Farida Mirza

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Farida Mirza

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Editing Services

  

I will do an edit of a 500-word piece of writing (English) for USD 50.

Am currently accepting shorter pieces only with a maximum word count of 2000 words.


Please use the contact form or email fmirza@fmirza.com.

Children's Education Related Activities

Reading and discussion of my book in a Toronto school.
With educationist Ameena Sayyid at the Sharjah Children's Book Fesitval 2018
Classroom reading of one of my books in a Sharjah school.
Online book reading and presentation for a Toronto school during covid lockouts.
Panel discussion about the role of technology in today'a schools.
Palistan Heritage Cuisine, a book I edited won the gourmand International Award.

Blog

An article I wrote for Xchyler Publishing


https://www.xchylerpublishing.com/editors-notes-just-know/


CONTENT EDITING, LINE EDITING AND PROOFREADING


As an English teacher correcting student essays, I was content editing, line editing and proofreading without being aware of the differences in the three processes. Equipped with a pen or pencil, I was suggesting, commenting, correcting and doing whatever was necessary to help the student’s writing reach its potential. My goal was to help the student say what he or she wanted to say in the most effective way possible.

It was later in life, when I took up editing as a job, that I realized I had to separate the skills I had been instinctively using into three sections: content editing, line editing and proofreading. Though there is some overlap, there are differences in what each of the three processes involves.


CONTENT (DEVELOPMENTAL) EDITING

A content editor picks up a manuscript and reads it in order to grasp the author’s vision, intention and voice. What follows is a series of exchanges, and back-and-forth edits between the author and the content editor. The author makes revisions as the content editor suggests and guides. A close relationship develops between the two.

The content editor gives comprehensive guidance and helps the author find his/her voice, improve plot credibility, develop characters by enhancing strengths and diminishing weaknesses, deal with rising peril issues, introduce or reinforce emotional content, cut down descriptions if there are too many that might bore the reader, add to descriptions to satisfy a reader, change title and chapter headings to make them more dramatic or relevant, and work towards an attention grabbing beginning or a satisfying ending. A content editor is a guide in all matters of good story-telling.

The content editor ensures that the story stays true to the author’s vision, voice and intention. The manuscript goes through as many revisions as it takes to give it shape and polish and make it effective and sellable.

When the manuscript has undergone revisions, and there will be revisions, and the content editor and author are satisfied that the story is in place, the manuscript is ready for line-editing.


LINE EDITING

Line editors take the manuscript that has been shaped and polished, and help the author give it the sparkle necessary to make it readable and sellable.

Line editing is a qualitative process that follows content editing. Line editors understand the creative use of language elements and ensure the language used is appropriate for the reading level of the audience, conveys the intent of the author, is consistent in voice and style, reads smoothly and uses literary devices to enhance effect.

A line editor will look at the writing in great detail, gleaning out syntax errors, smoothing the flow of words, checking grammatical elements, spellings, punctuation, in general ensuring that all elements of the English language are being used appropriately. Line editors ensure that the author’s voice is not lost in the process.

After many backs and forths between the line editor and the author, the manuscript is sent to the person in charge of the editorial process for a final check. Once the manuscript is approved, it is ready for proofreadin

g, the final stage of the editorial process.

PROOFREADING

A proofreader does the final check of the manuscript before publication. A proofreader checks for typographic mistakes in punctuation, spelling, grammar and spacing. Proofreaders check page numbers, headers, footers, sections, chapters and title. They ensure that font style and size is consistent throughout the manuscript.

Proofreaders correct but not revise. If they come across grammatical or syntax errors, they bring them to the attention of the person in charge of editorial but cannot make any changes themselves. There are reasons why proofreaders are constrained from revising; they might not be aware of language elements that appear to be incorrect but might have been intentionally inserted as a result of some agreement between author and content or line editors.

Bringing attention to the issues rather than revising them is an acceptable way for proofreaders to deal with such discrepancies. Revising the text at the proofreading stage can result in the addition or deletion of words or lines that in turn can result in 

the displacement of the typeset of the final copy and the disturbance of graphics.


SOME GUIDELINES FOR EDITORS

• When communicating with one another, through writing or discussions, choose words carefully, ensuring that questions and concerns address the story, not the writer or editor.

• When suggesting a change, explain the context within which the change is suggested and what prompted the change.

• Suggest revisions but do not rewrite.

• When an author is creative with words, coins words and plays around with words, do not reject without careful consideration.

• Never obliterate the author’s voice.

  

LEARNING DIFFERENCES

By Farida Mirza

I see you, you and you.
Do you see me?
The ‘me’ that’s hidden inside.
The ‘me’ that’s different from you.
I try hard to act like you.

When I do, I see you glance at me,
the way one glances at a stranger.
Why? I ask myself.
I know what you know.
I understand as well as you do.
I can achieve what you can,
and may be more.
Then why don’t you?

You ask me.

I need my own road to accomplishment.

Your way has been chalked out, I need mine.

I have so much to show you, so much to share.
Devise a way for me, you’ll be surprised.

The Vironaut

READ FOR FREE A little boy decides to become a vironaut, a slayer of viruses during the corona virus (Covid-19) pandemic. He does his schoolwork


READ MORE 

Zebi’s Dream is ready for order

Zebi’s Dream is the story of a 7 year-old girl with determination and courage to go after her dream. Zebi is homeless and lives on


READ MORE 

Subtraction and Addition Songs for Preschoolers

Note: Please use these songs if you like them. Numbers can be substituted easily in both the subtraction and the addition songs. Your feedback will be appreciated. 


READ MORE 

Developing Preschool Workbook Series for English and Math

I am currently developing two preschool workbook series for English and Math.


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Heritage Food Book

I am so happy to announce that the Pakistan Heritage Cuisine book which I edited has won the Gormand 2018 Best Asian Cookbook award! http://www.cookbookfair.com/index.php/gourmand-awards/winners-2018


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Why Kids Lie

Many parents worry when their kids lie.  The issue is so widespread (and not just among children) and stressful for parents and kids that I


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Vulnerabilities of childhood and old age ……..

When a person is young and still remembers childhood years, he or she can relate to children’s issues. I believed and still do that I


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Heritage Food Book

Started writing and editing content for a Heritage Food Book.  Result is I think about food all the time! Nevertheless, enjoying the work: learning about


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Story Ideas

I am considering writing my next story (non-fiction) about why people around the world have different skin color. Please share your thoughts regarding this topic.


READ MORE 

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