . There has been so much emotional build-up, and it is released so gently with the juxtaposition of the games Katniss plays now with the games that still give her nightmares.

I cry at the end of the trilogy and I cry at the films too.

The connection with my family

And as you can see from the photo, I’m wearing my film replica t-shirt in the photo…

My daughter borrowed my shirt for World Book Day 2023. These books were written before she was born.

She was twelve this year.

She pointed out to me that it was appropriate that I was writing this post when she’d be old enough to be called in the reaping system herself.

So many thoughts about that comment…

A family principle

We have a family principle: if a book’s been televised, you read it before you watch it. She was keen to read the books and she read them about three years ago.

We rewatched all four films recently. And this leads me down the rabbit hole of how I often don’t enjoy films based on books I love. I did enjoy these films.

Though there were great actors, action and special effects, I wonder if the biggest factor was Suzanne Collins’ involvement as a screenwriter. I didn’t mind the departures from the books – the films felt true to their spirit.

It has been a pleasure to enjoy the series with first my hubby (he doesn’t always enjoy the same books as me!) and then with my daughter.

As well as how much I love the books for themselves, they’ve become a family book and film experience. The Hunger Games lights me up ��

#BooksLightMeUp

#Editing

#Proofreading

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#BooksLightMeUp: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

183:734881588 (Lisa De Caux) — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 16:18:02 GMT

A festive reading tradition

I've been told that books that light me up. Fiction and non-fiction. Ones that are new to me and ones that I’m rereading.

Every December I read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Hogfather by Terry Pratchett and The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper.

I’ve been doing this for so many years that it is integral to my run-up to Christmas.

During November I ran my very first LinkedIn poll to see which of the three books I should write about in December. The winner was A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

I can talk about the other two books in other years! This year I'm talking about how A Christmas Carol lights me up.

I was thinking about good quotes from A Christmas Carol (there are many), and it suddenly struck me that, of course, this is the quote that people will remember and associate with the book:

“God bless us every one!”

Themes and rabbit holes

So many themes and rabbit holes to go down as a result of this book… While I was researching this blog, I had a quick look at Google Scholar. There’s a treasure trove of information.

I thought about: the early Victorian era; Victorian Christmases; the impact of the book on Christmas today; charitable giving at Christmas; and how the book is still very relevant, even including the need to keep warm – for instance, how Bob Cratchit tries to keep warm at work.

I looked at how we've moved from goose to turkey as the more usual Christmas roast.

In A Christmas Carol , the Cratchits start with a goose and then Scrooge supplies them with a turkey at the end of the book – the bird was bigger, and could feed a large family more easily. I couldn't find a conclusive answer to the question. There was lots of discussion about how geese and turkeys were driven along the roads and how this changed as the railways became more popular. I came across one source that put the move from goose to turkey down to Charles Dickens!

Adaptations

A Christmas Carol is one of the most famous Christmas books and it has been referenced in other books/films/TV series many times. There have been so many adaptations and works inspired by the book that there are too many to list.

I particularly enjoyed Scrooged with Bill Murray, the 2010 Doctor Who episode ('Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol') and the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic episode (‘A Hearth’s Warming Tail’) that I watched with my daughter when she was small!

However, my favourite adaptation has to be The Muppet Christmas Carol . Although the original novel didn’t include Muppets, it’s amazing how faithful the film is to the text. The dialogue is often taken verbatim from the book – it’s one of my favourite Christmas films.

I generally find that I reread this book on Christmas Eve as the timing just feels right.

And I can't imagine reading it at any other time of the year! It lights me up ��

�� I’d love to connect with your book and understand your context too. Email me if you’d like to talk about editing or proofreading.

#Editing

#Proofreading

Three top tips for proofreading

183:734881588 (Lisa De Caux) — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 11:00:13 GMT

You want your readers to be engaged in your book. You don’t want them to be distracted by typos, inconsistencies or spelling errors.

How can you make sure your final draft is as clean as possible?

