Tuesday, December 5, 2017

No Job is Too Daunting


A lot of companies and authors out there remain under the impression their written work is best dealt with internally. On their own. And while this "woe is me, the project is too much for someone outside to give it a go" mentality saves money and will be edited and copy-written with the needs of said company and author in mind, this thinking also holds "good" and "acceptable" projects back from becoming, "great" and "worthy of attention". 

It's always best to get other sets of eyes on projects. When an author or company edits or copy writes internally, bits go unnoticed because their eyes are already adjusted to it all. They've seen the progress made, have written it and may not notice what a service like Write-On Copywriters & Copy Detectives, would. Stepping back and being able to edit and proofread one's own work, objectively, is no easy task. Today's journalists and media entities seem in a hurry to get work out. Little mistakes here and there are the norm and it doesn't have to be this way.

This is why, no job is too daunting. Everything should and needs a look over. Manuscripts, copy, copy editing, even social media posts from major corporations all need to and should absolutely, read 100% perfect by the time it's being read by audiences.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Finished? Do it Again!


Well, that was easy--just proofread and edited a manuscript. Cakewalk. Boom. Done. Are you  sure?

Whether you're the writer or the editor/proofreader, one thing is always 100% certain: if you think you're done, you're probably not. Don't pop the corks just yet. Maybe there's something missed in zipping through the material? Sure, when something is well composed, it makes life easier for everyone. But, you shouldn't pat yourself on the back until the work has been combed thoroughly and thoughtfully at LEAST twice over. Even three times works charms and believe me--I've caught items a fourth time, simply because it blended in with what was otherwise a perfectly well put together piece.

If you're writing or working on the piece--same applies: review once you stop writing. Go back and check for consistency.

When editors and writers/authors are sharing the same work ethics, the total number of hours devoted to the upkeep and presentation of the work itself, will be cut down greatly! 

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Some Projects Require A Bit More Time


A client says they have a screenplay, sixth draft, that needs editing. You both agree to terms and contract/fee and you receive the material and it's poorly written. All of it. Nothing will work as it is. This is good news and bad news. The good news is this project will keep you busy. You won't necessarily have to write the whole thing over, but you will certainly be reformatting most of it. The kinda bad news is unless you're not under a time crunch and have some time to be with, you'll most likely have to let your client know you might not make the deadline due to the amount of editing the project requires. Unless of course you feel you can tackle that much work quickly, kudos to you! Rock on. But, to really catch every little nook and cranny of the work, more time will be needed.

Another client says they have a resume they'd like your feedback on and editing eye to examine. You accept it and holy cow--now you can see why they may not be landing any jobs! Take a deep breath and approach this project the same as would the example above. You're going to need a bit of time to revamp this thing. Especially if the formatting is off and not meeting today's standards, a little more time is essential. And that's okay. When a client hears, "I can use a bit more time" they understand you're truly needing just that--a bit more time to closely edit and comb the project thoroughly. It means a lot to a client to hear you need more time when you yourself probably have other projects to get to; and or, are working on others concurrently. 

Ultimately, it's vital to work closely with clients, especially when the work is creative and both yourself and your client want their project to be perfect! And, in having excellent communications with the client, there's an understanding you both have for one another and can better appreciate what the other is trying to do.