Resources

Free Downloads for Editors and Proofreaders

Three booklets to help boost your editorial website

This booklet is for complete beginners. It starts with choosing a domain name, guides your through installing WordPress and explains how to use widgets, plugins and the Classic Editor.

Is your website slow to load? Does the design look clunky. Does it look good across all devices? I’ve put together some tips to help, and I’ve compared WordPress to website builders.

We all run out of ideas. This booklet is brimming with subjects to blog about. From how world events affect your business to A day in the life of an editorial professional, there’s plenty to tap into.

Some of my favourite posts

Here’s my mini-library of useful reading material. I’ll keep adding to it as I discover new posts and podcasts

Fiction Editing

Everything You Need to Know About Fiction Editing
This post by Kristina Stanley, CEO of Fictionary.co was published on the Alliance of Independent Authors blog in January 2021. It’s a comprehensive guide to the editing process with writers in mind, but so useful for editors too.

Six ways to improve your novel right now
Although aimed primarily at authors, this is a valuable resource for fiction editors too. Another winner from Louise Harnby – Fiction Editor and Proofreader.

Macros

Tech Tools For Writers Macro Course
Tech Tools for Writers – 20-minute macro course is a great introduction to getting started with macros. Stay on this site for more editing and Word tips to simplify your professional life as a writer, editor or proofreader.

Paul Beverley Macros on YouTube
Macro Man Paul Beverley has earned that title, given his selfless devotion to helping editors and proofreaders become more efficient by using macros to carry out repetitive tasks. Paul’s channel starts FRedit basics and moves on to his latest newsreel videos. Paul and his team are in the process of producing a macro website with a wiki. Watch this space!

Self-Publishing

Even if you’re not a writer yourself, you will probably have clients who intend to self-publish. It really helps to be familiar with the process so you can extend your skills and offer valuable, billable advice. I have found Jericho Writers and the Alliance of Independent Authors (Alli) to be brimming with free and/or paid-for resources. Here are some places to start.

How to Launch a Self-Published Book
This is a podcast (with transcript) featuring Sacha Black and Orna Ross, posted on March 19, 2021, so it’s bang up to date. Orna is the founder of Alli and Sacha writes the YA fantasy Eden East novels.

How to self-publish your book on Amazon Kindle Direct (KDP)
This post on the Jericho Writers website is the most comprehensive I’ve seen on how to get from writing a good book to making a living as a self-published writer.

iUniverse – the publishing process
Lots of tips on indie publishing including the parts of a book, layout and formatting, avoiding legal trouble and how to get published – this includes self-publishing.

Indexing

How to Index a Self-Published Non-Fiction Book
This beginner’s Guide by Joanne Phillips was posted on the Alliance of Independent Authors blog and has excellent advice on how to build your index with your readership in mind.

Cookbook indexing in Microsoft Word
This post by Iva Cheung prevented a client of mine from tearing her hair out when it came to indexing her cookbook. She did a beautiful job with not experience of indexing. Iva, you’re a lifesaver!

Perfectit

Where would we be without Perfectit. When used in combination with macros such as DocAlyse and FRedit, we can cut huge swathes off our work time an increase accuracy.

Perfectit Video Tutorials
These training videos explain how to use Perfectit for a host of time-saving tasks, such as checking legal documents, proofreading bids and proposals, and editing medical publications. There are fourteen videos on building a stylesheet.