Rewrite & Editing

“Writing is rewriting”

– E. Hemingway

Rewriting:

We live and die by the philosophy of not getting it right, but getting it written and this is often misunderstood. It speaks only to initial writing of a manuscript. There should be no going back until the body of the work is completed. If you’ve completed that step and have taken a stab at polishing your book but that still, quiet voice inside is telling you that it could be better, then hand it over.

We promise to do our level best to take sword to the parts of your book that aren’t critical to making your point or moving your storyline forward and identifying the areas that need more and presenting you with a well written solution.

“The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.”

–Thomas Jefferson

The lost art of professional editing

The art of editing

Editing: (see what we did there 🙂

All documents need copyediting and proofreading. Some documents may also require substantive editing of the whole or some of the parts. The need for substantive editing may be identified up front or become apparent during the copyediting. Here the lines may easily blur between substantive and copyediting.

Substantive editing

Substantive editing (including, and sometimes called, structural editing) is assessing and shaping material to improve its organization and content. It is editing to clarify meaning, improve flow and smooth language.

Substantive editing ensures that the structure, content, language and style of the document are effective and appropriate to its intended function and readership. Structural editing is an important element of a substantive edit and may be done as a first step. Structural editing establishes a cohesive framework by moving parts of the document around, and working on elements such as the hierarchy and phrasing of headings, to ensure a logical and effective approach. The text and appropriate connections between the parts can then be refined during the copyedit.

Copyediting

Copyediting is editing to ensure consistency, accuracy and completeness.

Copyediting is not confined to ensuring accuracy and consistency in grammar, spelling, punctuation and other mechanics of style. It also encompasses fact checking, presenting visual elements effectively in relation to the text and putting the document together as a whole, including preliminary and end matter. In addition, copyeditors advise on potential copyright and legal issues and liaise with design and production staff.

Our editorial philosophy

We believe that editors are part of a team that guides a work through its various stages from creation to publication. All editors need to have a broad understanding of the publishing process and of their role within it, regardless of the extent of their involvement. They should demonstrate initiative and flexibility, adapting to the needs of a project and the specific work environment. They need to communicate clearly and tactfully, and to respect the opinions of everyone else involved.

Editors work with many different subjects and many types of publication (novels, reports, websites, magazines, textbooks and scientific materials, to name a few) that require specialized knowledge and skills. Editors also work in many different contexts, from book editing for traditional publishing houses to advising on communications strategies in government or corporate sectors. Some editors perform tasks that extend beyond editing, such as project management, design, indexing and website maintenance. We would love to help with whatever is needed to successfully get your project to the finish line.