Proofreading is essential. You’ve pored over your words, thought about how they fit together and how they deliver your story.

Now, you want to double-check your words before they’re published.

Here are my top three tips for proofreading.

1. Read it aloud

This ensures that you read the text slowly, which gives you more chance to notice errors.

It allows your ear to pick up changes in rhythm.

For instance, repetition of of words. How does it feel when you read that sentence aloud?

2. Zoom in

When the words you read are large, it’s easier to spot small errors. When I talk about zooming in, I’m assuming that you’re proofreading on screen rather than on hard copy.

My favourite example is curly quotation marks. If you zoom in, it’s much easier to see if you’ve used a closing quotation mark when it should have been an opening one.

Zooming will take some experimentation to find the percentage that is right for you.

I typically zoom to 180% when I’m working in Word. I ‘fit width’ if I’m working on a PDF.

My caveat is that I have one eye that is slightly short-sighted and one eye that is slightly long-sighted … And, if my eyes are tired, I do wear my specs as well!

3. Use a checklist

Following a checklist helps to give you confidence that you haven’t forgotten something that you wanted to double-check.

Your checklist will depend on your audience. For instance, if my client prefers British -IS- spelling, that becomes the first item on my checklist.

Or maybe you want to remind yourself to take a backup copy and save it somewhere in particular at the end of your proofread. That could be the last item on your checklist.

A distraction might come up (someone knocks at the door…), and a checklist will help you pick up where you left off.

Bonus tip – take a break

Come back to proofreading after you’ve had a break.

Do whatever suits you: have some food, go for a walk, listen to some music.

If you have time, sleep on it and review your changes the following day.

A break will give you a new perspective on your words.

I’m a professional proofreader and editor, specialising in business and fiction. If you’d like fresh, professional eyes to look at your final draft, please do get in touch.

Drop me a line on lisa@ldceditorial.co.uk or get in touch via LinkedIn or Twitter . I look forward to talking with you!

What is proofreading?

183:734881588 (Lisa De Caux) — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 14:04:06 GMT

When people ask me about proofreading, they tend to have different ideas about what proofreading means. Their expectations will vary depending on what industry they’re in, why they’re interested, and whether they’ve worked with proofreaders before.

When someone says they’re looking for a proofreader, it’s really important to start with a conversation about what they want to achieve with proofreading.

This being the case, I’ll talk about understanding what you need and proofreading, as well as briefly mentioning copyediting and proof-editing.

Proofreading is the final stage in editing a document, before you share it or publish it. It is the last double-check and tidy-up. It comes after the typesetter/designer’s work, and it’s done when the document is in its final layout.

I’m going to talk about the ‘document’ here. These principles apply to whatever you’re going to share or publish, whether it’s a report, a blog, a book, a website, a CV or another piece of content.

Proofreading can be done on screen or on paper and is often done ‘blind’ these days – the proofreader doesn’t see an edited version of the document before they proofread. It can be useful to have different people to do the proofreading and editing stages as that adds extra sets of eyes to the process.

If you ask a professional proofreader to look at your document, you’ll receive a defined service, provided by independent, fresh eyes, and any changes will be clearly marked up for you to decide how to take action.

I’ll talk about my process, which will be similar for my editorial colleagues.

Understanding what you need

When you, the author/project manager, ask me to proofread your document, my first task is to understand your context, including your timescale. As we discussed earlier, people have different ideas when they say ‘proofreading’.

I’ll ask if your document is in development (in this case, you may want editing) or if it is ready to publish (this will be proofreading, the last stage of the editing process).

As part of our conversation, we’ll agree a brief. The brief is my terms of reference and I’ll use it to build my working checklist so that I look at everything we’ve agreed.

Depending on how close your document is to being published, this brief may cover copyediting or proof-editing.

Proofreading

Assuming that you're ready to publish, I'll build a working checklist, based on the brief, and start my proofread.

