“A good writer doesn’t rewrite words,
She rewires synapses.”
– S. Kelly Harrell
“The best writing reflects the author’s ideas and communicates them clearly to the reader.” At least that’s what Steve Dunham believes in his book, The Editor’s Companion: An Indispensable Guide to Editing Books, Magazines, Online Publications and More, as he begins chapter 3, “Editing for Focus,” describing the importance of focusing on one topic at a time, whether it be within the premise of fiction or non-fiction.
Published in 2014, Dunham has created a well-detailed comprehensive guide to help editors improve their editing. He covers different levels of editing, from proofreading to substantive editing, and provides practical advice on grammar, style, and consistency.
As a writer myself, I found this resource insightful and practical as it provides clear guidance on the editing process, emphasizes the importance of precision in writing, and offers useful strategies for improving structure and style.
Dunham arranges his work into clear, structured chapters, each focusing on a key aspect of the editorial process, making it easy for writers to navigate and apply his insights. Each chapter covers essential editing principles, beginning with “Marks of Good Writing,” which sets the foundation for strong, effective writing. This is followed by chapters dedicated to specific features of editing, such as “Editing for Content,” “Editing for Focus,” and “Editing for Precise Language.”
One of the most valuable aspects of The Editor’s Companion is its detailed guidance on grammar, style, and consistency – considerably the three pillars of effective writing. Dunham thoroughly explores these topics, providing practical examples and clear explanations to help editors refine their work.
In Chapter 5 of his book, “Editing for Grammar,” Dunham emphasizes the importance of correct grammar in maintaining credibility and readability. He explains common errors in sentence structure, punctuation, and parts of speech, making this section an essential reference for editors. He encourages editors to apply grammatical principles in a way that enhances clarity and readability, as he first began his book by emphasizing that the goal of writing is to “make reading easy for the reader.”
I found the first few chapters, particularly Chapter 2’s “Editing for Content” and Chapter 3’s “Editing for Focus,” extremely helpful in maintaining direct content, ensuring the manuscript stays focused, not only on its key ideas, but also crafting content that aligns with its intended audience.
It is easy to get off-topic and include unnecessary information that distracts from the main point, but these chapters provide strategies for identifying and eliminating such distractions to ensure the content remains concise and relevant. Chapter 3 further explains the difficulty of remaining concise as he says, “Writers, while they have the microphone, so to speak, can be tempted to inject their thoughts on unrelated topics or burden the reader with information that is not germane to the subject.”
One section of the book I enjoyed was “Working with Authors” from Chapter 8’s “Editorial Relationships.” Reflecting on his early career, Dunham admitted that he hadn’t realized how much he didn’t know and how challenging it was to work with authors, partially due to the miscommunication of queries. Unfortunately, comments are not always interpreted the way editors mean, but Dunham provides a compelling resolution influenced by Liz Broomfield’s LibroEditing blog:
- Try to build trust by providing tools like style sheets, to show the author you know what you’re doing.
- Remain kind, as words may not always come out as intended.
- Understand that the client may need reassurance about their writing.
- Praise the work as well as criticize.
Dunham’s focus on grammar, style, and consistency is essential for writers because these elements directly impact the readability and professionalism of any writing. Proper grammar ensures that the text is clear, style refines how the message is delivered, and consistency prevents distractions that would confuse the reader. Together, these aspects help editors produce polished, high-quality content that enhances the author’s ideas rather than distracting them.
While The Editor’s Companion is an informative resource for editors of all levels, I urge all writers to delve into the knowledge of Steve Dunham. His structured approach, detailed explanations, and practical examples make it an excellent reference for those seeking to improve their editing and writing skills.
On August 7, 2022, Aria-Joshes shared on Goodreads how the book not only improved their paid newsletter but also changed their career outlook.
“This book was originally to help me improve my paid newsletter. Now it’s inspired my career direction. So I will be reading more books like these so I can become an editor, myself…. Thank you Steve for your advice and making this book inspire me to go in a better direction re my career and use of my Bachelors Degree.”
Another comment made by Elie Jerome on October 31, 2016, described how informative Dunham’s book is.
“This book is very informative. By reading this book, anyone from any field will acquire knowledge and skills needed to edit a document. Steve Dunham points out some key elements that make a book great such as good grammar, plain language, accuracy, and easy to read…”
By covering grammar, style, and consistency in-depth, Dunham ensures that Writers can quickly find the guidance they need. Whether you are new to editing or are a professional looking for a refresher, this book offers valuable insights that will enhance both your creative and professional writing.
Sandhya Maharaj 