Comments on: Wiki Copyediting Article

By: readwrite

readwrite — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 22:31:27 +0000

I couldn’t agree more…

Another thing is a certain sort of prodigious memory, so that we can recall the entire text we’ve read so far, and note plot inconsistencies, or inconsistent statements in nonfiction.

By: green_knight

green_knight — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 14:57:25 +0000

I’ve always found your articles useful. I also hang out on the copyediting list, which has given me a good idea of what things copyeditors obsess about. It needs a lot of familiarity with language and I’m in awe of anyone who can do the job well.

By: deannahoak

deannahoak — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 07:00:54 +0000

Yeah, that’s very true. I’ve seen the lack of that ability cause huge issues. You should consider editing the Wiki article to add that in. :-)

By: baldanders

baldanders — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 02:43:59 +0000

Yeah. For fiction, there is an additional crucial trait that a surprising number of copyeditors are missing: the ability to discern a style (or voice) and to edit within that style; or, to put it another way, the ability to empathize with the author.

When I want to summarize what I do in one sentence, I tell people that my job is to help the book become the best version of the book that the author desires.

By: templarwolf

templarwolf — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 00:42:27 +0000

I think most people think of line editing when they think of copyediting. I’m certainly glad you’ve disabused me of that notion.

I’m pretty good for checking facts, as my head is crammed full of useless trivia…most of it things normal people (even sane writers) wouldn’t want to know. As for the proofreading and diplomacy…I’m not your guy.

By: editgirl

editgirl — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 00:06:39 +0000

I am SO getting a pretend tattoo “It’s Not My Book”!! Genius!

By: editgirl

editgirl — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 00:06:13 +0000

SO true!! I have long said that copyediting books is one of the very best uses of a liberal arts education I can think of. I use my schoolinâ€™ every day!

Plus, a brain for a wide variety of what you previously thought was useless trivia… comes into play a lot in copyediting.

P.S. I do nonfiction, and I don’t dare touch fiction, because YES it does require a very different touch.

By: cakmpls

cakmpls — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 23:24:22 +0000

That is good. I think the two things that serve me the best in copyediting are 8 years of Catholic grade school English classes taught by (mostly Irish) nuns, my brain-storehouse of otherwise useless trivia, and my …

Three. The three things that serve me best… The third is the (pretend) tattoos across my knuckles: It’s Not My Book.