Professionally Edited Content is the Ultimate Authority Engine for Your Readers: What Does the Editor Do?

To establish authority, it is crucial to carefully examine relevant content in publications and on the web. That’s why you need to hire a professional editor.

But what does that mean and what do they do for you?

Before clients take me on, and before I take them on, we go through a ritual: writers ask me what I do for them as an editor and how it will help their manuscript—oh and how much?

I go through this every time, so I decided to take one of my manuscripts before I published it and do the editing process so you can see how I work and why it’s important to understand the nuance behind a professional edit.

The Beginning:

First, I always ask for at least a 1,000-word excerpt of their Chapter 1 or Introduction and do an analysis of the content. It’s after this review I make my decision if we are a fit or not.

Here’s an excerpt of the Preface and Chapter 1 of my book I Wish I Could(n’t) Care Less: Real Life Conversations with Myself as an example of how I would go through the review process before taking on an editing project.

Sample Preface

Hello and welcome! First, an explanation about this book title:

People say they could care less when, logically, they mean they couldn’t care less.

(The following grammatical definition is provided by Mignon Fogarty, Grammar Girl.)

The phrase “I couldn’t care less” originated in Britain and made its way to the United States in the 1950s. The phrase “I could care less” appeared in the US about a decade later.

In 1990, Harvard professor and language writer Stephen Pinker argued that the way most people say could care less—the way they emphasize the words—implies they are being ironic or sarcastic.

Other linguists have argued that the type of sound at the end of “couldn’t” is naturally dropped by sloppy or slurring speakers.

Regardless of the reason people say they could care less, it is one of the more common language peeves because of its illogical nature. To say you could care less means you have a bit of caring left, which is not what I intend here. What I intend is to show you that when you care about what others think or say about you gets in the way of you living a fun, peaceful life, you should be able to state with bold confidence, “I couldn’t care less!”

The proper “couldn’t care less” is still the dominant form in print, but “could care less” has been steadily gaining ground since its appearance in the 1960s.

Why Did I Include Both and Which is Right?

If you care about what others think or say about you and that belief gets in the way of you living a fun, peaceful life, you should be able to state with bold confidence, “I couldn’t care less!”

 . . .

To begin, here’s the story I remember and realized how it affected me through and through. Here is why I felt and mostly still feel that I care about what people say and do, way too much. And the reason is because I am afraid that if I don’t care what they think, adjust my speech and actions accordingly to my imagination, the consequence is that I will be punished. After reading this first story, I think you’ll understand why I am why I am.

Note: I didn’t put it in here because it was too long, but I added a short story of when my father slapped my face after catching me experimenting with smoking. I was five years old.) I continue now with a fragment of Chapter 1 for review:

Chapter 1: Why We Care What Others Think of Us

I know today that that childhood slap settled into my heart for decades. I didn’t believe my father loved me then. He’s gone now, and I wonder at times why I didn’t stand up more and question his actions. All I needed to say was, “You hurt me.” But I didn’t.

I realize now that my nature was formed by fear. I feared his retaliation. Then, I feared retaliation from strangers. I didn’t stand up much at all over the years.

Even those closest to me could fill me with apprehension because I had an imaginary knowing I “could” be hurt if I didn’t act the way I imagined I should with others.

This is why I care about what others think of me.

Could a childhood experience create a lifelong fear of many things. Of course, it can. Ask yourself, why do you care what others think of you? What happened to trigger that fear. Because seriously, you were not born this way.

I did some research and read that maybe we were born with a bit of this; we all have a survival instinct born into us.

When we walked with woolly mammoths and saber-toothed tigers, mankind was afraid of getting eaten. That survival instinct kept being reborn into modern day. It’s called the need for inclusion. Particularly, group inclusion was necessary for survival. Today, our greatest predatory threat is our own species, both physically and socially.

Regardless of this threat and the need for acceptance—the fear that we won’t be accepted—remains a powerful influence on our thoughts and feelings. In fact, this in large measure fuels the existential anxiety that has become the hallmark of a generation, driving everything from people-pleasing to co-dependence to over-sharing on social media.

In other words, while our brains have evolved, that part of it that believes we must ensure we are included in our tribe, no matter the cost, is alive and well. It’s commonly referred to as our lizard brain.

In Psychology Today, Joseph Troncale MD writes that “lizard brain” refers to the oldest part of the brain, the brain stem, responsible for primitive survival instincts such as aggression and fear (“flight or fight”). The lizard brain is a physical location at the base of the brain. It’s called the amygdala and tells us we need to slow our roll and not get too far out ahead of our pack. Because without our pack to protect us, our very lives are in danger.

 . . .

Note: Gosh, I wanted to add more for you here because I love how this book helped me overcome fear. The next chapter is titled “Six Signs You Worry Too Much About What Others Think of You.” You can find it on Amazon through this link from my website: https://proriskenterprises.com/product/wish-couldnt-care-less/

Now, after reading the partial excerpt above, here’s the feedback based on my review criteria which you will receive about your sample excerpt you send me:

1. Line-editing:

Suggestions for improvement:

• In the preface, consider rephrasing “made its way to the United States” for a smoother flow.
• In the sentence “You’re going to tell me grab my teddy bear, turn around and walk away?” consider adding “to” before “grab.”
• In Chapter 1, there is a typo in “settled into my heart for decades” – it should be “settled in my heart for decades.”

