Sue Littleford
@aptwords.bsky.social
Copyeditor of scholarly humanities and social sciences, UK. Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading. Member of ACES. Partner member of ALLi. Genealogy fan. https://aptwords.co.uk
Goodread's readers' favourite books of the year have been announced. Particularly pleased by the winner in the history and biography category! www.goodreads.com/choiceawards... #amreading
Announcing the Winners of the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards!
View the winners across all 15 categories now!
www.goodreads.com
December 8, 2024 at 2:29 PM
Goodread's readers' favourite books of the year have been announced. Particularly pleased by the winner in the history and biography category! www.goodreads.com/choiceawards... #amreading
A win for copyright - Internet Archive loses: publishingperspectives.com/2024/12/copy... #publishing #amediting
Copyright: Publishers in Guadalajara Cheer the End of Internet Archive Suit
Plaintiffs Hachette, HarperCollins, Wiley, and PRH joined the Association of American Publishers in seeing the court dismantle 'controlled digital lending.' …
publishingperspectives.com
December 6, 2024 at 12:07 PM
A win for copyright - Internet Archive loses: publishingperspectives.com/2024/12/copy... #publishing #amediting
More bloggy goodness - the last of this season. I'll be back in September. The CIEP has retired this review I wrote of Dowdle and Ruggeri's 'Networking for Freelance Editors' so I updated it and popped it on my blog: aptwords.co.uk/networking-b... #AptWords #amediting #freelancing #bookreview
Book review: Networking for Freelance Editors | Apt Words
Review of Dowdle and Ruggeri's Networking for Freelance Editors Workbook: Practical Strategies for Networking Success. Did I like it? Read on...!
aptwords.co.uk
June 25, 2024 at 8:54 AM
More bloggy goodness - the last of this season. I'll be back in September. The CIEP has retired this review I wrote of Dowdle and Ruggeri's 'Networking for Freelance Editors' so I updated it and popped it on my blog: aptwords.co.uk/networking-b... #AptWords #amediting #freelancing #bookreview
New blog post! I introduce four principles that good copyeditors apply in how they work (rather than the technicalities of what we do to the text). #AptWords #blog #amediting #amproofreading aptwords.co.uk/4-key-princi...
How do copyeditors work? 4 key principles | Apt Words
What are the key principles that good copyeditors work to? #1 Do No Harm, #2 If you’re not sure, check, #3...
aptwords.co.uk
June 4, 2024 at 10:19 AM
New blog post! I introduce four principles that good copyeditors apply in how they work (rather than the technicalities of what we do to the text). #AptWords #blog #amediting #amproofreading aptwords.co.uk/4-key-princi...
Reposted by Sue Littleford
Should an author index their own book? Maybe but often not. So here’s my Society of Authors article: ‘Why you need and how to work with a book indexer: a guide for authors’. See also a trained professional like me for more. We’d love to help. #IndexSky
baindex.org/2021/01/29/w...
baindex.org/2021/01/29/w...
Why you need and how to work with a book indexer: a guide for authors
In which I make the case for the indexing profession and describe how authors can work with indexers to get the best results
baindex.org
September 4, 2023 at 2:08 PM
Should an author index their own book? Maybe but often not. So here’s my Society of Authors article: ‘Why you need and how to work with a book indexer: a guide for authors’. See also a trained professional like me for more. We’d love to help. #IndexSky
baindex.org/2021/01/29/w...
baindex.org/2021/01/29/w...
New bloggy goodness! My new post is aimed at scholarly authors switching up a gear from articles to their first book. I give my top six tips to help them make that transition.
aptwords.co.uk/6-tips-for-w... #AptWords #authors #amwriting #amediting #firstbook
aptwords.co.uk/6-tips-for-w... #AptWords #authors #amwriting #amediting #firstbook
6 tips for writing your first scholarly book | Apt Words
Your first scholarly book is rather different from an article, not least in scale! Here's some help in 6 handy tips.
aptwords.co.uk
May 14, 2024 at 1:54 PM
New bloggy goodness! My new post is aimed at scholarly authors switching up a gear from articles to their first book. I give my top six tips to help them make that transition.
aptwords.co.uk/6-tips-for-w... #AptWords #authors #amwriting #amediting #firstbook
aptwords.co.uk/6-tips-for-w... #AptWords #authors #amwriting #amediting #firstbook
My new blog post is specifically for scholarly authors new to being copyedited (even more specifically, those in the humanities and social sciences). Lots of resources to help you orient yourself, too! #AptWords #amwriting #amediting aptwords.co.uk/copyedited-f...
Copyedited for the first time - what should I expect?
If it's your first time being copyedited, it can feel scary. Here's what to expect...
aptwords.co.uk
May 1, 2024 at 8:44 AM
My new blog post is specifically for scholarly authors new to being copyedited (even more specifically, those in the humanities and social sciences). Lots of resources to help you orient yourself, too! #AptWords #amwriting #amediting aptwords.co.uk/copyedited-f...
