This is an EXCELLENT book, IN SPITE OF the previous negative review. I don't know where he got that misleading info. about the book. I doubt he got it from Amazon since I looked and looked for the info. the previous reviewer was refering to and didn't find it. About what he called "propaganda"...I found it quite useful on the book since, at least to me, it worked as very useful information.
It certainly is quite a pity Amazon doesn't have the book Content available.
Just take a look at it and decide for yourself if this book is for you or not:
Content
Preface 9
1. What Do Editors Do? 11
What, Exactly, is "Editorial?" 12
Steps to Writing an Editor's Job Description 19
Sample Job Description 21
More Ideas on Editorial Responsibilities 22
2. Readers and the Publishing Mission 23
Research and the Editor 24
Find the Right Readers 27
It Matters Who You Know 31
Reader Research Plan 32
Editors and Publishing Decisions 33
Statement of Publishing Objectives 35
Editorial Plan Worksheet 36
Three-year Editorial Plan 37
More Ideas on Editorial Planning 38
3. Acquisitions: Where and How to Find Manuscripts 39
Sources of Manuscripts 40
Skill Evaluation: Products from a Variety of Sources 43
Finding Gems Among Fluff 44
Acquisitions Wish List 47
Query Checklist 48
What's Wrong With This Letter? 49
Manuscript Evaluation Checklist 50
Feasibility Check 51
Reader Reaction 52
Name That Book 54
An Editor's Radar 55
Tuning Your Radar 58
Catching Ideas 59
Diamonds in the Rough 60
The Artful Assignment Letter 61
Anatomy of an Assignment Letter 65
Write an Assignment Letter 66
Editorial Guardrails 67
Writers' Guidelines 68
Sample Writers' Guidelines 71
Guidelines Worksheet 72
More Ideas for Finding Manuscripts 74
4. Editor-Writer Relationships 75
Finding Good Writers 76
Editors are Good Neighbors 80
The View Over the Fence 83
Editorial Traits That Build Writers 84
Evaluate Editorial Habits 88
Improve Editorial Habits 89
Getting Through a Book Together 90
Giving Shape to Intuition 93
Editorial Relationship Worksheet 94
Where Did They Go Wrong? 96
I Think, You Think 97
Writers are People, Too 98
Encouragement is Not by Accident 102
Writer Encouragement Plan 103
Case Study 104
Saying "No" 105
Models for Writer Development 106
How Ready are You to Train New Writers? 112
Writer Development Models 113
More Ideas to Improve Editor-Writer Relationships 114
5. How to Edit 115
Edit with Vision 116
Is the Outline Evident? 118
Editing Starts Early 119
Thought Crimes 120
Expose the Core 122
Improving the Manuscript 123
Check the Flow 125
Check the Changes 126
No Specifics, No Substance 127
Editorial Checkpoints 128
Hi-Tech Substantive Editing 130
Desktop Editing Self-Evaluation 132
Copy Cutting 133
Keep it Simple 135
Make Sentences Move 136
Clear and Direct Language 137
Ten Commandments for Copy Editors 138
Clear the Clutter 140
Edit with Precision 142
Proofreaders' Marks 145
Down to the Details 146
Notes on Copy Editor's Corrections 149
Practice Proofing 150
Are You Sure? 151
Fact Sheet for Christian Joy Publishers 152
Create a Style Guide 153
Create Your Own Style Guide 156
More Ideas for Improving Editorial Skills 158
6. Book Series 159
How to Start a Series 160
Case Study: What Went Wrong? 162
Plan a Series 163
More Ideas for Book Series 164
7. Editorial Work and Magazines 165
Before You Begin, Ask! 166
Are You Ready to Launch a Magazine? 169
Why Stick to a Mix? 171
Is the Plan Evident? 173
Pick a Mix 174
Mix Filters 175
Topics Have Different Personalities 176
Developing Regular Features 177
Departments on Display 179
More Ideas for Magazines 180
8. Translations 181
Effective Translations 182
Determining Whether to Translate 185
Evaluate a Foreign Book 187
A Worthwhile Translation 189
Finding the Right Translator 192
Editing Translations 193
Avoid Future Problems 197
More Ideas for Translations 198
9. Production 199
Managing the Editorial Process 200
Schedule Breakdowns 205
Designer Knots 206
Touchstone for Design 208
Pre-publication Design Check 209
Print It Right! 210
"Printerese" 213
Production Planner 214
Quotation Request 215
More Ideas on Production 216
10. Working with a Team 217
Planning is Pacing 218
Staff Meetings 220
Make the Most of Your Staff 222
The Truth Be Told 223
Who's Running the Show? 224
Sounding Board or Hitting Board? 227
Getting to Know You 228
Report Time 229
More Ideas for Working with a Team 230
Appendix I. Contracts 231
Appendix II. Resources for Editors 243
Here you also have the Preface:
Preface
There are many different kinds of editors, but they all work to ready material for
publication. Editors look for writers, read manuscripts, and edit copy, altering, adapting or
refining it according to certain standards, so that it will be suitable for a particular purpose
and for particular readers.
With the explosion of opportunities to fill the needs of readers, through various means
and in countless ways, effective editors are needed more than ever before. Editors have a
critical and important role in this information age.
At many publishing houses, there are dictionaries, thesauruses, books on grammar and
spelling, and even style guides. It is also possible to find books for aspiring writers. Too often,
however, editors lack resources that specifically address editorial tasks.
How should an editor work with authors, with the designer, the salespeople, the
administrator and others in the publishing house? What should an editor do to bring
manuscripts to life and fulfill the organization's mission?
The ten chapters in this book address these issues. They include informative articles,
interesting anecdotes, and exercises to stimulate practical and enjoyable learning. On
ocassion, articles are included that assume editors may be called upon to fulfill a publisher's
role. The book has an international flavor, with contributions from professionals all over the
world for their peers in publishing. All of us who have been a part of this project hope it will
enable editors to be more effective communicators.
Kim A. Pettit
Editor
9
As you can see, fortunately I have a digital copy. This is a book I recommend to any serious editor, copy-editor, reviewer or writer. It will surely broaden your knowledge on how to improve any writing.
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