Teaching Children About Money

When I was completing my tax return for my freelance business, I reviewed my income and expenses spreadsheets.

I saw expenses where I knew I hadn’t got the full value. I reviewed my direct debits and made strict decisions about what to keep and what to drop, deciding to buy only when my business would benefit, and when my income would support those purchases.

It dawned on me that, when I was in the classroom teaching children about money, having common sense is important. We can learn from what we teach children.

Effective ways for children to use money

To involve children, incorporate money into everyday activities, like giving them money to spend in shops, and encouraging them to learn about savings and spending.

Helping children develop good money habits early on can set them up for a lifetime of financial well-being.

Using physical savings tools

Piggy banks or savings jars are classic methods to allow children to visually see their savings grow. Clear jars can be especially effective. Decorating their jars can make saving more fun.

Using three separate jars, ‘Spend, Save, Give’ Jars, helps children learn to allocate their money for different purposes.

Setting and tracking spending goals

Goal setting encourages children to set specific, achievable, savings goals, e.g. a new toy, a game, a special outing. This provides motivation and a sense of accomplishment.

Visual tracking involves creating a savings chart or using an app to track progress toward their goals. Seeing their savings increase can be very rewarding.

Earning money

A regular allowance provides an opportunity to practice budgeting and saving. Earning pocket money for completing age-appropriate chores teaches the connection between work and money. This also teaches them the value of money.

As children get older, part-time jobs offer valuable experience in earning and managing money.

Using banking tools

Opening a savings account at a bank introduces children to the concept of interest and how money grows over time.

Debit Cards / Apps for children can help children learn to manage their money digitally, track spending, and set savings goals. Many of these tools also have parental controls, so parents can monitor spending.

Learning through maths activities

Money games including board games and online games that involve money management can make learning fun.

Shopping trips involve children in grocery shopping. Comparing prices teaches them about value. Help them to understand the difference between ‘needs’ and ‘wants’ during shopping trips.

Considering factors in children’s use of money

Ensuring saving consistency

Regularly reinforcing saving habits is crucial. Use positive reinforcement with praise and encouragement which can go a long way to motivate children to save.

Is it age-appropriate?

Matching saving strategies to the child’s age and understanding is key.

Teaching children the value of money

My Money Week

In my teaching days, our primary school did a national My Money Week as a whole school theme every June. It is run by Young Enterprise. The motto of the charity is ‘Spend a little. Give a little. Save a little.’

Their website says, “We help teachers to:

Develop their knowledge and confidence in delivering applied learning opportunities.
Embed employability and financial education initiatives across the curriculum through high quality tools, resources and support.
Provide young people with opportunities to develop employability skills.
Raise aspirations – helping young people discover their talent, potential and ambitions.
Bring the world of work to life for young people.
Develop the financial literacy of the young people they work with.”

Here is their website: https://www.young-enterprise.org.uk/teachers-hub/financial-education/financial-education-programmes/my-money-week2/

Talks Money by Deborah Meaden

A useful book on money for children is Deborah Meaden Talks Money. It is aimed at age 11 upwards. From the reviews I have seen on bookshop websites, I am looking forward to buying this one!

Her blurb says:

“Money is such a huge part of our lives, so learning how to make it work best for you is a crucial skill.
Knowledge is power! Whether you want to earn money, save money, set goals, or set up and grow a business, Deborah will be your personal guide, demystifying the world of finance, and sharing the knowledge and insights that have made her one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs.
Fearful of finance? You are not alone! TALKS MONEY is packed with podcast-style interviews with ordinary young people, as well as top businesspeople and personalities who reveal the secrets to their success – and the mistakes they’ve made along the way.
Create great money habits! With Q&As, quizzes, tips and challenges, TALKS MONEY is the only guide you need to build the skills and confidence you need to manage finances and reduce money worries.
The empowering finance book that every young person needs right now.”

Banking apps

GoHenry

Strapline: Where kids go to learn money

About: “We want our kids to be smart with money, understand wants vs. needs, create savings habits, make investment decisions, use money to help others, take responsibility and understand when it’s gone, it’s gone. We created GoHenry with the goal of helping kids and teens learn about money in a practical, fun way, and provide all the tools to help parents nurture healthy financial habits in their children.

Our community believes that good money skills come from empowering and trusting our kids to learn by doing.

Our story:

Back in 2012, we were funding our kids’ online gaming accounts with our own credit cards and paying extra here and there— all in between scrambling around for their weekly allowance and trying to help them learn about money in a way that resembles the world they are growing into.
We needed a simple solution that was easy for parents and practical for kids, and designed specifically for families. We struggled to find something, so we started GoHenry.

Website: https://www.gohenry.com/uk/home/

Other apps

Greenlight: https://greenlight.com/

Starling Kite (from Starling Bank):

https://www.starlingbank.com/current-account/kite-debit-card-for-kids/

Now for the adults in the room …

Money resources for adults

I get my favourite dollops of common sense from Martin Lewis, especially following his motto, ‘Buy what you need, not what you want.’ Here is the website for the Money Saving Expert.

I also enjoy listening to Money Box on BBC Radio 4 for useful financial advice. Hear previous episodes on BBC Sounds.

To sum up, doing your tax return is a good time to review your finances and help the children in your life do the same.

Sprinkling publishing confidence,

Annie

Emailing

Email me to check my availability for proofreading non-fiction and children’s books.

Subscribing

Subscribe to my blog to receive new posts directly to your email.

How Editors Can Help Self-publishing Children’s Book Authors

It’s easier than ever for first-time authors to self-publish children’s books but the process can still be confusing. I demystify my role as an editor, explain how I can support authors in other ways, and offer some tips to both prospective writers and editors.

The email begins, ‘Hello, I found your website and see that you proofread children’s books. I have written my first children’s book. Can you help me to publish? I need the grammar, etc, to be perfect. How much do you charge?’

I need more information.

Using my education background

I proofread children’s books using my knowledge from 30 years of teaching in the primary classroom. I know what makes a good children’s story, whether it’s a picture book, chapter book or another format.

When I taught children to read, I showed them how to understand and value stories with words chosen for effect. When I taught writing, I guided them to improve their writing using modelling – dissecting how the stories were written.

Supporting indie authors

When I retrained as a freelance proofreader and started my business, I had no idea about the area of self-publishing. But the process has grown in a way that makes getting their books out to readers attainable for new independent (indie) authors. And my knowledge has grown with them.

As it can be easier to self-publish than to go down the traditional route, it seemed logical to offer my services to indies. Half of the weekly enquiries I receive through my website are from new children’s book authors asking for help.

So, back to that email. What is my response?

The author hasn’t indicated the genre or word count, or attached their manuscript, so I request the current file of their book and ask some questions. I can’t provide a quote unless I’ve seen the material.