The specific tasks will vary with each project. Here are some tasks that a proofreader may undertake:

Check that the house style guide and editing conventions have been followed
Run relevant macros and specialist editorial software
Check sequential numbering of pages, chapters, footnotes etc
Check cross-referencing of tables
Check that artwork is the right way up and that captions are consistent
Check consistency of format, for instance, headings and subheadings
Close read the document for grammar, spelling, punctuation and accuracy.

Close reading is a really important proofreading technique. Our brains will often read what they expect to be there and, as proofreaders, we retrain our brains to see what is actually there.

Learning this technique was a key part of my proofreading training. For instance, are words used in the right context? The meanings of causal and casual are very different, but it would be easy to type one when you meant the other. And they’re both real words so an automated spellcheck wouldn’t see the problem.

When the brief has been completed, I’ll return the clearly marked-up project to you. You’ll easily be able to decide how to deal with my comments.

Copyediting

Copyediting is about preparing for publication. Where proofreading is the final double-check, copyediting happens earlier – it’s about reviewing the document before the typesetter/designer receives it.

Copyediting involves looking at consistency, accuracy, readability, and fitness for purpose, as well as grammar, spelling, punctuation and formatting.

Proof-editing

Proof-editing falls between copyediting and proofreading.

You might be in development, but the deadline is looming and you don’t have time for a full copyedit. Proof-editing often works well for businesses.

I have a client who asks for a ‘proofread/revision’, which I always feel is a useful way to describe proof-editing.

If you need proofreading or editing for a document, drop me a line at lisa@ldceditorial.co.uk .

If you’d like more information about editing and proofreading, I heartily recommend checking out the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading .

Accountant to proofreader – a decade full of change

183:734881588 (Lisa De Caux) — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 10:19:22 GMT

Ten years is a long time. You expect a lot to change.

I started the 2010s working as a full-time chartered accountant and I am going into the next decade as a mum, a proofreader and a business owner.

In January 2010, I was working full-time as an internal audit manager for a major food retailer in Manchester city centre.

I used to catch the train every day, and change out of my trainers and into my shoes when I got to work – it was a bit of a walk between my house, the two train stations and the office.

These days I go upstairs to the office in our house, and I wear my slippers.

Being a team leader and having a flashback

At the start of the decade, I managed a team of up to ten people. I was responsible for audits, departmental processes, appraisals, recruitment, and dealing with anything a team member needed to raise.

I was involved in interviewing for the graduate recruitment programme too – I volunteered because I knew I’d find it rewarding (and I did).

The people were my favourite part of the job. Some of them became firm friends over the years – I’m still in touch with them now.

I had a flashback a few weeks ago when I met up with some auditing friends and former colleagues for a meal in the city centre. When I first knew them, we’d go for drinks after work before catching the train home. Now only half of us still work in the city centre, and coming into town on a rush hour train was a trip down memory lane.

Everything changed

I became pregnant in the summer of 2010, and had a baby girl in 2011.

She changed everything for me.

Milestones

I took a year’s maternity leave and there were a lot of milestones. They were mainly to do with my little girl – first steps, first word, first trip to the seaside and so on. They were lovely moments!

However, I had one awful milestone: an organisational transformation at work. I had to reapply for my job while I was on maternity leave.

To the say the least, it was stressful. I was certainly out of practice when it came to preparing for an interview.

At the time, I was much better at questions about nap times, board books and when was Rhyme Time at the local library.

Finding a new rhythm

I successfully kept my job, and I returned to work part-time, three days a week.

We found a new rhythm: my little girl started nursery, my husband dropped her off on his way to work and I picked her up on my way home.

She was often the last small child waiting to be picked up at the end of the day – though I’m sure that bothered me more than it bothered her.

The flexible working project

Over the years, I’d been keen to understand new ways of working, as well as understanding the impact of an office-based job on a body and mind. I’d tended to spend time researching processes to make work more efficient, understanding mindfulness and taking into account the physical impact of spending a day at a desk.

