Book reviews: The Essential Guide to Self-Editing
I had become lazy and this book has inspired me to treat each blog I write as a new adventure. Thank you, Roxanne, your book has re-energised me and given me a new direction. It has also shown me many new tools and planted new ideas. I say that this is essential reading if you are looking for a fresh approach to your writing.
Charles Mercer, October 21, 2017
This guide is essential for anyone who writes for a living. A good reminder of basic grammar we should know, but forget. I love the way Roxanne has provided great tips to use when writing and editing and have highlighted common errors that some writers make. It’s a quick read but an everlasting guide to refer to when your brain is fuzzy from writing. Highly recommended.
Amazon Customer, December 19, 2017
There are a lot of books out there that help you with your editing skills. Roxanne's guide is far more comprehensive and usable than a lot of those I have come across. I am a travel writer and high school teacher and I found a lot of the sections within this guide easy to follow and remember so I can edit my work anytime with far more ease and skill. You really can't beat the price for such a helpful resource either.
Amazon Customer, February 18, 2018
As someone who writes regularly, and for a living, I really enjoyed the clear and concise way that this book is written. The author provides valuable advice without ever speaking down to her readers and the tips are a great refresher for seasoned writers and an invaluable resource for those who may be less confident in their writing skills.
In my company I have a number of people whose work requires them to be able to write well, but who have not had writing as a primary function in their previous employment. For them, this book is a godsend. An invaluable resource!
Lynne, October 11, 2017
I really wish someone had put this book in my hands years ago when I started out as wet-behind-the-ears reporter in the newsroom. It would have saved my editors many, many hours of frustration (and grey or lost hair) and avoided a few embarrassing moments for me too. This essential guide is easy reading, but it is also practical, accessible, and easy to put into action. I would recommend this book to anyone starting out in writing. Even experienced writers who need (or ought) to edit their own work will find some of the tips for proof reading their own work in the second part useful.
Avid Reader, November 19, 2017
As a blogger who does their own editing, I found this book both helpful and actionable. Roxanne does an excellent job using examples to help you understand each point. It's broken into sections on editing and proofreading. I learned about how to use catchy headlines, draw readers in with the first paragraph and make every word count. I've always thought my grammar was strong, but still learned several new things in the proofreading section. This book is worth the investment!
Susan E Gleissner, December 18, 2017
Successful businesses depend on quality written communication. This guide is a wonderfully concise and practical reference for anybody who wants to improve the effectiveness of their writing. We are a company focused on media, and this guide has become essential reading for our entire team. There has been a direct and measurable improvement in the quality of our team’s communication, both internally and externally.
Rudi Leitner, October 19, 2017
Roxanne can “Reid”. Write. Edit. Like an alchemist, she transforms words into pure gold. As an experienced blogger, I didn’t know what to expect from her book, The Essential Guide to Self-Editing. I was blown away. I realised how little I knew – or rather, I finally understood how much I still had to learn to master my craft. “Don’t be dotty”, she suggests. Oops. “Abolish exclamation marks,” she adds. Wrong again.
Her examples are plain yet powerful, her knowledge eye-opening. You will learn how to dive into your “why”, simplify your writing and break down your paragraphs to improve readability. Surprisingly, you’ll also understand why it’s important for you to “watch out for the neighbours” and why it’s never a good idea to “eat Grandma” (yes, you heard right).
Blogging can be tedious when lack of inspiration leaves you feeling blank or a quick editing job turns into an endless nightmare. I’ve been there so many times. Haven’t you? Luckily, you now have the perfect guide. As the saying goes, “practice makes perfect”. Apply the power tips in this guide and become the Jedi of self-editing.
Michael, October 13, 2017
You may ask why you would need another online guide on how to sharpen your proofreading and editing skills. Well, you can trust Roxanne. She is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable people in the publishing industry today. And now she has crystallised her wisdom and knowledge into this short, easy-to-read compilation. In her delightfully pithy and humorous way, she offers simple guidelines on how to produce well-edited, grammatically correct, professional articles. And that counts for a lot today, with so many offerings and communiqués that have enough spelling and grammatical mistakes to make your brain curdle, and even worse, discredit the author.
So, if you have ever written something, no matter what your content or target audience, and have a niggling feeling that it should be looked at by a professional, but you can’t afford the time or money to hire an editor or proofreader, use this guide to become your own best editor. The rewards will be gratifying.
