Editing

  • Author interviews, Editing, Writing

    “I like to make people laugh, but I also want to make them feel” – Karina May on writing rom-coms, travelling for inspiration and dirty first drafts

    Debut author Karina May was born to write rom-coms. She’s the kind of funny that leaves you gasping for air, and her sharp observations have a way of injecting life into tired romance tropes.

    Karina’s first novel, Under the Influence, will be released on 1 September under the HarperCollins imprint Escape. It follows banker Louise Lane and philanthropist Blake Goldfield as they grapple with their unravelling lives, the weight of society’s expectations and their unlikely attraction as their paths cross in flashy Sydney and beautiful Peru. 

    I’m so excited for the launch of this book, not only because I got to work on it at both structural and line-editing stages, but because I know exactly how much dedication and determination has gone into this incredible achievement.

    I met Karina when we were both working as editorial assistants for a niche publisher of craft magazines. Back then, our biggest creative hurdle was coming up with headlines for articles about sewing techniques and scrapbooking tools. It was seriously tough work and whenever we were stumped, our foolproof formula was to simply add ‘-tastic’ to the topic of choice. Tassel-tastic! Cushion-tastic! Quilt-tastic! I’m happy to say our standards have lifted significantly since then. 

    While I stayed in magazines, Karina was savvy enough to opt out of the declining industry early, moving into the booming world of digital marketing. She kept her creative muscle flexed writing rom-coms for fun, and here we are! Under the Influence is out now and Karina has another two novels in the works for next year (more on that below).

    I used my considerable influence with Karina to ask her about her journey to published author, her writing routine and, of course, how she feels about the editing process. 

    Cover of Under the Influence by Karina May

    Your first book, Under The Influence, is out on 1 September. Congratulations! How long have you been dreaming of this moment? 

    Thank you! I think I’ve dreamt of this moment for as long as I’ve been writing creatively – around 10 years or so! Like so many of us do, I changed the goal posts almost as soon as I started. Initially, I was writing a book just for fun – to see if I could actually do it … but that quickly changed to wanting to get it published!

    Can you give us a rundown of your journey to becoming a published author? When and why did you start writing?

    I have a background in journalism and studied communications at uni so I’ve always loved writing. My first couple of jobs were in magazines, writing articles. When I was growing up I actually wanted to be a foreign correspondent. I did a uni placement at an English broadsheet in Bangkok and quickly realised that a foreign correspondent was not the same as a Getaway reporter (LOL), so I ditched my Catriona Rowntree fantasies and went into magazines. I wrote non-fiction stories exclusively for years until the unfortunate decline of magazines pushed me to re-skill in digital. Once I wasn’t writing as much in my day job I found myself with a bit of an itch to scratch. I’ve always enjoyed being a storyteller, so I started jotting down funny anecdotes – mainly dating stories – then tried to string them together to make a book. Note: this is not how you write a book! 

    Writing a novel around a full-time job is no easy task. How do you juggle your fiction writing with your day-to-day life? Can you share any tips for being consistent with a writing routine?

    For sure! When I first started writing I was working in a pretty demanding full-time job. I wrote in the evenings as a bit of an outlet, and on some weekends. Now, I’m lucky enough to work for myself as a freelancer so I can choose my hours (to a degree). I’m someone who can’t really write in short bursts so I typically structure my week around writing blocks – at least one or two hours. I normally write first thing – which is a big change to how I started – as I’m less likely to skip the writing this way. My client/paid work has to get done, so I know that I’ll get to it after writing and I’m normally happier once I have some words down, too. So my main tip is, writing first! Even if that is before the sun is up (vom).

    Travel is a big theme in your work. What role does travelling play in your creative process? 

    It plays a massive role. My writing ideas are mostly sparked by being in new environments. My senses and observational skills are heightened and the juices start flowing! It could be an experience, a conversation, or even a look that gets the imagination going. It’s almost like when I’m away, I give myself permission to play – I’m now doing my best to give myself the same permission slip when I’m home. It’s about harnessing that ex-pat mentality and curiosity in everyday life. 

    I know you’re a fan of writing getaways – I’m always jealous to see you writing in beautiful locations! Where, apart from Sydney, did you pen Under the Influence?

    Oh yes, I’ve lost count of the number of writing getaways I’ve done (so very lucky!) I actually started writing Under the Influence in Berlin in late 2019. I was there for six weeks and wrote the first 30,000 words in my studio apartment in Kreuzberg and in surrounding cafes. The rest of the novel was written during Covid time. Between lockdowns, I managed to escape to Patonga on NSW’s Central Coast with my amazing writing pal, JoJo Swords, for some editing. Editing can be very painful so I like having a change of scenery (and a buddy).

    “The main thing I love about the editing process is help with identifying my blind spots”

    Speaking of editing, I’m lucky to have worked with you on a few manuscripts now, and I know you’ve worked with other editors and beta readers too. What do you find most helpful about the editing process? 