I’d been using an ergonomic keyboard for years due to trouble with my wrists. Talking to the physio, I think the source of the problem is probably my posture – I keep doing my exercises and double-checking advice on how to set a desk up!

Working part-time gave me a new perspective on the way I worked.

These interests led me to become the Group Finance representative (covering a number of departments including my own) for our flexible working project – hotdesking, remote working, flexible working hours and more.

It was an amazing experience, and I can easily see how that project helped me understand the principles that I’d apply to running my business from home.

To reapply again or not to reapply again?

And then, in 2015, there was another organisational transformation at work.

I’ve talked about what happened next in a previous blog , but, suffice to say, I was looking at the world differently by this time. I made different decisions and I was pleased when redundancy coincided with my little girl starting primary school.

There followed a lot of contemplation, lightbulb moments, and more decisions. To sum it up, I decided to become a proofreader, and I saw 2017 as the pilot year of my new proofreading business ( another blog !).

A new chapter

I went into 2018 prepared to build the business in earnest.

I received requests for repeat work and I was so proud to be able to say that I had regular clients.

Patience was really important when it came to finding new work or hoping for repeat work. For instance, editing and proofreading an annual report is only needed once a year, and academic authors typically spend months on research between papers that need my services.

The emotional rollercoaster I’d been aware of in 2017 continued (and still continues today).

I ran a summer marketing campaign: I did some cold calling and sent out a lot of emails with my CV attached. This was brand new to me, and cold calling was definitely outside my comfort zone – referring to it as a campaign helped me to get into a positive mindset.

I embraced being the coordinator for the Manchester local group for the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP – then SfEP), and I attended my first professional conference. I learnt a lot and met people who’ve become friends!

Slowly, but surely, I felt as though I was getting there. And at the end of the year, that summer marketing campaign led to work, and I had the chance to proofread fiction for a publisher. It was such an enjoyable experience!

2019 – a busy year

2019 was a busy year – it was wonderful, and very motivating, to look up at my wall planner and see all the scheduled or completed projects for clients.

Copyediting the 2018 Annual Report for Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children was one of the highlights of my year. On a completely different note, I proofread a number of fiction books. More fiction proofreading was in my 2020 annual plan!

We had four Manchester CIEP local group meetings and a Christmas get-together. I always learn from colleagues and friends and I found these meetings a valuable part of my year. I generally consider networking to be outside my comfort zone, but I don’t see these meetings as ‘networking’. They’re get-togethers with a group of people who are really generous when it comes to sharing their time, their experience and their thoughts.

When it comes to marketing and social media, I embraced LinkedIn, learnt a great deal, and met some lovely people. I also accepted that I need to be in this for the long-term!

It was a friend on LinkedIn who pointed me towards an unexpected opportunity: speaking at two events for the Society of Young Publishers about how I became a proofreader. While this was outside my comfort zone, it caused me to think about how my business started. These events became my gateway to blogging.

The next decade?

Writing in December 2019, I could never have predicted the way my life would change over the 2010s. As I was thinking about this blog, I looked forward and wondered…

I’d started working on my business plan for 2020 – I saw the short term as more predictable.

By the end of the next decade, my little girl won’t be so little any more… And I’m hoping that I’ll feel that my business is established. A prediction that I can make with confidence is that I’ll still be loving it!

EDIT in 2025: As we all know, things changed in completely unexpected ways in 2020! In 2025, I feel that my business is established and I do still love it ��

Thank you to Annie Deakins for proofreading this blog for me.

Proofreading – the pilot year

183:734881588 (Lisa De Caux) — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 10:19:49 GMT

Committing to proofreading and becoming a business owner was only the start of the story. After the lightbulb moments and the business planning in 2016, I felt as though I had laid the foundations and I was ready to get started.

I look back at 2017 as my pilot year: the feasibility study to see if I could make my proofreading business a success.

My mission was to build a sustainable business – I needed to find work!

Two underlying goals

I had two underlying goals that would help me with my mission.

