If you are thinking of publishing a book of your very own, it is always important that you make sure that it is in tip top shape before you release it. This means that you should double check your work for any grammatical errors or misspelled words.
But no matter how skilled you are at editing your work, it always pays to hire a professional for this kind of work. This is because editing takes a great deal of skill to truly master. But before you even think of hiring a copyeditor, it is important that you know what you are looking for.
Here are 5 qualities you should look for in a copyeditor:
- Well read
If there is one quality that a good copyeditor should have, it is to be as well read as possible. To be a copyeditor is to peruse a myriad of manuscripts and to understand the content well enough to notice any errors. And seeing as these manuscripts have varying contents and topics, a truly skilled copyeditor must be well read enough to make the necessary changes in a swift and efficient manner.
For example, you are writing a book on the American Civil War. You are writing about a specific battle and the time and place and the other statistics that are associated with it. You make a mistake on a certain phrase.
This is where a truly professional copyeditor should come in. If your chosen copyeditor is well read, her or she would notice this error right away and correct it. Thus saving you from an embarrassing error. So before you hire any copyeditor, make sure that he or she is well read.
- A thorough researcher
Aside from your copyeditor being well read, he or she must also be a thorough researcher. Although it is always a good thing if your copyeditor is well read on various subjects, it is also important that your copyeditor knows how to do proper research work.
Of course, anyone can do a quick search on the internet for a specific topic. But seeing as there are a myriad of sources out there, and not all of them are trustworthy, the copyeditor must at least be skilled enough to discern which information is legit or not. It is also important that your copyeditor knows how get research information and efficiently use it on the manuscript editing process.
- Meticulous
Yet another quality to look for in a copyeditor, is meticulousness. This is a very important trait because not many people have the skill or the sharp eyes to see an error right away. This is especially true if it is a task as work intensive as copyediting work.
So when you set out to choose a copywriter, make sure to check on his or her previous employers. Ask them whether your potential copyeditor is good with the details. Ask them if he double or even triple checks his work before he moves on.
In a way, it also pays to be meticulous when it comes to looking for a copyeditor.
- Patient
One quality that is extremely valuable in any copyeditor is patience. This is because any kind of copyediting service or job is very work intensive. And the copyeditor is usually expected to spend hours on end poring over a manuscript looking for a misspelled word or badly phrased sentence.
And if a copyeditor does not have the necessary patience for this kind of work, he or she could get careless and make a lot of mistakes. There is also the fact that you will have certain demands during the copyediting process, an additional paragraph here or a few corrections there.
And if your copyeditor is not patient enough to accommodate your request then maybe you should look for another copyeditor.
- Have working experience
Of all the qualities that a copywriter should have, experience is the key. In truth working as a professional copyeditor is much different to working as an amateur copyeditor. This is because there is money involved. There is also the added element of pressure from clients and deadlines to contend with.
And if a professional copyeditor does not do a good job, his or her professional reputation will suffer in the long run. Which is why it always pays if you hire a copyeditor with a lot of experience. They are not only more skilled, but also have the patience and the professional pride to do what needs to be done.
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