This all started in an offhanded way. I had a situation with my computer. Between you and me, I have to admit, I'm pretty good at finding computery solutions by myself and usually I don't have "situations." But this time I brought my problem to an online list. The very first answer came promptly from this guy, Geoff Hart, and what's more important is that he solved the problem. This successful solution was followed by a barrage of well-meant suggestions from a random selection of other helpers--none of whose helpful assistance would have actually been helpful. Some would have made the problem worse. This led to my paying more attention to the list. I saw Geoff Hart's name frequently, and always tied to the kind of extremely useful information that an earlier me would have written on a note card and put away for later. It was a while before the sluggish hamsters in my brain came to the conclusion that this useful guy was the author of a book I'd been hearing about, Effective onscreen editing: New tools for an old profession. Well, duh. No wonder he knew what he was talking about. I aimed the full force of my "Ben Steinian-like" long-windedness at him (which, I might add, he deflected with his delete key.) But before I put him to sleep in a monotone-induced coma, he flung his manuscript at me, after I promised not to make my fortune on his trade secrets, at his expense. (I completely understand, Geoff. I had my own set of young'uns to raise.)

So here I am, about to give away the whole shebang. The entire 743 pages. (Sorry Geoff. Your secret's out, bare-naked and exposed in this half-page review.)

I knew I was looking at something different as soon as I opened the first page. It was the right size and fit perfectly on my screen. How rare is that? Every time I read something on my computer, I have to monkey around to zoom to page width or otherwise try to get ebook pages into some semblance of readability. So as far as I'm concerned, Geoff's orderly presentation is no mean feat. This is just the kind of subtle feature that shows me he knows whereof he speaks. So let's make this Feature #1: Looks pretty on the page. Even the skittle green and yellow elements were just the right visual relief. Plus they made me want to lick the page, they were so refreshing.

Feature #2: Great Table of Contents, and while we're at it, great index. This seriously ups the usability factor. What good is advice when you can't find it? Face it, how many times do you do a search in a non-fiction book or a reference, and have to go thru three hundred and forty-seven wrong selections before you get to the one you want? The TOC and index have all the content laid out right there on the page. Plus they're clickable. And the topics are items I need. From basic editor questions about how to approach your pay rate--something at which I fail miserably--to tips and tricks of editing online. In fact, chapter 11 explores new territory for me--creating macros. I thought I knew everything about Word, but I have avoided macros as if they were contagious. (Probably because at one time in earlier incarnations of Word, they were. But I digress...)

Feature #3: Timely information. I won't tell you about how I save as text and then have to add in all the code back by hand. Talk about inefficient. No, I'll just tell you that in addition to all the standard editing stuff, Geoff discusses a sheer genius method of editing text content of HTML pages in word, with tracking enabled while retaining the tags. Well, it is genius in MY book.

I know there are more authors reading this review than editors. But I would suggest to all of you to get this book. After you've finished your manuscript and somewhere between your seventh and tenth drafts, apply some of these tips and tricks to your own editing passes. It will make life easier. And when your own editor or your publisher gets their hands on your manuscript, they'll appreciate it.

And for all of you English teachers/author/editors who are trying to make a go of editing during the summer or as a sideline, even if you don't sit down and read all 700+pages from cover to cover--it's a serious reference book that should be in every online editor's library or on their bookshelf. This guide is chock full of useful complexities that I have to deal with every day, and I hate to admit it, but with better solutions than I currently have, too.

Reviewed by Allie
© April 2009