Editors and Authors Archives - Barbara McNichol Editorial Services

Change Testimonials for Nonfiction Book Websites?

January 2, 2017 by Barbara McNichol Leave a Comment

by Patrice Rhoades-Baum

Have you heard this advice: “Never edit or change your testimonials.” Not true! You SHOULD edit them so they’re professional and add value using a light touch. Just be careful not to change the meaning.

Use this checklist:

PROOF – It’s vital to fix typos and punctuation issues. This helps to ensure your website and other marketing tools are polished and professional.
SHORTEN – Brief testimonials get to the point and are easy to read. Trim long testimonials to 3-5 sentences. Yes, this means sacrificing content. But that’s better than loooong testimonials, which cause readers’ eyes to glaze over.
REWORK (IF IT’S CONFUSING)– If a testimonial contains good content but is confusing or poorly written, consider rewording key sentences. Be careful not to change the meaning or the person’s intent. Then email the revised testimonial to your client for approval.
ORGANIZE – I like to place testimonials with the most impact at the top of the website’s “Testimonials” page. When you organize testimonials, alternate those that address similar challenges.
INCLUDE FULL NAME & MORE – Make every testimonial work hard for you! Include the person’s full name, title, organization, and books written.
ADD SEO KEYWORDS – When you edit client testimonials, sprinkle in organic SEO keywords. For example, if your name is Jane Doe and you’re a business coach, you can do this:
- Replace this statement: “Jane guided me to…”
- With this statement: “As my business coach, Jane Doe guided me to…”
MAKE A BOLD STATEMENT – Your website visitors (your prospects) don’t read every word on your website. They skim. That’s why I select one sentence in every testimonial and make it bold.

Always take time to edit or change testimonials you use in your book marketing. This adds professionalism to your marketing efforts – and adds value for your book.

Please share your opinion on this topic in Comments below.

This article is from my colleague Patrice Rhoades-Baum. As a marketing consultant and branding expert, she guides solopreneurs – professional speakers, corporate consultants, and business coaches – to create a clear brand, strategic website, and polished one-sheet brochure. Patrice specializes in branding for small businesses and writing strategic, hardworking one sheet and website copy.

Polishing Your Writing? Follow These 3 Self-Editing Steps

February 5, 2016 by Barbara McNichol Leave a Comment

By Peggy Carouthers, Guest blogger from The Write Life

No matter what you’re writing, revising drafts is a headache.

Not only do you have to review your article or story with microscopic focus, but the stress of missing an error and hurting your future writing prospects can be terrifying. Automatic editing software often misses errors and paying for editing services isn’t always an option.

It’s important to find an editing technique that makes the revision process easier and makes you feel confident in your writing.

I developed my own editing method while pursuing my bachelor’s degree in writing and communications. I was freelancing for a local newspaper and serving as editor in chief of my college newspaper while balancing a full course-load of writing-intensive classes and a 75-page senior thesis.

I didn’t have time to spend hours reading over every article or paper.

To handle the workload, I devised a simple three-step method to catch every mistake and build confidence that each draft is well written. READ MORE

Key Skills for a High-quality Nonfiction Editor and Writer

November 15, 2015 by Barbara McNichol Leave a Comment

by Barbara McNichol

Students taking a professional editing course at Kennesaw State University recently contacted me and asked the question below. As I responded to them, I thought both writers and editors would find this list helpful.

What are the most important skills someone needs to be a high-quality nonfiction editor?

These essential skills come to mind:

Patience to concentrate on one tedious project for countless hours (ADD people rarely do well with this)
Knowledge of English language and grammar rules – sounds basic but the basics are often missing among writers (that’s why we have editors)
Curiosity to question accuracy of word use and willingness look up answers (e.g., dictionary.com, my Word Trippers)
A proven process to ensure projects are handled thoroughly (in my case, 3 reviews of every manuscript)
Focus on what might be missing from the piece in terms of logic, examples, clarifications
Ability to whack wordiness (e.g., tighten the writing, get rid of extraneous words, finding redundancies, keep sentences short, etc.) If writers did this in their own reviews, the editor would focus on value-added aspects such as flow and creativity.
Respectful, explanatory tone rather than demanding tone (e.g., beware of using “must” and “should”)
Power of using active voice rather than passive voice – rewrite where practical
Sense of orderliness and flow so there’s a logical thread running through the piece
Smooth transitions between paragraphs
Use of figures of speech, metaphors, similes, etc.
High level of skill in Word, including formatting and setting up automated Table of Contents

The bonus? Authors who revise their own writing using these skills can save time and money in the editing process before ever getting an editor involved.

What is your experience editing your own writing? What techniques work best for you?

