Sydney Lake

This is an excerpt from E. Prybylski's insightful post. If you are considering an editor but wondering about the cost, I recommend reading it. Editing is an investment that can help your book transcend into something truly special that speaks to readers. "I want to remind people that, above all, when you’re working with an editor, you are working with a human being. Most of us are deeply passionate about writing and editing and about our professions. Most of us are not wealthy at all (many are barely middle class, if that). Many editors come from backgrounds like disability or neurodivergence. We have studied our profession out of that deep passion I mentioned before, and we truly love what we do... Editors are your cheerleaders, your companions, your friends, and your mentors. And we need to eat, too." - E. Prybylski If cost is a factor you are balancing, consider focusing on one round of editing (developmental, line, copyediting) or an editor who offers a combination service to help you be cost-effective. Note that editing is a time-intensive process, and editors will acknowledge that combination service won't be as effective as both a developmental edit and copyediting pass, but sometimes it is what your budget, your book, and your readers need. Not sure what is right for your book? Ask an editor! Posts like these exist because we genuinely care and want to help you succeed, even if that means we are not the right fit editor for you. We can advise you on what type of editing your book needs to succeed and what might be optional. Feel free to reach out for a sample edit and an opinion! I (and we) are here to help.

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For today's Two-Cent Tuesday, let's discuss resume relevance. When I post jobs seeking writers specializing in specific areas, the first thing I look for in every applicant is experience IN THAT AREA. If I post for a writer who specializes in writing about mid-century American cars, for example, and an applicant's resume has not only no mention of anything about that specific topic but also no mention of anything remotely automotive, it's marked as "Not a fit." Additionally, resumes and bios appear increasingly homogenous in the writing world. It seems everyone is a storyteller, content expert, or strategist, and they are all passionate, tireless, fervent, energetic, or any other similar description found on thesaurus.com. How will you stand out when on paper, you look like everyone else? Step 1: Ensure you actually HAVE the experience required for the specific job you're applying for, and ensure that experience is represented on your resume. Step 2: Be thoughtful in your word selection when writing your bio. It's easy to spot those who are authentic — and those who aren't. #twocenttuesday

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Indeed’s definition of a Journalist:   ‘A Journalist, or Reporter, is responsible for researching and writing informational news articles and stories about real events using a fair and unbiased perspective. Their duties include interviewing experts, gathering first-hand accounts of events and organizing an outline into a cohesive, interesting story.’ In 2004, ExpertSources was founded by an ex-journalist himself, Mr Bob Mills who spearheaded this ingenious online platform as a lead in its field for regional, national and international media professionals to quickly and easily find experts in any and every sector imaginable. Journalists, Reporters, Media Professionals, join here FOR FREE https://lnkd.in/gWTuBX5 in less than 20 seconds and start searching with keywords for an expert relevant to your topic at hand. Take advantage of our 20% discount, ending today, we would be thrilled to have you join us as an esteemed and sort after expert member. https://lnkd.in/dbnVv_m www.expertsources.co.uk ‘WHERE JOURNALISTS FIND PEOPLE WITH EXPERTISE.’ #Publicity #Media #MediaProfessionals #Journalist #Journalists #MediaExposure #Revenue #PR #PublicRelations #Expert #Experts #Charity #University #Business #Journalism #Editorial #Podcast #Vlog #Magazines #TV #Radio #SocialMedia #ROI #Business #StartUp #Entrepreneur #Success #BusinessSuccess #Revenue #YourDream #Reputation #Journalism Photo by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash

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Now I know. You know? "The difference between copy editing and proofreading lies in which components of a written work each role focuses on. In copy editing, the copy is tidied up for conciseness and polished so that the information is delivered to the reader clearly. Proofreading, however, is the last opportunity to catch errors and correct inconsistencies relating to how the page looks." https://lnkd.in/gzzsQJqW

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Interviewing is the hardest thing to teach in journalism. It's not enough to ask the question, you have to be able to read body language and predict the many ways a conversation could go (including taking a dark turn for whatever reason). We teach students to craft open-ended questions, to expect the unexpected, and be ready to ask follow-ups that they couldn't have prepared for. We teach agility next to accuracy. It's the other side of this that is interesting, though, on the part of the interviewee. Often times they want questions in advance. They say it's because they have limited time, which is always code for they don't want to be caught off guard. They say they would rather answer through email, which is code for they don't want follow-up questions. Or, the worst of it, people who can absolutely answer questions about certain topics/initiatives delegate to another person who typically then has to be caught up (public information officers don't know everything, the same way journalists don't), and then delay the information from being distributed, sometimes past deadline. My favorite part of it all is when someone who a student requests an interview with or poses questions to then tells me (in my limited power as a student media adviser) that students who send two or three emails were "harassing" that potential source. In teaching our journalism students to interview, we are also now teaching them how to jump through many, many hoops to get that information simply because people don't like answering questions. The author here states: "The press today is being scrutinized and judged more critically than ever, with allegations of inaccuracy the No. 1 complaint. Again, skilled interviewing can play a key role in getting things right." I've found that often the people alleging inaccuracy are the same ones who do the things I noted here. It's maddening.

