Common terms used in the Self-Publishing Biz and the BFF understanding of them:
ARC -
Advanced Reading/Review Copy (aka galley, manuscript, proof) is a ready-for-publication (fully edited if not also proofread) document an author sends out to a trusted list of faithful fans, preferably a couple of weeks or more prior to publication. The goal is to get faithful readers to post reviews (see Reviews, below) on or before the book's publication day on the eBook vendor/website of their choice.
Advanced Reading/Review Copy (aka galley, manuscript, proof) is a ready-for-publication (fully edited if not also proofread) document an author sends out to a trusted list of faithful fans, preferably a couple of weeks or more prior to publication. The goal is to get faithful readers to post reviews (see Reviews, below) on or before the book's publication day on the eBook vendor/website of their choice.
- A Plea to Authors -
Send out fully edited galleys to your ARC readers. You will be doing yourself and your ARC team a kindness. Be a good Book Friend and put your best work out there for all the world to read.
Beta Readers - (see Beta Readers page and Editing Stages page and Support Team page and BFF Beta Brigade page)
Contracts -
Hiring an editor is a business arrangement which involves money, legalities, deadlines, rights, and responsibilities. A contract is necessary to provide a means of stating, in a fair and unambiguous way, what the parameters and details of the arrangement are. This link to an article in Megan Harris's website explains it more completely. "Must-haves for Freelance Editing Contracts"
(See also Topical Resources page for writer related Legal issues)
Contracts -
Hiring an editor is a business arrangement which involves money, legalities, deadlines, rights, and responsibilities. A contract is necessary to provide a means of stating, in a fair and unambiguous way, what the parameters and details of the arrangement are. This link to an article in Megan Harris's website explains it more completely. "Must-haves for Freelance Editing Contracts"
(See also Topical Resources page for writer related Legal issues)
Conventions -
The societally agreed-upon rules of language usage are conventions of the language. We have both verbal and written conventions. Written conventions refer specifically to spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure. Written conventions are slower to change than verbal conventions. Contemporary written dialogue, therefore, often reflects the more quickly changing societal norms of verbal conventions.
The societally agreed-upon rules of language usage are conventions of the language. We have both verbal and written conventions. Written conventions refer specifically to spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure. Written conventions are slower to change than verbal conventions. Contemporary written dialogue, therefore, often reflects the more quickly changing societal norms of verbal conventions.
Dialogue Tags -
(e.g., he said, she asked, he whispered, she replied) are usually connected to the quote with a comma - unless it is a question or exclamation. Generally speaking, it is best to avoid fancy or creative dialogue tags and stick to the nearly invisible 'said,' or similar. Sometimes no tag is needed, as it is clear who is speaking.
Also, consider using
Also aim to use fewer adverbs with more interesting verbs and descriptions, generally. And in dialogue tags, try to avoid adverbs altogether. Compare:
(e.g., he said, she asked, he whispered, she replied) are usually connected to the quote with a comma - unless it is a question or exclamation. Generally speaking, it is best to avoid fancy or creative dialogue tags and stick to the nearly invisible 'said,' or similar. Sometimes no tag is needed, as it is clear who is speaking.
Also, consider using
- an 'action tag' (e.g., She skipped up to the new girl. "Want to play?")
- or a 'descriptive tag' (e.g., "Stop it!" His face was red and his hands were shaking.)
Also aim to use fewer adverbs with more interesting verbs and descriptions, generally. And in dialogue tags, try to avoid adverbs altogether. Compare:
- Her muscles quaked with fatigue. with: She shook violently with fatigue.
- Face red and eyes blazing, she shouted, 'I've had it with this mess!' with: 'I've had it with this mess!' she stated furiously.
Editing Stages - (see Editing Stages page)
Editing Support Stars - (see Support Team page) -
alpha, beta, and ARC readers; writing critique partner; developmental, copy, and line/content editors; formatter; proofreader
Editing Support Stars - (see Support Team page) -
alpha, beta, and ARC readers; writing critique partner; developmental, copy, and line/content editors; formatter; proofreader
Galley Proof -
An older term for a manuscript or WIP that has not had a final edit or proofread (as opposed to a Final Proof) - often used as an Advanced Reader Copy.
An older term for a manuscript or WIP that has not had a final edit or proofread (as opposed to a Final Proof) - often used as an Advanced Reader Copy.
Google Docs -
Google has a format for sharing a document whereby many people can be invited to read, comment on, or edit the same piece simultaneously and/or interactively. Schools use this a lot for peer group projects and homework (it sure saves paper!) The editing tools are adequate for simple editing tasks, and it can be quite useful when working on a rush editing project. The author can access the earlier part of the document that has already been edited while the editor is still working on the latter part, thereby saving time, plus the communication between author and editor is quick and easy, like texting right there in the document.
Almost every professional editor I know dislikes working in Google Docs, however convenient it might be for the author. The editing tool is not as good as Word, and it can feel like someone is looking over your shoulder as you work, which most everyone will agree is not a nice feeling.