I'm back with a new blog post, looking at why copyediting is important when getting text ready to publish: aptwords.co.uk/why-is-copye... #AptWords #blog #emediting
Why is copyediting important? | Apt Words
Copyediting is important in producing accurate, reliable text that the reader can trust. Read on…
aptwords.co.uk
April 16, 2024 at 11:37 AM
I'm back with a new blog post, looking at why copyediting is important when getting text ready to publish: aptwords.co.uk/why-is-copye... #AptWords #blog #emediting
Bloggy time! Great customer service isn't just for freelancers - it's for our clients, too! No, I don't think this is controversial! aptwords.co.uk/customer-ser... #amediting #blogging #AptWords
Customer service for freelancers - and for their clients
Both freelancers and clients have responsibilities for customer service to produce thriving relationships. Here are three things you can do. #1…
aptwords.co.uk
April 2, 2024 at 11:08 AM
Bloggy time! Great customer service isn't just for freelancers - it's for our clients, too! No, I don't think this is controversial! aptwords.co.uk/customer-ser... #amediting #blogging #AptWords
What experiences from your life do you bring to your current work? Here's mine: aptwords.co.uk/copyeditor-6... #AptWords #lifeexperience #amediting
1 copyeditor, 60 life lessons | Apt Words
I'm a copyeditor. Here are 60(ish) life lessons I've brought with me into my editing life - we all have experience we bring with us. Here's a glimpse into mine
aptwords.co.uk
March 20, 2024 at 11:16 AM
What experiences from your life do you bring to your current work? Here's mine: aptwords.co.uk/copyeditor-6... #AptWords #lifeexperience #amediting
I said a month ago I'd been to the first in the webinar Non-fiction Developmental Editing course with the CIEP. Today, we had the last webinar! Really good course and if you can get on the next delivery (April, I believe), do! (Well, only if you're interested in the subject 😉) #amediting #AptWords
March 12, 2024 at 12:55 PM
I said a month ago I'd been to the first in the webinar Non-fiction Developmental Editing course with the CIEP. Today, we had the last webinar! Really good course and if you can get on the next delivery (April, I believe), do! (Well, only if you're interested in the subject 😉) #amediting #AptWords
The final part of my mini-series of blog posts for authors who have to work with tracked changes is out - and I'm looking at handling comments. #AptWords #authors #Word #comments aptwords.co.uk/handling-com...
Handling comments in Word | Apt Words
If your Word documents get clogged up with comments and you can't see what's what, this will help you.
aptwords.co.uk
March 5, 2024 at 12:23 PM
The final part of my mini-series of blog posts for authors who have to work with tracked changes is out - and I'm looking at handling comments. #AptWords #authors #Word #comments aptwords.co.uk/handling-com...
I had fun yesterday going to the first webinar in a training course from the CIEP on developmental editing in nonfiction. There's homework! And three more Tuesday mornings of thinking deeply about texts with 14 other editors. I'm with my people 😃 #amediting #amlearning #nonfiction
February 21, 2024 at 10:22 AM
I had fun yesterday going to the first webinar in a training course from the CIEP on developmental editing in nonfiction. There's homework! And three more Tuesday mornings of thinking deeply about texts with 14 other editors. I'm with my people 😃 #amediting #amlearning #nonfiction
New blog post! The third in my series on working with tracked changes is now out. I'm looking at how an author might tackle the job when sent a file full of tracked changes, & instructed to work through them. aptwords.co.uk/working-with... #authors #trackedchanges #amediting #AptWords
Working with a tracked changes file | Apt Words
Find out how to approach working with a file full of tracked changes, when you need to accept or reject changes, or make further changes. Plus a handy trick!
aptwords.co.uk
February 20, 2024 at 12:27 PM
New blog post! The third in my series on working with tracked changes is now out. I'm looking at how an author might tackle the job when sent a file full of tracked changes, & instructed to work through them. aptwords.co.uk/working-with... #authors #trackedchanges #amediting #AptWords
The second article in my mini-series on tracked changes is out! I'm looking at which buttons to press to navigate around tracked changes, & accepting/rejecting edits. This is aimed at authors who are faced with a tracked changes file & are aghast! aptwords.co.uk/navigating-t... #amediting #amwriting
Navigating Tracked Changes in Word: a quick guide
Being faced with a file full of tracked changes can be scary. Let me get you started…
aptwords.co.uk
February 6, 2024 at 10:57 AM
The second article in my mini-series on tracked changes is out! I'm looking at which buttons to press to navigate around tracked changes, & accepting/rejecting edits. This is aimed at authors who are faced with a tracked changes file & are aghast! aptwords.co.uk/navigating-t... #amediting #amwriting
Well - this has made me very happy (and very surprised):
Wordle 948 2/6
🟩⬜🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 948 2/6
🟩⬜🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
January 23, 2024 at 3:31 PM
Well - this has made me very happy (and very surprised):
Wordle 948 2/6
🟩⬜🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 948 2/6
🟩⬜🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
New blog post! Why I think tracking every single Word change is counterproductive: aptwords.co.uk/tracking-cha... #amediting
4 reasons not to track every change in Word = better results
It's not necessary to track all changes in an edit, but some are essential, so track changes selectively for better results
aptwords.co.uk
January 23, 2024 at 12:15 PM
New blog post! Why I think tracking every single Word change is counterproductive: aptwords.co.uk/tracking-cha... #amediting
Here's my first blog post of the year, on what it takes to be a great editor, beyond technical competence. Do you think I missed anything? aptwords.co.uk/8-qualities-... #amediting
What does it take to be a good copyeditor? 8 qualities...
