More about editing

Big editorial matters

Traditionally this is the task of publishers or editorial directors. Today, literary agents often get involved, too, frequently before the manuscript ever gets submitted. For other projects a highly experienced editor might well be asked to take the author’s work all the way from draft to final submitted text. Alistair at Lexis, as a long-time publisher, senior editor and copy-editor, is well placed to take on such projects.

Computerised editing

This is perhaps a misnomer because all good editing really does require the human touch and the calm, diplomatic negotiation between author and editor. However, in the right hands modern tech and coding principles can bring huge efficiency benefits, including helping to make things consistent, and searching for common errors. GREPS, xml, and cunning use of coding can streamline things, allowing more time for the real, human work.

Ethics and voice

I recognise the importance of editorial ethics, and of author voice, and how one should approach the delicate task of altering the words (the copyrighted intellectual property) of another. This it not always about ‘correcting’, for there are occasions when non-standard English is best. It is all about removing hindrances between what an author wants to convey and what their intended audience needs to understand from the text.