UNESCO’s First City of Literature: Edinburgh, Scotland

October 6, 2015 by Barbara McNichol Leave a Comment

by Barbara McNichol

A welcome sign at Waverley Station for authors and readers

On a recent trip to Scotland, I was delighted to learn Edinburgh has been named the first UNESCO City of Literature, a designation it has now touted for 10 years. In fact, coming into the city’s Waverley Station one day, we were greeted with this sign that says: “Waverley is the only railway station in the world named after a novel. Thank you Sir Walter Scott!”

Edinburgh is the birthplace and home to world-famous writers, poets, and playwrights including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes), Sir Walter Scott (Waverley), and JK Rowling (Harry Potter). It even has its own Poet Laureate, the Edinburgh Makar.

During two weeks each August, the Edinburgh International Book Festival features the world’s largest literary festival of its kind. It welcomes approximately 800 authors from nearly 40 countries and brings in over 225,000 visitors annually.

Floral Clock for Edinburgh’s City of Literacy

The more than 50 bookshops in this city of half-a-million people are key venues for a vibrant culture of readings, literary cabarets, and workshops. In 1725 the world’s first circulating library opened in Edinburgh and today free public libraries can be found all over. The National Library of Scotland, the leading center for the study of the Scots, the Scottish Poetry Library, and the Scottish Storytelling Centre are all found in Edinburgh.

City leaders are working closely with other Cities of Literature on a range of projects to share knowledge and expertise. Learn more here

Which cities would you nominate for the designation City of Literature?

Go on a Diet of Stale Phrases and Overused Clichés

May 28, 2015 by Barbara McNichol Leave a Comment

By Loren Ekroth, PhD

Some of the most common clichés in current use include “threw under the bus,” “at the end of the day,” “with all due respect,” “the fact of the matter is,” and “don’t cry over spilled milk.” I’ve heard public figures use “end of the day” as many as 10 times in a short interview. Ouch!

You learned in high school English classes that a cliché is “a trite, stereotyped expression that has lost originality and impact by long overuse,” as in “strong as an ox.” Most likely your teachers discouraged the use of clichés on aesthetic grounds, recommending instead that you use fresh and lively language.

How about excising clichés on practical grounds so you don’t lose the impact of your messages? That’s another downside of using clichés.

A Cliché Spoof

Decades ago humorist Frank Sullivan, writing for the New Yorker as “Mr. Arbuthnot, the cliché expert,” spoofed the breezy language of his time (1935-1952) in light-hearted interviews. An updated version by English Professor Ben Yagoda shows the flavor of these conversations:

Q: Mr. Arbuthnot, since your last testimony, have you continued to follow the world of clichés?

A: I’m all over it, 24/7.

Q: Would you mind answering a few questions to establish your expertise?

A: Whassup with that? Sorry if I’ve got that deer-in-the-headlights look, but I’m shocked, shocked. Here’s my deal: I’m a world-class talking head. I’ve made my bones and I’ve got all my bona fides. When you chatted me up with this, you didn’t give me a heads up that I had to reinvent myself.

Q: I apologize. I am merely following the charter of this committee.

A: Whatever.

Q: . . . You will certainly be a valuable witness . . .

A: Sweet. And I’m sorry for going postal a minute ago. I promise I won’t be high maintenance. With all the media here, I can see where this could be a win-win. Besides, I want to give something back.

Q: Have you noticed any new clichés recently?

A: Big time. Bottom line: Arguably, this is the cliché’s 15 minutes.”

As Old as Shakespeare

You get the idea. Clichés start out as fresh and vigorous, became fashionable, then faddish, and finally, faded. They persist because they’re easily dispensed from the tongue or pen without much thought. Some still in use such as “dead as a doornail” are as old as Shakespeare.

The beauty of using fresh, striking language is that it gets a listener’s attention, triggering images and feelings that engage the mind, stimulate creative processes, and are remembered. Doing this takes more mental effort and the intention to have impact, but in our hurry-up world of breezy interactions, such effort is in short supply.

Our poets and novelists offer us the best repository of fresh language, plus a few columnists and commentators. They show us what language can do to get us thinking more vigorously. I remember with admiration the eloquence of the late radio-television commentator Eric Sevareid (1912-1992). His language was pure public poetry without a sniff of clichés.

New Clichés?

When you are selective in choosing the persons you read and listen to, you will find refreshing expressions and can create new ones of your own. As the late movie producer Sam Goldwyn once said so memorably, “Let’s have some new clichés.” And as my friend, professional speaker, and entrepreneur Tom Antion said, “No one ever lost credibility by being interesting.”

Go on a diet from using stale phrases and serve up gourmet words.

