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Next Program Meeting: Thursday, May 15
Next Networking Event: Thursday, June 5
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Indexing Basics: Learn from an Expert
 Did you ever read a book without an index and then want to go back and look something up? That’s when you really appreciate an index. Or did the book have an index, but you still couldn’t find what you were looking for? That’s when you really appreciate a good indexer.
Indexing is an integral part of editing for authors, publishers, academics, and other clients. Although most SD/PEN members may never be asked to provide an index for a manuscript, it certainly behooves us to know what indexing is all about.
Get ready for a program meeting with an informational overview of editorial indexing presented by SD/PEN expert Catherine Barr of Under the Oaks Indexing. Spend an evening learning the ins and outs of indexing by attending this educational, hands-on program. Catherine’s putting us to work. Please bring a highlighter and a colored pen—you’re going to be indexing!
Catherine will close her presentation with a question and answer period.
RSVP by replying to this email no later than noon on Thursday, May 15.
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Meeting Details
Thursday, May 15, 2014
6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
San Diego Room
County Health Services Complex
3851 Rosecrans St.
San Diego 92110
Google Map
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Making It Work: Building Your Editing Client Base
By Camille Cloutier
 SD/PEN members at the March 20 meeting were in for a treat—Andrea Susan Glass of Writers Way presented “Making It Work: Building Your Editing Client Base.” She discussed the important elements to consider when marketing editing and writing businesses. A panel of SD/PEN members followed Andrea: Shirley Clukey, Katy Laundrie, and Katie Barry. They provided personal information about searching for work and clients for those who are seeking employment, as well as for those who work independently.
Twice yearly, Andrea teaches Marketing for Copyeditors at UCSD Extension in the copyediting program. Andrea stated that one of the biggest hurdles to overcome in marketing is an individual’s lack of confidence. She pointed out that confidence will grow, and at the outset one must just “fake it until you make it.” A good approach is to follow a linear, step-by-step system regarding marketing. The four essential steps are:
- Identify your strongest areas of expertise and determine some target markets in order to define your business. Follow up with developing a plan and deciding on the materials that might be required in order to proceed.
- Develop what your marketing message will be and create appropriate promotional materials and presentations to convey your message to the target market.
- Decide on which marketing strategies to use, both online and off, such as networking, speaking, and writing.
- Create a three-month marketing plan and schedule, and be sure to review and revise it every three months.
One of the essential questions to ask oneself is: Why become a copyeditor? Of course, the obvious answer is: To make money. But you also need to know why someone would require the skills of a copyeditor. It might be necessary to educate prospective clients.
Andrea suggests choosing one of two different paths; either accept a copyediting job or identify a special niche for yourself, one that allows you to stand out from others. She went on to outline these strategies to consider, both for beginners and for more experienced individuals who need to refresh and update their marketing plans.
- Use the term “Service Professional” rather than “Freelancer.”
- Identify your strongest area of work—your preferred skill—and your target market.
- Identify your preferred genre, or type of project.
- Determine your preferred subject matter.
- Decide in which type of industry you would like to work.
- Consider who might be your ideal client, both demographically (characteristics of human population, including location/distribution) and psychographically (values, attitudes, interests, lifestyles).
She closed by saying, “Your marketing plan pulls together all the information you’ve accumulated and sets up the actions that you’ll take to reach your goals.” She discussed briefly what your marketing plan is designed to do—help you attract new clients and retain existing ones. She urged us to be consistent, even if busy, and look at it every three months. However, she counseled never to use a marketing strategy with which you are not comfortable.
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SD/PEN Networking Event
Thursday, June 5, 2014 – 6:00–9:30 p.m.
Get ready for fun, food, games, and networking.
Cost: Free to members; $10.00 for nonmembers.
The San Diego Woman’s Club
North Room
2557 Third Ave.
San Diego 92103
RSVP by Tuesday, June 3, to Katie Barry, board secretary, at katieabarry@gmail.com.
Lone Writers/Editors Lunch
Friday, May 16, 2014 – 11:30 a.m.
Karl Strauss Brewing Company
9675 Scranton Rd.
San Diego 92121
RSVP by Thursday, May 15, to Kathy Moore at
kmoore@reactiondesign.com.
The Associated Press 2014 Stylebook Launches May 28, 2014
Do you know the new AP rules on which state names to spell out and in what context?
Did you know that AP recently removed the distinction between “over” and “more than”?
Maybe it’s time to update your copy of the Stylebook!
Go to https://www.apstylebook.com/?do=help&q=50 to order.
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Sharon Penny joined the board on March 14, 2014 as our vice president of communications and marketing. We’re thrilled to have her contributing her many talents, including photography as our new events photographer, to SD/PEN.
Sharon has more than 30 years of experience as a seasoned communications professional. Her expertise includes writing, editing, marketing communications, grants, and photojournalism.
Sharon is currently operating as a freelance writer/photographer for her own firm, Sharon Penny Communications. She retired last summer from San Diego State University, where she served as director of communications for the division of student affairs for 15 years. Prior to that, she oversaw communications for a small, managed healthcare company, a large financial institution, and a mid-size publishing firm.
