I've had a lot of requests recently to edit self-help books, spiritual manuscripts, etc... seems that a lot of people out there are writing self-help books; and so this post is going to help clarify the common problems most modern self-help writers make, and how to write a book that somebody is actually going to read.
In general, you can't go wrong with self-help. Everybody wants to be happier, richer, more successful, more confident... if you can promise these things up front, you'll hook readers. The problem is on deliverance. Sure there have been many best-selling self help books and there always will be. The secret? Simplicity!
Most of the self-help manuscripts I've edited recently have been monumental treatises. Moreover, the majority of them are riddled with repetition, poorly formed analogies, description and explanation (rather than anecdotes and examples). You need to realize, you're competing with books like 'who moved my cheese'. If you can't break your book down into one, or a handful, of very simple (1 sentence) maxims which can be explained in more detail, keep working!
Only the very intellectual/well read philosophers are going to read a lengthy manuscript about self improvement - and they'll probably stick with some erudite Greek philosopher or Benjamin Franklin; some of the greatest writers the world has ever seen have written self-help advice, and you are competing with them (so do yourself a favor and read them).
There's a lot to do right, but most people do it wrong; so here's a checklist to make sure your self-help project is successful.
1) Read more! If nothing else, some well placed quotes from famous historical writers and philosophers will establish your credibility.
2) Keep it simple! Each chapter should have ONE idea that can be reduced to a single, catchy sentence. Lots of big, clear text and big chapter heading, etc.
3) Pick a focus! The best self-help books I've gotten recently have picked one specific technique and explained why it works. Trying to write a book without producing any new method will be difficult.
4) People don't want theory, they want practice. Give them actual exercises, habits, rituals, that they can DO.
5) People don't need explanations. They need anecdotes. Stories of other people who were successful. Allegories are great, but as Aristotle said - only geniuses are capable of producing great ones (so don't be surprised if other people don't get yours)
6) Don't try to be funny unless you're funny! (Ok - you're not going to know whether or not you're funny. You're going to need some tough love her. Don't ask a friend or a spouse. Give a few strangers 10 of your 'best lines' and see if they like them.)
7) Read 'Think and Grow Rich' by Napoleon Hill. It's still one of the best-selling self-help books of all time. It's a little dated, the examples are old, but the style (and enthusiasm) is great! You need that kind of enthusiasm and conversational tone and confidence to be successful.
Questions? contact me at www.paper-perfect-editing.com
Friday, September 25, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Native English Editors from India
I'm going to blog about a controversial topic, but a) I think maybe my opinion is valid and useful for those seeking editing and proofreading and b) even if I'm wrong the topic may interest someone.
I just received a resume to edit from an editor from India; she says she's been working with a team of editors (she's also worked with a big publishing firm). Mostly she does type-setting. She seems to have a lot of experience.
I don't really mind editing the resume of an editor... you might think a skilled editor could do it herself but we all make mistakes and it's difficult to edit our own writing. There are a couple pretty bad mistakes (extra letters, poor spacing) that makes me wonder if she even gave it a quick once-over before sending it.
More to the point, the writing, although not terrible, isn't excellent. What does it matter? Well - maybe for her work, it doesn't. Maybe she's a very skilled formatter (I, myself, am not). Maybe most companies that contact her don't want to improve their writing; they just want it to be eye-clean. In fact, they probably do (if only because, it is very difficult for someone to realize that their own writing can be improved).
When people look for an editor or proofreader, mostly they want someone who will fix things, but not change things. That being the case, it's no wonder that there are a lot of proofreaders and editors from India (there's a lot of everything in India right now, but mostly in the services industries.) It's a skill with rules that can be learned and applied. Many of them are probably very good at proofreading and charge much, much less than similar services from Western Speaking Countries.
HOWEVER. Writing - good writing - is what makes any kind of document truly successful. A boring, poorly written paper, document, letter or even email, even if it is flawlessly clean, may still be ineffective. Anything written can be written better. And good writing shines, attracts, encourages and persuades. Good writing bonds with readers. Good writing is a product in itself...
I can't say that Indian people can't write. Of course not. Salman Rushdie is a damn fine writer. But I will suggest that many Indian people in the proofreading industry right now are applying a learned skill set which will fix, but not improve the text. This may be exactly what you want; but you shouldn't. Ideally you'd find someone really good at formatting, who will make it look awesome when printed, someone with a good idea for grammatical and punctuation details, and also someone who uses red ink liberally to rewrite clunky passages, get rid of redundancy, and improve word choice.