Reprinted with permission of Dr. Loren Ekroth, aka “Dr. Conversation,” publisher of “Better Conversations” weekly newsletter. Free subscriptions at www.conversationmatters.com

Which clichés tickle your fancy? Which would you like to ban from the English language? Please share here — and any new clichés you’ve come up with, too!

Authors: What Do You Want from Your Book Editor?

April 3, 2015 by Barbara McNichol Leave a Comment

Editing Your Book

By Barbara McNichol

With 21 years of editing under my belt, I strive always to understand and deliver what authors want to the best of my ability as a book editor. Professional editors build careers on doing exactly that.

Through a blog post, I asked what worries nonfiction authors about the editing process. The insights below reflect answers from 40 authors who responded. Specifically, they noted:

They want more than a clean up; they want a major step up in clarity.
They want support in thinking through the book’s organization before nitty-gritty editing begins.
They want their book editor to be tuned in to their objectives for the book, keeping them top-of-mind throughout the process.
They want their points made more succinctly and artistically and their stories told well. As one author said, “An unedited piece can make my point but in a less elegant way than one that’s been edited.”
They want their ideas made more appealing by adding vivid words and gem phrases they didn’t think of themselves.
They want feedback on the effect their writing is or is not having on readers. Thus, they want their editor to act as an advocate or stand-in for the reader.

Even more specifically, respondents expect their book editors to catch errors or problems casual readers miss in the following areas:

Content: unfinished thoughts, missing steps, unclear logic or a story that falls flat.
Language: fixing grammar, spelling, agreements, redundancies, repetition, mixed modifiers, run-on sentences, and more.
Effectiveness: improving the flow and tightening the writing throughout.

How Book Editors Can Learn What Authors Want

From the first contact with a client, I open a dialog through what I call a Planner—a questionnaire that focuses on the long-term goals for the book itself. Questions not only address the mechanics of editing but emphasize the author’s big-picture dreams.

When working with an author on a book to enhance their business or brand, my questions include:

What successful books would be good models for yours?
After people in your target audience have read this book, what do you want them to say about it? How would you like a testimonial to read?
What actions do you want readers to take as a result of reading your book—both for their own benefit and for yours?
What do you want them to know about your business and services?
What changes do you want to create in your life/business as a result of putting this book out into the world?
What value would having a successful book bring to you/your business brand?
Which results do you seek most in working with an editor (followed by a list for ranking)?

Order Your Editing the Way You Like It!

Each manuscript provides a new opportunity for your editor to deliver on your “wants.” It should be like asking a waiter to have your meal prepared exactly to your specifications each time.

Don’t short-change the editing process and its value to you. Use a tool like my Planner to articulate exactly what you want from your editor. Communicate through both written and verbal dialog so you can realize the boost in quality that will result.

To see how Barbara’s Planner can help you, go here.

Barbara’s note: Thanks to Teresa Funke, Chair of NSA Writers/Publishers PEG for printing this article in the PEG newsletter.

Authors Highlighted at Tucson Festival of Books

March 24, 2015 by Barbara McNichol Leave a Comment

by Barbara McNichol

For the seventh year, the Tucson Festival of Books attracted more than 100,000 people to the University of Arizona campus. It celebrated 350+ authors/presenters while showcasing sponsors, exhibitors, and entertainers. The festivities kicked off with the band Rock Bottom Remainders made up of best-selling authors including Amy Tan, Mitch Albom, Dave Barry, Scott Turow, and others.

Diana’s book

For me, Festival fun took the form of supporting two authors who recently published books I edited. Both are local Tucsonans who are making a difference. Diana Madaras and her first art teacher Chuck Albanese spoke on a panel “The Artist as Author.” Diana talked about Private Spaces, a coffee-table retrospective of her artistic journey that features her life story, dozens of photos, and 152 of her paintings. (See trailer at www.BarbaraMcNichol.com)

Gina’s book

Gina Murphy-Darling celebrated the launch of her book best described as a humor-filled pep talk about a serious subject: why Mother Earth is hurting and what we can do about it. Your Mother Called (Mother Earth): You’d Better Call Her Back! is a must-read for everyone. Check it out!

If you attended this Festival or other favorite book festivals, what was the biggest draw for you? Share your comments here.

Book Review: Word Trippers “a Lifesaver!”

February 5, 2015 by Barbara McNichol Leave a Comment

by Diana DeSpain Schramer, Copy Editor

What a lifesaver for writers and editors alike!

Fellow NAIWE member Barbara McNichol has compiled in one easy-to-navigate manual the most crazy-making words from A-Z that, yes, trip us up. No more scrambling through stacks of reference books, as now the answers we seek are right at our fingertips.