The first was to complete my Publishing Training Centre (PTC) course, and gain a thorough, professional grounding. I wanted to be sure that I had the appropriate skills. I knew from my research that this was not going to be a quick course – it was likely to take a few months.

The second goal was to upgrade my Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP – then SfEP) membership and become an Intermediate Member. This required training points, which I’d get from completing the PTC course, as well as 100 hours of experience.

The training and the membership upgrade would support my need to offer a professional service and to be confident that I had the relevant skills. These goals supported each other.

The nuts and bolts of running a business

I was back to the main question – where would I find my first job? I’d set up my website, and I hoped it would quickly bring results – at that stage I hadn’t learnt much about SEO and how websites work!

I decided to move on to an area I was more familiar with – the nuts and bolts of running a business. I happily set up the spreadsheets for my accounts, and thought about the analytics that I’d use once the business was under way. I built templates for my invoices. I wrote my terms and conditions.

My finance background, and all the governance work I’d done over the years, really helped me there. I asked a couple of friends with legal backgrounds to look at my terms and conditions to see if they seemed sensible.

And I started thinking about the other areas of my business. I had no background in marketing, and I was right out of my comfort zone. I knew it was an area that would require a lot of learning. I was trying to work out where to start.

The pilot year already felt like an emotional rollercoaster – self-doubt and imposter syndrome made regular appearances.

Marketing – and a breakthrough

Then I had a breakthrough. When discussing how to find work at a Manchester SfEP local group meeting, someone suggested telling everyone about your new business – you never know where that first job was going to come from.

I took that advice to heart, and my first project came as a result of chatting to another parent at a children’s birthday party that my little girl had gone to.

I wish that I could have bottled that feeling.

It felt so fantastic that my quote had been accepted, I had completed the work, the client had been pleased and I had been paid. I really felt like my business was going to be a success!

I still think of my first piece of work fondly. That first client has become a regular one, and I smile every time I see an email from them in my inbox.

I gained other work, paid and voluntary, in similar ways. On one occasion, chatting to a friend’s brother-in-law at a party resulted in a referral. On another occasion, I was talking to the organiser at a local community event and volunteered to help them out with their newsletter.

Changing my focus

I believe in making plans and research, and also recognising when you need to be flexible enough to adapt those plans.

Halfway through 2017 I realised that it would help the business if I changed my focus. The training course required more concentration than I’d planned for, and I knew I was going to struggle to learn about marketing while committing to the course.

It’s a chicken and egg situation. As you progress through the course, having a little real-life experience helps you to understand and put the learning from the course into practice. And the course helps the service that you are providing in real life.

I pulled back from trying to market myself so that I could concentrate on the course. I continued to build up experience through the contacts I’d made from talking to people. At the back of my mind was that need for 100 hours’ experience for my SfEP upgrade.

An unexpected opportunity – the Manchester SfEP local group

Towards the end of the year, an opportunity came up. The coordinator of the Manchester SfEP local group, Graham Hughes , was going to step down – was anyone interested in taking over?

I mulled it over. By that time, I’d nearly finished the course and I was sure that, with patience and effort, I was going to be able to make the business a success.

I didn’t think that I was likely to be the one to take over as I was a ‘newbie’ when it came to proofreading. Though, if I did get the role, I knew I’d be fine as my accountancy years had taught me how to chair a meeting.

I’d given great emphasis to the SfEP since before the start of my business, and it felt like being a local coordinator would really suit me.

After thinking about it for what felt like ages, I decided to volunteer.

As it turned out, there hadn’t been anyone else who was keen, and I did take over the role. I was reassured by Graham that it wouldn’t matter that I was an Entry Level member. He shared all the relevant data and the templates he’d created over the years, and made it straightforward to step into the role.

The fact that I was going to become the local coordinator certainly added to my determination to get that SfEP membership upgrade! In my head, I’d decided that it was important that I was an Intermediate Member by the time I chaired my first meeting. Imposter syndrome was getting to me, and I thought that the upgrade would help me to deal with that as well as meeting one of my underlying goals.

