[Hong Kong - July 21, 2017] A large portion of the work we do is editing and proofreading manuscripts. This includes everything from works of fiction and non-fiction to plays and textbooks. As editors, this is some of the most interesting and enjoyable work we get to do. Whether it’s working with the author editing the very first draft, or getting involved in the final stages before publication to give the manuscript a final proofread, the process is always engaging.
If we are partner with an author from the outset of their novel we work with them creating, developing, and elaborating on plot, characters, their motivations, and all other areas of the narrative. It involves many drafts, a great deal of editing and reworking, and plenty of dialogue between ourselves and the author, in order to make sure we get it just right but that’s all part of the fun of editing manuscripts. We really do enjoy getting to sink our proverbial teeth into a good story.
Sometimes though, we get brought in towards the closing stages of a novel’s creation. The author has pretty much got the story exactly how they want it and everything is well bedded down. It’s up to us to give the book a final proofread just to check for minor errors and make sure that nothing has slipped through that doesn’t make sense. Often times there’s not much to change but there have been instances during a final draft proofreading where we pick up on something integral to the plot that needs to be fixed. Even if we only make minor proofreading changes – a comma here, or a missing letter there – it’s always extremely rewarding and interesting reading a manuscript.
That’s not to say that the other work we do when proofreading or editing isn’t enjoyable, far from it, there have been many extremely fascinating scientific papers we have edited. But there is something uniquely rewarding about the proofreading and editing of manuscripts that keep us excited and hungry for the next one.