As an editor myself, I couldn’t think of anyone better or more trusted to guide you, step by step, through the wonderful mysteries and intricacies of good plain English.
HT, October 13, 2017
Charles Mercer, October 21, 2017
This guide is essential for anyone who writes for a living. A good reminder of basic grammar we should know, but forget. I love the way Roxanne has provided great tips to use when writing and editing and have highlighted common errors that some writers make. It’s a quick read but an everlasting guide to refer to when your brain is fuzzy from writing. Highly recommended.
Amazon Customer, December 19, 2017
There are a lot of books out there that help you with your editing skills. Roxanne's guide is far more comprehensive and usable than a lot of those I have come across. I am a travel writer and high school teacher and I found a lot of the sections within this guide easy to follow and remember so I can edit my work anytime with far more ease and skill. You really can't beat the price for such a helpful resource either.
Amazon Customer, February 18, 2018
As someone who writes regularly, and for a living, I really enjoyed the clear and concise way that this book is written. The author provides valuable advice without ever speaking down to her readers and the tips are a great refresher for seasoned writers and an invaluable resource for those who may be less confident in their writing skills.
In my company I have a number of people whose work requires them to be able to write well, but who have not had writing as a primary function in their previous employment. For them, this book is a godsend. An invaluable resource!
Lynne, October 11, 2017
I really wish someone had put this book in my hands years ago when I started out as wet-behind-the-ears reporter in the newsroom. It would have saved my editors many, many hours of frustration (and grey or lost hair) and avoided a few embarrassing moments for me too. This essential guide is easy reading, but it is also practical, accessible, and easy to put into action. I would recommend this book to anyone starting out in writing. Even experienced writers who need (or ought) to edit their own work will find some of the tips for proof reading their own work in the second part useful.
Avid Reader, November 19, 2017
As a blogger who does their own editing, I found this book both helpful and actionable. Roxanne does an excellent job using examples to help you understand each point. It's broken into sections on editing and proofreading. I learned about how to use catchy headlines, draw readers in with the first paragraph and make every word count. I've always thought my grammar was strong, but still learned several new things in the proofreading section. This book is worth the investment!
Susan E Gleissner, December 18, 2017
Successful businesses depend on quality written communication. This guide is a wonderfully concise and practical reference for anybody who wants to improve the effectiveness of their writing. We are a company focused on media, and this guide has become essential reading for our entire team. There has been a direct and measurable improvement in the quality of our team’s communication, both internally and externally.
Rudi Leitner, October 19, 2017
Roxanne can “Reid”. Write. Edit. Like an alchemist, she transforms words into pure gold. As an experienced blogger, I didn’t know what to expect from her book, The Essential Guide to Self-Editing. I was blown away. I realised how little I knew – or rather, I finally understood how much I still had to learn to master my craft. “Don’t be dotty”, she suggests. Oops. “Abolish exclamation marks,” she adds. Wrong again.
Her examples are plain yet powerful, her knowledge eye-opening. You will learn how to dive into your “why”, simplify your writing and break down your paragraphs to improve readability. Surprisingly, you’ll also understand why it’s important for you to “watch out for the neighbours” and why it’s never a good idea to “eat Grandma” (yes, you heard right).
Blogging can be tedious when lack of inspiration leaves you feeling blank or a quick editing job turns into an endless nightmare. I’ve been there so many times. Haven’t you? Luckily, you now have the perfect guide. As the saying goes, “practice makes perfect”. Apply the power tips in this guide and become the Jedi of self-editing.
Michael, October 13, 2017
You may ask why you would need another online guide on how to sharpen your proofreading and editing skills. Well, you can trust Roxanne. She is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable people in the publishing industry today. And now she has crystallised her wisdom and knowledge into this short, easy-to-read compilation. In her delightfully pithy and humorous way, she offers simple guidelines on how to produce well-edited, grammatically correct, professional articles. And that counts for a lot today, with so many offerings and communiqués that have enough spelling and grammatical mistakes to make your brain curdle, and even worse, discredit the author.
So, if you have ever written something, no matter what your content or target audience, and have a niggling feeling that it should be looked at by a professional, but you can’t afford the time or money to hire an editor or proofreader, use this guide to become your own best editor. The rewards will be gratifying.
As an editor myself, I couldn’t think of anyone better or more trusted to guide you, step by step, through the wonderful mysteries and intricacies of good plain English.
HT, October 13, 2017