A few months ago, I had the pleasure of being contacted by Frank O'Hare (pen name). He had written a book and was seeking advice regarding the next steps in the publishing process.
The book was a series of humorous anecdotes and short stories chronicling the main character's rise through the ranks of the British travel industry. It was written as fiction, but based on true events (a sort of fictionalised memoir).
Whether my previous experience of writing three memoirs of my own had any bearing on the author's choice of editor, I do not know, but I was initially contracted to conduct a sample edit and proofread of the first 5000 words of the manuscript. As is my custom, I sent a questionnaire to the author in order to obtain information about their preferences and style guide options (amongst other things). They must have been pleased because their initial feedback was:
"Some early feedback for you, Andrew: Your briefing questionnaire is excellent. I have noticed that not many others provide this. It really helps concentrate the mind and helps the author think about their audience, style and of course saves time later down the editing journey. Whether we go ahead with the whole gig or not this gives your customer confidence that you care about their intentions and what you are doing"
I completed the sample edit and provided feedback on the author's writing and style, and advice on the level of editing that was required. Again, he was happy with the quality of work provided, and commented:
“I was impressed by Andrew's thoroughness and the effort he made to fully understand the intention behind the sample work I provided. His constructive feedback and willingness to discuss my questions was really helpful.”
With my initial task complete, I was hired to continue on the project, copy/line editing and proofreading the complete manuscript. Four weeks later, I send the final copy of the book back to the author. His initial comments were:
“Excellent work by you, you are really thorough and have taken the time to understand the context and the characters involved to give the best advice possible. You have brought a consistency and a brevity to the story wherever possible and given good advice on any wording"
He went on to leave the following review:
Clearly, the author was happy with my work, and for those reading this who may be looking for an editor for their work, it gives an insight into my working procedures, methods, and quality of work.
In the last few weeks, the author contacted me to let me know that they had published their book. Looking at the reviews received so far, it seems that it is being enjoyed by a good number of readers.
If you are intrigued by the concept of this book, then check it out yourself. The author's "blurb" for the book reads:
"Beach to the Boardroom takes a light-hearted and entertaining look at the UK travel industry through the eyes of Frank O'Hare. Frank shares the hilarious story of his climb up the travel industry ladder, from the beaches of the Mediterranean to the boardrooms of some of the UK's most prestigious travel companies. Told through a selection of laugh-out-loud true stories Frank not only entertains, but also shocks as he reveals some of travels most closely guarded secrets."
It can be found in Paperback and Kindle formats here: Beach to the Boardroom
Having worked on the book (and enjoyed reading the content), I can highly recommend it for some humorous and entertaining reading.
If anybody is looking for an editor or proofreader to help with their project, feel free to contact me through my website (details below) where we can discuss your personal requirements, and answer any questions that you might have.
ProofWriteUK offers a full range of editing and proofreading services to authors, businesses, and individuals.
We offer a friendly, professional service, including FREE sample edits, special offers, Beta-reading, and advice.
Check out our website here.
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