Alissa Dedic

There are two types of editors: Type 1: Won't do anything. Will only leave comments (for every little thing), and the comments feel like they're doing the writer a favour. Intimidate writers with rude, careless remarks before giving some actual advice. Type 2: Actually edits your piece. Gives valuable suggestions. Understand the writer's schedule is as tightly packed as theirs. While making the #writer make even minor edits could be a way to give practical feedback, I think making the changes, and then giving the feedback is what makes a true, caring editor. A lot of editors I came across simply think they're too short on time, but fail to extend this thought process to include the writers' frame of mind. I so wish to work with #editors that fall under the second category. They're true gems. They share real feedback. They care. And no one ever learnt anything when it was delivered with fear and threat. And always, when it was delivered with love and sensitivity.

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Looking for a copyeditor? One who won't try to change your writing style? One who won't disrespect you as an author? I can be that copyeditor for you! As your copyeditor, ✔️ I learn about your preferences and how I can best help you. ✔️ I look for and fix errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure. ✔️ I make suggestions to improve the clarity and consistency of your writing. ✔️ I research the facts in your story to ensure accuracy. ✔️ I query and provide explanations as needed. ✔️ I respect your final decisions as the author. It is your book after all. Interested? I have openings in October and November. I also offer proofreading. Want to learn more? DM me here on LinkedIn. #copyeditor #copyediting #bookediting Photo of Jack hanging out with me and being adorable.

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When you send out query letters to agents and editors you’ll get a mix of responses. You may get no response at all. Feel like you're getting a rejection? Chances are good you are. Move on. But mail may come. You may receive a request for a partial manuscript and/or a brief synopsis. Or you may get a request for the full manuscript and/or synopsis of the book. #querying #manuscript #WritingCommunity

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Writers, Here's How to Keep Yourself And A.I. From Looking Stupid. Some of you saw the I ❤️ A.I. love letter I posted the other day (See link in the comments.) Why do I love it? -It saves me time so I can be more creative -It organizes me -It checks for accuracy -It keeps me on track ⭐ BUT you gotta be smart to get smart results. ⭐ (In other words, treat it like your 14-year-old nephew you just hired as an intern because you love your brother.) Tip #1: Be Specific The more detail you include in your request, the better. EXAMPLE 🚫 Too General: "Please generate an outline from this transcript." 👍 Much Better: "Please generate a 9-point outline for a fitness book geared toward busy executives that highlights values of ambition and efficiency. AND organize outline into the following order of progression: physical health, mental health, emotional health." Tip #2: Be Skeptical Strangely, A.I. misses things. For example, if I ask Chapt GPT to check for redundancies in my 250-page manuscript, guess what I do when it's done? I ask it again! And almost always, it catches a few more mistakes. Weird, huh? GOT SOMETHING HELPFUL TO SHARE ABOUT WORKING WITH A.I.? === -I'm the Ghostwriter's Ghostwriter -I care about high standards and strong community -Check out my FEATURED section to 1) Visit my website 2) See my latest book, featured in the NYT and on “The View” 3) Read my articles

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Do you know when to place a comma before *where*? To figure out whether to use a comma before *where*, it is essential to investigate the sentence structure. The word *where* can function as an adverb, conjunction, or relative pronoun. It is, therefore, important to figure out whether *where* introduces a restrictive or non-restrictive clause. You need to put a comma before the *where* when it introduces non-restrictive information that could be left out without affecting the complete meaning of the main sentence. Since non-restrictive information is typically additional knowledge, a comma before *where* indicates that the given information does not influence the full meaning of the sentence. Therefore, the word *where* functions as a non-restrictive element and requires a mandatory comma placement. ✔️ They finally reached the creek, where they swam for a whole afternoon. ✔️ So he went to the other hotel, where he found the group. ✔️ At the end of the house there was a big kitchen, where his mother did all the cooking.   You don’t need to place a comma before *where* when it introduces restrictive elements. In this case, *where* does not require a comma to clarify that it is a crucial part of the sentence. ✔️  Was this where he got all his money? ✔️ I’ll show you where you can sleep. ✔️ I have an offer to work where I worked last summer. Do you understand where to use correct comma placement with *where*? (See, I did not need a comma before *where* in the above sentence.) Questions about proper punctuation? Contact me. I’ll sort it out for you. ------------- Hi, I’m Oneta Hammans, Freelance Copyeditor and Proofreader | Helping Authors and Publishers of Fiction and Memoirs | Historical, Crime, Medical Mystery, Murder Mystery, Suspense, and Thriller | Memoirs | Absorb and Entertain Readers from the First Page to the Last. DM me here on LinkedIn or shoot me an email at [email protected].

