November 23, 2008
On editing
For the past few weeks, I’ve been working diligently as an editor on an 80-page, full-color magazine with a circulation of more than 40,000.
In this capacity, I’ve interfaced with freelance writers and photographers, designers and printers, copyeditors and consultants—and worked hard to keep everyone on track and on deadline. And I’ve loved every minute of it.
A few things I’d like to share about the editing process:
The editor’s job is not simply to decide what goes into the magazine. There’s a lot of project management involved, from coordinating meetings and interviews to tracking down photo credits, from editing copy for content, style, and length to writing titles, call-outs, and captions. And much, much more.
Copyediting is correcting errors in grammar, spelling, usage, consistency, and style as well as basic fact checking and minimal rewriting for clarification. Copyediting is crucial. Both the assistant editor and I reviewed every draft before it made it into design—and then a few more times after that!
Designers do a lot more than just copy and paste text into templates. They artfully work with fonts and colors to create a visual display that enhances the copy and its message. They never fail to impress me with their ability to turn a simple Word document into a stunning spread.
The final, vital stage of the editing process is proofreading. With skilled eyes and red pens, proofreaders look for typographical and mechanical errors on copy that has already been typeset. Their hieroglyphic marks can make all the difference between an embarrassing printed piece and a beautiful showpiece.
Filed by rebecca at 9:05 pm under Copywriting
Rebecca: This sounds right up your alley! Congratulations on such a major job. It really sounds as though you’re enjoying it!
Ah, I wish I could say the same for me. Even just after starting EQ, I feel as though I might be coming to the end of my days as a copyeditor. I don’t think it’s just my current mood or what’s going on in my life (which seems to be a terrible lot right now): I think I might feel a huge relief if I were to let it go. I’m not positive, because it’s been a part of me for a very long time, and I haven’t a clue what I’d rather do, but I don’t think it’s because it’s stressful now with two current editing jobs (a long book and journal articles) as well as the receptionist job five days a week (how do I meet my deadlines?). Obviously, my life’s ambition is not to be a naturopath’s receptionist, but I’m not entirely sure it’s to copyedit anymore, either.
Rebecca, congrats on the gig! Thank you so much for sharing the behind the scenes action. Many people do not understand the amount of talent, and work it takes to get from idea to publication. What is the publication? Can we grab a copy and share the joy?
Steph: Sounds like you need a break from copyediting. Once you walk away from it for a while, you might get a better sense if it’s the right path for you or not. If you find that you indeed feel relieved by letting it go, then just do it.
Karen: Thanks! The pub is an alumni magazine for a small liberal arts college in New England. At least I can proudly say that all of the hard work paid off.
I love that aspect of editing too, rebecca.
I love organizing. I love knowing that Writer A is typically two days late, but that he doesn’t know I give him a deadline that’s shorter by two days than other writers. I like knowing that I can give Writer B a one-sentence assignment and he’ll deliver gold. I like knowing that no matter how many pages of instruction I give Writer C, she’s going to come back with just as many questions as she would if I’d written a paragraph. I like when the Art Director knows what I mean and he appreciates that I’m willing to cut copy to make his art fit. I like working with photographers and giving them cues, but letting them free to create a fantastic photo.
I miss those days. :))
Wow, Lori! Sounds like you’ve done quite a bit of editing yourself! The management side of editing is deeply rewarding to organized folks like us.