The Chicago Guide to Copyediting Fiction

Description

A book-world veteran offers the first copyediting guide focused exclusively on fiction. Although The Chicago Manual of Style is widely used by writers and editors of all stripes, it is primarily concerned with nonfiction, a fact long lamented by the fiction community. In this long-awaited book from the publisher of the Manual, Amy J. Schneider, a veteran copyeditor who’s worked on bestsellers across a wide swath of genres, delivers a companionable editing guide geared specifically toward fiction copyeditors—the first book of its type. In a series of approachable thematic chapters, Schneider offers cogent advice on how to deal with dialogue, voice, grammar, conscious language, and other significant issues in fiction. She focuses on the copyediting tasks specific to fiction—such as tracking the details of fictional characters, places, and events to ensure continuity across the work—and provides a slew of sharp, practicable solutions drawn from her twenty-five years of experience working for publishers both large and small. The Chicago Guide to Copyediting Fiction is sure to prove an indispensable companion to The Chicago Manual of Style and a versatile tool for copyeditors working in the multifaceted landscape of contemporary fiction. Contents Introduction Part I: The Process of Copyediting Fiction 1: The Fiction Copyeditor’s Mindset 2: The Fiction Copyeditor’s Workflow Part II: Building Your Fiction Style Sheet 3: General Style 4: Characters 5: Places 6: Timeline Part III: Editorial Issues Specific to Fiction 7: Grammar and Usage in Fiction 8: Copyediting Dialogue 9: When Fact and Fiction Collide Conclusion Acknowledgments Appendix A: Style Sheet Templates Appendix B: File Management Appendix C: Multiple Monitors Glossary Recommended Resources Index