Photo credit: Donna Hamaker

Today we are interviewing freelance writer and editor Sarah Hamaker.

 Sarah Hamaker is a freelance writer and editor, and author of Hired@Home, a guide to unlocking women’s work-from-home potential. Two of her stories have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessings and Chicken Soup for the Soul: All in the Family. She has a master’s degree in Literature and Language from Marymount University. Sarah lives in Virginia with her husband and four children. Visit her online at www.sarahhamaker.com.

Sarah took a few minutes to talk about editing with Writing Career Coach.

Writing Career Coach: As a freelance editor what are some of the things you do with a manuscript?
Sarah Hamaker: Editors correct grammatical and sentence structure, formatting and content, which involves story flow and more big-picture comments.

WCC: Can you explain some of the kinds of editing?
SH: There are basically two types of editing: proofreading or copyediting, and content editing. To proofread a manuscript, the copyeditor marks grammatical and formatting mistakes. For example, grammatical things she would correct include spelling, punctuation and sentence structure issues (subject-verb agreement, displaced modifiers, dangling participles, etc.). Formatting corrections involve making sure subheads, chapter titles, etc., are in the same style. The copyeditor also would make sure the manuscript adheres to an outside style guide, if applicable. Most book manuscripts are edited in the Chicago Manual of Style.
 
Content editing goes beyond grammar and formatting. A content editor reworks awkward sentences, notes holes in the story, and suggests dialogue or scene changes. Critiques by other writers generally combine content editing and copyediting.

WCC: What are things a writer can do to improve her writing before sending it to a freelance editor?
SH: There are several things writers can do to improve their writing. First, use your word processor’s spell and grammar check. I’ve received manuscripts that had very simple spelling mistakes that an electronic spell checker would have easily corrected.

Second, have family, friends and other writers read your work with an eye to grammatical and spelling mistakes.

Third, read books on how to write whatever genre you are interested in writing. Groups like the American Christian Fiction Writers also provide learning opportunities through online writing courses.

Fourth, join a local writers group. Being able to meet face to face with other writers who share your passion can encourage you as a writer.

Fifth, get involved in a critique group. Either online or in person, critique groups give you constructive criticism about your writing that you can use to improve your work.
 
WCC: What are some exercises a writer can do to improve?
SH: Use every opportunity to practice. Correct the printed materials you come across. Make it a game to take a red pen and mark up your local newspapers, magazines or even church bulletins. The idea is not to ridicule another’s work, but to see if you can catch mistakes and improve the copy.

Critique other writers. Often, as I’m marking someone else’s chapter, it will dawn on me that I make the exact same mistakes. Critiquing another’s work can improve your own work as you put into practice what you critique in others.

Available on used book sites, Grammar for Journalists by E.L. Callihan has quizzes throughout the book to illustrate common errors. While geared toward reporters, this book can be a good tool in learning about writing.

Online grammar exercises abound. One free site is http://www.wadsworth.com/devenglish_d/special_features/grammarquizzes.html, which offers grammar quizzes on a variety of topics, including pronouns, subordinates and irregular verbs.

 Read more of Sarah’s interview on freelance editors here at Examiner.

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Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at writingcareercoach.com.