The Subversive Copy Editor: Advice from Chicago

by Carol Fisher Saller

Each year writers and editors submit over three thousand grammar and style questions to the Q&A page at The Chicago Manual of Style Online. Some are arcane, some simply hilarious—and one editor, Carol Fisher Saller, reads every single one of them. All too often she notes a classic author-editor standoff, wherein both parties refuse to compromise on the "rights" and "wrongs" of prose styling: "This author is giving me a fit." "I wish that I could just DEMAND the use of the serial comma at all times." "My author wants his preface to come at the end of the book. This just seems ridiculous to me. I mean, it’s not a post-face."

In The Subversive Copy Editor, Saller casts aside this adversarial view and suggests new strategies for keeping the peace. Emphasizing habits of carefulness, transparency, and flexibility, she shows copy editors how to build an environment of trust and cooperation. One chapter takes on the difficult author; another speaks to writers themselves. Throughout, the focus is on serving the reader, even if it means breaking "rules" along the way. Saller’s own foibles and misadventures provide ample material: "I mess up all the time," she confesses. "It’s how I know things."

Writers, Saller acknowledges, are only half the challenge, as copy editors can also make trouble for themselves. (Does any other book have an index entry that says "terrorists. See copy editors"?) The book includes helpful sections on e-mail etiquette, work-flow management, prioritizing, and organizing computer files. One chapter even addresses the special concerns of freelance editors.

Saller’s emphasis on negotiation and flexibility will surprise many copy editors who have absorbed, along with the dos and don’ts of their stylebooks, an attitude that their way is the right way. In encouraging copy editors to banish their ignorance and disorganization, insecurities and compulsions, the Chicago Q&A presents itself as a kind of alter ego to the comparatively staid Manual of Style. In The Subversive Copy Editor, Saller continues her mission with audacity and good humor.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference, Language, Business, School, Professional Development

134 pages, Paperback

First published March 16, 2009

About the author

Honors for Saller's children’s books include Kirkus Best, Bank Street Best, Horn Book Recommended Verse, NCSS/CBC Notables, the Carl Sandburg Award for Children’s Literature, the Midland Authors Award for Children’s Fiction, and Chicago Public Library’s Best Teen Fiction.

A professional manuscript editor for many years at the University of Chicago Press, Carol is also author of the book and blog The Subversive Copy Editor and contributing editor to The Chicago Manual of Style. She lives in Chicago.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun and witty book -- however, for anyone with significant editorial experience, it's probably less copy editing guide and more pep talk. Unfortunately, after reading it, I discovered that I couldn't point to many specific tips or tools I gained along the way. (I had a stack of stickies with me at all times while reading and had planned to put them on any page with great insights I could apply at work. I used two.)

Now if you're looking for a fellow editor with whom you can share a few inside jokes on the profession, you'll definitely find that here. The Monthly Q&As in particular made me laugh out loud. (Then I had to explain to my daughters why I was laughing ... they smiled politely and went promptly back to the pool.) In the end, though, I started tiring of all the funny asides to the reader and was disappointed in the lack of takeaways.

[Brian Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking beyond the printed page, Saller offers her experience dealing with the people issues, the organizational problems, the priority setting or the negotiating skills needed to stay sane in an editing career. In general, she's a force for greater social and emotional intelligence in the field.

[محمد یوسفی‌شیرازی · Rating 4 out of 5]

مهارت ویرایش و حرفه‌ی ویراستاری بااینکه چند دهه‌ای است به ایران راه یافته و بیش‌وکم رونقی گرفته، هنوز از بسیاری جنبه‌ها موضوعی نکاویده است و می‌شود گفت در مقایسه با کشورهایی که صنعت نشر پیشرفته‌ای دارند، هنوز ما راهی دراز در پیش داریم و کارهای نکرده‌ی فراوانی پیش رویمان است. یکی از جنبه‌های این مهارت که در جامعه‌ی ما کمتر به آن پرداخته‌اند، وجه شغلی آن است؛ یعنی مهارت‌ها و توانمندی‌هایی سوای آموزه‌های علمی و ادبی و زبان‌شناختی که ویراستار در عمل به آن محتاج است و در دوره‌های آموزش ویرایش هم چندان به آن اعتنایی نمی‌کنند.