Google has a format for sharing a document whereby many people can be invited to read, comment on, or edit the same piece simultaneously and/or interactively. Schools use this a lot for peer group projects and homework (it sure saves paper!) The editing tools are adequate for simple editing tasks, and it can be quite useful when working on a rush editing project. The author can access the earlier part of the document that has already been edited while the editor is still working on the latter part, thereby saving time, plus the communication between author and editor is quick and easy, like texting right there in the document.
Almost every professional editor I know dislikes working in Google Docs, however convenient it might be for the author. The editing tool is not as good as Word, and it can feel like someone is looking over your shoulder as you work, which most everyone will agree is not a nice feeling.
Microsoft Word -
MS Word, or Word, is a word processing system that has a huge capacity for creating and editing graphics and text. The editing tools are advanced and enable the author to Track Changes the editor makes. Comments in the margins are a helpful way for editors and authors to communicate. Another wonderful tool is Find, which enables author and editor to find every occurrence of a word or phrase in the document. And when the editor has finished and sent the document back, the author can look at the document revisions in different formats or even in Read Mode, which enables the author to see the document without all of the editor's cross outs and highlighted text which are distracting to the eye and mind. Word also has advanced editing tools for grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.
MS Word, or Word, is a word processing system that has a huge capacity for creating and editing graphics and text. The editing tools are advanced and enable the author to Track Changes the editor makes. Comments in the margins are a helpful way for editors and authors to communicate. Another wonderful tool is Find, which enables author and editor to find every occurrence of a word or phrase in the document. And when the editor has finished and sent the document back, the author can look at the document revisions in different formats or even in Read Mode, which enables the author to see the document without all of the editor's cross outs and highlighted text which are distracting to the eye and mind. Word also has advanced editing tools for grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.
Pass -
aka: a 'round' of editing.
These terms are used sometimes interchangeably or to mean the same thing by different editors.
Many of BFF's editing Services include multiple 'passes' back and forth of a document between editor and author.
aka: a 'round' of editing.
These terms are used sometimes interchangeably or to mean the same thing by different editors.
Many of BFF's editing Services include multiple 'passes' back and forth of a document between editor and author.
Proof Reading - (see Editing Stages page)
Reviews -
Reviews are the blessing and bane of an independently publishing author's life. Authors need and appreciate when their readers write constructive, informative reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, etc. Reviews advise readers, help authors improve their craft, and their scores affect the algorithms that determine ranking, marketing, etc.
Unfortunately, reviews/reviewers are not always trustworthy, and prospective readers should try to get as broad an impression from as many reviews as possible and not rely on only a few reviews, whether very good or very bad.
Reviews are the blessing and bane of an independently publishing author's life. Authors need and appreciate when their readers write constructive, informative reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, etc. Reviews advise readers, help authors improve their craft, and their scores affect the algorithms that determine ranking, marketing, etc.
Unfortunately, reviews/reviewers are not always trustworthy, and prospective readers should try to get as broad an impression from as many reviews as possible and not rely on only a few reviews, whether very good or very bad.
Style -
(See Topical Resources page for general and specific examples and links to Style Guides)
- Style refers to the author's manner of writing: how their voice is conveyed in their writing, the tense in which it is written, the mood of the story, the point of view, the syntax, and word choice.
- A Manual of Style is an authority publication for a field (academic, literary, scientific, journalistic) such as Associated Press or Chicago Manual of Style in the US (see further listings below). These standards provide uniformity for the industry or field in which they are adopted.
- A House Style Guide is the condensed version of a Manual of Style followed by a particular company or firm.
- A Style Sheet is also based on a particular Manual of Style and spells out the very specific decisions on style that are made for a particular piece of writing.
(See Topical Resources page for general and specific examples and links to Style Guides)
Substantive Edits - (see Editing Stages page)
Syntax -
Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines this as - "the way in which linguistic elements (such as words) are put together to form constituents (such as phrases or clauses)"
Wikipedia says it is - "the set of rules, principles, and processes that govern the structure of sentences ... usually including word order"
Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines this as - "the way in which linguistic elements (such as words) are put together to form constituents (such as phrases or clauses)"
Wikipedia says it is - "the set of rules, principles, and processes that govern the structure of sentences ... usually including word order"
Track Changes -
Track changes is a tool for ... wait for it ... tracking changes an editor makes in Microsoft Word documents! It is a way for an author to see what has been done in their manuscript. It gives them the opportunity to accept or reject any additions, deletions, corrections, re-arrangements, or whatevs. There is also room in the margin for Comments to be attached to portions of the document or to specific changes that have been made to explain, suggest, ask questions, provide answers, or offer reader reactions. See Topical Resources for more on Track Changes.
Track changes is a tool for ... wait for it ... tracking changes an editor makes in Microsoft Word documents! It is a way for an author to see what has been done in their manuscript. It gives them the opportunity to accept or reject any additions, deletions, corrections, re-arrangements, or whatevs. There is also room in the margin for Comments to be attached to portions of the document or to specific changes that have been made to explain, suggest, ask questions, provide answers, or offer reader reactions. See Topical Resources for more on Track Changes.
WIP -
Work In Progress - this is also pretty self-explanatory in the right context. This is what we call the story manuscript while it is in the midst of being created and edited.
Work In Progress - this is also pretty self-explanatory in the right context. This is what we call the story manuscript while it is in the midst of being created and edited.