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A second reason you need a proofreader. After months of writing and rewriting— After working with your copyeditor and making revisions— You need—no, deserve—a break. You need someone to take the pressure of scouring your own work for errors off your shoulders. You can use that time to start writing your next book. Or better yet, to relax and read a book. Or to treat yourself to a relaxing day out. A well-trained proofreader knows how to spot errors and mark them. They know not to overstep by changing things that aren’t incorrect. They adhere to your preferences and respect your voice as an author. Getting a fresh pair of eyes can give you back a little of your precious time. I can be those eyes. I will use my time to carefully examine your writing for errors so you don't have to. (I also offer copyediting). ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Looking for a copyeditor who cleans up sentences or a proofreader who trashes typos? DM me here or email me at [email protected] to learn more.

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One thing that has become clear to me in my first few years in the editorial world is that most people don’t understand the difference between a proofreader and a copyeditor, or even an editor. You might be reading this because you are unsure which service is right for you. Let’s see if I can help you figure that out. 📌 Copyediting A simple way to think of copyediting is that it not only looks at the small details but also the big picture. It addresses the three big Cs: consistency, conciseness, and clarity. Here’s the breakdown: ▪ Correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, and syntax ▪ Look for technical inconsistencies (e.x., Oxford comma is occasionally used) ▪ Adhere to the style guide ▪ Make sure the style is consistent ▪ Ensure readability and accuracy, all while remaining true to the author’s voice ▪ Check word choice and conciseness ▪ Look for inconsistency in tone ▪ Fact check, which is especially important in nonfiction ▪ Check for legal liability 📌 Proofreading Proofreading is the final step in the editorial process; your proofreader is the final person to work on your manuscript before publication. Here is the breakdown: ▪ Check grammar, punctuation, and spelling ▪ Check word choice ▪ Check formatting issues ▪ Fact check _________________________________________ 👋 Hi, I'm Lora 📚 #Proofreader and #copyeditor for authors and publishers 💕 Specialize in romance, also work with suspense, YA, historical fiction, and memoirs 👯‍♀️ Friendly service 🖍 Free 1,500-word sample edit 📬 [email protected] 💻 loraseditorial.com  

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So, let's talk about another thing clients do that will likely have them looking for another freelancer. Editing by committee. This is the primary reason I limit revision requests. So, what is editing by committee? It "works" like this. Writer turns in draft. The first person reads it and asks them to change a few things. They do so, turn it in again. Then a different person reads it and asks them to change a few things. Even if they're using the same account, this is when I spot it...because a lot of the time they are asking to change things that the first person asked them to put in. With agencies that make me allow unlimited revisions, this can easily run to 6, 7, 8 rounds of editing...and me turning down any future assignments from that client. When working with a client directly I shut it down by only allowing two rounds. This is not in my interests...wasted time and sometimes delayed payment if a draft has to be signed off on. It's not in *your* interests...you want your content posted and working for you not sitting on my hard drive waiting for edit round 7. So, how do you not be this client? 1. Have a style guide. Start with AP or Chicago. Your style guide can change and develop...and consider paying your freelancer a little extra to look it over before they start work. 2. Have a dedicated editor! This doesn't have to be an actual editor if you can't afford or don't have enough volume to justify it. It can also be another freelancer. The point is to have all edit requests go through *one* person. 3. Send all the edit requests at once so we can do them all at once. Again, this is a big reason why we limit revisions. It's not to punish clients, it's to discourage this kind of behavior...which hurts both sides and damages the working relationship. I'm always happy to work with my clients on editorial process, developing a style guide, and streamlining the process to save everyone's time. It's one reason why I charge a good rate...you aren't just getting a blog post, you're getting my experience and advice. (I'm also happy to be hired to be that point of contact while you learn how to do it right) If you need blog posts, web content, or somebody to work with you on your overall long form content strategy, DM me. If LinkedIn won't let you, just send a connection request, I accept them all. #FreelanceWriter #FreelanceEditor #TipsForClients

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Exciting news! In one week, I'll be teaching on self-editing for suspense at a sentence level! This is basically what I taught at PENCON 2024, but this time I'll be speaking to writers, not editors. In the upcoming workshop, we'll dive in to narrative suspense and simple ways you can improve your prose to heighten suspense at a sentence level. It will be a jam-packed session, so be sure to be ready to take notes! Plus, there will be a live Q&A at the end, so you'll get to ask questions and get answers! When: June 6, 2024 Time: 7 p.m. Eastern time Where: Online at The 540 Writers Community Zoom session Cost: Free! Want to join? Head to https://buff.ly/3VeHiYm and sign up to the newsletter! Will I see you there? ✒️✒️ ✒️ Hey there! I'm Claire Tucker, a copyeditor and proofreader who works with authors to achieve excellence. I have experience editing a wide range of genres, including fantasy, YA, Southern fiction, and suspense, as well as Christian nonfiction, devotionals, and short stories. If you're a first-time author looking to publish with confidence or a veteran looking for a fresh set of eyes to catch sneaky typos, I could be the editor for you! Leave a comment, drop me a DM, or visit my website EditWithClaire.com to learn more.