مثلاً در کمتر کلاس و کارگاه ویرایشی یاد می‌دهند که ویراستار با صاحب‌اثر چگونه باید صحبت و برخورد کند تا خرده‌هایی که به متن می‌گیرد، برخورنده نباشد و کار پیش برود. یا مثلاً نگفته‌اند کسی که مهارت ویرایش را تا اندازه‌ای یاد گرفته، کارش را از کجا و چطور می‌تواند آغاز کند و رفتار حرفه‌ای در تعامل‌های کاری ویراستارانه به چه صورت است. کمتر ویراستاری تجربه‌های شغلی‌اش از این حرفه را برای دیگران بازگو کرده و برای همین، زیروبم مذاکره‌ها و چانه‌زنی‌ها و همین‌طور قول‌وقرارها و قرارومدارهای کاری ویرایشی تا حد زیادی ناشناخته مانده است.

این کتاب با شیرین‌گویی‌ها و طنازی‌های کرول سلر و ترجمه‌ی خوب و خوش‌خوانِ فاطمه ترابی، در شناساندن وجه حرفه‌ای کارِ ویراستاری و گرفتاری‌هایی که در کار پراصطکاک ویرایش پیش می‌آید، اثری به‌غایت کارآمد و خواندنی از آب درآمده است؛ خصوصاً از این رو که به‌خلاف پاره‌ای دیگر از آثار ترجمه‌شده دراین‌باره، موضوع آن به دغدغه‌ها و گرفتاری‌هایی که ویراستار ایرانی نوعاً با آن دست‌به‌گریبان می‌شود، نزدیک‌تر است. کرول سلر با بیانی گیرا کوشیده است از پشت‌پرده‌ی کار ویراستاری و به‌ویژه اختلاف‌‌ها و اصطکاک‌های پایان‌ناپذیری که میان ویراستار و صاحب‌اثر و همین‌طور ویراستار و ویراستار درمی‌گیرد، پرده بردارد.

توصیه‌هایی که او برای تعامل سازنده و مؤثرِ ویراستار با صاحب‌اثر و همکاران پیش کشیده، به‌طور کلی سه تا است: ۱. دقت؛ ۲. شفافیت؛ ۳. انعطاف. سلر ویراستار را در درجه‌ی اول به دقت هرچه بیشتر در کارش فرامی‌خواند؛ زیرا ویراستاری کاری است که بیش از هر چیز به باریک‌بینی نیازمند است. توصیه‌ی دیگرِ‌ او به شفاف‌کردن فرایند کار است. ویراستار باید برای کم‌کردن کشمکش‌ها، فرایند ویرایش را به‌خوبی با صاحب‌اثر در میان بگذارد و در صورت امکان با او در ارتباط باشد. سومین پند او که به‌نوعی در تعامل‌های کاری مهم‌ترین محسوب می‌شود، انعطاف است. جان کلام او دراین‌باره این است که ویراستار باید بتواند در بسیاری از اوقات از آنچه صحیح و رعایت‌کردنی می‌داند، دست بکشد و با صاحب‌اثر یا همکارانش مدارا کند؛ چراکه اگر چنین نکند، روح و روان و اعصاب خود را ویران می‌کند و در این حرفه دوام نمی‌آورد.

افزون بر این سه نکته‌ی کلی، کتاب حاوی توصیه‌های واقع‌بینانه و بی‌اندازه کارسازی است که هر ویراستار حرفه‌ای بی‌گمان به آن محتاج است؛ از ریزه‌کاری‌های ویرایش رایانه‌ای و روی کاغذ گرفته تا آداب مکاتبه‌ی رایانامه‌ای و خویشتن‌داری و مداراگری و احترام‌گذاری در رابطه‌های شغلی و حرفه‌ای.

[Rachel Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Lots of great advice for editors who need to learn to tame their inner OCD tendencies, as well as justification and advice for dealing with problems that editors face on a regular basis. It was funny, informative, and useful. Definitely a keeper for me! I can't wait to get my own copy to mark up and underline!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy editing: don't go crazy, in every sense of the phrase.

[Bronwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that The Subversive Copy Editor is essential reading for anyone who works as an editor, either in-house for a publishing company or other organisation, or as a freelancer. As most editors will know, the mechanics of editing is often only a fraction of what's required of you in the job, with the added complications of deadlines, accurate record keeping, and navigating difficult relationships with authors occupying the rest of your time. Carol Fisher Saller covers all of these topics and more in an accessible and frequently entertaining book. It prompted me to think about my own work practices, and my strengths, weaknesses, bad habits and pet hates. And although this is a book more for editors than writers, she also includes a chapter aimed at writers that helps to break down some of the misconceptions and communication difficulties that can arise during the occasionally fraught relationship between writers and editors. I really cannot recommend this book highly enough, especially for students and those in the early stages of their career. I'm sure I'll be returning regularly to its pages for editing advice and wisdom.

[maddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

read for editing and proofreading class
ok sooooo this was good in theory but bad bc i had the worst busywork of my life attached to it. Pretty insightful when it came to copyediting and i actually learned some things about the process that i didn’t know before!

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never imagined I would read this book the way I read a trashy novel in summer: quickly and raptly. This certainly has something to do with the fact that the topic is so closely tied to the work I do and Saller manages to impart many bits of new knowledge and insights I will immediately apply. But it is more than that. It is her witty and conversational tone that captivated me. (She must also have had an excellent editor.)

I highly recommend this for any editor - from the substantive and stylistic to the proofreader - and all those who work in almost any capacity with editors (there is even a chapter for writers). An excellent, thoughtful, and useful read.

[Helena · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most important message Saller has for copyeditors, who can sometimes take ourselves too seriously (myself included), is to lighten up--it's just a book. This book contains humor and helpful advice, both for in-house copyeditors and those of us who freelance. I'm considering getting my own copy so I can reread it now and then. Definitely one I'd recommend to fellow editors.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the book was interesting and some good advice, although it's less relevant to the editing that I do. The book is focused more on book editing, so I'd be curious to know what someone from that part of the editing field got out of it.

[Sindhu Anna Jose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for copyeditors. Highly recommend.

[Abby Litrenta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another read for class. This book was pretty good; Saller has a lot of wisdom to offer for the aspiring editor, and I enjoyed the anecdotes from her own editing triumphs and failures. I don’t feel like a learned anything groundbreaking in this book (much of her advice was common sense) but I liked it and may return to a chapter or two later.

[Julia O'Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What some have said about this book is true: it's more of a pep talk than a super informative instruction manual for editing. However, it's a pep that I think editors of all sorts need to hear. Even if you already know these things, it's nice to hear an authoritative source say: calm down, be flexible, don't drive yourself crazy. One of the big things that Carol Fisher Saller combats in The Subversive Copy Editor is the strongly prescriptivist tendencies of those who write and edit--style guides were made to help us, not enslave us. She gives great advice on when to stick strongly to accepted styles and when to let things go. She also lays out guidelines that will help you make these big decisions on your own. Another solid piece of advice she lays on thick is: put value on your own time and sanity. Her big three strategies when you've hit a tough task are 1) automate, 2) delegate, and 3) reevaluate. All good tactics.

She begins each chapter with examples of questions she's received during her time working on the Q&A section of the Chicago Manual of Style website. She ends each chapter with her sometimes serious, sometimes humorous answers.

Also, can I just say how cute this cover is? It's made to look just like a manuscript, from the printed-on rubber bands and paperclips to the yellow post-it on the front.

Anyway, I would consider this a must-read for anyone involved in editing, but especially for freelancers, since she spends a lot of time addressing freelancing-specific problems.

[Shayla Raquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so frustrated that I didn't read this book back when I first started in the editing world. Carol hits hard on all the things we go through as copyeditors, and for that, I'm grateful for such an advocate.

My favorite topics:

1. Working for the Reader, through the Writer — I cannot amen this enough. You aren't really working for the author. Think about it. You're working for the reader. It's your job to keep the reader happy.

2. Know Thy Word Processor — Seriously, folks. This thing needs to work for you, not against you. Learn how to use this bad boy in your favor so you don't pull your pretty locks out.

3. When Things Get Tough — We've all had difficult clients. Sadly, I had to learn how to deal with them through trial and error. Like I said, I should've read this book when I first started. Where is that dang time machine?

Finally, the best part of this book was Carol's wit. When a writer must tackle a seemingly dry topic, she must find a way to captivate and keep the reader's attention. Carol nailed it with humor and sarcasm, and for that, I love her.

Editors, read this right now. Thank me later.

[Ingrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Mamet's book on acting is to ... actors, The Subversive Copy Editor might be a necessary evil/read for copy editors. There were enough points I deemed relatable and helpful that I would recommend it to other copy editors (the freelance section was worth reading it all). Her experiences are second to none and I most enjoyed her examples of what horrors her friends have gone through with writers and fellow editors.

Beware that at times her humor is inconsistent and you won't always feel a huge connection with the author/her narration. However, copy editors unite! Read this book. It'll do you good and does make helpful points at times. And it makes you feel like you're not the only copy editor dealing with these often absurd problems. But don't expect to walk away with a bunch of excerpts to ponder over later.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the required textbook for the first course in my Editing program. And it's a really good book, with lots of great information about copyediting practices, particularly the interpersonal ones. Editors are a supportive, helpful bunch who share a "we're here to help" ethos. The more I learn about editors and editing, the more I understand how widely misunderstood the profession and its practitioners are. This book is both entertaining narrative and source of practical information and strategy for negotiating the editing workplace, whether freelance or in-house.

Word of caution: the Kindle version has some glitchiness with word spacing (oh the irony), so if that really bothers you, get the print version.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written with humor and insight, The Subversive Copy Editor really renewed my faith in what copyediting is supposed to be, and what it isn't. There is no such thing as a perfect manuscript. Copy Editors don't make it perfect. That's not our service. Our service is to the reader and to uphold the author's intention when writing.

An excellent book. Some of it beyond my scope, since a lot of it is focused on onscreen editing, while my job is marking copy on printouts and then making the changes onscreen. But otherwise, a great book. Some of the other copy editors at my office will be borrowing it from me.

[Julie Ehlers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read, and some of the tales of bad/clueless writerly behavior recalled some of my own experiences over the years. While the advice herein is good for any editor to hear, I do think this book is a little more useful for people who are new to copyediting. However, those readers should be aware that not every publisher does things exactly as Saller's does, and also that the book is already a bit dated. A new edition wouldn't be a bad idea.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was probably professionally the single most important book I have ever read, and I am not even technically a copy editor anymore. I'd suggest that you read this if you are in publishing, or, frankly, any other field where you must manage and/or work with other people to produce a timely, error-free, and universally agreeable endproduct.

Re-read in December 2009.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this book turned me off at first but once I gave in and read it, I ended up recommending it to all of our editors at Eternal Press/Damnation Books. This book has practical advice for anyone who edits for a living or is considering it. There is also a chapter included which addresses authors about what to expect from an editor once their book is accepted for publication.

[Clifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book is aimed at copy editors, writers will also appreciate the lessons, charm and humor here. Using anecdotes from many years of copyediting, the author provides tips for areas where flexibility (subversiveness) is allowable, and where it really isn't.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I do much more structural editing than copyediting in my work, I found the insights transferable to almost every aspect of my professional relationships. And (very important) it was highly entertaining! I sailed right through it.

[Zora O'Neill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just now getting around to reading this. Very sensible, and nice there's even a chapter for writers, advising them how best to work with their copy editors. Basic motto of book is "Lighten up," which is refreshing and rare in the world of copy editing.

[Helen Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good companion book for those starting out in editing to sit alongside your reference books. It's full of practical advice that I wholeheartedly agree with. I wish it had been published when I was starting out. An excellent mentor in a book for students of publishing.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A practical, healthy guide.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Q/ Can you tell how to became an editer?

A/ Probably not.

[Emily Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Subversive Copy Editor is an entertaining look at editing that provides a lot of practical advice. It is an excellent resource for editors and writers.

[Masie Zasadny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished this book and actually am sending it to one of the editors on my team. I hope she will learn as much about our industry’s relationships as I did the first time I read it. This was my second time through. I would give it 5 stars (it’s great for everyone in this industry!) but it is very outdated in the chapters regarding technology. Nevertheless, it stays on my shelf as a reference for our team and I will probably read it again and again throughout my career.

[Stacey Kondla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. It has a ton of advice and direction for fledgling copy editors, a chapter written towards authors who may not know what copy editors are good for, and solid general advice on business skills, communication and decorum. It is highly readable with a bit of humour and a worthwhile read for anyone in publishing.

[annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

i'm not gonna do a Fun review of this one bc i read it for school and also it's like. a copyeditor's guide not smth focused on story. but i enjoyed this! the advice was genuinely helpful and i thought saller's voice was compelling and casual enough to pull me in but still informative and educated enough to be of use