Word Trippers

Who among us hasn’t agonized over “affect” or “effect”? “Lay” or “lie”? “Who” or “whom”? Word Trippers comes to our rescue, but it doesn’t stop there. It also includes homophones that trip us up, like vial/vile and waver/waiver. Excellent!

Personal Word Tripper

My personal word tripper is “comprise” or “compose.” I have sought several sources and have never found an explanation to help keep them straight in my mind. Until now. Thank you, Word Trippers!

Editor’s note: Thanks, Diana. I’m honored you shared this on NAIWE, Amazaon, and Goodreads.

To purchase this book, go to http://tiny.cc/BarbaraMcNichol

Readers: What is YOUR personal word tripper? Comment here!

Authors and Editors: Save Time and Money with These Writing Techniques

December 13, 2014 by Barbara McNichol Leave a Comment

by Barbara McNichol

Authors and editors, how can you employ critical techniques that copyeditors use in your own work?

Recently, I did a teleclass with slides to follow. It was hosted by Janice Campbell for members of NAIWE*.

In this teleclass, I shared tricks of my trade that can save writers time and money in the editing process. As a way to sharpen their skills, editors will benefit from listening to the class and viewing the instructional slides, too!

Download the slides here: http://tinyurl.com/kpt7coh

Note: If you have problems, email me to request the slides

Listen to the teleclass: http://tinyurl.com/o3wo8fs

* What is NAIWE?

The National Association of Independent Writers and editors is a professional association for writers, editors, and anyone who works with words.

Open to writers/editors in any country, NAIWE helps its members create multiple streams of writing income.

I am a charter member of this organization. Check out my page at http://barbaramcnichol.naiwe.com/

Authors and Editors: Consider joining yourself. Details at this link:

Would you like to build your writing or editing career? Join the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors for success and support!

Top 10 Self-Publishing Bloopers

November 1, 2014 by Barbara McNichol Leave a Comment

by Karen Saunders

Editor’s Note: My colleague Karen Saunders shares these 10 publishing “bloopers” to avoid if you’re self-publishing your book. Of special interest is #1.

10 Self-Publishing Bloopers

The number one mistake is not having your book professionally edited. There are different levels of editing: content editing, copy editing, and proofreading. In my September 2014 blog post I describe in detail these three types of editing services.
Missing the bar code. If you don’t have a bar code on the back cover of your book, you won’t be able to sell your book in bookstores or on Amazon.
Bad cover design. Your cover sells your book. Hire a professional designer to create a stunning, attention-grabbing cover.
Bad interior layout. Your book interior needs to be clean, organized, easy to read and meet standard formatting guidelines. One example of poor layout is the book titled A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. This controversial autobiography was revealed by Oprah to have fabricated content, and the interior layout is missing indents! It is extremely difficult to see where one paragraph ends and another begins.
Blank back cover. Your back cover is valuable real estate to sell your book to prospective buyers. Make use of your back cover to include a snappy headline, bulleted benefit points, testimonials, summary, short biography, and a call to action.
Misleading cover design and title. Make sure your title, subtitle, and cover graphics accurately portray and support the interior content.
No copyright page. This is the most important page in your book. In my November 2012 blog post I include a list of necessary items for this page.
Missing the ISBN number and/or LCCN number. You must have an ISBN number to sell your book anywhere other than your own website. Buy a block of 10 from Bowker.com. Use the second number in the list for the ebook version of your book. If you want to sell your book to libraries, you must have an LCCN number. Get one free from the Library of Congress.
Using MS Word to lay out your book. This application is not a good choice for book interior page layout. It does not have the functionality and tools required to create a professional-quality layout. Use Adobe InDesign or Quark Xpress.
Not having a well-thought-out marketing plan in place before you publish your book. How and where will sell your book? You may need coaching to optimize social media tools for marketing your book. Learn about publishing support sites where you can drive interest in your book, gather pre-sales, and raise funds.

Karen Saunders is the owner of MacGraphics Services, a unique graphic design firm for today’s entrepreneur. Karen Saunders and her team of award-winning designers help authors and small business owners design their books, convert their books into ebooks, build their brand, launch their website and market their business. Visit her website to download a free Book Media Checklist and a free eCourse on How to Create a Best-selling Book Design from the Inside Out at www.MacGraphics.net. You can also contact her at 888-796-7300, or Karen@macgraphics.net.

Change Testimonials for Nonfiction Book Websites?

Use this checklist:

Polishing Your Writing? Follow These 3 Self-Editing Steps

Key Skills for a High-quality Nonfiction Editor and Writer

UNESCO’s First City of Literature: Edinburgh, Scotland