The author replies with their book file. As they have asked for a proofread, I’d hoped to see the finalised, illustrated manuscript as a PDF. However, when I open the file, it is a Word document with no illustrations.

When I read the manuscript, I am excited by the writing. I feel I would be a good fit for the author, so I explain my packages.

By this point I realise that this author, like many new indies, doesn’t understand the process involved in publishing. They have asked for proofreading, but they realise they need more than that. They need an editor; they need advice. As a first step, I refer them to the resources on the website of the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), where there are written guides and author forums. I am a Partner Member of ALLi, offering editorial services.

Finding the right package

I offer three packages:

My basic proofread is checking for typos and errors of grammar and consistency. In traditional publishing, this would take place at the end of the publishing process when the manuscript has been copyedited, illustrated and typeset.

My proof-edit is a proofread plus tweaking the text with edits or suggestions for improvement. I guide the author on the use of appropriate language for the age of the child. For example, is the book aimed at 4–7-year-olds, 8–11-year-olds or another age group? Is the topic suitable? Is the vocabulary appropriate?

My advanced package includes the tasks outlined in point 2 but I add my consultancy service. I give indies advice on how to get their manuscript ready for self-publication. It includes a proof-edit in Microsoft Word, and a second proofread of the final proof of the book as a PDF just before it is published. By this time, a book designer has formatted and designed it to fit in the illustrations. It has a separate book-cover file which includes the front, back and spine.

To help this latest author to find the right package for their needs, I offer to do a sample proof-edit to show how their manuscript can be improved. I take different parts of their manuscript and demonstrate: a) a proofread and b) a proof-edit. As always, the author sees the value I add with my edits and chooses my consultancy rate. Then I invoice them for the deposit (usually 50%) so that their slot can be booked in my schedule.

Helping to find an illustrator

As their picture-book story lacks illustrations, I ask the author if they have an illustrator in mind. They say they want the story checked first to make sure it is ‘okay’ and ask if I can recommend an illustrator.

It’s a good idea for an author to have researched the kind of illustrator they want to use by, for example, looking at book covers of children’s books in the same genre and/or looking at the portfolios of illustrators to find one who uses the style they prefer. I recommend they look in the Directory of Partner Members in ALLi to find an illustrator.

Building the book

I’ve often been asked if I put the book together by combining the illustrations with the story. No, I don’t offer design, layout or typesetting as a service, yet. The skills of a book designer are in demand with the increase in self-publishing.

Book production involves a variety of specialists. We all respect each other as trusted colleagues. On LinkedIn, I’ve found several skilled typesetters and designers who work with indie authors who I recommend to my clients. I also direct them to the ALLi Directory of Partner Members.

Offering sympathetic support

I am usually the only editing professional who sees the manuscript. When I am asked a question about self-publishing to which I don’t know the answer, it’s not a problem. I say I’ll find out. Answers can be found in the CIEP guide How to Work with Self-Publishers (once logged in to the Knowledge Hub), or in the CIEP forums, or … on the ALLi website. Can you see a pattern emerging?

Considering the author’s marketing strategy

Lastly, when I return the proof-edited manuscript to the indie author, I ask if they have thought how they are going to advertise and market their children’s book. The answer, as always, is no; they are so pleased they have got this far. This is the end, isn’t it? Can I help?

I explain that if an indie author sells their children’s book on their website and social media channels, they will reach more readers, parents, teachers and other authors. As with any marketing strategy, it is best to start with the product at the end and work backwards.

Resources for editors

Could you offer an editing consultancy to indie authors?

Reflect on your skills and recognise that you have knowledge that is in demand, and that you can offer trust and value. You are a safe pair of hands for a client who does not know the self-publishing area. Your skills are an asset that prospective clients are willing to pay for.

Sprinkling publishing confidence,

Annie

This blog post was first published in 2023 on the blog of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP, ciep.uk).

See my proofreading training on my Meet Annie page.

Emailing

Email me to check my availability for proofreading non-fiction and children’s books.

Subscribing

Subscribe to my blog to receive new posts directly to your email.

How editing is like long-distance cycling or any endurance sport

By the time you read this, my husband and son will have cycled 400km from Essex to York for a medal. They have a hobby called long-distance cycling. Each event is called an audax.

In this blog post I compare editing and audaxing, though you could substitute any other endurance sport.

Audaxes are arranged by an organisation called Audax UK which is affiliated to the world-wide organisation. Here is their website: audax.uk

2025 will be a big cycling year for Tom and Dan. As they prepare and train, they aim to participate in one of the longest cycling journeys in the UK in August called London-Edinburgh-London (LEL) – 1,500km over 5 days and 5 hours. Tom is a veteran; Dan is his apprentice.

Finding common features

As I have watched them prepare it dawns on me that both editing and sport have the following in common:

Choosing equipment
Preparing for the job ahead
Training
Building friendships and trust
Sustaining a physical / mental mindset
Experiencing highs
Experiencing lows
Feeling the joy of a job well done.

Tom and Dan on Easter Arrow — Tom and Dan – *Departure from Essex on Good Friday at 8am. (Photo: Owen Wood)*

Choosing equipment

The basic need of editors is a laptop or desktop, word-processing software (Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat Reader are the publishing industry standards), access to broadband, and furniture that helps avoid RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury).

Cyclists can choose from a range of equipment, including bike designs (not all want or can afford titanium frames), types of tyres, saddles, lights, and GPS software.

Preparing for the job ahead

Editors do sample quotes with a part of the text to get an idea of what the text looks like before accepting a job. Once a job is agreed, an editor carries out ‘preflight’ checks to note style choices before delving deep into the text.

Cyclists need to maintain their bikes and tools. They don’t have to be mechanically minded, but it helps to know how to pump up a tyre or mend a puncture to ensure the bike runs efficiently. My husband’s strength is bike fettling and bodging repairs to bike and kit with gaffer tape and cable-ties.

Training for confidence and endurance

It is advisable that editors do training in proofreading and copyediting. They don’t know what they don’t know. I advise any editor to display their training on their website and / or LinkedIn profile to build trust. Clients will feel safer with a trained editor, even if they are more expensive. Trust and confidence are key.

The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP, ciep.uk) and other editing organisations provide a high standard in editorial training. The biggest thing I learned from my training was to spot inconsistencies in styles of punctuation and spelling, not just typos.

Also, editors may be overwhelmed by the high standards of training. It can seem hard and confusing, but it will make you a better professional.

Cycling over long distances can’t be done without training. The strategy is to build up to them. Don’t cycle 600km without doing smaller distances first, e.g. 50km > 100km > 200km > 300km > 400km. You don’t know how your body is going to react after cycling 100km or cycling overnight … The mind plays different tricks altogether.