What you choose is of course up to you. For dry business manuals or reports, making it look good may be all that matters. But for anything where expressing your ideas, opinions and arguments is more important than how it looks, you need someone who can help you fix the writing.
Am I the greatest editor in the world? Maybe not. But I'm good, and my prices are very affordable.
www.paper-perfect-editing.com
I just received a resume to edit from an editor from India; she says she's been working with a team of editors (she's also worked with a big publishing firm). Mostly she does type-setting. She seems to have a lot of experience.
I don't really mind editing the resume of an editor... you might think a skilled editor could do it herself but we all make mistakes and it's difficult to edit our own writing. There are a couple pretty bad mistakes (extra letters, poor spacing) that makes me wonder if she even gave it a quick once-over before sending it.
More to the point, the writing, although not terrible, isn't excellent. What does it matter? Well - maybe for her work, it doesn't. Maybe she's a very skilled formatter (I, myself, am not). Maybe most companies that contact her don't want to improve their writing; they just want it to be eye-clean. In fact, they probably do (if only because, it is very difficult for someone to realize that their own writing can be improved).
When people look for an editor or proofreader, mostly they want someone who will fix things, but not change things. That being the case, it's no wonder that there are a lot of proofreaders and editors from India (there's a lot of everything in India right now, but mostly in the services industries.) It's a skill with rules that can be learned and applied. Many of them are probably very good at proofreading and charge much, much less than similar services from Western Speaking Countries.
HOWEVER. Writing - good writing - is what makes any kind of document truly successful. A boring, poorly written paper, document, letter or even email, even if it is flawlessly clean, may still be ineffective. Anything written can be written better. And good writing shines, attracts, encourages and persuades. Good writing bonds with readers. Good writing is a product in itself...
I can't say that Indian people can't write. Of course not. Salman Rushdie is a damn fine writer. But I will suggest that many Indian people in the proofreading industry right now are applying a learned skill set which will fix, but not improve the text. This may be exactly what you want; but you shouldn't. Ideally you'd find someone really good at formatting, who will make it look awesome when printed, someone with a good idea for grammatical and punctuation details, and also someone who uses red ink liberally to rewrite clunky passages, get rid of redundancy, and improve word choice.
What you choose is of course up to you. For dry business manuals or reports, making it look good may be all that matters. But for anything where expressing your ideas, opinions and arguments is more important than how it looks, you need someone who can help you fix the writing.
Am I the greatest editor in the world? Maybe not. But I'm good, and my prices are very affordable.
www.paper-perfect-editing.com
Typos Matter! Edit your important documents!
I've just finished editing the portfolio of a business professional. Kudos to him for getting all of his writing edited and organized into a portfolio. HOWEVER: I assume that, as most of the portfolio included writing examples like school papers, interdepartmental memos, business letters, reports, etc... he used all of those documents without first getting them edited, which I feel is kind of tragic.
I read somewhere recently that some business execs argue that typos, mistakes in spelling and grammar in corporate text gives an 'organize sense' to a company; proving that it has a human face. I strongly disagree. Anybody who's educated enough to notice the typo is going to have a negative response to it, especially in a professional setting. The more professional, the more shocking it is to see a typo.
This particular business exec made lots and lots of mistakes in spelling, including the damnably easy things like "theirs/there's", "its/it's", "a/an". I can tell from his writing that he's a successful guy; good executive position of a large company, beautiful family, and I can't help wondering how he got so far in life making those spelling errors. Sure they're fine for a rough draft, for instant messaging and maybe even informal emails - but to turn in a college or postgraduate term paper with errors like that is both insulting and embarrassing.
It's hard to find an excuse. Ok, maybe his spelling sucks. Maybe that has never stopped him (he seems to have a strong personality) in getting ahead. Maybe the 'real men' of the business world all can't spell, but just drink whiskey and play golf and make obscene jokes and that's enough. I don't know.
For most people out there, I would strongly urge you to be more careful. Maybe you're not a gifted writer... but at least you can turn in a clean paper.
***side note: I wonder, actually, if I were a teacher, would I prefer the creative, well written but horribly misspelled paper, or the clean, nice, very boring paper. ??***
I read somewhere recently that some business execs argue that typos, mistakes in spelling and grammar in corporate text gives an 'organize sense' to a company; proving that it has a human face. I strongly disagree. Anybody who's educated enough to notice the typo is going to have a negative response to it, especially in a professional setting. The more professional, the more shocking it is to see a typo.
