Editing Preparation

The Process: Getting Your Writing Ready

Our process prepares your writing for publication. However, we are flexible and can adapt to your specific needs.

First, you send us a few pages or a percentage of your work.
Next, you select the a level of treatment you want for your work. (For example, proofreading, light editing, full editing, and rewriting.)
Then, we will give you a sample edit of the submitted pages using the Track Changes feature of Microsoft Word.
After that, you look it over and decide on your desired Level of Services.
Finally, we provide two edits (or proofreads) and a final proofreading.

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Prepare Your Book for an Editor

So it doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg

Deliver your message with succinct writing in a timely fashion. McCabe Editing provides targeted services to help you tighten and clarify your material.

You want to have your book proofread and/or edited, but there’s no reason to spend unnecessary time and money on the process. Here are suggestions for bringing your project to the point of being ready.

Chapter One: Before You Begin – Build a Strong Foundation

Identify your target market
Isolate and refine your topic
Outline/Storyboard the book
Consider how you will write your Introduction and Conclusion
Set up a writing schedule
Identify who will write the foreword for if it is a nonfiction work

Chapter Two: The Mechanics of Good Writing – Use the Right Building Materials

Use a dictionary, thesaurus, style guide
Paragraph correctly
Paragraph for white space
Remember subject and verb agreement
Use active verbs instead of passive verbs
Use action verbs and other vivid language
Beware of mixed modifiers
Use parallel structure
Vary sentence lengths
Be careful of word demons: who vs. whom, who vs. that, that vs. which, accurate word choices

Chapter Three: A Win-Win – Assemble, Arrange, Intertwine Construct, Build, Writing Process

Write an opening that grabs people’s attention
Write a closing that brings the topic full circle, keeps readers wanting more, or moves them to do or think what you want
Use action verbs and other vivid language
Write tight
Write – and check for consistency
Write content as the muse speaks and write the part of your content that the muse leads you to
Select and use a likely font

Chapter Four: Print a Hard Copy – Inspect the Structure for Potential Improvements

Print hard copy to review
Put the book aside — Return — Reread
Edit hard copy
Read backwards to check for spelling errors
Have the right person read and critique
Be open to advice and feedback
Decide on formatting type and style
Choose book dimensions and margins
Select cover design
Write front and back matter (e.g., title page, copyright page, acknowledgments. table of contents, about the author, etc.)
Lay out your back cover

Chapter Five: Tips to Finding the Right Editor – Have a Professional inspection

Have the book complete
Know that there are different types of editing (acquisition, copy, technical, proofreading)
Ask for referrals to editors
Have two or three prospective editors do a sample edit of the same book section
Look for a good fit
A good editor will assure tight writing
Final decisions are still yours
Sign an Agreement that includes specifics (e.g., a timeline that will keep both of you on track)