What Your Editor Needs from You

If you're still working on the first draft of your novel (or even the third draft), you can ignore this post. Just file it away until your manuscript is headed for the copy editor's desk.

Your copy editor is going to need your help in order to do the best job possible for your readers, for your publisher, and for you.

Here's what she will need:

1. A complete list of characters: their names and nicknames (spelled correctly), their physical traits and any key specifics about their histories and personalities, and any relationships between your characters (spouse, grandchild, sister). If your blond protagonist became a redhead halfway through the novel, and you forgot to go back and change all of the earlier references to hair color, your copy editor is going to need to know which one you want.

2. A complete list of locations, real and invented. If you're writing fantasy or SciFi, you should be as detailed as possible here, since there won't be any real world reference for the editor to check for the spelling of the planet/kingdom/universe you created. But even for "real world" settings, this list will be invaluable.

3. A complete list of special terms (and their spelling) and unusual usages. Say you want to use the term brick the way it's used as a verb by programmers, something not found in Webster's. Put "brick" and its definition on your list. A good copy editor will not change nonstandard English in dialog, but he might waste your time and his by querying you about it if he thinks it will be too distracting for readers. If Billy Bob says "break it half in two" and you want to be sure he keeps saying it that way, say so in this list.

4. A list of style preferences that really matter to you. The publisher will have a house style, but there will usually be some leeway if you have a strong preference and follow it consistently. (This flexibility is much more common for books than for magazine articles.) If you can't bear the thought of seeing US in print instead of your preferred abbreviation of  U.S., let the copy editor know this in your list of style preferences.

By the way, style here does not refer to things like book design. Your publisher will not let you dictate the size of the font or follow your preference to replace the dots over the i's with smiley faces. You can thank her later when your book looks good because a professional designer did what professional designers do.

5. A timeline of major events.

If you can think of anything else that might help, include it in your list. Is this book two of a trilogy? Probably a good idea to share that news.

"Good grief," you say anxiously. "Haven't I already sweated blood for my book? Why do I need to send all of this extra stuff?"

Because the copy editor will not only use it as she edits (and waste less time and make fewer corrections that you will have to stet), she will also incorporate it in the style sheet that will stay with the manuscript so that the proofreader, indexer, and production editor can see what's correct too. Here's an example of what can happen if you don't communicate all of the above to your copy editor. It's not pretty.

—Kathy Lyon