This particular business exec made lots and lots of mistakes in spelling, including the damnably easy things like "theirs/there's", "its/it's", "a/an". I can tell from his writing that he's a successful guy; good executive position of a large company, beautiful family, and I can't help wondering how he got so far in life making those spelling errors. Sure they're fine for a rough draft, for instant messaging and maybe even informal emails - but to turn in a college or postgraduate term paper with errors like that is both insulting and embarrassing.
It's hard to find an excuse. Ok, maybe his spelling sucks. Maybe that has never stopped him (he seems to have a strong personality) in getting ahead. Maybe the 'real men' of the business world all can't spell, but just drink whiskey and play golf and make obscene jokes and that's enough. I don't know.
For most people out there, I would strongly urge you to be more careful. Maybe you're not a gifted writer... but at least you can turn in a clean paper.
***side note: I wonder, actually, if I were a teacher, would I prefer the creative, well written but horribly misspelled paper, or the clean, nice, very boring paper. ??***
Typos Matter: Editing and Proofreading ads
I just finished making my first advertisements for my PaperPerfect editing website. I run a small business, so they aren't big and glossy. But they are cute and funny so - go watch and leave comments!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Funny Job Application Typos
Thanks to http://www.economicshelp.org for the hardest laugh I've had in a long time. The following hysterical resume typos are the cream of the crop. Get an editor!
“I have a graduate degree in unclear physics.” (I never understood physics either)
“I worked for 6 years as an uninformed security guard.” (ignorance is bliss)
“My last role was a plumbing and hating specialists.”
• “The academic scholarship I earned came with a plague.” (the cost of university is really too high these days)
• “Most of my experience to this point has been as a blue-color worker.” (was it very cold)
• “As part of the city maintenance crew, I repaired bad roads and defective brides.” (I’m sure you had your work cut out)
• “My career goal is to shave my talents with a growing company.”
• “My hobbies include raising long-eared rabbis as pets.” (Good Luck!)
From: Funniest typos at this is us
Thursday, August 27, 2009
7 steps to publishing your book
I've been an editor for several years, and during that time I've written, edited and published two books of my own. So I have some small idea of what it takes to get published. For aspiring authors with completed manuscripts, or dreamers who are still making notes, keep these 7 tips in mind as you begin the publishing process.
1) Don't rush! Take your time, write a first draft. Then put it away for 3 months and come back very critically. Write it again, and again. Most authors are excited about what should be their 'rough draft' - get it professionally edited (which fixes the little stuff like typos when the big stuff is so much more important) and then send it out. If your amazing title/novel/non-fiction book idea gets rejected because you hurried the process, you won't be able to pitch it to the same people later on!
2) Look at the forest, not the trees. Look at the big picture. The timeline, the story, the overall message. Make sure your story matters; the story is important for readers - readers will stick with a good story even if the writing is terrible. Likewise, if your writing is GREAT but you make crucial errors in plot, timing, characterization etc... you will lose your readers. Don't worry about specific passages or words, worry about what happens, and why, and why it MATTERS.
3) Create conflict! Good stories are never be about nice, beautiful things. They are about challenge and growth. Even if you don't like the idea of a 'format' - you should have characters that face obstacles, enemies, hardships, challenges. These should GET WORSE throughout the book. Nothing should be resolved until the very, very end. Show readers the very worst possible thing that could happen - and then make it happen!
4) Have realistic characters. If you're writing a historical piece - research exactly how people talked during that time; don't guess. For anything modern or current, make sure the character sounds believable. When people talk to each other, we usually use very simple words. If you wouldn't say it to a friend while chatting online, don't have your character say it (unless you mean them to sound pretentious!) Also make sure your characters do things for a reason, and that whatever they are doing is very important to them.
5) Focus on your plot. Every scene needs to have something that happens to further the plot. No exceptions. Everything the characters see, do, say, touch or feel must be relevant to the final outcome of the story (it should lead to greater conflict, and then final resolution). Most writers have very pleasant or well-written scenes that break this rule. Once you've begun your story, readers are interested in what's going to happen with the main plot - subplots are only allowed if they are absolutely necessary for the conclusion of the main plot. If it doesn't bring the story into more conflict or closer to resolution, it's a detour and readers will hate it - I know it's tough but it must be cut out.