My list of 8 qualities that go to making a good copyeditor. Humility? People skills? All this and more! #1...
aptwords.co.uk
January 9, 2024 at 11:25 AM
Here's my first blog post of the year, on what it takes to be a great editor, beyond technical competence. Do you think I missed anything? aptwords.co.uk/8-qualities-... #amediting
Final blog post this year - I like to do an occasional 'famous quotes' one so here's Mark Twain. Ish. aptwords.co.uk/mark-twain-n... Season's greetings, and wassail! 🎄 #amediting #blogpost #freelancing
6 things Mark Twain didn't say about editing
Mark Twain is often cited as saying things he actually didn't. Here are a few that almost certainly aren't his! #1…
aptwords.co.uk
December 19, 2023 at 4:27 PM
Final blog post this year - I like to do an occasional 'famous quotes' one so here's Mark Twain. Ish. aptwords.co.uk/mark-twain-n... Season's greetings, and wassail! 🎄 #amediting #blogpost #freelancing
The new writing and editing tool Draftsmith launched yesterday from the folks at @perfectit.bsky.social I got the chance to give it a whirl ahead of launch and here's my review: aptwords.co.uk/draftsmith-r...
Draftsmith: a new writing and editing tool - review
Draftsmith is a new tool to support writers refine their drafts, and editors unlock awkward text. Here's my review…
aptwords.co.uk
December 8, 2023 at 1:52 PM
The new writing and editing tool Draftsmith launched yesterday from the folks at @perfectit.bsky.social I got the chance to give it a whirl ahead of launch and here's my review: aptwords.co.uk/draftsmith-r...
New blog post time again already! This time - line-editing. I've been doing some investigation into what it actually is - and isn't. Seems no one really knows! aptwords.co.uk/line-editing/ #amediting
Line-editing: what on earth is it? | Apt Words
Line-editing is a fluid concept that some people deny exists. I've done some investigation, and here are my findings...
aptwords.co.uk
November 28, 2023 at 11:42 AM
New blog post time again already! This time - line-editing. I've been doing some investigation into what it actually is - and isn't. Seems no one really knows! aptwords.co.uk/line-editing/ #amediting
New blog post time! This time I look at the Cs of editing - the principles by which we work. But how many Cs? Opinions vary, but this is where I landed on the issue: aptwords.co.uk/7-principles... #amediting
The 7 principles of copyediting | Apt Words
Lists of principles, expressed as Cs (3Cs, 4Cs, 5Cs, 6Cs...) for editing and writing abound - here's the result of my contemplation
aptwords.co.uk
November 14, 2023 at 11:43 AM
New blog post time! This time I look at the Cs of editing - the principles by which we work. But how many Cs? Opinions vary, but this is where I landed on the issue: aptwords.co.uk/7-principles... #amediting
I've been trying to copyedit probably the worst book I've ever been sent. No discernible plan to the content; AU fills the text with overuse of euphemisms & pronouns, so the reader has no idea what's going on... reported it to the publisher as not ready for CE. I've just been told to pause 🫣
November 9, 2023 at 4:14 PM
I've been trying to copyedit probably the worst book I've ever been sent. No discernible plan to the content; AU fills the text with overuse of euphemisms & pronouns, so the reader has no idea what's going on... reported it to the publisher as not ready for CE. I've just been told to pause 🫣
The world needs another blog post on generative AI and the impact on the editing profession. It does, honest. Here's mine: aptwords.co.uk/generative-ai/ #amediting
AI won't take this copyeditor's job just yet | Apt Words
Generative AI (ChatGPT and its ilk) is a hot topic - here's why we must tread cautiously…
aptwords.co.uk
October 31, 2023 at 11:58 AM
The world needs another blog post on generative AI and the impact on the editing profession. It does, honest. Here's mine: aptwords.co.uk/generative-ai/ #amediting
The final (sob!) Flying Solo blog post for the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading is out! blog.ciep.uk/training-and... #amediting #training #CPD #freelancing
Flying solo: Training and CPD as a business asset
In ‘Flying solo’ this time around, Sue Littleford sets out why we should always consider training and CPD a vital cog to keep the wheels of our business turning.
blog.ciep.uk
October 25, 2023 at 2:26 PM
The final (sob!) Flying Solo blog post for the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading is out! blog.ciep.uk/training-and... #amediting #training #CPD #freelancing