Kimberly Hunt - Revision Division
Editor
Specialty Developmental Editing of Romance
Copyediting and Beta Reading
Favorite genre: Romance
As I wrote in my last interview post, it is essential to work with an editor before publishing your book so that it can be at its best for your readers. Not only is the story important, so is the text itself. It is distracting to read a book full of typos and grammatical errors and your readers might give up on your story.
I had the chance to interview Kimberly Hunt from Revision Division about copy and line editing. While developmental editing is her specialty, I was so impressed by the tips and videos on her website regarding copyediting I knew she would be the perfect person to write on this subject.
Read below to find out more about Kimberly and copyediting your manuscript.
Jennifer Franz Griffith: Some people might say that using a program like Grammarly is enough to edit a book. Why do you think it is important that an author use a copy editor?
Kimberly: Software programs are excellent tools before hiring an editor but they are not a replacement for what a professional will find and correct. Software may help find missing punctuation or spelling errors but it often fails to recognize nuances in language and may introduce problems. Software has its place in the process, helping authors and editors find things like an extra space between words, but it won't discern meaning and intent from the context which often leads to faulty suggested corrections.
JFG: How do you define light editing versus heavy editing?
Kimberly: When I receive a manuscript for a potential copyediting project, I perform a sample edit in order to provide an accurate quote. I'm sure the definition varies by editor but for me, it's only light if there is one error per page or less. I time myself during the sample edit and if it takes much longer to get through 2,000 words than my typical pace, I quote that as a heavy copyedit. This is why editing costs should not be based on word count alone.
JFG: Do you have any tips for writers about how they can edit their manuscripts first before it comes to you?
Kimberly: Yes! I have lots of tips for self-editing to save authors money before sending their manuscript to a professional editor. My favorites suggestion is to listen to the manuscript using Microsoft Word's Read Aloud functionality. Other tips are to change the font on screen or print it out and read. Check out my previous blog post on this subject if you're interested in other cost-saving tips! https://revisiondivision.com/tips/f/self-edit-checklist---5-easy-ways-to-save-money
JFG: What are the most common mistakes writers make?
Kimberly: Common copyediting mistakes occur around punctuation like comma placement and semicolon usage, mixing up homophones like waist and waste and the usual pronoun homophones like there/they’re/their, you’re/your, and it’s/its. Also, many writers struggle with knowing when to use lay vs. lie.
JFG: No matter how many times a piece is edited or how many eyes have looked at it, there are likely still going to be some typos after the book is published. How should a writer handle that?
Kimberly: With understanding. No software program is perfect and no human is perfect. But every pass through a manuscript should raise the quality level. Authors and editors do their best to create a high-quality product.
JFG: Anything else you would like to share?
Kimberly: Come check out all the great, free content on the Revision Division blog: https://revisiondivision.com/tips/f/table-of-contents?blogcategory=Table+of+Contents
Kimberly Hunt is a freelance developmental editor of fiction with Revision Division, specializing in Romance, Women’s Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, and Psychological Thrillers. She’s happy to answer questions about writing and editing but beware as she can go on at length about her passions: reading, running, and volunteering.
Kimberly can be found on most platforms. She reviews what she reads so follow her, engage in talk of a mutual love for books, and chances are she will be reading your book next.
https://facebook.com/RevisionDivision/
This is a sampling of the books that Kimberly has edited.