Preventing Conflict: The Ins and Outs of an Editing Contract

by Karin Cather | Aug 23, 2020 | business of editing, Client Relations, Freelancing

Disclaimer First of all, nothing I’m about to tell you is legal advice. You should always consult an attorney because rules vary by jurisdiction. I’m speaking here as an editor about my own practice and about the kinds of pitfalls that arise when there isn’t a service...

What Does This Mean? Inside the Editorial Mind

by Karin Cather | Jun 17, 2018 | Client Relations, Editing

How many of you authors have already been edited? Were you surprised at how good your manuscript looked afterward? Does it remind you of what happens when you’ve finally unpacked after a move, and now the house is livable, sparkling, and the best that it can be?...

How Much?

by Karin Cather | Oct 25, 2017 | Client Relations, Editing

Sometimes authors approach editors and ask how much it will cost to edit a manuscript sight unseen. Authors may even tell editors in the same query that they have a specific deadline in mind. Experienced editors are highly unlikely to agree to this. But why not? Don’t...

In Defense of Science in the Badlands

by Karin Cather | Jan 25, 2017 | Client Relations, Plain Language, Research, science writing, Writing

I am taking a risk by saying this: Science, medicine, and education are essential elements of a civilized society and the free exchange of ideas is an essential element of democracy. Trump is preventing government scientists from sharing information with the public....

A Proposal for the Uniform Certification of Copyeditors

by Karin Cather | May 11, 2016 | Best Practices, Client Relations, Editing

Last month, Rich Adin wrote about the value of the editing profession—specifically in the context of how much editors should get paid.[1] He gives eight reasons in two articles for why editing is undervalued. Here are four of those reasons: 1. Few editors know their...

Stronger Language, Just and All

by Karin Cather | Nov 16, 2015 | Client Relations, Marketing, strong language, Uncategorized, Writing

I spoke to a family member today who has a PhD in clinical psychology and decades of clinical experience. She was telling me about a course module she was writing for a publisher. The initial material she created for them was based on current research in the relevant...