How to write and publish a scientific paper - Barbara Gastel, Robert A. Day 2022
Finding and working with an author’s editor
How to edit your own work
Other topics in scientific communication
Especially if you are a beginning author, consider seeking guidance from a manuscript editor. Individuals known as author’s editors specialize in revising authors’ work before submission. They can also help authors after submission, such as in improving a paper as requested by a journal.
How can you find an author’s editor or the equivalent? Some universities, research institutions, and departments employ editors to assist scientists and scientists-in-training. In fact, some, such as the Mayo Clinic and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, have scientific-publication units with multiple editors to provide such help. There also are freelance author’s editors and freestanding editorial companies. Unfortunately, just as there are predatory journals, there are predatory editing services (Linacre and Syed 2020). These entities claim to provide skillful editing but do not do valid work. Beware if you receive a typo-filled email offering to proofread your manuscript!
Networking with fellow researchers can aid in finding editors and editorial services that others regard highly. Lists of individuals who identify themselves as freelance editors appear on the websites of some universities (for example, through the thesis office or writing center). Editors available for freelance work who have passed a rigorous examination in life science editing can be identified through the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences website (www.bels.org). Some commercial editing services are listed at www.authoraid.info/en/resources/details/750, and editorial guidance from volunteer mentors can be sought through the AuthorAID project (www.authoraid.info/en/mentoring/). Although authors may benefit most from an editor who can meet with them face to face, email and video conferencing technologies allow effective communication with an author’s editor in another city, or even another country.
Before giving your writing to an author’s editor, edit it yourself insofar as feasible. Doing so helps use the editor’s time efficiently, which may be especially desirable if that person has many authors wanting help or if you yourself will pay for the time spent. More important, doing some editing yourself can make the writing easier for the editor to understand, thus facilitating the provision of suitable editorial feedback.
Communicate with the editor or editorial service about the desired extent of editing. Do you want the editor only to correct errors in grammar, punctuation, and other mechanics? Are you seeking more extensive help, including improvement of wording and sentence structure? Or do you desire whatever may strengthen the piece, including reorganization if deemed advisable? Ideally, once the editor has looked at the writing, find out what level of editing this person considers suitable and discuss how to proceed. Be available to answer questions. Realize that an author’s editor is an advisor, and thus final decisions about the writing are yours.
A good author’s editor, like a good peer reviewer, also serves as a good teacher. Notice revisions that the editor makes and learn from them. If you are uncertain why a recurrent or major change was made, ask the reason if circumstances permit. Maybe compile a master list of changes made in order to help avoid similar problems in future writing. If you use checklists in editing your work, perhaps revise them to reflect insights gained from the editor’s feedback. In short, make the editor an ally and instructor in editing your own work.