Building friendships and trust

The editors I know in my networking groups have been there for support and motivation, and for venting and cheering. It is vital to be able to discuss facets of your business with people who know what you are talking about. Do you need advice? Someone will know the answer or seen it somewhere and can point to it.

The cyclists in my husband’s network (ACME cycling club) have been there for each other to support, motivate, for venting and cheering. It is vital to be able to discuss every facet of audaxing with people who know what you are talking about. Need advice? Someone will know the answer or seen it somewhere and can point to it. My husband ran a pubinar (a webinar in a pub) in February to discuss how to survive LEL … and have fun. Many newbies came to marvel at the experience of the veterans.

Sustaining a physical / mental mindset

To sustain and endure the challenge of a long job and substantial books, an editor needs to build a schedule of how much text they will cover in one hour, one day, one week, etc. Having an overview of what the project looks like will assist in how to tackle each part of the job. It is important to stop regularly for breaks to look away from the screen, to stretch, to breathe fresh air, to eat and drink.

Cyclists, to avoid overwhelm, need to establish a flow or pattern of pedal-pushing which can be maintained. It’s not about speed or being the fastest – an audax is a marathon not a sprint. It is important to get off the bike regularly, to stretch, eat and drink. Sleep before you get the snoozies and fall off.

Experiencing highs

The kinds of highs that an editor feels:

When a quote is accepted by the client that is worth the value of the project.
When an editing job is interesting and enjoyable, we learn a lot from what we read!
When a testimonial is received from a very happy client.
When a client turns into a repeat client.

The kinds of highs that a cyclist feels:

A ride is completed in good weather. They especially love a good sunrise anticipated during the dark wee hours.
There are no mechanicals.
There is good company and good conversation.

Experiencing lows

The kinds of lows that an editor feels when things go wrong:

With I.T. when software goes wrong; saved work disappears.
A client is not happy.
Late payment or non-payment.

The kinds of lows that a cyclist feels when things go wrong:

Experiencing punctures and mechanical failures, especially if there has been rain.
Strong headwinds or crosswinds.
Forgetting vital clothing meaning that, when the cold hits at 2am, borrowing items from fellow audaxers may be inevitable.
Grumpiness is often caused by low blood sugar – take a break and eat!

Feeling the joy of a job well done

There is nothing like the highs of an editor’s job just as there is nothing like the fun that a cyclist gets from an audax. I am told that the cyclists’ highs make up for any lows which can become Type II (2) fun.

Even better … getting to a Wetherspoons pub for an 8am opening after a cycling overnighter when a Full English Breakfast and tea, coffee and beer are on tap. Chapeau to all the teams!

Audax team arrive at The Postern Gate, York, at 7.30am on Easter Saturday 2025 — Arriveée at The Postern Gate, York, at 7.30am on Easter Saturday after 24 hours on the road.

To see Dan’s photos of each stage of the event, see his Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/dandeakins93/

Disclaimer: These experiences have been told to me by those that cycle. I am not a cyclist, merely a supporter, reader of WhatsApp Group posts, and a good listener.

Sprinkling publishing confidence,

Annie

Emailing

Email me to check my availability for proofreading non-fiction and children’s books.

Subscribing

Subscribe to my blog to receive new posts directly to your email.

2024: Review of My Year

As I review 2024, I realise how eventful it was for me because I achieved things I hadn’t done before in my freelance life.

Doing new things

Tall Tartan Talks here … A quick snapshot of my achievements this year: I self-published my non-fiction ebook in April; completed a course called Understanding Mental Health First Aid; did more freelancing proofreading work for publishers than in previous years, and took on work from new-to-me publishing clients. I turned 60 halfway through the year; and one more event happened that I shall reveal later …

Reflecting on 2024

Looking back, here’s my review through the blog posts I wrote.

Winter and spring

I spent the first three months, during a very quiet period of work, collecting my blog posts into a non-fiction business book for self-publishing.

I copyedited my manuscript from the single, individual blog posts that I had written in MS Word, starting in 2017 all the way up to 2023. Then I spent time proofreading the manuscript.

However, it is really tricky to proofread your own writing, so a very kind edibuddy offered to proofread it.

Finally, it was ready to upload to Amazon KDP as an ebook. Here is the link to Tall Tartan Talks – My Collection of Blog Posts: Tips on Running a Business if you haven’t seen it yet: https://amzn.eu/d/csKQohb

I described the process in How I self-published my Business Book.

Summer

In June, my blog post explored the concept of questioning in education and business by asking What is a good question?

My July blog post reflected on how to cope with periods of time without freelance work. By this time, I had marketed myself repeatedly without, seemingly, much success. I know that the results of cold emailing take time. But it is really hard to be patient … Therefore, I wrote tips on how to use time productively in Taking Breaks in Your Business.

Autumn

By September, with the return to work for most people, I felt urged to promote methods of effective communication called How to Communicate Clearly.

In October I shared my tips for preparing for and writing cold emails to potential new clients: 8 Steps for Reaching Out to New Clients

Tutoring

I was able to provide tuition for a primary school child, on Zoom, with reading, handwriting, spelling and writing for six months.

Not having tutored for a couple of years, I missed the contact with young people and the regular income. A fellow edibuddy got in touch to ask if I was available … Could we work with the time difference with her granddaughter being in Australia?

The arrangement worked well! I was pleased to observe how well the child responded to my teaching. See the testimonial from the parent on my Primary Tutoring page.

Upgrading in the CIEP

And so to my news – I am excited that my application to upgrade from Intermediate Member to Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP; ciep.uk) was approved in December.

I proved my professionalism by taking editorial training, showing 500 hours of proofreading experience with clients, and providing a reference from a client that I have done over 50 hours for and who could judge my proofreading skills. Here is my profile page in their directory.

What an amazing way to end the year!

Seeing flaws as part of the process to achievement

To finish, I share a metaphor about Kintsugi that spoke to me about growth mindset and running a business.

I found it in a book that I proofread this summer. It is now published and available to order (details at the end).

Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. The idea is to make something more beautiful by embracing the flaws; and something unique and beautiful in its imperfection. The flaws are emphasised and celebrated.

See the picture of kintsugi-repaired pottery below. The lines of gold show where the repairs have been done and show them off in a positive light.

I love this metaphor because it challenges perfectionism and opens our minds to the ideas that every part of us makes us into something special and magnificent – just as we are, including all the past mistakes we have made.

In summary, my tips for owning a business are to persevere, persist, and be patient.

How has the year 2024 been for you?

See you in 2025!

Annie

Sprinkling publishing confidence

Source for Kintsugi: Compassion-based Language Education by Sarah Mercer, published by OUP, 2024.

Emailing

Email me to check my availability for proofreading non-fiction and children’s books.

