Utah Freelance Editors

Local editors, copyeditors, & proofreaders

Nonfiction

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Along the Road

By Lauri Schoenfeld

A few years back, I read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, coming home from a road trip, wondering why I’ve never stumbled upon this book before. I needed a new perspective, a different outlook, and his words sang to my heart. I felt them. They resonated with me. My highlighter couldn’t go fast enough as I colored page after page of some of my favorite paragraphs. Ones I have come back and read again. I’m not sure if he knew when he was writing this book that it would have this impact, but it changed me!

I always have a plan set in motion in my personal life, knowing exactly where I’m going to go. I can see it, feel it, and even breathe the excitement of the next chapter. Until life happens and a bump in the road leaves me flying on the asphalt. I promise you, that’s never in my agenda for my story as I know that’s not in yours either. That’s the thing with life—much like writing a book—it never entirely goes the way you start planning it to be.

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The Editing Funnel

by Jennie Stevens

When I first started my career, I encountered an issue many new editors face: there are no clear-cut definitions for the different types of editing. It seems every publishing house, editing firm, and freelancer has their own vocabulary and definitions for the same work. Even the term editor is an umbrella term that can encompass every job from acquiring a manuscript to fixing errant commas.

So what are the different categories of editing and how do they fit together? Once I understood the terms and structure myself, I found it relatively easy to explain to others using a simple image: the editing funnel. The editing funnel represents the order of editing, moving from big problems to small problems.

It is important to remember that each editor has their own understanding of these terms and how to apply them. If you are an author, make sure you and your editor are on the same page about the level of editing your manuscript requires, but it should generally follow the same path from draft to final product.

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Sample Edits

by Talysa Sainz

Finding the right editor can be difficult. Even editors know the importance of an author finding the right editor for their manuscript. The best thing you can do before you choose your editor is request sample edits from a variety of potential editors.

What is a sample edit?

A sample edit is a light or full edit on a small piece of your manuscript. It gives both the author and editor an idea of what a complete edit would look like. If you plan to pay for a professional edit, you should get as many sample edits as possible. Sample edits benefit both the author and the editor. When it comes to finding an editor for your manuscript, do not hesitate to shop around a little or to ask potential editors for a sample edit so you can see an example of their work.

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