2. Structure and organization:

Feedback:

• The preface is engaging but consider condensing it for brevity. The information about the phrases “I could care less” and “I couldn’t care less” can be streamlined.
• In Chapter 1, the transition from the introduction to the story about the father could be smoother. Consider adding a brief bridge to connect the two.

3. Tone and voice:

Suggestions for improvement:

• Maintain a consistent tone throughout. For example, in the preface, the tone is light and conversational, but it becomes more serious in Chapter 1. Ensure a seamless transition to keep the reader engaged.

4. Content and accuracy:

Feedback:

• Fact-check the statement about the origin of the phrases “I could care less” and “I couldn’t care less” to ensure accuracy.
• Clarify the source of the information regarding the evolutionary aspect of the lizard brain and its connection to people-pleasing tendencies.

5. Clarity and concision:

Suggestions for improvement:

• Be cautious with the length of sentences. Some sentences, especially in Chapter 1, are quite lengthy and may benefit from breaking down for improved clarity.

6. Grammar and spelling:

Feedback:

• Check for consistent use of tenses. For example, in Chapter 1, there’s a shift from past to present tense (“I did some research” to “I do know today”).

7. Formatting:

Feedback:

• Ensure consistent formatting of quotes. For example, the quote from the TV show Psych could be formatted consistently with the rest of the text.

8. General Remarks:

Positive Points:

• The content is engaging, and the personal anecdotes add a relatable touch.
• The purpose of the book is clear, addressing the issue of caring too much about others’ opinions.

9. Additional Consideration:

• Consider integrating more subheadings to enhance the overall readability and guide the reader through different sections. (This should have been obvious to me, but heck, during writing, these things are as important at the time.)

10. Summary of excerpt:

In I Wish I Could(n’t) Care Less, the preface explores the grammatical nuances of “I could care less” while introducing the author’s mission to help readers overcome the burden of caring too much. Chapter 1 delves into a childhood incident, revealing the lasting impact of a father’s slap and the subsequent fear that shaped the author’s inclination to care about others’ opinions. Drawing on evolutionary psychology, the narrative connects these experiences to the lizard brain’s role in fostering people-pleasing tendencies. The author offers insights on breaking free from such fears, emphasizing neuroplasticity’s potential for positive change and personal growth.

11. Is the book Beta tested for Audience Value?

The concept of I Wish I Could(n’t) Care Less explores a relatable and universal theme of overcoming the fear of others’ opinions, rooted in personal experiences and psychological insights. The inclusion of relatable anecdotes and the promise of practical solutions make the content engaging. The preface’s exploration of a linguistic quirk adds a unique touch. Readers seeking self-help and personal development may find the book appealing. However, the reception ultimately depends on effective marketing, target audience alignment, and the author’s ability to sustain reader interest throughout the book with compelling storytelling and actionable advice.

Note: Detailed and summarized, now the writer can decide if they want to work with me and, subsequently, do I want to work with their manuscript.

I edit to American English vocabulary (or Canadian or British, depending on the author’s origin); I delete all extra spacing. Some straight quotation marks are reset to smart quotes and corrected as per dialogue requirements.

I go into the sample and make the adjustments to ensure the text is more polished, maintaining its clarity and effectiveness.

Here’s what it looked like with comment bubbles and Review/Tracked changes in red to reflect what I’ve corrected:

 

Summary of Possible Errors:

Preferred spelling:

The following phrases do not match your preferred style.

‘could care less’ appears. Your preferred style is ‘couldn’t care less’. (no changes made)

Numbers in Sentences

Some numbers appear in sentences as digits but others are spelled out.

The numbers 1 to 10 appear in the wrong format three times (e.g. was 5 years||titled 6 Signs||those 3 years|). Three locations of digits were changed.

Phrases to Avoid/Consider

Your style suggests this phrase should be carefully checked or avoided.

‘mankind’ appears. The suggestion is: Instead of “mankind,” consider using “humankind” instead. No changes were made.

Abbreviations in Two Forms:

An abbreviation appears in two different forms.

‘M.D’ appears 1 time. One location of ‘M.D’ was changed to no periods.

Capitalization of Phrases:

A phrase is capitalized inconsistently.

‘Lizard Brain’/‘lizard brain’: Lizard Brain appears 1 time, but lizard brain appears 6 times. One location of ‘Lizard Brain’ was changed.

 

Note:  I adjust my fee based on the caliber of writing and amount of errors. If I feel it will take more time and effort to find the error culprits, the fee is increased per word. Contact me with your sample and I can share the results.

I hope this example of my editing process adding edits and comments are valuable in helping define and determine that your manuscript achieves your publishing goals.

You will still be required to purchase separate book covers graphically designed for the book jacket and e-book cover, as well as professionally formatted. (which I also do as a bonus when you sign with me to have your manuscript edited)

I include a Letter of Agreement and formal Contract with agreed upon fee and the process of editing your work begins!

When you make the choice to hire me as your remote editor/writer, I’m ready.

For more information: 

Website Home Page (with Testimonials): https://proriskenterprises.com

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciaogilvie

Before and After Edited Examples: https://proriskenterprises.com/6beforeafters

🌐 Ask me now and how, and let’s discuss your project toward sharing your writing and publishing journey! 📚💼 www.proriskenterprises.com or 📚🤓 Contact me today here or

📚🤓 You can drop me a note at pogilvie88@gmail.com

Have a great day,

Patricia Ogilvie, M.Ed.

#Ghostwriting #ContentEditing #AuthorityBuilding #ConfidentWriting #ThoughtLeadership #EntrepreneurMindset #WriteWithImpact #ExpertiseUnleashed