Subscribing

Subscribe to my blog to receive new posts directly to your email.

How I Self-published my Business Book

I have self-published a business book!

My eBook is called Tall Tartan Talks: My Collection of blog Posts – Tips on Running a Business. I’ve written it for freelancers by sharing many tips I’ve learnt while running my proofreading business.

I used Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). If you would like to buy my book, the link is at the end of this post.

I will explain the what, how, and why of the process which, hopefully, will answer a lot of your questions.

What did I write?

I already had a collection of over 30 blog posts on my website which I had written to support other freelancers. I asked myself, why not copy the draft versions from Word and paste them into a single document? Rather than write something new I could create one manuscript using writing I already had.

If you have an idea for a fiction or non-fiction book, for adults or children, do write it. And keep writing. If the ideas flow, great! When you’ve finished a draft, ask friends / colleagues to read it. This will gauge if the audience thinks your book works. You will feel the need to redraft your manuscript several times.

How did I format my book?

Each blog post is around 1,000 words; the collection totalled around 30,000 words.

Once I had created my manuscript, I spent time copyediting the text. Ensuring consistency with the styling of subheadings and use of vocabulary, grammar and punctuation, I added to my style sheet.

I spent a further week proofreading the manuscript. By then I realised I was far too close to the text and fed up with it. I knew there would still be errors, but I wasn’t in a position to read it objectively.

Why did I self-publish?

I have been asked why I used the process of self-publishing. Mainly I self-published because my indie children’s book authors asked me about the process. They are looking for support. I wanted to answer their questions.

When I had a lull in proofreading work, I realised I had the time and energy to carry out my project.

Using a trained editor or proofreader

I needed an independent, fresh pair of eyes; I needed a proofreader I could trust and who appreciated the content in my blog posts. A kind edibuddy offered her proofreading as a skill swap – in return I would proofread her blog posts. She provided a comprehensive service in an efficient way.

Asking someone else to check your text is essential before publishing. I recommend you either:

Pay a trained copyeditor to style your Word document. Or …
Pay a trained proofreader. This could be the same editor you ask to copyedit your manuscript. Many freelancers provide both services – though a gap in time between passes is recommended to provide for fresh eyes.

Ideally your professional would be trained by a trusted organisation like the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (ciep.uk).

Creating a table of contents

Once I had formatted my Word document with styles for levels of headings, I could insert a Contents page.

I needed help to format the page numbers so that page 1 started at the beginning of Chapter 1 after the Contents page rather than on the first page of my manuscript. I found some support in the Amazon KDP Help pages. In the end my edibuddy formatted the page numbers for me.

Creating a book cover

I was certain I would self-publish my book in the form of an eBook as the cover, being a single page, it would be simpler to design.

I designed my eBook cover by finding a template in Canva. Using my tartan branding which is the design on my website, I replicated my website fonts. That way I could keep my design consistent with my branding.

(I updated the book cover for the first anniversary of its publication.)

The cover of a paperback includes the front cover, spine and back cover in one template. I tried using KDP Cover Creator. Its limitations meant that I couldn’t use the fonts on my website as they weren’t available in the software. As I wanted to make my branding consistent, I would have to find another way to use my chosen fonts.

If you have many images to insert in your non-fiction or children’s picture book, I suggest you use a book designer who is skilled in formatting illustrations. I can recommend a couple on LinkedIn.

Creating my KDP account

I completed the account details for my eBook. I could edit the details on my Amazon KDP Bookshelf. It was helpful that I could save, stop, or continue as time allowed.

KDP asks for personal and tax details to be completed. Next, enter the ISBN (International Standard Book Number). I bought mine from Nielson. Upload your content. Finally, choose a pricing option.

Consider when you want to tell your target audience that your book is available. Plan ahead because KDP needs at least 48 hours to process your account, your manuscript and cover.

Also consider, do you want your readers to pre-order? This is an effective strategy for advertising when your book will be published; it creates anticipation.

How I can help you to self-publish

I can help you self-publish depending on the type of book you want to write. My specialisms are non-fiction, education, middle grade chapter books and picture books.

If you want to self-publish an adult fiction book, that’s not my area, so I can’t help you. But I can refer you to edibuddies who can.

Buy my book

Amazon link to my book published in April 2024: Tall Tartan Talks: My Collection of blog Posts – Tips on Running a Business

Reading resources

I discovered many tips about self-publishing by being a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors: www.allianceindependentauthors.org

Annie

Sprinkling publishing confidence

Emailing

Email me to check my availability for proofreading non-fiction and children’s books.

Subscribing

Subscribe to my blog to receive new posts directly to your email.

Punctuating Children’s Fiction (Part 2)

This guide is Part 2 about punctuating children’s fiction. It follows on from Part 1. It is mainly for my clients who are independent (indie), self-publishing authors of children’s books because it answers the questions they ask about punctuation.

The rules, though, apply to any writer of fiction.

When I give feedback to indie authors who ask for help about how to punctuate, especially the dialogue in their book, this is my advice.

Covered in Part 1

capitalisation
dialogue (speech)
paragraph break
exclamation mark
question mark
comma
ellipsis
curly quote marks.

Punctuating further

Here in Part 2 are more advanced types of punctuation: colons, semicolons, hyphens and types of dashes (including the en dash and em dash), and brackets (parentheses).

These punctuation features are used in more complex stories and texts for older children and young adults. As children progress through upper primary school (Key stage 2), they learn how to read them, their function and effect, and how to apply them in their own writing.

colon (:)
semicolon (;)
brackets ( ) [ ] { }
hyphen/dash (-)
en dash (–)
em dash (—).

Colon (:)

A colon is used to introduce the information that follows it.

– Introducing a list: The colon is used before a list of items, examples, or explanations, eg There are three primary colours: red, blue and yellow.

– Introducing a quote or statement: When introducing a quote, a colon can be used, eg She had one motto: Never give up.

Semicolon (;)

A semicolon is used to connect two closely related but independent clauses, creating a stronger link than a full stop or comma. The main uses of semicolons are:

– Joining related independent clauses, eg She went to the party; he stayed at home.

– Separating items in a complex list. When a list already contains items with commas, semicolons can be used to separate the list items. For example, The colours available were red, blue, and green; other colours were unavailable.

I’ve seen much confusion in the use of colons and semicolons. Writers don’t remember the differences between them. If it looks wrong, if you’re in doubt, don’t use them. Or ask someone to check you’ve used them correctly.

Hyphen/dash (-)

The hyphen or dash is used to join words together to form compound words or to make nouns become compound adjectives when they are used to describe a noun.

Do you prefer ‘well-being’ or ‘wellbeing’? NODWE (New Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors) uses a hyphen; Collins Dictionary doesn’t. When you have decided on whether to hyphenate a word or not, keep the style for consistency.