6) Make it marketable. This includes having a brilliant title, awesome chapter headings, electric openings and thrilling chapter conclusions. You'll also need a perfect query letter. There are lots of resources on the internet about these things. Before you even begin to look for agents or publishers, you MUST present a finished, professional final package. While your package will be of no use without a great book as well - having a great book without such a package is just as useless. A non-fiction book proposal is more demanding, but also easier to get accepted. The trick is research, preparation and diligence; not as much fun as writing but twice as important if you want to get published.
7) Agents, then publishers. There is no rule on who to submit to; but my advice is agents first, publishers later. Agents are only interested in potentially best-selling books, which will generate enough profit for them to make decent cut. Agents will help get your book into a bigger publishing house, for more money - and that's great. So by all means, contact all the agents in the world (that are reputable and deal with your genre or subject matter) and wait at least 1 month to hear from them. If they all reject you, don't fret. It can mean one of two things:
1) Your book isn't good enough. Triple check it, have an editor or book club review it and make it better.
2) Your book isn't 'mainstream' enough. If you know your book is brilliant, but you recognize that it isn't for everybody, then there's a reason agents don't want you. Look for a publishing house that has published similar titles. Any small publishing house is fine - getting it 'published' by anybody will carry more weight for your career later than self publishing it, it will also give you a huge confidence boost. Don't worry about the money for the first book. Concentrate on learning the business of publishing and getting your book in print; after you've succeeded once, you can do it again.
Never, never, never give up! There is someone out there who wants to read what you want to write - but at the same time, make sure you learn your craft well enough to make it worth their time.
1) Don't rush! Take your time, write a first draft. Then put it away for 3 months and come back very critically. Write it again, and again. Most authors are excited about what should be their 'rough draft' - get it professionally edited (which fixes the little stuff like typos when the big stuff is so much more important) and then send it out. If your amazing title/novel/non-fiction book idea gets rejected because you hurried the process, you won't be able to pitch it to the same people later on!
2) Look at the forest, not the trees. Look at the big picture. The timeline, the story, the overall message. Make sure your story matters; the story is important for readers - readers will stick with a good story even if the writing is terrible. Likewise, if your writing is GREAT but you make crucial errors in plot, timing, characterization etc... you will lose your readers. Don't worry about specific passages or words, worry about what happens, and why, and why it MATTERS.
3) Create conflict! Good stories are never be about nice, beautiful things. They are about challenge and growth. Even if you don't like the idea of a 'format' - you should have characters that face obstacles, enemies, hardships, challenges. These should GET WORSE throughout the book. Nothing should be resolved until the very, very end. Show readers the very worst possible thing that could happen - and then make it happen!
4) Have realistic characters. If you're writing a historical piece - research exactly how people talked during that time; don't guess. For anything modern or current, make sure the character sounds believable. When people talk to each other, we usually use very simple words. If you wouldn't say it to a friend while chatting online, don't have your character say it (unless you mean them to sound pretentious!) Also make sure your characters do things for a reason, and that whatever they are doing is very important to them.
5) Focus on your plot. Every scene needs to have something that happens to further the plot. No exceptions. Everything the characters see, do, say, touch or feel must be relevant to the final outcome of the story (it should lead to greater conflict, and then final resolution). Most writers have very pleasant or well-written scenes that break this rule. Once you've begun your story, readers are interested in what's going to happen with the main plot - subplots are only allowed if they are absolutely necessary for the conclusion of the main plot. If it doesn't bring the story into more conflict or closer to resolution, it's a detour and readers will hate it - I know it's tough but it must be cut out.
6) Make it marketable. This includes having a brilliant title, awesome chapter headings, electric openings and thrilling chapter conclusions. You'll also need a perfect query letter. There are lots of resources on the internet about these things. Before you even begin to look for agents or publishers, you MUST present a finished, professional final package. While your package will be of no use without a great book as well - having a great book without such a package is just as useless. A non-fiction book proposal is more demanding, but also easier to get accepted. The trick is research, preparation and diligence; not as much fun as writing but twice as important if you want to get published.
7) Agents, then publishers. There is no rule on who to submit to; but my advice is agents first, publishers later. Agents are only interested in potentially best-selling books, which will generate enough profit for them to make decent cut. Agents will help get your book into a bigger publishing house, for more money - and that's great. So by all means, contact all the agents in the world (that are reputable and deal with your genre or subject matter) and wait at least 1 month to hear from them. If they all reject you, don't fret. It can mean one of two things:
1) Your book isn't good enough. Triple check it, have an editor or book club review it and make it better.
