If you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for a great book to read. Luckily, there are tons of books for freelance editors out there, especially recently. Over the past few months, there have been a lot of amazing new books published about editing, writing, and the publishing industry, and I wanted to share my recommendations with you today.
The following books are listed in order of publication dates, and they’re linked to my Bookshop.org affiliate account. However, make sure you check out your local library or bookstores too.
I chose books that can be read at any stage of your editing career. Some of them may seem like they’re for a specific type of editor, but I always encourage editors at all stages of their business to read outside of their specific skill set or preferred genre. For example, even though I’m a copyeditor, I still read books about developmental editing because a well-rounded editor makes for a great editor.
Review the Transcript
Welcome to The Modern Editor Podcast, where we talk about all things editing and what it’s like to run an editorial business in today’s world. I’m your host, Tara Whitaker. Let’s get to it.
Hello, editors. We are back with another episode, and this is my favorite kind because it is short and sweet.
So over the past few months, a little over a few months, there have been a lot of amazing new books published about editing and writing and the industry, and I just wanted to share those with you today because I think I can speak for all of us when I say we are always on the lookout for another book to read. Am I right? So sorry not sorry for adding to your ever-growing TBR. So we’re just going to dive right in.
I’m going to list these out in order of publication date, and I’m going to have the links to bookshop.org in the show notes if you want to grab copies for yourself. But as always, make sure to check out your local library, request the books at your local library if they don’t have them, or there’s always local bookstores if you have access to one.
So these are going to all be books for editors at any stage of their business. Any stage of your business, I should say. And some of the titles you might be like, Oh, well that’s for that kind of editor. Which might be the case, but I always encourage editors at all stages of their business to read outside of their specific skill set or preferred genre or whatever.
For example, I’m a copyeditor, but I’m still going to read a book about developmental editing because I think a well-rounded editor makes for a great editor. So these are for everyone, all right? Let’s dive in. First book on the list is How to Enjoy Being Edited by Hannah de Keijzer. We actually read this for our book club pick inside the Freelance Editors Club, and we all loved it.
The title, obviously, like, How to Enjoy Being Edited, is geared towards authors as they are the ones being edited, but editors will get just as much out of the book as we did. It’s practical, it’s easy to read and understand, and it was fun to read. Which, for the books that I’ve read on here, I will say this, the books that I’ve read are fun.
And I know nonfiction, or like, professional development books can not be fun to read, but this one definitely is. So I highly recommend checking it out.
The second book is the book called Developmental Editing by Scott Norton. This is a Chicago Guide, and it is the second edition of the book. The original came out in 2009, but the second edition just came out in November. So it’s always a book I hear that are on must-read lists for developmental editors, but I sadly have not gotten a chance to read it yet. I will, I promise. It’s on my virtual shelf, but I just haven’t gotten to it. But I have heard from other editors that the updates in the new edition are great and applicable for modern editing, which I’m very happy to hear because a lot has changed since 2009.
Okay, next on the list is The Design of Books by Debbie Berne. This is another Chicago Guide, and it is, quote, an accessible introduction to book design for authors, editors, and other book people. So this one I had to buy and put on my physical shelf because I totally nerd out when it comes to physical design of books and like, how things are formatted and the, you know, callout boxes and spacing and all of that because I’m a nerd. But I really wanted to see that in paper format. So I am very excited to read that one. Hopefully this summer.
Next on the list is yet another Chicago Guide, but it’s The Chicago Guide to Freelance Editing by Erin Brenner. This was so highly anticipated in the freelance editing world because there hasn’t been a lot of books out there like this that helps editors start and run a freelance editing business. And I can only wish that this was available earlier, eleven-plus years ago when I started, but I’m so glad it’s out now. I’m so glad that editors who are just starting their journey have this resource because I can only imagine how much easier it is going to be to have such an expert and a great resource to have to begin with, to start off with. So that is out now.
The next book is The Conscious Style Guide by Karen Yin. I am so excited for this. I refer to the Conscious Style Guide online on a very regular basis while I’m editing, so I’m thrilled to have it in book format. It is described as a flexible approach to language that includes, respects, and empowers. Oh, I’m so excited. Karen has the most amazing resources. She had the AP vs. Chicago website. She also runs the Editors of Color Database, so I can only imagine how amazing this book is going to be.
Next up is a book that is not out yet at the time of this recording. It is called Writing an Identity Not Your Own by Alex Temblador.