Another common use is that adjectival words are hyphenated before a noun, eg well-known phrase, up-to-date regulations. Adverbs ending with -ly should not be joined with a hyphen to other words. But be alert for sneaky adjectives with -ly, like curly-haired.

En dash (–)

When the dash gets longer, it becomes the en dash/en rule (–) and em dash/em rule (—). Until I did my proofreading training with the CIEP I had no idea there were differences. I hadn’t looked that closely …

The en dash is the length of an N and is used in two ways in children’s books:

1. To represent a range of values, such as numbers or dates, eg pages 10–15, 1980–1985.

2. Instead of commas to show a parenthetical phrase, eg Alfie had fair hair that was far too long – making him peer under his fringe – and pale blue eyes. En dashes are used in the same way as brackets. Used mainly in UK fiction and non-fiction.

Em dash (—)

The em dash is the length of an M. It is more likely to used for parentheses in fiction published in the US. Again, it indicates a break in thought or to separate parenthetical phrases in a sentence. It provides emphasis, eg The weather—hot and humid—was unbearable. It can also be used to show interrupted speech, eg I thought for a while, then—.

Don’t worry too much about en dashes and em dashes in your book. Children don’t learn about them in primary school. There is no need to use them in your books for children up to age 11.

If you are an author and your editor spots that hyphens have been used instead of en dashes or em dashes, they have an efficient way of changing them as part of their editing service. So no worries.

Brackets (parentheses)

Parentheses are used to enclose additional information or explanations within a sentence. They provide extra detail or clarification, eg The conference (where there were over two hundred delegates) was very informative.

Ensuring readability and clarity

There we are. That concludes your author guide to punctuating children’s fiction, whether you’ve written a picture book, chapter book, or fiction for Middle Grade (MA) or Young Adult (YA) readers.

Remember to use punctuation marks thoughtfully and appropriately to improve the clarity and readability in your writing. Using a variety of punctuation will keep the reader interested.

But if there is a missing full stop, misplaced comma or quote mark, it will trip the reader up.

If you’re still unsure about how to use punctuation, go to a bookshop or library, pick up a book for the age and genre you are writing for, and look at how the punctuation is used.

Using my teaching experience

My experience of 30 years teaching in the primary classroom is valuable if you need advice on writing a children’s book.

Think of me as a fairy godmother placing that punctuation perfectly … Your book is in safe hands.

Fairy godmother sprinkling publishing confidence.

Subscribing

Subscribe to my blog to receive new posts directly to your email.

Emailing

Contact me by email to ask about my availability to proofread children’s books and educational books.

Punctuating Children’s Fiction

This guide on punctuating children’s fiction is for those of my clients who are independent, self-publishing authors of children’s books. They ask me for guidance about how to use punctuation.

Tall Tartan Talks here … When I give feedback to indie authors about how to punctuate their book, especially the dialogue, this is how I answer their questions.

Punctuating children’s fiction

Children’s fiction usually follows the same rules as punctuation in adult fiction, especially when writing dialogue (speech).

If you are an author of children’s books, here’s how you can make sure the punctuation in your story is used correctly.

Use age-appropriate language
Capitalisation
Punctuating dialogue (speech)
Paragraph
Exclamation mark
Question mark
Comma
Ellipsis
Curly quote marks.

Using age-appropriate language

Children’s fiction often targets specific age groups, so the language and punctuation should be suitable for the intended readers.

Younger children’s books will have simpler sentences and less complex punctuation while books for older children will have a variety of sentence structures (long phrasing contrasted with a short, snappy sentence before or after) to create dramatic effect, tension or humour.

A gripping fiction story will have a selection of action, description and dialogue.

If any of the story is punctuated incorrectly, your reader will spot it and ‘trip up’, which will spoil their enjoyment of the story.

Capitalisation

Capitalise the first letter of a sentence, proper nouns, and the pronoun ‘I’. Avoid excessive capitalisation for emphasis, as it can be distracting and disrupt readability.

Punctuating dialogue (speech)

There are particular rules when punctuating dialogue/speech between characters. In the sentence “I love ice cream,” said Sarah, the dialogue is “I love ice cream”. The dialogue tag is said Sarah.

When punctuating dialogue, use quotation marks to enclose the spoken words. That is, all dialogue goes inside the speech/quotation marks.
There is always closing punctuation before the closing quote mark, eg a full stop, comma, question mark (?), or exclamation mark (!).
Place a comma before the closing quotation mark when a dialogue tag (eg said, asked) follows the dialogue. For example: “I love ice cream,” said Sarah. “Can we go to the park?” asked Tom.
There is always a comma before the opening quote mark if the character tag is first. For example: John muttered, “I can’t believe you’re going to do that.”
Only the speech goes inside quote marks. The character speaking stays outside the marks.

Paragraph

Use paragraphs to indicate changes in speakers during dialogue or shifts in the action or setting. This helps young readers follow the story more easily and keeps the text visually appealing.

A simple way to remember how to set out dialogue: new speaker = new line.

Exclamation mark

Children’s fiction often includes enthusiastic and expressive language. Exclamation marks can be used to convey excitement, surprise or strong emotions. However, it’s important not to overuse them. Selectively include exclamation marks for impactful moments. And, I suggest, use only one at a time. Four is overkill …

Question mark

Use a question mark at the end of a question. Begin the next sentence with a capital letter, eg ‘How did he get there? He couldn’t have done it alone.’

A question generally starts with one of these five words – What? Where? When? How? Why?

Comma

Use commas to separate two or more items or adjectives in a list of description, eg She packed her favourite toys, books and snacks.

In longer children’s fiction, consider contrasting a long sentence (with commas placed for breathing pauses between clauses) after a short sentence, for dramatic impact.

A serial comma (Oxford comma) is often used before ‘and’ in a list. For example, from the sentence above, ‘She packed her favourite toys, books, and snacks’, I’ve added a serial comma here. Some would argue the serial comma is not needed as the meaning is clear. However, in other contexts, the comma would add clarity. Whichever style you choose, ensure consistency throughout your manuscript.

If a sentence contains two independent clauses, avoid using a comma to separate them.

❌ I loved walking, I tried to walk for an hour each day.

This is called a comma splice. It doesn’t work. Separate the two sentences with a full stop.

✔️ I loved walking. I tried to walk for an hour each day.

Ellipsis

An ellipsis (3 dots: …) can be used in dialogue to indicate a pause or speech stalling. It can help convey hesitation or suspense. For example: “I’m not sure … Maybe we should wait.”

Make sure you use three dots, not two or four dots, that is three individually typed dots (…) or the three dots character (…) using Alt+0133. Decide how you’re going to use space around the ellipsis: no spaces / no space before and one after / one space before and one after. Whatever spacing you use around your ellipses (plural), make it consistent throughout your manuscript.