Past the feasibility stage

After spending 2017 proving to myself that the business could be a success, I saw 2018 as the first real year of my business.

In January 2018, I received my PTC certificate – confirmation that I’d passed with merit. I’d had to follow this up as it turned out that my results had been lost in the December post! I’d spent Christmas on pins and needles for no good reason…

In March 2018, I achieved my upgrade to Intermediate Member of the SfEP. It was a huge deal for me as I proudly added my new logo to my website. And it felt like it was just in the nick of time…

In April 2018, I took over as the coordinator of the SfEP Manchester local group.

Some things stick with you: I remember rehearsing how to open my first local meeting all the way there in the car; I remember getting a cup of tea at the bar as I’d read that having something warm to hold helps with nerves; and I remember the other SfEP members being really kind and welcoming me to my new role.

Now, for me, it’s all about moving forward, continuous improvement and working on what I have to offer. There’ll be times of self-doubt and imposter syndrome, but my proofreading business makes me smile – I love what I do.

Thank you to Annie Deakins for proofreading

this blog for me.

Mid-year business review

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 08:51:46 GMT

I knew that I’d have a formal business review exercise once my little girl went back to school in September. The start of the academic year, halfway through my business’s tax year, felt like the perfect time to take stock of the situation.

For this kind of exercise, I prefer to start my thinking in advance, before I actually put pen to paper (or type words on the screen). I find I often do good business thinking at unrelated moments – cleaning the bathroom is an excellent example!

A bit of coaching

In July, I was lucky enough to receive a ‘birthday treat’ from Mira Rutter – to celebrate her birthday she was offering 20-minute coaching sessions. She came across me via LinkedIn and asked if I’d like a birthday treat. My birthday's in July too, so it felt just right! I was glad to talk to her – she’s a life balance coach, and looks at business and personal balance.

When I completed her pre-session questionnaire, I was thinking that I just needed to be more organised in order to fit in domestic jobs while working on and in my business. I work from home and these things tend to prey on my mind… When I worked in an office, that big pile of washing wasn’t there when I made a cup of tea!

Mira asks questions from different angles. There’s more than one way to balance your life, and Mira encouraged me to consider that. It’s possible to make business changes that are good for the business and good for your personal life too.

This conversation was still on my mind as I started my mid-year review, and I got to thinking about where I’d made changes to my business plan for the year, why I’d made the changes, and what the knock-on effects were.

Having a plan at the start of the year

I write a business plan at the start of the calendar year – it sets me up for the year ahead and makes sure I’ve thought about all the parts of my business. I have a number of broad headings for my business plan, and then I set more detailed targets for each area.

Clients are my first priority, and after that I have marketing, accounting, training/CPD, SfEP (the Society for Editors and Proofreaders is so important to me that it gets a separate heading!), operations, and IT.

Two main changes to the plan

Looking at everything I’d planned in January, I’m glad to have had direction, and I’ve followed the plan for most areas, but it’s been important to me to be able to change that direction when needed! I’ve had two areas where I’ve made significant changes to the plan.

1) I invested in PerfectIt, ‘Proofreading Software for Professionals’.

Making this change was all about efficiency, and I’m really glad I changed the plan.

2) An opportunity came up, via LinkedIn, to talk about being a freelancer in publishing at a Society of Young Publishers (SYP) event in Leeds. I found it a really worthwhile event – and it encouraged me to write my first blog.

IT: PerfectIt

PerfectIt falls under my IT heading. It was very easy to download and set up – once it’s been installed, it’s possible to use straight away.

It’s highly recommended by proofreaders and editors and, once I’d tried it, I could see why.

To get even more out of it you can set up ‘styles’. For example, you can tell the software what you want it to look for when you are editing/proofreading for a particular client.