This comes out in August of 2024. So it’s described as a practical guide to help authors authentically write and edit a character whose identity is different than their own. I recently found out about this, oh, I wish I could remember where it was. I’m not even going to try and guess. I don’t remember. But when I saw it, I was like, Oh, that’s getting immediately added to my list. I would love to read it in the Freelance Editors Club book club once it comes out. So again, that’s in August of 2024. Writing an Identity Not Your Own.
And last but not least, The Chicago Manual of Style, CMOS’s 18th Edition, is going to be released in September of 2024. So if you edit novels, this is the most used book on your physical or virtual shelf. I am in it all the time when I’m editing, like it’s a tab that is just always up on my computer or however you say that. There’s lots of exciting updates to this edition. So that’s coming out in September, and fun little fact or side note, some editors gauge how old they are in the industry or how long they’ve been around by how many editions they’ve worked with. I started on the 15th Edition, so I’m climbing up there. I forget when the 15th Edition was released, but now we’re going to be on 18. So if you are starting on 18, that’s your starting point, and we’ll see how many editions you see in your career, hopefully many, many, many.
So there you have it. Those are seven books that have either recently been released or are going to release soon at the time of this recording. All in the writing, editing, publishing, industry aspect. I don’t know about you, but I’m gonna have a busy few months reading. If you’ve read any of these, the ones that have been released, or you’re really excited about one, I would love to hear about it. You can always DM me over on Instagram at @taramqwhitaker, or send me an email at Hello@TaraWhitaker.com.
So we’re going to wrap it up short and sweet like I promised. So until next time, keep learning, keep growing, and know that you’ve got this.
Thank you so much for tuning in to today’s episode. If you enjoy The Modern Editor podcast, I would be so grateful if you left us a review over on iTunes. And as always, you can head to TaraWhitaker.com to connect with me and stay in touch. We’ll chat again soon.
Book One: How to Enjoy Being Edited by Hannah de Keijzer
This book is obviously geared toward authors, but editors can learn just as much from it. It’s practical, it’s easy to read and understand, and it’s a fun read.
Book Two: Developmental Editing by Scott Norton
This is the second edition of a book that came out in 2009, and it’s a Chicago Guide. I haven’t read this one yet, but it’s on my virtual bookshelf. I’ve heard from other editors that the updates in the new edition are great and applicable for modern editing, which I’m very happy to hear because a lot has changed since 2009.
Book Three: The Design of Books by Debbie Berne
This is another Chicago Guide, and it is “an accessible introduction to book design for authors, editors, and other book people.” I had to buy this one because I totally nerd out when it comes to the physical design of books and how things are formatted.
Book Four: The Chicago Guide for Freelance Editors by Erin Brenner
This book was so highly anticipated in the freelance editing world because there aren’t a lot of books out there like this that help editors start and run a freelance editing business. I wish that this was available earlier, eleven-plus years ago when I started, but I’m so glad it’s out now.
Book Five: The Conscious Style Guide by Karen Yin
I am so excited for this book. I refer to the Conscious Style Guide online on a very regular basis while I’m editing, so I’m thrilled to have it in book format. It is described as “a flexible approach to language that includes, respects, and empowers.”
Book Six: Writing an Identity Not Your Own by Alex Temblador
This book comes out in August 2024, and it’s described as “a practical guide to help authors authentically write and edit a character whose identity is different than their own.” I would love to read it in the Freelance Editors Club book club once it comes out.
Book Seven: The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition
The newest edition of CMOS comes out in September 2024. If you edit novels, this is the most used book on your physical or virtual shelf. I am in it all the time when I’m editing–it’s a tab that is just always up on my computer. There are lots of exciting updates to this edition.
Fun little fact: some editors gauge how long they’ve been in the industry by how many editions they’ve worked with. I started with the 15th edition, so I’m climbing up there!
Important Sections:
- (1:08) Why you should read all types of editing books
- (1:44) Book One: How to Enjoy Being Edited by Hannah de Keijzer
- (2:25) Book Two: Developmental Editing by Scott Norton
- (3:06) Book Three: The Design of Books by Debbie Berne
- (3:38) Book Four: The Chicago Guide for Freelance Editors by Erin Brenner
- (4:25) Book Five: The Conscious Style Guide by Karen Yin
- (4:57) Book Six: Writing an Identity Not Your Own by Alex Temblador
- (5:40) Book Seven: The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition
Resources Mentioned:
- How to Enjoy Being Edited by Hannah de Keijzer
- Developmental Editing by Scott Norton
- The Design of Books by Debbie Berne
- The Chicago Guide for Freelance Editors by Erin Brenner
- The Conscious Style Guide by Karen Yin
- Writing an Identity Not Your Own by Alex Temblador
- The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition