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Posts Tagged ‘copy editing’
Hiring the Right Freelancer to Write Your Content
10/4/2011 3:56 PM By Patrick OgleContent developers seeking a freelance writer must hire carefully. Hiring a copywriter for a freelance job seems like a simple matter—look over the samples, check the resume, interview the applicant, hire them to write your copy. But it isn’t always so easy.
Freelance writing requires more than just the ability to adapt and have a neatly presented portfolio of samples. It requires a writer that understands your perspective. It requires a writer who can write on your deadline. It also requires a writer who writes clean copy the first time without the need for extensive editing.
This last part is crucial. Many writers need the guidance of an experienced editor while others may not be equipped to write for all audiences. What happens if you choose a writer who does not write clean copy or one who does not understand your specific business needs? You have to edit or you have to hire another writer. In other words, you waste time and money.
So what can you do to ensure you’re hiring the right person for the job? Consider asking them to write some off the cuff copy on a subject when you interview them. Give them the resources they need to do research on the subject too. Often someone’s ability and willingness to research a topic is as important as the writing itself. The ability to gather and synthesize information, even when that information is not going to be directly used in the copy, is a sign of a potentially good writer.
Sometimes even the best writers aren’t the most appropriate fit for the job at hand. Hemingway didn’t write poetry. Goethe didn’t write user manuals. The writer you hire has to be the one who can write for your unique needs.
Traits to Avoid as a Copy Editor
6/23/2011 9:17 AM By Jeff OrloffTo many people, copy editors are expected to be close to perfect when it comes to language. They are responsible for the grammar, spelling, style, formatting, consistency and presentation of content. Whether copy editors are working for print or web, as soon as a mistake is found, the credibility of the content falls into question and the blame often falls on their shoulders.
Consistent copy editor employment requires anyone in the position to avoid the following character traits:
Arrogance – The writer was hired to present the information. The copy editor’s job is to make subtle changes, not to change the way the author writes. Too often copy editors dig in their heels thinking they know better than the writer they are working with and change too much without adding to the quality of the content, which may overstep their boundary.
Indifference – If you don’t care about the little details, then you won’t find too many copy editing opportunities. This work requires to you put interest in whatever you are reading and make suggestions that can help improve the writer’s presentation and effectively deliver information. Don’t confuse this with arrogance, but the copy editor shouldn’t be overly reserved either.
Laziness – Copy editors can’t simply scan content to look for the most glaring errors. They need to scour what they are reading so that they can catch those little things that may be overlooked. Also, if a copy editor is unsure of something, they must take the time to look it up if there is any question or doubt. Relying simply on what you think is right can easily lead to embarrassing mistakes.
Carelessness – Publishing content without fact checking or posting images that are incorrectly captioned are examples of how an ignorant copy editor or writer can hurt the credibility of a website or publication. Eventually someone will notice and point out the mistakes they find.
The Value of a Professional Proofreader
6/6/2011 2:57 PM By William PirragliaIt’s interesting that authors and corporations sometimes forget the powerful reasons to hire experienced proofreaders. Seldom do you see companies downplaying the need for the best marketing managers, professional business writers or production managers. However, ask some executives about hiring a proofreader and you might receive the deer-in-the-headlights look.
Numerous publishers have a firm policy of rejecting articles, books or other submissions should the first page have a spelling or blatant grammatical error. Companies using professional business writers to author copy for their websites, newsletters or print brochures can suffer serious embarrassment if their material has typos or other mistakes.
The primary reason to hire freelance proofreaders is simple and clear. Most authors tend to overlook their minor errors as they are too intimately involved in the creation of the prose. Companies, whether they’ve used quality freelancers or in-house staff to create ads, newsletters, brochures or other material, also tend to miss grammatical errors because they know the subject too well.
Freelance proofreaders, many of whom are also talented editors, offer an educated additional pair of eyes. But not just any eyes. Quality proofreaders did not author the copy nor are they specific industry specialists. This lack of embedded familiarity with the subject and proofreading expertise will eliminate the common errors that either disqualify or embarrass the writer or publisher. Those freelance proofreaders who are also talented editors often identify more substantive problems overlooked by others.
Copy Editor Employment Picture
5/9/2011 1:47 PM By William PirragliaCopy editor employment opportunities multiply as the U.S. economy rebounds. Interestingly, some of the classic copy editor qualifications (i.e., creativity, wide range of knowledge, motivation, curiosity and persistence) are being augmented by additional obligations.
Top copy editor jobs also require knowledge of electronic publishing, multimedia and web design, graphics, and wireless communication familiarity in addition to traditional qualities. The best copy editors must also have an affinity and a talent for writing to employ superior editorial skills.