    Gosh, I’m so lucky to have you edit my books. You make them exponentially better! I think the main thing I love about the editing process is help with identifying my blind spots. By the time I’m done, I’m normally so close to the story that I can’t see the wood for the trees. It’s so helpful having expert assistance to suggest which parts of the story need attention and why. I think the why is just as important, as I’m not going to make any changes unless I truly believe it’s going to better the story. 

    How important is it to you to get that outside perspective when you’re shaping your story? 

    It’s imperative. I think it’s helpful to get the advice of an expert editor to help with the technical elements, like ways to raise the stakes, and a handful of trusted beta readers to tell you in non-technical terms what they love and what might not be working as well. Once you have multiple opinions you can identify trends. If everyone is saying the same thing it’s hard to ignore! 

    What writing or editing rule do you love to break? 

    Haha, I love this. Apart from thinking punctuation is entirely optional (sorry, Penny!), maybe the rule that you should write a dirty first draft. I’m not someone who can get my thoughts down fast. I am certainly of the school of thought that you can’t edit a blank document, but I’m also cautious about making more work for myself by writing too much nonsense. I don’t make myself write every day, so if I’m writing rubbish I won’t persist. I personally like to write a pretty clean first draft. I write leanly, then add.

    What do you want Karina May books to be known for? 

    Oh, that’s a tricky one. I’ve been told that my stories are ‘lively’ – I think that means that I have big plots with big characters. I like to make people laugh with my writing, but I also want to make people feel. To make big feelings, ideas and themes more accessible by delivering them in a palatable way. Palatable? I’m not sure I would buy something marketed as palatable, so let’s go with spunky. I also want my books to just be a bit of fun! I have so much fun writing them – especially the travel aspect – so I want people to have fun reading them!

    What advice would you give aspiring writers hoping to follow in your footsteps?

    Seek out expert advice! Whether that’s a course at the Australian Writers Centre (where I did the Write Your Novel six-month course, twice!) or listening to writing podcasts (my current faves are The First Time pod, Talking Aussie Books and Writes4Women), and when the time is right, engage a professional editor like Penny! [Ed’s note: I did not pay her to say that!] Not only does being tapped into the writing community provide you with support and accountability to help you stay motivated, it will set you up with the foundations you need to create a manuscript worthy of publication. And, read lots! Everyone says this – because it’s true. Reading widely will help your writing, and it’s also useful for staying on top of trends and understanding where your manuscript fits in the market.

    And finally… when can we expect the next Karina May story?!

    Ooh, 2023 is going to be very exciting! I recently signed a two-book deal with Pan Macmillan, so I’ll have new books out in March and December next year. I’m also going to start work on my fourth book. I have an idea for the one after that too, so for the moment it’s writing, writing and more writing!

    You can pick up Karina’s delightful debut Under the Influence here or follow her on Instagram @karinamaywrite

  • Editing, Proofreading, Writing

    Why every dream team needs an editor


    In May 2017, hundreds of journalists walked off the job at top newspapers around the country, including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Australian Financial Review.

    They were protesting Fairfax Media’s latest round of job cuts – 125 editorial positions were slashed from its metropolitan mastheads. While the strike created headline news, one headline went unnoticed… Until it was published, at least. During the week-long strike, The Sydney Morning Herald went to print with a page-one headline that read, embarrassingly, ‘Household debt a threat to ecomomy’.

    A typo in bold type on one of the most respected papers in the country? It was possibly the best press the striking journos could have hoped for – published proof that their editorial skills were not disposable, but essential. It’s also a simple way to explain why you should consider hiring an editor or a proofreader to review your business material before publishing it, online or in print.

    Even if you aced English at high school or routinely correct your best friend’s bad spelling, enlisting the help of an editor is a smart idea. Here’s a few reasons I reckon it’s worth the investment…

    Quality control
    Let’s start with the obvious, shall we? Employ an editor or a proofreader and you can expect that they’ll pick up the embarrassing typos, the repeated words and the misplaced apostrophes on your behalf. If you care about your brand and how it’s perceived, keeping the wording clean is essential (more on that below). And if you often find yourself getting confused about the rules of grammar, it’s a real relief to offload the finicky stuff to an expert.

    Wordsmithery
    The real value of working with an editor is allowing them to massage your ideas into shape. You might have a great blog post concept in your head, but struggle to get it out succinctly. Maybe you’re stumbling over one awkwardly long sentence in your ‘About’ page, or have lost your way with the flow of a press release. This, friends, is where an editor shines. They’re trained to smooth out the problems on the page, without losing your unique voice. Think of your editor as the fairy godmother who turns plain Jane copy into a sparkling Cinderella.

    Perception
    Sure, people will gloss over mistakes in your website copy or marketing material. They’ll see a typo, automatically correct it in their mind and keep on reading. But every time you let a little error slip through, it damages your brand. It looks sloppy and careless, which dilutes your message and lowers your value. Good, strong writing, on the other hand, is seamless. You don’t get props for it because when people read well-crafted copy, they don’t even notice it. Instead, they’re thinking about how great that product would be in their life, or how awesome that designer would be for their project.

