Editing
‘You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what’s burning inside you. And we edit to let the fire show through the smoke.’ – Arthur Plotnik
Have you ever been walking along and stumbled on a rock, tripped on a stone or stubbed your toe on a pebble? Did it jolt you out of your train of thought? That’s what it’s like reading something with errors, typos or muddled syntax. Prepare the way for your reader with a professional once-over to remove the rocks, the stones or the pebbles.
Whether you’re an emerging or established writer, an edit can bring out the best in your writing. Ian Cochrane came to us in his early, unpublished days and he’s now a published travel writer of newspaper features with his own book of travel memoir, a blog and other projects. Other projects:
- book project-managing, editing and proofreading for the likes of Black Inc., Echo Publishing, Lonely Planet, Major Street Publishing, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Wild Dingo Press, as well as emerging authors
- magazine editing for the likes of Octomedia, MELBOURNEmagazine and Rhythms
- thesis editing for PhDs and Masters, specialising in creative works with exegetical components
We’re mostly working on whitepapers and theses this year. Here are some past projects.
Let’s Get Real – Discover the reasons most Australian property investors fail to get the results they desire
Luke Harris and Matthew Bateman (Major Street, December 2017)
The brief was to proofread Let’s Get Real, and I liked the focus on the investor rather than just the investment. This new book on property investment was written by a duo who use their own experience in property investment to lead their company, The Property Mentors.
The Power of Good People – Surviving Sri Lanka’s Civil War
Para Paheer with Alison Corke (Wild Dingo Press, November 2017)
A structural edit of this book was needed. The Power of Good People: Surviving Sri Lanka’s civil war shines a spotlight on one man’s life and several close encounters with death, and in turn lights up all the people who have helped him survive – kind acts that meant the world to Para Paheer, Tamil refugee, now Australian citizen. Alison Corke began writing to Para when he was detained on Christmas Island. A thrilling yet moving story of life and death, and an eye-opener into what is still going on behind the verdant tourist haven that Sri Lanka appears to be.
The Assassin on the Bangkok Express
Roland Perry (Wild Dingo Press, May 2017)
Editing the second thriller featuring the world-weary Victor Cavalier threw me into the world of espionage and dirty dealings in Victor’s Bangkok base and then aboard the luxe Bangkok Express. Roland Perry OAM is a history specialist who’s authored more than 30 books across biography, politics, espionage, history, sport and fiction.
Test of Character – Confessions of cricket legends
Jeremy Wilshire (Echo Publishing, November 2016)
Proofreading this unflinchingly honest, evocative and at times controversial title gave me access to cricket’s greats, with insights into seminal moments and exploration of the biggest issues facing the game today. It’s a collectors item featuring a foreword by Australia’s Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove, plus exclusive interviews with famous cricket tragics, commentators and umpires.
Look What You Made Me Do – Fathers who kill
Megan Norris (Echo Publishing, September 2016)
Proofreading this important book was harrowing – it documents seven stories of spousal revenge written by a former court and crime reporter. The book examines the murders of 13 innocent children who became collateral damage in the crimes committed by angry fathers whose real targets were the children’s mothers. I was thrilled to see Ms Norris pay tribute to my work as ‘brilliant’ in the acknowledgements.
Small Business CEO: Strategies to navigate the four stages of growth from start-up to success
Jenny Stilwell (BookBaby, November 2016)
We copyedited this book outlining strategies to grow a successful company – letting go and stepping up by becoming less operational and more strategic, and getting clear on what the strategic priorities are at different stages in the company’s life cycle.
Difference Makers – A leader’s guide to championing diversity on boards
Dr Nicky Howe & Alicia Curtis (Major Steet Publishing, May 2016)
This book reframes the debate about who can participate as board directors so that differences are seen not as negatives but as positives. Proofreading involved not only the standard tasks, but also editing two differing author styles to create a consistent voice.
The Bastard from the Bush – An Australian life
John Jarratt (Echo Publishing, November 2015)
Proofreading this autobiography was a lot of fun. John Jarratt, cult icon and screen actor, spent a bucolic boyhood in the lush countryside of Wongawilli, and his youth in the Snowy Mountains, Townsville and Aramac, with sojourns on tropical Magnetic Island. After an unlikely apprenticeship at NIDA his career took him from a role as Albert in Picnic at Hanging Rock to his career-defining embodiment of Ned Kelly. He was a laconic TV home improvement co-host before reviving his film career with a nightmare-inducing performance as Mick Taylor in Wolf Creek. Along the way he fathered six children in a series of tumultuous relationships, struggling with dual addictions of alcohol and house building.
Smoke and Mirrors – A tragedy of love and murder
Robin Bowles (Echo Publishing, July 2015)
Proofreading this true crime book opened up a story filled with beauty and tragedy. It was edited by Jenny Lee, historian, researcher, ex-Meanjin editor, lecturer at Deakin and Melbourne universities and an author in her own right. Following up Jenny’s work was a pleasure and a privilege.
Outrage, Obscenity and Madness (Sex, vile gossip, art and illustration) – Melbourne’s Pictorial Weekly Budget, The Citizen, Banner of Truth and Police News 1875–2015
Elizabeth Gertsakis (April 2015)
Copyediting the catalogue for this exuberant exhibition catalogue was an entrée into Melbourne’s earliest publishing history: the extraordinary life of publisher Richard Egan Lee. This is a scholarly effort at well over 20,000 words on the research Liz has been pursuing over a number of years into Melbourne’s early letterpress newspapers. Outrage, Obscenity and Madness showed at William Mora Galleries, Richmond.
The Investors Voice
(Australian Investors Association, 2015–16)
Subediting and proofreading this quarterly newsletter involved work on 24 pages of articles covering investing, whether in self-managed super funds or directly in the various investments – stocks and shares, bonds, cash, property etc.
insidesmallbusiness.com.au
Octomedia (formerly Summit Publishing)
Selecting and subediting feature articles and news items was a crucial part of setting up this dynamic website – the online version of our quarterly print magazine catering for Australian micro and small businesses. Its case studies, articles and news are written by staff journalists and industry and government experts.
The Encounters
Various authors (Deakin University, 2013)
Copyediting 40 papers for The Encounters: Place, Situation, Context Papers—The Refereed Proceedings of the 17th Conference of the Australasian Association of Writing Programs, we also styled them into a professional, consistent format, including bibliographies.
Angels’ Playschool
Marguerita J Rainbow (Balboa Press, USA, 2013)
Although this illustrated children’s book had been edited, the author came to us feeling that it wasn’t yet right, so we looked at structure and potential revisions, then copyedited the completed manuscript ready for production.
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