She holds a master of science degree in Mass Communication and a bachelor of arts degree in Journalism, both from San Diego State University. She also holds a certificate in Grant Writing.
Even though her vocation is writing and photography, these are two passions that spill out in Sharon's personal life. She loves to document family history through words and images. She also enjoys reading, gardening, her dogs, jewelry making, and hiking in the mountains.
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We are pleased to welcome the following people who joined SD/PEN in March and April!
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Editorial Bootcamp with Laura Poole
By Lynette M. Smith
If you missed it, you really missed it! Laura Poole shared a wealth of information with those in attendance at SD/PEN’s March 15 Editorial Bootcamp at Hera Hub in Sorrento Valley. The morning session focused on editing concepts and skills, with particular emphasis on copyediting; the theme for the afternoon session was the business aspect of editing.
 Laura, founder and senior editor of Archer Editorial Services, Inc., has more than 15 years of experience freelancing for some of the most prestigious academic names in publishing, such as Oxford University Press and Duke University Press. From her insider’s viewpoint, she observed that publishers seldom keep copyeditors on staff, so there is plenty of work for freelancers who seek it out.
Tools of the Trade
Laura considers the following three references and style guides to be “absolutely essential to your bookshelf”:
- Chicago Manual of Style, 16th edition—used by all university presses
- Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition
- Columbia Guide to Standard American English—an especially useful grammar guide
The following were then described as “also very good to have”:
- Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition
- Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus
- Yahoo! Style Guide
- American Medical Association Style Guide
- Associated Press Stylebook
The most important reference for an editing project is the style sheet. If a style sheet doesn’t already exist for a project, a copyeditor should create one, sometimes for a single large project and other times as a guide for a series of projects for a given client.
Copyediting Concepts
Clients generally want copyediting done well, inexpensively, and quickly; Laura said they could “pick any two.”
A good copyeditor is consistent but flexible and respects the author’s voice; is creative in problem solving; is comfortable working on-screen; and follows (creating, if necessary) a style sheet. When working with a manuscript, assess it in terms of size, turnaround, level of edit, and special elements that may be present. Be aware of anything that changes the scope as it was originally described or assumed. When scope or complexity turns out to be greater than first represented, it is acceptable to ask for an extension in turnaround time.
Before copyediting a document, first prep it (format or “scrub” it) to bring consistency to margins, first-line paragraph indents, line spacing, and so on. It is more efficient to perform these tasks in the master (unified) document, only afterwards splitting the project into smaller documents, such as by chapter, to copyedit individually.
With regard to querying the author, Laura suggested being bold and making most of the decisions yourself, but trusting your gut when deciding to query. She said to query with “a light touch,” such as requesting a yes or no answer or offering options if possible. Whenever you may have inadvertently changed a meaning, query “Have I kept your meaning?”
Good Work Habits
Laura strongly recommended backing up files as well as keeping client files for three to six months. Good time management was encouraged, taking particular care to meet the deadlines of first-time clients and to avoid overcommitting in the first place.
Batching is one technique for working on large projects for clients in a hurry. It involves providing the work to the client in installments so you can continue to work on the remaining portion; but “the downside to batching is that you must be very confident that the first batch is completely correct.”
Wrapping It Up
The entire day was filled with many helpful tips for copyediting and productive discussion about the many aspects of operating an editing business. Laura Poole was the perfect educator and facilitator, and the Editorial Bootcamp handbook received by each attendee is a valuable, lasting resource.
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Dear Members,
 Summer is just around the corner. As you’re making those family plans, don’t forget to save some special time for yourself. Thursday night come out and test your hand at indexing when Catherine Barr of Under the Oaks Indexing tries to teach us a thing or two. June 5 is a special night to kick back and enjoy some food and games while getting to know your fellow SD/PEN members. And July 20 you’ll get an in-depth look at how photographs and graphics work hand in hand with your editing projects. Mark those calendars!
On a more serious note, the editorial world recently lost two well-known editors—one to illness, one to accident. Amy Einsohn, author of the highly respected Copyeditor’s Handbook, died in February after a long illness. Amy’s work is known to many editors because it is required reading for all of the copyediting courses at UC Berkeley and San Diego. Amy was a talented editor, kind educator, and generous mentor of editors. Read Amy’s article “Are Editors Born or Made?” in our Site Seeing section.
Some of you may also recognize the name Adrianne Wadewitz; many of you may have just come across one of her more than 49,000 Wikipedia edits in your online searches. Wikipedia says that Adrianne may have been their single biggest contributor on female authors and women’s history. Adrianne, 37, was rock climbing, a newly discovered passion, in Joshua Tree National Park in March when she fell. She died from her injuries in April.
Life is tenuous at best—make the most of it. Here’s wishing all SD/PEN members a happy and healthy summer.
I look forward to seeing you soon,
Melanie Astaire Witt
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Call for Submissions
Members, if you’ve come across a handy or entertaining website, newsletter, app, or other resource, or read a useful book that you’d be willing to write a short review of for us, please let us know and we’ll include it in the newsletter.
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