2) Your book isn't 'mainstream' enough. If you know your book is brilliant, but you recognize that it isn't for everybody, then there's a reason agents don't want you. Look for a publishing house that has published similar titles. Any small publishing house is fine - getting it 'published' by anybody will carry more weight for your career later than self publishing it, it will also give you a huge confidence boost. Don't worry about the money for the first book. Concentrate on learning the business of publishing and getting your book in print; after you've succeeded once, you can do it again.
Never, never, never give up! There is someone out there who wants to read what you want to write - but at the same time, make sure you learn your craft well enough to make it worth their time.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Self-help and personal growth book editing and proofreading
I've been noticing lately a huge number of new writing projects that involve self help or personal growth. That's great for me, because I love editing and proofreading these kinds of books. As a philosophy/religion major with an esoteric bent and interest in mysticism, I can't think of a better way to spend my day than perusing a self-help book.
However - unfortunately, many authors seems to be churning out self-help manuscripts intent on writing a best-seller and making lots of money, rather than actually saying something interesting. And so some of the books I'm getting are really about 100K of fluff - which is a waste of my time (and the author's).
Yes, self-help books can be very profitable. Everybody likes to read about how they can fulfill their dreams and get whatever they want, and will always be interested in learning new skills to make that happen.
But if you want them to buy your book, you need to provide them with something in return! Here are some tips.
1)You must teach some practical skill, tip or technique. Everybody knows the common "think positively" or "imagine what you want" or "never give up" bs. You need something more clever, something new. You need a principle, or a 5-step process, or 10 rules to live by. Something concrete, yet simple.
2) In the introduction, tell readers all about the book, what they will learn, what you will provide, you're 7 steps or whatever. Don't 'withhold' - give. Entice.
3) Every chapter should be about one thing and one thing only. Explain it (in your own words!!) for several pages BEFORE you get into analogies, examples, parables and anecdotes. I've seen self-help books that are ONLY analogies, examples, parables and anecdotes... without any content. Make sure your examples are uplifting, motivational, specific, and true - and relevant to what you are saying.
4) Be simple. Write in a clean, conversational tone. Many of the best selling self-help books in the world have been kid-stuff, like 'how moved my cheese' or 'the alchemist' or 'Jonathan livingston seagull'. (And if you haven't read those - you should).
If you have a you have a self-help or personal growth book you need editing and proofreading for, or if you have any other great project that you need edited, contact me at teosocrates(at)yahoo.com, or visit my website www.paper-perfect-editing.com for a free and instant price quote.
However - unfortunately, many authors seems to be churning out self-help manuscripts intent on writing a best-seller and making lots of money, rather than actually saying something interesting. And so some of the books I'm getting are really about 100K of fluff - which is a waste of my time (and the author's).
Yes, self-help books can be very profitable. Everybody likes to read about how they can fulfill their dreams and get whatever they want, and will always be interested in learning new skills to make that happen.
But if you want them to buy your book, you need to provide them with something in return! Here are some tips.
1)You must teach some practical skill, tip or technique. Everybody knows the common "think positively" or "imagine what you want" or "never give up" bs. You need something more clever, something new. You need a principle, or a 5-step process, or 10 rules to live by. Something concrete, yet simple.
2) In the introduction, tell readers all about the book, what they will learn, what you will provide, you're 7 steps or whatever. Don't 'withhold' - give. Entice.
3) Every chapter should be about one thing and one thing only. Explain it (in your own words!!) for several pages BEFORE you get into analogies, examples, parables and anecdotes. I've seen self-help books that are ONLY analogies, examples, parables and anecdotes... without any content. Make sure your examples are uplifting, motivational, specific, and true - and relevant to what you are saying.
4) Be simple. Write in a clean, conversational tone. Many of the best selling self-help books in the world have been kid-stuff, like 'how moved my cheese' or 'the alchemist' or 'Jonathan livingston seagull'. (And if you haven't read those - you should).
If you have a you have a self-help or personal growth book you need editing and proofreading for, or if you have any other great project that you need edited, contact me at teosocrates(at)yahoo.com, or visit my website www.paper-perfect-editing.com for a free and instant price quote.
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