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Self-editing your manuscript

How do you get your manuscript from 1st draft stage to the point where it's ready to be handed over to an editor? Self-edit. Rewrite where necessary.  Then self-edit some more. Editing your ...

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When can you self-edit and when do you need an editor?

Self-editing is the task of editing your own document after you have written it. After self-editing, some types of documents also need to be edited and/or proofread by another person. When is self...

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Editing fiction and non-fiction: a comparison

The purpose of editing any publication, whether non-fiction or fiction, is to make the corrections necessary to ensure that the author's meaning, and voice, are conveyed as exactly as possible to t...

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“Rough” copy editing explained

Copy editing is the final stage of editing prior to the graphic design stage. Copy editing comprises: the "rough" copy edit (sometimes referred to as the first pass of the copy edit, or the...

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Structural or developmental editing – what is it?

Once a manuscript has been written and self-edited by the writer to the stage where they feel they can't improve it any more themselves, it needs to be edited by a professional editor. Structura...

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Proofreading resumes and reports

When people want an editor to review their resume or report to  ensure it is well-presented and to correct any errors in punctuation, grammar or spelling, they usually say they need their document...

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Is proofreading ability innate or learned?

To proofread at the high level needed for publications, the proofreader: must have been trained as an editor or proofreader (theoretically and/or on-the-job); i.e. must have learned an excelle...

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Resumes – if they’re worth writing, they’re worth proofreading

Why is it important for someone to proofread your resume? Proofreading * your resume is particularly important if you intend to apply for jobs that require good writing skills or attention to deta...

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Why don’t you use your next “holiday break” to start writing that book?

Whether you're staying at home or going away, why don't you use your next holiday break to tell or write your story,  or at least to get a start on writing your story? (Then, later on, you can pub...

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Writing family histories: what genre to use?

The genre you use when embarking on writing a family history will depend in part on your writing skill, style or preference, and in part on the amount of factual information you have access to. N...

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