Resources for the Editor in You

Envision your future -- you have written the Great American Novel, and now a publisher is ready to read it. Your agent wants you to do a rewrite, and suddenly you're overcome with insecurity. Those college essay-writing courses are long behind you; you can't really remember all those grammar basics and not-so-basics that separate pros from wanna-be's. . Don't despair-you can accumulate a small, select library of books that will assist you in your task.

The Practical Stylist

The Elements of Style

book breaks down English usage and gives advice. Each suggestion, or command, is accompanied by an explanation and examples.

The Elements of Grammar

The Elements of Editing

The Careful Writer

Last is the Writer's Encyclopedia edited by Kirk Polking. This book, published by Writer's Digest Books, is a comprehensive listing of terms and definitions having to do with writing and editing. From books on language and style to sexism in writing, this book covers legal, ethical, and professional considerations. It contains model releases for photographers, common grammatical errors, and copyright forms and information. ..all kinds of useful things. Beyond editing, this is the book that will explain many of your questions.

For additional resource books about editing, check The Elements of Editing, mentioned earlier in this article. Now that you've envisioned that rosy future, remember this -- the future begins now, and now is when you need to become your own editor, before that real editor down the line picks up your book to judge its' merits in terms of publication possibilities.. by Theodore M. Bernstein is one of the most famous resource books on the craft of writing and editing. First published in 1965, it continues to be one of the most comprehensive guides to English usage. It is set out in the form of an encyclopedia, but it is much more. by Arthur Plotnik. This is one of the easiest editing manuals to understand. It contains a valuable section on "criteria for evaluating manuscripts." Although this book, more than the others mentioned here, was written for the professional editor, it contains valuable information for anyone involved in the editing process. by Margaret Shertzer. If editing is becoming a lost art, where does that leave grammar? Bad grammar sends the wrong message, and you can't afford that in any document that bears your name. by William Strunk, Jr., and E.B. White. Simple in its approach, this by Sheridan Baker. This little book is the elementary building block of any editing library, in that it sets forth the basics required for good writing.