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Should I trust Grammarly with my writing? A 5-Part Argument I get this question a lot from writers looking to self-edit their works. I also hear a lot of other writers and editors respond that editing software isn’t the best. Here are the top five arguments I hear against using editing software and what I think about them. 📣 They say… Grammar checkers and auto-corrections make writers lazy at catching and fixing their own mistakes. 💬 I say…Laziness? Or efficiency? I agree, hitting Accept All is NOT going to help you learn. But if you pay attention to the changes you’re making and understand why, then grammar checkers can be great teachers. 📣 They say… “An editor will fix all of my mistakes for me.” 💬 I say… Oh god, please don’t do that. Self-editing is a vital part of the editing process before your work gets into a professional’s hands. A grammar checker can remove many obvious problems so an editor can look more deeply at the text. 📣 They say… Grammar checkers are inherently flawed, constantly make incorrect suggestions, and should not be trusted. 💬 I say… Grammar checkers are not magical or perfect; it’s true. What they do well is flag POTENTIAL errors, drawing your attention to that part of the manuscript so you’ll at least double-check. 📣 They say… Editing programs are trying to turn everyone’s writing into the same style and voice. 💬 I say… If your style is being overwritten by editing software, then you’re using the software incorrectly. Yeah, it might suggest that everyone use less passive voice or turn fragments into full sentences, but you have full control to ignore that suggestion if you have a stylistic reason. 📣 They say… Grammar-checking programs don’t really know an individual’s writing and, therefore, won’t be useful. 💬 I say… Grammar checkers will probably never come to know our individual styles, but we can learn how to use the programs better to fit our needs. Many editing tools will have options for you to indicate the type of writing it is (business, fiction, etc.), the level of your reader (beginner, expert, etc.), and the type of English (US, UK, etc.). Don’t be scared of grammar-checking programs. But use them wisely. === Do you use grammar-checking programs? Why or why not? === I’m Jeanette 👋 a copyeditor and self-editing instructor whose aim is to demystify the editing process. In my spare time, I’m a content writer and fiction writer, and my nonfiction mermaiding book (Modern Mer) is available on Amazon. Follow my profile or #Jeanettediting to see more of me in your feed! #writer #writing #editor #editing #writingcommunity #creativity

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I both work as a freelance writer and employ other freelance writers, so I have experience on both sides of the issue. Discover everything I’m learning about building a freelance writing career. https://bit.ly/4bE2mg0 #freelancing #freelancers #freelancewriting #writing #writer

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Some good points here. Know when to break a rule!

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Rumor: "There's no freelance work right now." Truth: Companies need freelancers as much or more than ever before. So far this year: —More people have reached out to inquire about my writing services — I have more work on the books — My Q1 earnings were the best yet Here’s how to skip the rumor mill and get to the truth: —Ask for referrals from existing clients. —Systematize and automate those aks mid-way through a project and again at the end. —Follow-up. If you did a great job with a client but they didn't give you a referral, it means they're busy, not that they don't want to help you out. Being pleasantly persistent pays off. You can build a freelance business you love. I opened Freelance to Freedom for 3 students this morning. Two spots are filled, and there is one spot left. DM me the word FREELANCE if you're interested.

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One factor: taking projects that pay enough to justify the extra time. Too many clients want to pay poorly, saving themselves money, but then want all the attention. The more you demand from people who perform work for you — this goes far beyond writing — the more you need to pay to ensure they can afford to give this to you.

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We’re often fully booked and I have long waiting periods for manuscript bookings. Or sometimes, an enquiry arrives to edit an MS that is not in a genre I work on (there are quite a few!). In these cases, I refer the enquirer to this excellent directory of Accredited Editors and Professional Members of IPEd, which has a customisable search function so they can find the perfect editor for their project. #IPEd #Editors #Directory

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Technical Writers: What AI Tools Do You Use? "Now that you know some of my favorite AI tools, tell me and my readers about yours. What AI services are becoming indispensable in your workflows? What do you like? What do you dislike? How much do you pay every month?" > 🎧 Listen now: https://shorturl.at/i9meh > Read now: https://shorturl.at/AlHIG #TechnicalWriting #AI

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