    Collaboration
    If you enjoy the creative collaboration process, you’ll love working with a pro writer and editor. Just like in other creative fields, they’ll help you conceptualise your ideas. They’ll take the time to talk to you about your aims for the project, the style that best represents your business and what information you need to get across. Then they’ll work their magic before allowing you to give feedback, taking in your suggestions and tweaking the wording till they’ve nailed your vision. Meanwhile, you get to direct the whole show without the stress of trying to do it all yourself. Win-win.

    I’ll be honest – I’d love to be part of your dream team. If you’re looking for help writing, editing or proofreading your business materials, get in touch here.

  • Editing, Proofreading

    10 rules for proofreading your own work

    Ever wondered why it’s so hard to spot mistakes in your own work? No, you don’t need glasses – your brain is wired to skip over errors. If quality control is important to you but you don’t have the budget for professional help, deploy these strategies before you hit print.

    1 Run a spellcheck…

    Forgive me for stating the obvious, but that squiggly red line is everything. It’s a great tool for picking up the stuff you often miss with the naked eye, like when you accidentally type the same word twice, or (heaven forbid!) use the wrong version of your/you’re. As a magazine subeditor, I was taught that best practice was to run a spellcheck over every document I worked on, and believe me when I say it has saved many a red face. If the program you’re using doesn’t have a spellcheck function, copy the text into Word and check it there.

    2 … But don’t trust spellcheck

    As useful as any spellcheck tool is, it’s no match for the human brain. Why? Spellcheck will flip out over unusual names and towns it’s unfamiliar with. Unless you play around with the dictionary settings, it’ll probably insist on US variations such as ‘cozy’ instead of ‘cosy’. If your mistake is spelled correctly (maybe you typed ‘you’ instead of ‘your’, for example), it won’t give you a heads up. And it doesn’t always understand the nuances of modern speech or context, so some of its grammatical suggestions can be way off. You have the power here – use it wisely.

    3 Print it out

    The innate problem with proofreading your own work is that the brain is too smart for its own good. It automatically corrects errors for you, such as doubled-up words or typos, so you don’t see them until you’ve paid a fortune in letterpress printing. Remember that meme a couple of years back that had everyone arguing about whether they were looking at a blue or white dress? Your brain was autocorrecting the image to make life easier for you, and it does the same thing with words. One of the tricks I use to override this system is to print out the document I’m working on. Just switching to a hard copy can bring overlooked errors to glaring light.

    4 Read it out loud

    You might feel weird reading your work aloud in an empty room (or to an audience!) but it’s a great way to catch mistakes. Speaking forces your brain to process each word rather than absorb a phrase in full, so you’re more likely to trip over a clunky sentence or a misplaced comma. It’ll help you better understand phrasing and it’s great for targeting overly long sentences.

    5 Read each word individually

    I like to do this when I’m proofreading something with few words, such as an ad, business card, magazine cover or poster. Look at each word separately, taking the time to really notice how it’s spelled. You might want to do this a few times. Alternatively, use a ruler to read through lengthy copy line by line (especially useful if you have a habit of skim reading).

    6 Give it to a friend

    Even the most talented writers understand the value of a second pair of eyes on their work. It’s hard to spot typos, but it’s even harder when you were the one to make them. If you have a friend who’s always giggling at the errors in your text messages, ask them to read over your material, especially if it’s a biggie like a wedding invite or job application. If you don’t have a word nerd in your inner circle, don’t stress – that’s exactly what professional proofreaders are for!

    7 Leave it a day

    If you have the luxury of time, closing the document and stepping away from it for a day will give you much-needed mental space. During the course of a day we overload our minds with visual information, making it tough for your brain to focus on fine details. Step away from the screen to give your inner proofreading system a reboot.

    8 Check everything

    I’ve heard horror stories about wedding invitations going out with the wrong date or the groom’s name spelled incorrectly. You wouldn’t think it was possible, but life can be cruel! If you want to avoid this nightmare, triple-check every important piece of information, even if you think you know it by heart. Dates, names, times, prices – you can’t be too careful.

    9 Look at the big picture

    Proofreading isn’t just about words – it’s about making sure your project makes sense visually, too. If you’re proofing a poster, social media tiles or an invite, for example, take a minute to check that design emphasis has been placed on the right words, that text hasn’t dropped off the page, and that it’s clear and easy to read.

    10 Let it go

    At some point, you have to send your precious work off into the world, flaws and all. Proofreading has a funny way of making you reluctant to let go, but it’s a trap – the more you tinker, the greater your chances of accidentally inserting an error! If you’ve ticked off these processes, reassure yourself that you’ve done your best, take a deep breath and put your awesome project out there.

    No time to do the fine-tuning yourself? Drop me a line to find out how I can help professionally edit your projects.