Curly quotation marks

Quotation marks, also called inverted commas, are of two types, single (‘ ’) and double (“ ”), and can be curly, like these examples, or straight.

Straight quote marks are the easiest to type (just use the keyboard). However, curly quote marks are the convention in fiction publishing. A setting in Word will automatically turn them curly as you type.

Ensure consistency of use, ie single or double quotes, not a mixture.

If you’re unsure, your editor/proofreader will change them to curly quotes as part of the editing process.

There are other types of punctuation that I will cover in another post, eg colons, semicolons, hyphens, and brackets (parentheses) which children learn to recognise and use in upper primary school.

Giving a smooth reading journey

It is vital you give your readers a smooth reading journey and that they enjoy your book without the distraction of punctuation errors.

Ensure punctuation is used correctly and consistently. List your style choices on a style sheet to help you remember what decisions you’ve made. Give this list to your editor/proofreader so they know the styles you prefer.

If you don’t have a style sheet, editors will create one for you by listing what we find as we read, advising on the most consistently used styles in your writing.

Always consider the age group of your intended audience to ensure the punctuation enhances the readability and enjoyment of the story.

Using my teaching experience

My experience of 30 years teaching in the primary classroom is valuable if you need advice on writing a children’s book.

Children build on their writing skills through primary school, developing complexities in punctuation as they approach Year 6 (age 10/11).

It is vital that punctuation is correct in children’s books. They learn from reading good examples. Then they can apply a range of punctuation in their own writing.

Learning from published children’s authors

Another tip. I advise new indie authors to go into the children’s books section of a bookshop. Open a book for the age range you are writing for, one that tempts you by the cover, and study how the punctuation is used. In other words, learn from a variety of published children’s book authors.

Me? I research the releases of new books for children, keeping an eye out for authors / illustrators who have published stories that are recommended.

Personally, I adore the skill in well-illustrated picture books, especially for older children, that carry profound messages.

Finally, think of me as a fairy godmother sprinkling publishing confidence. Placing that punctuation perfectly …

Subscribing

Subscribe to my blog to receive new posts directly to your email.

Emailing

Contact me by email to ask about my availability to proofread children’s books and educational books.

4 Tools for Writing and Editing Efficiency

Whether you are writing or editing, your productivity is aided immensely by using tools which will assist your efficiency.

Tall Tartan Talks here … I describe four software tools I use to make writing and editing quicker.

The tools will also save using the mouse and lower your risk of Repetitive Strain Syndrome (RSI).

Productivity tools

The tools I use are:

TextExpander
Keyboard shortcuts
PerfectIt
Macros

There are more, of course, but four are described here for brevity.

TextExpander

TextExpander is “Customisable and shareable snippets of text that allow you to fly through repetitive tasks quickly by expanding the things you type regularly” (textexpander.com). I pay for this software, but there are other free phrase expander apps.

The software has access to your keyboard. When a preselected snippet is typed, it writes the message in full, thereby saving much time and effort. You choose your opening code.

I have a range of phrases listed, from those needed in general situations, like typing my email address, to using a phrase repeatedly in the comments of certain proofreading projects, eg ‘Insert comma’ (snippet: zic). Another favourite snippet to insert is my mobile number (snippet: z0). All my snippets begin with ‘z’ as it’s rarely used as an initial letter in my writing.

Another example is when an indie client emails to ask if I am available to proofread their book. I have a snippet that produces an email with FAQs such as deadline, genre, word count, and request for a sample (even though these points are all listed on my Contact me page as requirements when emailing).

Phrase expanders are also useful for when a diplomatic email is needed. Save the preferred wording and reduce the thinking angst, increasing efficiency.

I have saved particular snippets in specific project files in TextExpander; I keep my snippets software open when I am using them for a job, rather than trying to remember them all!

Keyboard shortcuts

In Microsoft Word for PC there are many keyboard shortcuts.

Some well-known ones are:

Ctrl+S: Save
Ctrl+X: Cut
Ctrl+C: Copy
Ctrl+V: Paste
Ctrl+Z: Undo

These shortcuts work across many programmes, not just in Microsoft Word. Ctrl+Z has helped me out of trouble on numerous occasions in numerous places!

PerfectIt

PerfectIt is proofreading software for professionals, purchased from Intelligent Editing. An add-on in Microsoft Word, when activated and launched, it finds inconsistencies in style preferences. All style choices can be checked or specific checks selected. It gives a summary of possible errors at the end of the check.

It now includes a link to the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), which, if you edit in US English, many editors working internationally have found invaluable.

PerfectIt is not free, but there is a discount if you are a member of the CIEP (ciep.uk). Find discounts in the Members’ area. It is worth the price for the convenience of speed and efficiency.

Macros

Another option for efficiency is to use macros instead of / as well as PerfectIt.

Macros are freely available from Paul Beverley’s website: www.wordmacrotools.com

A macro is some coding that tells Microsoft Word what you want to check. Paul has made 1,000s of macros over the years all for public use. I use a couple; my favourite one is DocAlyse which finds inconsistencies in styles (in the same way as PerfectIt).

Being more efficient

Most of my proofreading is done on PDFs as the publishing workflow of the publisher or indie author nears the end. But, for efficiency’s sake, I will convert a PDF to Word and save my copy just to be able to run PerfectIt and my favourite macros to speed up finding inconsistencies.

If you’re writing or editing, what tools do you use to be more efficient and productive? Remember to experiment with different software options for efficiency to find what speeds up tasks for you.

The idea is to be more efficient, letting the software do the ‘grunt’ work – the routine editing tasks – so that we editors, the trained experts, have more time to make specific editorial decisions. That is, prioritising the human side of editing.

Subscribing

Subscribe to my blog to receive new posts directly to your email.

Emailing

Contact me by email to check my availability for proofreading non-fiction and children’s books.

What is Proofreading?

I am often asked the following questions:

What is proofreading?

What does a proofreader do?

Are you a proofreader or copyeditor? Or do you do both? What is the difference?

Are you a fellow freelancer or a new author wondering what these terms mean?

Tall Tartan Talks here … This blog post answers those questions.

Do I need proofreading or copyediting?

Proofreading is checking for errors in writing. Read on for tips about proofreading your own writing materials.

The tips are aimed at freelancers and authors. Indeed for anyone who writes.

Publishing workflow

Let’s start with the traditional publishing process. How do copyeditors and proofreaders fit into this workflow?