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I'm in the positioning/development stage of a potential new pilot program from my verbal strategy studio. My hope is to create a reduced-price offering for low-capital start ups that gets them senior level support to get projects out the door. It would be open to AAPI, BIPOC, Black, Female, Latinx, LGBTQ+, and/or Non-binary founded companies. I feel good about what I've put together but I'd love to talk to a few people who work at VCs to optimize it to: 1) Make sure it would have max impact 2) Feel realistic based on how founders work 3) Feel like a good use of budget based on where start up cashflow is right now If you'd be down to talk, please let me know. I want to make sure this is as clear, organized, and helpful as it can be before I open the doors on it.

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“Professor, I have writer’s block.” I’ve been there. I like to joke that if I got back all the time I spent dealing with writer’s block, I’d be 22 years old again. Here’s my advice, for what it’s worth – and please feel free to leave your own thoughts in the comments. I’d start by answering this question: “What’s the most interesting thing you have to share?” Don’t overthink the answer; just say it out loud – even if it’s to yourself. You can even say it into a Voice Memo on your phone: “What I really want the reader to know is _____.” Then write it, informally, as if you’re sending a quick email or text to a friend. I think writer’s block gets worse because the writer feels like everything has to be perfect – as if he or she is engraving rather than just typing. Even Taylor Swift did her first version of the “Lover” album with one instrument – just to get it all down. I write my first drafts with my notebook *closed.* I put it all down from memory, and I don’t care if it’s rambling or incomplete or downright awful. Why? Because if something from my research or reporting is interesting enough to remember, it’s probably important enough to include. I put all the quotes and data in later. All of that evidence will put muscle on the skeleton. But I try to build the skeleton from memory. Lastly – remember that your “most important thing” or the “one thing you want to share” could be the answer to a question you pose in the beginning. For example: If you are doing a ton of research on political polling, and you find that a certain demographic is voting in an unexpected way, you can tease that at the top. Something like: “Pollsters have tried to decipher the Gen Z vote for a while now, and a new round of charts may yield a valuable clue.” Then you can lead the reader along your path to the answer. Bottom line: The cake doesn’t look like a cake until the very end. For most of the baking process, it looks like goop. Keep your first draft simple and informal, and then at least you know you are on your way.

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Baltimore-area readers: SAVE THE DATE! July 6, 2024, from 6:30-8 pm, at Snug Books in Baltimore, author John Maly will read from his debut novel, JURIS EX MACHINA. Audience discussion about the implications of AI will follow. Register today for free tickets at www.snugbooks.com Here's a teaser: With a click, the bread fell into the toaster. One circuit fired the heating coils. Others monitored bread temperature and color. Yet another circuit was quite unlike all the rest- as exotic as it was sinister; when it activated, 368 people would die. In the 22nd century, the justice system is airtight in the domed city of Arcadia. Human error has been removed. Yet somehow, a well-intentioned young kleptomaniac named Rainville falls through the cracks and is wrongfully convicted of mass murder. He is exiled to Wychwood Prison, a crumbling necropolis beyond the dome where the dead outnumber the living, where the inmates are also the guards. News of the crime follows him, and he becomes a marked man. Rainville's only hope for survival is becoming the first inmate in history to escape Wychwood. Can he do it? The fate of Arcadia depends on it. Can't make the event? You can grab your copy today at https://lnkd.in/ewRP8SP4, which also benefits Snug Books, an independent, woman-owned bookstore. #whattoread #ai #artificialintelligence #scifinovel #cyberpunk

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New copywriting blog post is up! Check out some lessons I learned about copywriting while teaching it to my college students. https://lnkd.in/gcUc-5yv

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Whether you're a journalist reporting on an academic study, a public relations person writing a press release on the study, or another type of writer, translating study results to a non-academic audience can be challenging. The Journalist's Resource posted a great article on this topic on April 24, titled "10 ways researchers can help journalists avoid errors when reporting on academic studies." If you're a researcher, these tips are aimed at you. And if you're a writer, these tips give you excellent ideas of questions you should ask the researcher to make sure what you write is accurate. Great post by Denise-Marie Ordway! #wordnerd #academicresearch #medicalwriting

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A great test to see if your copy is too formal is the "comma Mary” test. The test comes from Bruce DeSilva, a thriller author and former journalist. The test: put ", Mary" at the end of a statement. Then read it aloud. If it doesn't sound right—namely, too formal—turn the word-choice dial toward less specialized, more conversational until it feels right. Example: “Undergoing regular cancer screenings is the expert-recommended approach to discovering cancer early enough to optimize treatment options and improve health outcomes, Mary." or "Regular cancer screenings help find cancer early, which is why experts recommend them. Treatment works best then and can help patients live longer, Mary." Which one are you most likely to say to a person? Now, it's no silver bullet; you'll want to go deeper and look at your writing decisions—sentence length along with word choice and order. But the "comma Mary" test is a great tool to judge your copy's readability. And to make changes toward making it more human—if that's what it needs, Mary. Alexandra Howson and I talked shop about voice last year. #writing #storytelling #medicalwriting

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Authors! Let's talk FUNDING! You can fund developmental editing with internal and external fellowships, grants, and stipends. I'm always happy to give a quote (free of charge and with no strings attached) if you need to itemize your proposed budget. #letsworktogether #funding #academia #developmentalediting #editing

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