So, you may be thinking, there are so many freelance editors in Melbourne at the moment, why would I pick you? If you missed my earlier post about how Bespoken Word began, you can read it here.
Well, fair point, there are a lot of talented and experienced editors in the world, but there are also many who just don’t have the qualifications to back them.
I’m not saying qualifications are everything, obviously experience also comes into play, but just because you’re a good writer or have a BA in English doesn’t mean you know how to edit.
I also have a BA in English from La Trobe University here in Melbourne, which gave me a strong foundation before becoming a professional book editor. But that was more about learning literature and writing essays rather than understanding prose and grammar, and what to do to turn a story into a polished and final manuscript.
In 2015, I completed a Master’s in Publishing and Editing from Monash University in Melbourne.
I remember when I began my studies at the start of 2013, I thought I knew so much about editing, English and language, boy did I get a wake-up call.
It’s just completely different to studying English, there’s so much to it, especially line and copy editing. There’s so much detail and thought that has to go into “fixing” a sentence or paragraph and making sure it all fits with the author’s style and writing, because you never want to overtake their voice. This is the core of professional copyediting.
I learnt a lot in those two years, from testing to exams and everything in between, putting editing into practice isn’t as easy as many make it seem.
I think a lot of people (some editors included) think that as long as a sentence makes sense — that’s pens down, but there’s a lot more involved. It’s making sure it matches the style and writing of the book, there’s fact-checking involved and style guides that need to be followed to make sure the book is consistent. It’s not just about making sure it reads well, there’s a lot involved in making a good manuscript great that I know I’ve left out of this letter. There’s just so much to think about that comes naturally when you’ve spent years studying and then working in-house for a publisher that it becomes second nature that you don’t realise until you sit down and try to think of everything. Or when you read a badly edited piece of writing and you just pick up everything, even if it’s written well, if the style is inconsistent, it just makes you cringe a little.
So that’s what I aim to do — not make you cringe, but stop others from doing so.
I want to make your story into the best possible version, using your voice and my editing skills to make sure your writing gets the best possible treatment to make a lasting impression on the reader. Whether you’re an author or a business, strong editing and proofreading helps your writing stand out.
If you’re interested in working with me, you can review my Melbourne editing services or request an instant quote.
If you’ve been enjoying the blog, you can sign up too.
Can’t wait to read your next manuscript,
Alana
