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TheQuiz with Alison Baverstock
How editable are you?
T
his month’s quiz is prompted by B Understand that as it’s your name that
a recent experience of mine – goes out on the book cover it’s up to you
checking the copy editor’s feedback to ensure it is 100 per cent how you wish
on a newly submitted manuscript. to be represented.
We authors like to think of the C Spend longer negotiating more time than
books we create as our babies, but getting on with the process of answering
this experience reminded me that their questions.
book-making really is a collaborative
venture; that the author does not
do it all on their own – and that
effective and generous-spirited
co-operation leads to a much
4
You find a few of their queries
self-evident and unnecessary.
improved product. Try this quiz to
Do you:
see how easy you are to work with. A Say so.
B Appreciate that the copy editor represents to the person who carried out the job, in
the reader, whereas you are the specialist/ particular for helping you to make your
1
Your commissioning editor gets
creator and arguably too closely involved meaning clear. Ask if their name can be
in touch to warn you that your
to be truly objective. So if there are issues added to the credits that appear.
book is currently being copy-
that they don’t understand, or plot twists C Send a short but well-reasoned paper
edited and that the queries raised
that seem contrived, their impartial explaining why using freelances is not a
will be sent to you. Do you:
opinion is valuable market research rather route to successful publishing.
A Show no interest. You have just about than something to be denied outright.
managed to grasp their name as the editor C Decide to sort out the queries with much
who signed up your book, so having to longer explanations, even if that impacts
remember additional sorts of editor is on the overall flow and length of the
How did you do?
beyond the reasonable scope of your manuscript. Mostly As
involvement. You are not a pleasure to deal with. You don’t
B Understand that, whilst it is the seem to recognise that the copy editor has a
commissioning editor who commissions role to fulfil, part of it being to ensure your
the book, it is the copy editor who meaning comes across as clearly as possible.
micromanages the manuscript; ensuring
5
The copy editor points out that a
key date is wrong and asks you to
You seem to see their presence as one to
that what appears is consistent, error free
resolve the issue. Do you:
which you are entitled but with which you are
and polished. This role is behind-the- A Ignore the point with a happy confidence otherwise entirely disengaged. A genius may
scenes but vital – and always most that once they realise you have not dealt get away with this, but such lack of respect
apparent when done badly. with the question, they will find out the for those who work with you on getting your
C Investigate how books are edited information themselves. book out is unlikely to win friends. The risk too
elsewhere and make a mental note to B Deal with it, even though it takes a while. is that suggestions that might make your book
advise them how the process could be C Provide them with a list of feasible better will not be made, for fear of annoying
better managed. alternatives and leave them to make the you further – and that will have a negative
final choice. effect on the overall product.
Mostly Bs
2
Your manuscript has now been
You understand the role of the copy editor
copy-edited and the publisher
has returned your initial 6
One of their suggested changes
and my guess is that you will have no problem
alters the meaning of what you
in harnessing their talents to the creation of a
submission with appended notes intended and the word proposed
better book, one that you can all be proud of.
and queries. There are quite a is wrong for the context. Do you:
You will probably have copy editors campaigning
few of them and this feels
A Say so. to work with you.
uncomfortable. Do you:
B Add a brief note explaining why you chose
A Decide your manuscript was fine and it’s the relevant word and why, having thought Mostly Cs
their job to sort out anything they don’t about it, you would prefer it to stay. Whilst you clearly recognise the role of the
understand. C Provide a lengthy explanation supported copy editor, you don’t seem to appreciate that
B Schedule time to look at this in detail. by a series of links that illustrate usages of your publishing house has other titles than
C Decide that this is an ideal time to rewrite the term under question, to really hammer your own to deal with. What they want back
your original submission and ask for more home your point. from you is a clean manuscript, with all issues
time in which to do so. resolved, and with which to proceed – not an
expanded list of queries.
3
They ask for your responses 7
You find out that the copy editor
is a freelance, being instructed by
Alison Baverstock’s How to get a job in a
within a week. Do you: the in-house team. Do you:
museum or gallery (A&C Black, April 2010)
A Decide that if so short a time is available it A Assume a slight – you are important
has now been copyedited and is progressing
would have been more effective to manage enough to be handled in-house.
towards page proofs. She does understand
the process themselves. Absolve yourself B Realising that most copy-editing is now
that her final opportunity to amend the text
of guilt by insisting on this. done out of house, send a note of thanks
has now passed.
Writers
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forum #99 23
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