So I sat down one weekend, with the video tutorials open in front of me, and I set up ‘styles’ for some regular clients. If a client prefers Chief Executive to chief executive, PerfectIt will highlight all instances so that I can easily take a look at each one and check whether this is OK. It’s really useful as there can be reasons why you should accept a change from the usual writing style – PerfectIt helps make this process more efficient.

I’ve only scratched the surface so far with PerfectIt – there’s more to learn! This has had a knock-on effect on my studying plans– I’d planned to take an OpenLearn course (Exploring books for children: words and pictures). Instead, I’m learning more about wildcards, so that I’ll be able to use the PerfectIt software more efficiently.

I’ll come back to that OpenLearn course though!

Marketing: networking

Trying a little more networking (to attend at least two events) had been part of my plan.

We have four Manchester SfEP local group meetings a year, but I didn’t include those in my networking goal. After all, the SfEP has a heading all to itself in my business plan!

Becoming a speaker was unexpected, and more than a little nerve-wracking! Talking about my freelance experience to others has consolidated my own thinking about the business. And that kind of public speaking challenged me in a different way – my comfort zone was left far behind! I spent quite a lot of time rehearsing to our pet hamster…

I’m going to be speaking at an SYP event in Manchester in October (more rehearsing in front of the hamster!), and it has encouraged me to think about how I’ve grown my business.

Marketing: LinkedIn (where the plan didn’t change)

The main focus of my marketing this year has been LinkedIn.

At the SfEP conference in 2018, I attended a session on LinkedIn by John Espirian. It had a big impact on me and offered a blueprint that I was sure I could follow. This mid-year review coincides with a year of commitment to LinkedIn and I couldn’t resist including it here.

#LinkedInLearnerLounge

After I’d seen the #SfEP2018 session, I became a dedicated follower of John Espirian’s #LinkedInLearnerLounge .

One of my marketing plans was to revisit John’s starter guide after a year and check that I’d completed it all. I had completed it, but there’s always more to learn, and, as my business changes and grows, I need to make sure that I think about how I engage with LinkedIn too. Some of the actions have become regular items on my to-do list.

I thought I’d see what my data analytics showed me… The number of connections shows clear growth from September 2018, when I started focusing on LinkedIn and taking action.

This is a good early milestone, but I’ve adopted John’s 30-month mindset!

What should I do as a result of my review?

Writing this blog has really helped to bring my thoughts together. I won’t leave these thoughts behind though – now I need to decide how I can use the mid-year review to help my business.

Thank you to Annie Deakins, at Proofnow Proofreader , for proofreading this blog for me.

My pathway to becoming a freelance proofreader

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 13:18:35 GMT

My pathway to becoming a freelance proofreader

When I said that I would talk about my pathway to freelancing at a Society for Young Publishers event, I needed to stop and think – how did it come about? That thought process led to this blog.

My pathway to freelancing is really about career change and becoming a business owner.

It is also fairly recent.

I’d been a chartered accountant for many years before I became a proofreader.

The sort of event that makes you stop and take stock

In 2015, my little girl had just turned four and I was working as a part-time internal audit manager for a major food retailer.

And we were about to have an organisational transformation. I knew what that meant. I’d been there before.

It meant all sorts of positive things for the business, but for me, on a personal level, it meant uncertainty, stress and probably reapplying for my job.

It was the sort of event that makes you stop and take stock of your situation, and think about what decisions you can make.

Is it time for a change?

I researched my options at work. There was a new organisation structure for my department: new jobs were created and responsibilities changed. Did I want to apply for one of the new jobs? Were they offering voluntary redundancy? What happened if I simply didn’t apply for one of the jobs that were available?

The time seemed right for a change. My daughter would start primary school later that year, and I’d looked at work-life balance in a different way since she’d been born.

Over the years, career change had crossed my mind. I’d gone so far as to buy a book on proofreading at one stage... I wondered if I should consider it more seriously this time.

I spent a lot of time thinking about it – I talked to friends and family. My husband and I talked about what it could mean for us and our daughter.

In the end I simply had to make a decision.

