When I first started working with comics, I went looking for a reference book that covered all the important elements of editorial style I’d need to know: the dashes, the crossbar I’s, the bold italics, how to recognize problems with caption boxes and speech balloons
Read MoreIf you have a question about editing or the editing business but don’t have any colleagues to ask, where do you go? Over the years, more than a few places have popped up online to talk shop, get recommendations, or vent frustrations, both publicly and privately.
Read MoreI’d like to think I’ve always been reasonably mindful about having good posture and a comfortable setup when I work, but I definitely got a lot more mindful about it when I left my in-house job and started working full-time from a home office in 2017.
Read MoreConsistency in plot, character, timeline, setting, and other elements is a key part of making a story feel cohesive. I’ve collected a handful of tools that writers and editors can use to keep track of key details in fiction.
Read MoreOne problem you’ll run into in almost any stock library is that a lot of images are pretty stereotypical and don’t tend to feature a lot of diversity. That’s why whenever I find a new site with free-use images that show underrepresented groups in positive and stereotype-free ways, I immediately add it to my bookmarks.
Read MoreIn fall 2021, I got an email out of the blue from a producer with Endless Thread, a podcast from Boston NPR affiliate WBUR. The podcast was doing a series all about memes, and he wanted to know whether I’d talk to them briefly about “Darmok” and the 2018 ACES conference as a jumping-off point for one of the episodes.
Read MoreTwitter can be a great space to keep up with what people are talking about, make connections, market yourself or your business, and find job opportunities. But for people who aren’t used to it, it can be a little intimidating. Luckily, there are some easy ways to get your feet wet before deciding whether you want to go all in.
Read MoreAlthough you might associate the site with in-house positions, it can be a great tool for freelancers to show off skills and experience, keep in touch with existing networking contacts, forge new connections, and market themselves to potential clients. Even if you’re already swimming in work, it never hurts to establish another way for people to find you.
Read MoreFor many professionals, getting a directory listing is one of the big perks of joining an association like the Professional Editors Network. It’s proof of your membership, it’s a way to reach a targeted audience, and it’s a valuable platform for marketing your services—especially if you don’t have your own website. So how do you set yourself apart from other people in the directory and make sure you’re getting as many client eyes on your listing as possible?
Read MoreI first heard the words “mastermind group” at a professional conference in 2019, and in classic Baader-Meinhof style, I kept hearing it over the course of the weekend from person after person. They all explained it was a type of mutual professional mentoring group that people used to keep each other accountable and help each other learn. It sounded interesting, but I wasn’t sure it would be my kind of thing.
Read MoreI see a fair amount of confusion among both writers and readers about the term indie publishing. And I’m not surprised—because it can refer to one of at least two different things.
Read MoreOne of the great things about editing as a career is that you don’t need to invest in a ton of fancy equipment or supplies to get started. In most cases, you just need access to a computer and your style guide and dictionary of choice. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of things out there that make the job easier.
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