The Editor's Companion: An Indispensable Guide to Editing Books, Magazines, Online Publications, and More

by Steve Dunham

Excel at editing!

The editor's job encompasses much more than correcting commas and catching typos. Your chief mission is to help writers communicate effectively--which is no small feat. Whether you edit books, magazines, newspapers, or online publications, your ability to develop clear, concise, and focused writing is the key to your success.

The Editor's Companion is an invaluable guide to honing your editing skills. You'll learn about editing

   •  Analyze and develop writing that is appealing and appropriate for the intended audience.
   •  Ensure strong beginnings and satisfying endings, and stick with one subject at a time.
   • PRECISE Choose the right words, the right voice, and the right tense for every piece.
   •  Recognize common mistakes in punctuation, parts of speech, and sentence structure--and learn how to avoid them.
You'll also find valuable editing resources and checklists, advice on editorial relationships and workflow, and real-life samples of editing with explanations of what was changed and why. The Editor's Companion provides the tools you need to pursue high quality in editing, writing, and publishing--every piece, every time.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference, Crafts

240 pages, Paperback

First published November 21, 2014

Reviews

[Bridget Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though full of invaluable information, I found it difficult to get through and ended up skipping around and reading only the parts that were most relevant to my needs.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book! It's meant for editors, but writers can benefit from what Mr. Dunham has to say as well.

[Elie Jerome · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very informative. By reading this book, anyone from any field will acquire knowledge and skills needed to edit a document. Steve Dunham point out some keys elements that make a book great such as good grammar, plain language, accuracy, and easy read. He also warn writers about the use of abbreviations, prepositions, adverbs, semi-colons, and many other subjects.

I've learned that good editing means making sure that:
1- The readers won't have to read a paragraph twice to understand it
2- The names of the characters, dates, and facts are accurate throughout the book
3- Pronouns match their verbs
4-The verbs used are appropriate. A verb can change the meaning of a sentence and convey different message to readers
I became aware that using too much vocabulary may take away the readers' attention from the story and have them looking for definitions in the dictionary. The author shares information about the resources that are available to help writers do a good editing. I highly recommend this book.

[Paul Belanger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everybody needs a little editing in their lives. I remember seeing someone wearing a baseball jersey that said COUCH on the back. Maybe he was just trying to be funny. Maybe he was actually the coach and oh, what an example that must have made.

This book is a great reference for anyone and I'll be keeping it on my shelf. The author gives plenty of examples as well as a great chapter on the ones that got away. In some ways I expected this book to be dry, like a college textbook. It is interesting as well as being educational. I can't believe it took me almost a year to go through it. I guess, once again, life got in the way.

[Aria-Joshes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was originally to help me improve my paid newsletter. Now it’s inspired my career direction. So I will be reading more books like these so I can become an editor, myself. It has helped me continue to read the slap as sometimes I find the book vulgar and need some intellectual reading to balance it out. Thankyou Steve for your advice and making this book inspire me to go in a better direction re my career and use of my Bachelors Degree.

[Michaela Classen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very helpful introduction and guide to the art of editing. Dunham's style is relaxed, down-to-earth, and tactfully humorous. His material is practical and useful. His goal is to equip editors (especially the up-and-coming) to help writers communicate accurately and excellently and thereby serve their readers. This book leads by example.

[John Williams]

A very useful text based on the central principle that it is your job to make reading as easy as possible for the reader. Easier said then done, or course, but Dunham walks with you through how to get it done. No, Goodreads, my review does not have spoilers. Unless you count the announcement that "Of course this book has a section on 'that' vs. 'which'" as a spoiler.

[Evangeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sure that if I were an actual editor, I would have gotten a lot more out of this book. Overall it had some useful writing tips as far as the editing process, but it was more technical editing than writing.

[Alexander Dunford | Writer | Artist · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was assigned to read and discuss this book for my editing class. There is nothing sexy about it, but it accomplishes, quite well, the task at hand: improving your writing for the reader.

It is something that should be on every writer's bookshelf.

Happy Reading,
www.w-alexander.com

[Jack Woodbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still maintain, as the great philosopher Brian David Gilbert once said, “nobody has ever enjoyed reading, or writing, an academic textbook.” That being said, this one was highly informative and I wasn’t filled with dread of impending death by boredom whenever my professor assigned a chapter.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good tips and techniques, but with the focus on non-fiction editing, it wasn't as helpful for me as I was hoping.

[Joni Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful, organized reference guide on editing.

[Judi Bachmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clearly written book, with lots of tips and resources. An excellent companion to any editor's bookshelf.

[Nick Angiers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of great tips, and hilarious real-life mistakes that publishers have made.

[Grace Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impeccably written. Fascinating stuff.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for writers

[Ted Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent editing reference book. Easy read and understood.