In traditional publishing this process is as follows:

Planning. An author will have planned a concept for a book which will get commissioned by a publisher. This could be fiction or non-fiction. The publisher will have questions: Who is the intended audience? When is it needed by? How will it be published?
First draft. There will be a rough, unfinished first draft. The important thing is to get all the ideas included. The finer details and polishing come later.
Development. Editorial input means some details may be cut and/or moved around to fit the concept and make a structure for the book. It may also be adapted for clearer expression.
Final draft. The book will be in a much more finished state, although there will be more editorial work to do.
Copyediting. This stage is preparing the manuscript for publication and tailoring it to the needs of the audience. The copyeditor will ensure consistency of style, readability, and accuracy. They improve the flow and tone of the text.
Design. Either a designer or typesetter will prepare the layout of the document by cutting and fitting the text using software like Indesign.
Proofreading. Proofreading gives text the final polish. A proofreader will carry out an objective check to ensure there are no glaring errors. The manuscript should be as error-free as possible.
Publication. The book is finally sent out into the world in print and/or electronic format. Editors may still be involved by implementing any changes to future editions.

Source: a poster featured in Editorial Excellence, the bimonthly newsletter of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP).

Recently, developments in self-publishing mean that an author has more choice about publishing their book without the need for a traditional publisher. It has become easier to self-publish. This doesn’t mean, though, that an editor or proofreader isn’t needed …

Editorial roles

What does a copyediter do?

Copyediting is dealing with the raw text, formatting the book to prepare it for publication. The headings, paragraphs, and any tables and figures will be formatted for the designer; spelling patterns applied (UK, US, or other English); grammar and punctuation styles applied; cross-referencing of text and images; and checking the text for accuracy and sense to ensure consistency of style.

The publisher may provide a house guide or style sheet.

The manuscript will be sent to the typesetter who will format the book for printing as a paper publication, then use software to format the manuscript for digital publication, e.g. on e-reader such as Kindle.

What does a proofreader do?

Proofreading is working on the final manuscript just before it is published. It could involve checking all page elements and styles have been correctly and consistently applied; checking hyperlinks work; ensuring that the table of contents and index are formatted consistently; and doing a final sweep for errors, including inconsistencies in spelling, punctuation, grammar and sense.

Catching errors at proofreading stage, even tiny ones, is cause for a happy dance. Imagine finding an italic full stop when it should be roman (upright). In summary, a proofreader will find anything that trips up the reader and spoils the reading experience.

If you are an indie author, the process towards self-publishing is different and less complicated.

What is the genre?

Non-fiction has different elements to fiction. Editors and proofreaders may specialise in one or the other. For example, punctuating character dialogue is a major feature of fiction. Not all copyeditors or proofreaders will have been trained in the features of fiction.

Further, each genre of fiction, e.g. romance, science fiction, thriller, will have specific elements which the editor or proofreader will check have been included.

Proofreading tips

Here are tips for proofreading your own writing before you click Send or Publish. Consistency is key.

Errors creep in when you edit your text and when you’ve changed your mind about the order of words in a sentence. I should know – it has happened to me more times than I care to say, especially when writing a blog post …

When I write a blog post I write it first in a Word document. After a couple of days away, I come back to it afresh, and copy and paste it into my WordPress site. I find errors easily this way as I see the writing on my website with fresh eyes.

Almost everything I learned about proofreading I learned from the highly regarded CIEP (see the website link above). I trained extensively to add value to my freelance business.

Read it aloud.
Read it backwards from the end. Errors become glaring.
Change the colour of the background of the text. (The default colour white isn’t always helpful.)
Change the font to a serif font.
Check each sentence for full stops, etc. It’s surprising how often they get forgotten as you edit your words.
Don’t try to proofread everything at once. Read for errors, then read for sense. Do a pass for each element you are checking, e.g. headings, page numbers.
Use the ratio 20:20:20 for general eye health – after 20 minutes of work, look away from the screen for 20 seconds, to a distance of 20 metres (e.g. looking out of the window). Your eye muscles will thank you.
Leave it alone for a couple of days then read it again with fresh eyes.
Know when to stop tweaking your writing. Stop now!

Checking proofreading spelling, punctuation and context

Spelling

UK or US English? Do you use ise or ize, e.g. realise or realize?

Use a dictionary to remove any doubt. Apps like Grammarly might not recognise the wrong word if spelt correctly, e.g. selling/spelling.

Are names consistently spelt correctly? Check spelling of place names, if appropriate.

Punctuation

UK or US punctuation?

Double or single quote marks

Oxford (serial) comma, i.e. comma before ‘and’ in a list.

Ellipsis = 3 dots (…) Do insert a space after. Or even insert a space either side ( … ). No need for a full stop if it’s at the end of a sentence. Whatever style you choose, use it consistently rather than mix up the number of dots.
One exclamation mark (!) is fine for dramatic purposes. Use sparingly. Two at the end of a sentence is too much.

Context with the bigger picture

Is the style consistent? Formal or informal? Businesslike or chatty? Be yourself. Show personality. Be rich in content and readable in blog posts. Stay in style.

Have you ensured clarity, correctness and convention? Only use jargon if your audience understands it, or you have explained what it means.

Is the text sound in terms of accessibility, inclusivity and legality?

Clarifying misconceptions

Editors and proofreaders don’t just find typos; we do much more than that.

We are not ‘grammar police’ or ‘grammar pedants’. Your writing is your voice; editors and proofreaders polish your voice. We make suggestions to improve your writing, but, in the end, it’s your choice.

We are an understanding and sympathetic bunch; we collaborate, not compete. If I can’t help, I’ll know someone who can. You need to feel confident that your writing is ready for publication.

Also, although I describe myself as an editor in my marketing, my only editing role is voluntary (for my local, 32-page parish magazine). I have done basic copyediting training, but it’s not my main interest.

I much prefer to proofread texts; I have much more training and experience in that area.

I know copyeditors who won’t consider proofreading because they prefer to copyedit and clarify the text, especially in traditional publishing.

Sprinkling publishing confidence

A fellow networker said that he saw me in the role of fairy godmother. I thought it suited me. So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed with your writing and need a sprinkling of publishing confidence, I might be able to help.

Subscribing

Subscribe to my blog to receive new posts directly to your email.

Emailing

Contact me by email to find out my availability for proofreading non-fiction and children’s books.

Further sources of the information found in this post: CIEP Guides

If interested, the networking group of freelancers where I shared these tips is called Drive the Partnership Network. We meet on Zoom every Thursday morning from 10 to 11am. The international group meets on the last Tuesday of the month from 4pm to 5pm for those who prefer the later time or who are in the western hemisphere. Ask me to find out more.

Review of 2022

This year I have been on a mission. A quest, if you like, to notch up as many proofreading hours as possible by gaining experience working freelance for publishers.

Tall Tartan Talks here … My quest? To cold email publishers every month since January 2022. I had been direct marketing to some extent since I started my freelance proofreading business in 2017. This year I have been dynamic in my mission.

