Don’t trust the textDon’t trust the textAttitude adjustment: the key Attitude adjustment: the key

to being a good editorto being a good editor

What happens in most classesWhat happens in most classes

Books and articles are presented as Books and articles are presented as authoritiesauthorities

You are supposed to support your work You are supposed to support your work with citations to published writingwith citations to published writing

The implicit message is that you can and The implicit message is that you can and should believe what you readshould believe what you read

What happens in EditingWhat happens in Editing

You have to distrust the textYou have to distrust the text You have to question everything you readYou have to question everything you read You have to overrule (sometimes) the You have to overrule (sometimes) the

writerwriter Your judgment has to be better than the Your judgment has to be better than the

writer’s judgmentwriter’s judgment You have total license to make changes You have total license to make changes

AS LONG AS YOU ARE AS LONG AS YOU ARE RIGHTRIGHT

Some tips from Frank FeeSome tips from Frank Fee

Always do the mathAlways do the math

Some tips from Frank FeeSome tips from Frank Fee

Always do the mathAlways do the math Always check a map when describing a Always check a map when describing a

site, route, etc.site, route, etc.

Some tips from Frank FeeSome tips from Frank Fee

Always do the mathAlways do the math Always check a map when describing a Always check a map when describing a

site, route, etc.site, route, etc. Always find the first reference to a person Always find the first reference to a person

in copyin copy

Some tips from Frank FeeSome tips from Frank Fee

Always do the mathAlways do the math Always check a map when describing a Always check a map when describing a

site, route, etc.site, route, etc. Always find the first reference to a person Always find the first reference to a person

in copyin copy Never assume anythingNever assume anything

Some tips from Frank FeeSome tips from Frank Fee

Always do the mathAlways do the math Always check a map when describing a Always check a map when describing a

site, route, etc.site, route, etc. Always find the first reference to a person Always find the first reference to a person

in copyin copy Never assume anythingNever assume anything

Some tips from Frank FeeSome tips from Frank Fee

Always do the mathAlways do the math Always check a map when describing a Always check a map when describing a

site, route, etc.site, route, etc. Always find the first reference to a person Always find the first reference to a person

in copyin copy Never assume anythingNever assume anything Never rationalize the copyNever rationalize the copy

Some tips from Frank FeeSome tips from Frank Fee

Always do the mathAlways do the math Always check a map when describing a Always check a map when describing a

site, route, etc.site, route, etc. Always find the first reference to a person Always find the first reference to a person

in copyin copy Never assume anythingNever assume anything Never rationalize the copyNever rationalize the copy Always use all your toolsAlways use all your tools

Editing methodologyEditing methodology

Editing methodologyEditing methodology

You should read the text multiple times, You should read the text multiple times, looking for different thingslooking for different things

Editing methodologyEditing methodology

You should read the text multiple times, You should read the text multiple times, looking for different thingslooking for different things

Read first for content: facts, locations, Read first for content: facts, locations, names, inconsistenciesnames, inconsistencies

Editing methodologyEditing methodology

You should read the text multiple times, You should read the text multiple times, looking for different thingslooking for different things

Read first for content: facts, locations, Read first for content: facts, locations, names, inconsistenciesnames, inconsistencies

Read again for structureRead again for structure

Editing methodologyEditing methodology

You should read the text multiple times, You should read the text multiple times, looking for different thingslooking for different things

Read first for content: facts, locations, Read first for content: facts, locations, names, inconsistenciesnames, inconsistencies

Read again for structureRead again for structure Read a third time for language: AP, Read a third time for language: AP,

grammar, word choicegrammar, word choice

Editing methodologyEditing methodology

You should read the text multiple times, You should read the text multiple times, looking for different thingslooking for different things

Read first for content: facts, locations, Read first for content: facts, locations, names, inconsistenciesnames, inconsistencies

Read again for structureRead again for structure Read a third time for language: AP, Read a third time for language: AP,

grammar, word choicegrammar, word choice Read a fourth time: bottom to topRead a fourth time: bottom to top

The queryThe query

There are times when an editor cannot There are times when an editor cannot resolve a factual discrepancyresolve a factual discrepancy

The queryThe query

There are times when an editor cannot There are times when an editor cannot resolve a factual discrepancyresolve a factual discrepancy

Write a queryWrite a query

The queryThe query

There are times when an editor cannot There are times when an editor cannot resolve a factual discrepancyresolve a factual discrepancy

Write a queryWrite a query Query: Is first graf “Sixth Avenue” or third Query: Is first graf “Sixth Avenue” or third

graf “Sixth Street” CQ?graf “Sixth Street” CQ?

The queryThe query

There are times when an editor cannot There are times when an editor cannot resolve a factual discrepancyresolve a factual discrepancy

Write a queryWrite a query Query: Is first graf “Sixth Avenue” or third Query: Is first graf “Sixth Avenue” or third

graf “Sixth Street” CQ?graf “Sixth Street” CQ? You can query facts only, not style, You can query facts only, not style,

grammar, punctuation, word usagegrammar, punctuation, word usage

Final thoughtsFinal thoughts

Final thoughtsFinal thoughts

Editing is really easy because you don’t Editing is really easy because you don’t have to know anything to be a good editor. have to know anything to be a good editor. You can always look it up: Internet, You can always look it up: Internet, stylebook, encyclopedia, dictionary, stylebook, encyclopedia, dictionary, almanac, map, etc.almanac, map, etc.

Final thoughtsFinal thoughts

Editing is really easy because you don’t Editing is really easy because you don’t have to know anything to be a good editor. have to know anything to be a good editor. You can always look it up: Internet, You can always look it up: Internet, stylebook, encyclopedia, dictionary, stylebook, encyclopedia, dictionary, almanac, map, etc.almanac, map, etc.

Editing is really hard because we don’t Editing is really hard because we don’t always know what we don’t know. It’s the always know what we don’t know. It’s the things that we think are right that can things that we think are right that can really get us.really get us.