2024 the best of second city chicago review

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Longtime manuscript editor and Chicago Manual of Style guru Carol Fisher Saller has negotiated many a standoff between a writer and editor refusing to compromise on the “rights” and “wrongs” of prose styling. Saller realized that when these sides squared off, it was often the reader who lost. In her search for practical strategies for keeping the peace, The Subversive Copy Editor was born. Saller’s ideas struck a chord, and the little book with big advice quickly became a must-have reference for copy editors everywhere.

In this second edition, Saller adds new chapters, on the dangers of allegiance to outdated grammar and style rules and on ways to stay current in language and technology. She expands her advice for writers on formatting manuscripts for publication, on self-editing, and on how not to be “difficult.” Saller’s own gaffes provide firsthand (and sometimes humorous) examples of exactly what not to do. The revised content reflects today’s publishing practices while retaining the self-deprecating tone and sharp humor that helped make the first edition so popular. Saller maintains that through carefulness, transparency, and flexibility, editors can build trust and cooperation with writers.

The Subversive Copy Editor brings a refreshingly levelheaded approach to the classic battle between writers and editors. This sage advice will prove useful and entertaining to anyone charged with the sometimes perilous task of improving the writing of others.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Chicago Press; Second edition (April 18, 2016)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 200 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 022624007X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0226240077
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
Reviewer: katrun
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Excellent guidance for copyediting profressionals
Review: This book presents a fantastic set of guidelines to help those who want to start copyediting as a freelance business or in-house for a publisher. It's written in such a humorous way, too. Instead of dry, dull rules, it provides wisdom and anecdotes from the author's many years as a copyeditor that any newbie (or anyone in the field, really) can learn from. The tactics for working effectively with authors and others involved in publishing are applicable and realistic. There's even a chapter dedicated to how authors can work more effectively with their editors.What I especially appreciate is the author's emphasis on the fact that copyediting is not merely about right/wrong, or what grammar "rules" you may have learned in your lifetime. It's much more nuanced than that, and this book does a great job of showing that so that would-be copyediting professionals can learn how to understand the rules in order to also understand which ones you can bend or break.Finally, the Q&A examples the author provides from real queries received at the CMOS are quite funny and illuminating!

Reviewer: Planetary A.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Excellent.
Review: Insight from an experienced and diplomatic voice on how to remain current and correct. Straightforward advice on editing and the tectonic relationship between writer and editor.

Reviewer: Tyler R. Tichelaar
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Excellent
Review: This is an excellent look into the life of a copy editor. Anyone who is or wants to be one will benefit from it. It is no perfect job by any means, and Saller's stories along with her common sense and good advice make this book an insightful and valuable read. As a freelance editor myself, I could relate to much that Saller described. I also picked up some valuable nuggets of advice - especially her explanations about where to negotiate with authors on making changes you feel are correct but they may not like. She includes a wonderful chapter for writers and also one for freelancers. I think anyone involved in publishing can benefit from reading this book and applying Saller's advice.

Reviewer: Jennifer
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Advice on soft skills and other areas to help become a good copy editor
Review: This is not a book about grammar rules or the hard skills required for editing. The Subversive Copy Editor looks at the soft skills required to navigate business relationships and other areas of importance to become a good copy editor: organization, attention to detail, and knowledge of the tools used in editing. I liked the further reading list and other resources at the back of the book.Overall, a good book for both editors and writers.

Reviewer: Lee A Hilyer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Useful and a Quick Read
Review: Read this over a weekend. Great advice that can be applicable in many settings, not just editing. Particularly the advice on lists, schedules and logs, along with the advice on how to get along with office colleagues

Reviewer: Marisa Fox
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Love this book!!! Perfect for new or struggling editors.
Review: This book is just so relatable. I love her style, her examples, her advice. I highly recommend this book to any new or struggling editor—struggling in any sense of the word. With editing, with client communication, with decision-making, with managing stress levels, etc.

Reviewer: Nancy L Powichroski
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Outstanding Yet Entertaining Content (if you're a grammar and punctuation geek like I am)
Review: I am an author who has recently begun editing the manuscripts of other writers. When advised that my detailed suggestions were perhaps overwhelming, I purchased this book to give me a clearer view of what to do and what not to do when editing a novel or memoir. I consider this book outstanding in content, as well as interesting and humorous. This book is exactly what I needed to become more relaxed in my editing of grammar and punctuation and, as a result, helpful rather than frustrating to both the writer and myself.Grammar & Punctuation Geek,Nancy Powichroski Sherman

Reviewer: Frank Steele
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Treat yourself to a copy
Review: I've always enjoyed Carol Fisher Saller's blog posts, and I enjoyed the first edition of this book. When the second edition came out, I waited for a while, read some reviews on it, and decided to get it too. I'm glad I did. It was well worth it.But if you're a seasoned editor, you already know her writing is "worth it." If you're an editor who isn't familiar with her writing, now is a good time to treat yourself. After all, it's not every day that you find a book on editing that not only instructs you but also makes you laugh.

Reviewer: 33SouthTextworks
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Got this recommended to me by my professional association group, and went through it in a day. A must-read for any editors (or would be editors) out there, it's a book that told me how to relax into the role, be comfortable with my work and not stress so much! It even has a chapter for Authors, that gives information on how bet to work with your editor. I refer back to it often.

Reviewer: Marnie Sluman Somers
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: While having no intention to become a copy editor, I am a writer and just as I suspected I learned a great deal from this book that will improve my own writing. And the tips for using Microsoft Word are invaluable in terms of self-editing prior to submitting my work. It was helpful to learn that copy editors suffer just as much as writers do about knowing when to let go of a manuscript as "good enough". It will never be perfect. Lost but not least, I enjoyed the author's sense of humour.

Reviewer: Leanne M Goose
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Perfect condition

Reviewer: colewiebe
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: The book was a gift for my daughter. She loves it!

Reviewer: Warren
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A terrific read. With good takes on the kind of issues that editors of all persuasions face from time to time. Funny and lucid.