I remember the first time I received cruel feedback from a client. I’d been freelancing for a few months. Although I could see the client was belittling me because they were confused by the tracked changes, their brutal words hit like a gut punch, leaving me unsure of...
The useful advice in this FAQ about the steps and considerations when calculating a quotation for a project was contributed by several people from the wonderful resource of the PEGforum. Question I have been asked to edit and update a policy. I need some guidelines...
Nothing happens until something moves (Albert Einstein) Work slumps happen. But sometimes they go on a little longer than we’d like. This happened to me recently and I had to make something move. Armed with determination and the need to survive, I embarked on an...
Have you ever wondered what impression you make on potential clients when they first see anything about you, the editor? First impressions In Gauteng, a few of us were keen to find out a little more about making a good impression. We joined forces to brave the...
PEG's financial year runs from March to February. Published on: Aug 16, 2024 at 08:40 12 words
After almost a year of freelance editing, I decided that I needed to professionalise my service offering to clients. I imagined an ideal client to be either an individual/student or a corporate client. I am full-time employed and I wanted to run my business in a way...
I signed up for a grammar course. I know my English isn’t perfect and I can edit fairly well, but I also know that if someone asked me to explain each and every edit, I wouldn’t be able to do that effectively. I cannot always label all the rules or reasons for my...
Much trouble can be avoided if we editors are mindful of adequate contracting with clients. This starts at the first ‘hello’ and ends with the final ‘thank you’. Take two minutes to remind yourself of the following: Quotations: When you quote, be sure to include...
Being a top-notch editor isn't just about red pens and grammar rules. It's about emotional intelligence, understanding our authors and making the editing journey a valuable experience for everyone involved. In the dynamic world of publishing and editing, effective...
Plagiarism on the grand scale has been made more and more tempting and easy for lazy [writers] by people who provide whole essays on all manner of subjects on the web. – Manning Murphy (2019) To understand the nature of plagiarism, it is useful to consider the origin...
Debating accreditation: This was the title of a contribution by the PEG newsletter editor at the time, André Snyders, in the edition dated November 2007. How far we have come. And how long it has taken! Sixteen years on, the questions regarding whether or not we need...
In our last article on technology for editors we looked at the basic components of a computer and the main differences between a desktop and a laptop computer. This article highlights some of the main problems you might experience with a laptop that indicate it may...
I recently came across Alexis Grewan’s four-part series, which was posted between November 2021 and January 2022. This post will add my contribution as a follow-on to Alexis’ excellent series. For those who missed her posts, here are the links:...
Editors and websites This straightforward guide by Debbie Emmitt certainly helped me improve my editor website. Debbie is a copy editor and author with over 20 years of experience in web content. She brings together all of her skills in this tidy and easy-to-read...
Let’s face it: working remotely can be lonely. Yes, we love the independence and flexibility that being a freelance editor or proofreader allows, but there may still be times when we feel isolated while we work alone in our carefully organised home offices. So, how...
What you charge depends on what type of editing or proofreading service you are offering and how much your client is willing to pay. The more work you do, the more you can charge. Unfortunately, there are conflicting ideas about what is a fair rate. PEG members should...
I tried to find points of reference for this topic (the author's voice) and there were not any in my usual go-to sources. This suggests that the author’s voice is something that cannot be easily quantified or taught in a few easy steps. Maintaining the author's voice...
Your first few jobs as an editor can feel daunting and you may have questions about how best to tackle the initial paperwork so that the project starts without a hitch. Below are six tips to help you to quote efficiently and make sure that the client’s and the...
There is nothing more demoralising than pounding away at a task, delivering it in good time and then waiting to be paid – but never seeing that payment. Here are three things to put in place that, at the very least, should reduce the risk of not being paid for your...
(With a nod to How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell. I did not like the self-illustrated book but I loved the DVD.) You can make it easier to find files on your computer or smartphone if you structure your filenames according to how you are going to use...