The spreadsheet to record my cold emailing over the last 12 months has grown substantially. My strategy has worked. I’ve had more freelance work this year because I told publishers in my niche that I am available. Interested? Read further to explore my strategy.

To illustrate how my marketing year has been successful, I’ve chosen an acrostic using the letters of my name – ANNIE.

ANNIE

Adaptability

Networking

New opportunities

Inspiration

Endeavour

Adaptability

Being adaptable and completing work to fluctuating deadlines is essential to fit in with the requirements of any client, in this case, publishers.

Without a background in publishing, it was even more vital for me to ask questions if I was unsure of anything. If a contract wasn’t mentioned when I had expressed availability and interest in the project, I asked if one would be sent or if I should send my Terms & Conditions. It should be said here that an email agreement does constitute a contract, but I like to have one ready depending on the type of client. Half of the publishers who contacted me sent a contract for me to sign. The rest asked me to send mine.

Another variation was the style sheets. It was interesting to see how they varied from publisher to publisher. Some were basic. Some were extensive. When there was a lot of information to absorb, it was more manageable to make a note of the exceptions to style guides such as New Hart’s Rules. (Relevant to my UK publishers.) This way it was easier to keep track, maintain consistencies, and not get overwhelmed.

Networking

In January 2022 a small group of fellow networkers, part of the Drive the Partnership Network, began our Quest – weekly goals for January to April. Drive is a group of like-minded small business owners.

To facilitate accountability, we met once a week on Zoom for updates and motivation. We were also available via Slack messaging to share challenges and wins. It was a collaborative process: I asked for advice and offered my tips in return. It was what I needed to kick-start my mission. Thanks to Ann Hawkins and Thor Rain (First Aid for Feelings by The Helpful Clinic) for support. If you want to join the tribe at Drive get in touch with me or Ann to find out more.

New opportunities

Up until January this year I had done very little publishing work. The requests that had come through my website were mainly from self-publishing children’s authors. But, by contacting publishers in my specialist areas, eg education, English Language Teaching (ELT), and children’s books, I found that they valued the expertise evident on my website. This has led to exciting new opportunities.

One debate which occurs regularly in the editing world is whether to generalise or specialise. Personally, I have found that narrowing in by using my specialism has had huge benefits. If you are a career-changer with an expertise which makes you stand out from the editorial crowd, you are a useful person to know. Tell people!

This year, in my niche, I have carried out freelance proofreading for an ELT publisher, a publisher of history books, a packager, an educational publisher, and an NGO (charity) publishing a book for international primary schools. Interestingly these enquiries came through my website after I had done a batch of cold emailing, and not, at first, from the publishers I had contacted … Perhaps they had seen that I had shown availability on LinkedIn? I did always ask where they had found me if they didn’t mention it. Anyway, there was something in the air …

Inspiration

As well as being inspired by the members of Drive, I was pleased and proud when it transpired that some members of Drive had found my motivation to be an inspiration to them. I am a natural helper (former teacher!) and keen to help when I can. I have learnt much from others about owning and running a business, and I like giving back.

Endeavour (or 3Ps)

To me, the word endeavour encompasses the 3Ps: patience, persistence, and perseverance.

These are skills to practise in any sphere of life, but they are a lifebelt that I cling to in the running of my business. No-one said marketing would be easy.

Every quarter, when I did another batch of cold emailing, I would ensure I had added another training course to my CV. This year my Continuous Professional Development (CPD) with the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) has been the Editing Digital Content course, and How to Mark Up PDF Proofs with Denise Cowle Editorial (a discount is available to both CIEP members and those in the ELT Publishing Professionals directory.

Completing training courses to add to my range of skills has made me a more trusted professional, giving publishing confidence to new clients.

CPD and networking this year also included attending the hybrid CIEP annual conference in person in Milton Keynes, and the ELT Freelancers’ Awayday in Oxford. Both happening in September!

Marketing success

If you want success in your marketing, I recommend using my strategy for marketing directly with prospective clients. I wrote it for fellow business networkers in Drive.

If the above image doesn’t open a new page, use this link which opens the PDF on the Marketing Mindset page of my website.

Children’s book authors

I have helped at least three self-publishing children’s authors publish their children’s books. Three other books have been proof-edited (proofreading with additional suggestions for improvements) and are at the pre-publishing stage.

Of the children’s book publishers I have worked with this year, Black Poppies by Stephen Bourne, published by The History Press about the story of Britain’s Black community in the First World War, is a recommended read for primary schools. It was a fascinating project.

To see the other projects I have worked on see the following pages on my website and my gallery:

My previous yearly reviews

I think it’s interesting to look back and review achievements from previous years. Here are my last reviews – in 2020 and 2019.

Notes:

2019: The bank of proofreading exercises I reviewed is available as a blog post here (written in 2022).

2020: The proofreading mentoring scheme mentioned is not currently available.

Next year

So to 2023 … Direct marketing to publishers continues.

Whatever your circumstances, here’s to a peaceful future.

Subscribing

Subscribe to my blog to receive new posts directly to your email.

Emailing

Contact me by email to check my availability for proofreading non-fiction and children’s books.

Effective ways for children to use money

Using physical savings tools

Setting and tracking spending goals

Earning money

Using banking tools

Learning through maths activities

Considering factors in children’s use of money

Ensuring saving consistency

Is it age-appropriate?

Teaching children the value of money

My Money Week

Talks Money by Deborah Meaden

Banking apps

GoHenry

Other apps

Money resources for adults

Emailing

Subscribing

Using my education background

Supporting indie authors

Finding the right package

Helping to find an illustrator

Building the book

Offering sympathetic support

Considering the author’s marketing strategy

Resources for editors

Further reading

Emailing

Subscribing

Finding common features

Choosing equipment

Preparing for the job ahead

Training for confidence and endurance

Building friendships and trust

Sustaining a physical / mental mindset

Experiencing highs

Experiencing lows

Feeling the joy of a job well done

Further reading

Emailing

Subscribing

Doing new things

Reflecting on 2024

Winter and spring

Summer

Autumn

Tutoring

Upgrading in the CIEP

Seeing flaws as part of the process to achievement

Emailing

Subscribing

What did I write?

How did I format my book?

Why did I self-publish?

Using a trained editor or proofreader

Creating a table of contents

Creating a book cover

Creating my KDP account

How I can help you to self-publish

Buy my book

Reading resources

Emailing

Subscribing

Covered in Part 1

Punctuating further

Colon (:)

Semicolon (;)

Hyphen/dash (-)

En dash (–)

Em dash (—)

Brackets (parentheses)

Ensuring readability and clarity

Using my teaching experience

Subscribing

Emailing

Further reading

Punctuating children’s fiction

Using age-appropriate language

Capitalisation

Punctuating dialogue (speech)