I knew I’d made the right decision when my redundancy took effect in the same week that my little girl started primary school.

Thinking about a career change

I knew that this wouldn’t simply mean redundancy, it was probably going to lead to a career change as well, and I had to take some time to reset my mind and get used to everything.

So I did that. I helped my daughter settle into primary school. I baked a lot. My banana bread is pretty good now…

And then I investigated various ideas for earning a living. I knew that I wanted something that would give me a better work-life balance and allow me to carry on doing the school drop off and pick up for my little girl.

To start with, I was focused on what kind of employment I might find. I hadn’t thought of running a business.

And I kept coming back to proofreading. My degree had been in English Literature and I’d never lost my love of words and reading. I read that proofreading book again – some of it was out of date, but the general principles were clear. I decided that this was the option that I needed to explore in more depth.

In 2016, I had two lightbulb moments.

Lightbulb moment 1 – the Society for Editors and Proofreaders

The first was discovering the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP – then SfEP).

You can attend three local group meetings before becoming a member. That was the Manchester local group for me.

I went along to a meeting, discovered this vibrant community, and knew that I wanted to be a part of it. As a bonus, the CIEP had so many useful resources to share that would help with getting started.

Lightbulb moment 2 – the New Enterprise Allowance

The second lightbulb moment was when a friend said that she thought the NEA with the Job Centre would suit me. The NEA turned out to be the New Enterprise Allowance.

If I qualified, the allowance would help me with starting a proofreading business.

Could I run my own business?

For me, proofreading would mean embracing everything that would be required for running my own business.

I’d never thought I was the entrepreneurial type, but I was keen to explore it, and I knew I’d learnt a lot about how to run business over my years as an accountant.

It was a major mindset shift. When you’re a sole trader you are the CEO, you personally provide the service to your clients, and you are your own support team (finance, IT, marketing, governance, HR, etc).

I was lucky that my husband is an IT consultant and he’d be able to help me with all my technical requirements, including security, backups and disaster recovery.

Marketing was the area where I had no experience, and I knew I’d have to learn a lot about it (more of that for another blog).

The business plan

One of the things that you have to do in order to qualify for the NEA is to produce a business plan.

From my years in accountancy, I was familiar with business plans and I appreciated how useful they could be for providing direction and making your business a success.

I produced a business plan. I looked back at accountancy study books, and I talked to friends from my accountancy years. I was coming at it from a very clear business point of view, but my work hadn’t been with sole traders, and I’d never worked in the publishing industry. I needed to know more.

In order to find the information I needed, I had to work out where to look. The SfEP really helped here. As well as the SfEP, I discovered what became my go-to website during 2016: Louise Harnby’s website . She shares huge amounts of useful resources.

She has also written books, including a guide to business planning for editorial freelancers .

Using the results of my research, my business plan came together. As part of the NEA application process, I was allocated a business mentor, who reviewed my business plan and offered suggestions. Having a second pair of eyes on my document made a huge difference to the final version.

Three main strategies to get started

My business plan included three main strategies for the first three months.

1)    Undertake respected and thorough training.

I chose the Publishing Training Centre (PTC).

Although proofreading business documents, reports and financial statements had been part of my remit over the years, I was new to the publishing industry.

The PTC course is detailed and very thorough. It requires a substantial commitment as it generally takes a number of months to complete (I spent most of 2017 on it). I knew it would, and it did, give me the strong background that I wanted.

2)    Become a member of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders.

This had been a clear goal since my first lightbulb moment.

3)    Build a website for my business.

This would be my digital shopfront, that would make me discoverable and help me find work.

Becoming a business owner

I was pleased when I did qualify for the NEA. My plan was to start my business in 2017.

I joined the SfEP, I started my PTC training course and I built my website.

Of course, there were changes and developments that came afterwards and I’m sure will always continue to come, but I had made my career change: I was a proofreader and a business owner!

Thank you to Annie Deakins, at Proofnow Proofreader , for proofreading this blog for me.