As the recession wound down in 2008, copy editor employment was around 130,000 jobs in the U.S. Freelance proofreaders and editors made up around 12 percent of those employed. Interestingly, freelance writers, authors and professional copywriters comprised around 70 percent of the approximately 152,000 people holding these jobs.
Copy editor employment is projected to grow approximately as fast as the average for most occupations, with median salaries around $54,000 per year. Copy editors seeking new challenges should keep the top creative talent employment firms, like Artisan, active on their “to do” lists. As the economy rebounds, many of the best new copy editor employment opportunities exist in the elite talent firms’ portfolios.
Salaried copy editor jobs are expected to increase for newspapers, book and magazine publishers, and growing non-profit entities in the next few years. However, opportunities for freelance editors should also exhibit measurable growth.
What You Should Know About Copy Editor Jobs
4/27/2011 4:18 PM By Jeff OrloffThe job of a copy editor is often confused with a proofreader. While copy editors do frequently proofread content, their job requires much more. In addition to correcting grammar and spelling mistakes, copy editors ensure proper writing style, consistency and adherence to the publication’s guidelines.
Copy Editor Employment
The number of copy editor jobs is expected to decrease before the year 2018 partly due to so many print publications and newspapers falling to Internet based journalism. While the numbers are expected to drop, it is not expected to be a large decrease in positions.
Copy editors earn an average of $49,990 with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $28,090 and the highest 10 percent earning over $95,000. Many copy editors also supplement their earnings with freelance writing as well.
Becoming a Copy Editor
Copy editors are expected to have a strong background in journalism and writing. In addition to journalism skills, a copy editor should be very detail oriented and extremely organized as meeting deadlines is an essential part to success in this job. A college degree in either is usually expected but not always necessary for employment.
Copy editor jobs can be found on virtually every online job site and there are some that are dedicated specifically for writers and editors. When applying for jobs, prospective employers usually expect to see samples of written and edited work, an employment history and references from previous employers and/or clients. A copy editing or proofreading test is also commonly required during the interview process.
Copy editor employment is usually considered a mid-level position and advancement to content director, managing editor or director of communications are possible next-level career steps.
The In-House Freelancer
12/20/2008 10:16 AM By Sharon PotschA freelance copy editor who works on-site for a publication will have to commute, dress professionally, and work hours set by your employer. On the upside, you'll get to meet — and, it is hoped, impress — editors and executives who might be valuable additions to your network or even sources of fulltime work.
If you're having trouble lining up jobs for your freelance practice, it may be worthwhile to take an in-house freelance job or two just to make the industry contacts you need to build up your client list. Many publishers and media companies work through agencies to find qualified freelancers, so this may be a useful way to get started.
The Consultant Copy Editor
11/20/2008 10:15 AM By Catherine TIn some organizations, freelance copy editors and writers are kept apart, with managers passing copy back and forth between them. Many editors agree, though, that their work is better when they have an opportunity to ask the writer questions, find out what the mission of the piece is, and understand the organizational goals behind it.
This involves a high level of communication, particularly if the copy editor is a freelancer working off-site. While editing, use your knowledge of the piece, the writer, and the organization to respect the writer's voice, not rewrite the piece the way you would have written it.
Questions of Tone
9/20/2008 10:15 AM By Catherine TThe freelance copy editor is responsible not only for making sure that spelling and grammar are correct, but for making sure that the headline and copy work together to set the proper tone.
A pun in a headline may work in a lighthearted story, but not in a serious one. A story about human death usually doesn't have room for any joking or silliness. A sales letter promoting a political candidate should carry a tone in keeping with the candidate's message. When in doubt, seek guidance from your assigning editor or the writer.
Help the Reader
7/20/2008 10:15 AM By ArtisanThe copy editor's ultimate goal is to shape a piece of writing so that it achieves its goals. Often, that means finding and highlighting the main idea of the piece. If you can, work with the writer or assigning editor, but if that's not possible, then separate the main idea from the other ideas, and be sure it is high up in the story. Then be sure the lead and the headline reflect this idea.
Be careful of "acutely aware of the obvious" leads and headlines. If you start by telling your audience that coffee can keep them awake, they'll lose their attention span pretty quickly because you're not telling them anything new. If your piece is really promoting a new sleep aid or decaffeinated beverage, you've already lost them. Instead, tell the audience something they don't know.
Get It Right
5/20/2008 10:14 AM By ArtisanWhile freelance copy editors are not usually hired primarily to check facts, it's useful to have a wide range of knowledge and the ability to spot errors.
It's also important to have a gentle touch when editing or rewriting writers' facts. While the writer's expression may have needed some work, the editor who introduces an error into the story has done far worse damage than if the awkward sentence had been left alone. That's why accuracy is often cited as one of the ABCs of editing (the others are brevity and clarity).
