#FreelancerFriday #8 - Ellie Clarke, Editor

#FreelancerFriday #8 - Ellie Clarke, Editor #FreelancerFriday #8 - Ellie Clarke, Editor â€Å"For a first-time author the process can be quite illuminating. For the author to have given you their work, and for you to have made alterations and made sure that they’re happy about it, you’re the second-closest person to their project. It can be quite great – especially if you know you’ve done a good job and that the client is happy.† Ellie Clarke is an editor based in the south-east UK. Ellie is something of a polymath, offering services for every step in the process, from ghostwriting through to proofreading. You can  enjoy our conversation below. – What kind of services do you offer as an editor? I do a wide range of editing and editorial work. I do everything from development editing all the way down to proofreading – light copy edits, heavy copy-edits, structural edits. I also ghostwrite, doing things from the other side.   Basically, all the things. I used to work in-house as a project editor. I had to manage everything from end-to-end. That meant organising other people to do the different stages, and sometimes doing it myself. I’ve carried on with that approach – to be able to put myself forward for any type of editing. Once you’ve got the skills it’s important to keep practicing them. Do you often do multiple types of edit for a single client? Like a developmental edit, and then a copy edit as well? For larger clients, publishers and so on, I might do a variety of different types of editorial work on different projects. So for one I’ll be structurally editing, another will be a copy-edit, and another will be a proofread. Private clients sometimes ask for a combined service, and I’m happy to offer it, but usually I would recommend that if someone wants, say, a copy-edit and a proofread, I often think its better to go to someone else for the proofread. A fresh pair of eyes can really help.   Then again, it depends on the project – if someone has specific knowledge that they’ll need in order to do the proof properly, getting the original copy-editor to proofread it is a good idea. Having a fresh pair of eyes is good, but then also familiarity with a project has its own benefits. What do you think those benefits are, in your experience? One of the main ones would be if a new copy-editor comes in after a development edit has happened, they might reverse some stylistic choices previously made – especially if there isn’t a good style sheet for the project. It could be any decision, even down to using double or single quotation marks. That sort of thing can end up being lost unless it’s been written down – but you also can’t write down every single decision – otherwise you’d end up with the Guardian style guide. Does the relationship between the author and the editor change over the course of a project? For a first-time author the process can be quite illuminating. For the author to have given you their work, and for you to have made alterations and made sure that they’re happy about it, you’re the second-closest person to their project. It can be quite great – especially if you know you’ve done a good job and that the client is happy. It can be difficult as well. Sometimes people think of an edit as a friend looking through your book and looking for typos. It’s important to be diplomatic and understand that the project is their baby. The dynamic changes over time. At first people can be defensive. As they realise that you have their project’s best interests at heart it gets a lot easier. This is especially true when you’re working directly with an author – it’s very different to when you’re working through a publishing house or a project management company. Is there a difference between working directly with a publishing house verses working with the author directly? Certainly. It can be beneficial, especially if you’re thinking about self-publishing, in that the author retains a lot more creative control. The benefit of having direct contact with your editor is that you can feed, as we were saying, information about creative elements that you want a certain way directly to the editor. Otherwise that can sometimes get lost in translation. How does thinking about the reader affect how you work, how you set objectives for when you’re editing a piece? I think personally I’m working for the reader. I want the reader to get a book that works for them, that they enjoy, and that is high quality. When you’re editing, what are you looking at? The flow of the prose, the expression of the idea? It depends on the subject matter. For fiction editing, you’re certainly looking at the flow of the story, you’re looking at character development, at whether the text is too long or too short. Line editing and copy-editing is more practical – grammar, typos, for example. When in the writing process should an author approach an editor? You should definitely have a draft ready. Contacting someone when you’ve got a few chapters and a synopsis can be a good idea, and people out there are happy to look at what you’ve got so far to let you know if they think it’ll be worthwhile. In terms of actually getting into the nitty-gritty of the editorial process, you should have a draft and you should have reread that draft yourself.   Some people, quite a lot of people, recommend that before you’re ready to have someone else look at your manuscript you should have gone over somewhere between three and ten times. I would say be as happy as you can be with the manuscript before you send it to an editor. The better shape the manuscript is in, the less editing it will tend to need, which makes it a faster process and a cheaper process – obviously good if you’re an indie author. What makes a project great to work on? Having a shared interest definitely helps. For authors it’s important to find an editor who’s interested in what you’re writing. If you’ve written a sci-fi novel and you approach someone who generally edits gardening textbooks they’re probably not the best person. Maybe they are! Maybe they also have a secret interest in sci-fi! It’s good when an author is ready for the process. Some people sometimes think they’re ready, but still find it quite difficult. When you’re being edited the fact is that some of your text will be changed. Working with someone who’s easy-going and open to talking about change is good. It’s about being able to have those conversations and say â€Å"I would recommend this, what do you think?† The author can say â€Å"Yes, I agree,† or â€Å"No, I don’t agree, and this is why.† Being able to have that flow of ideas with someone really helps It’s also good to be clear about the expectations you have from each other. The author should know what you need from them – in terms of the manuscript, in terms of how much time you need. As the editor, you should know what the author needs – how heavily they want the text edited, how long they have, if they have a specific deadline, if there are certain things they don’t want to change. Do you dialogue with authors as well as marking up the text? In developmental editing there’s often more dialogue – you might come across something where you need to know what the author wants to do before you can really proceed. That can come up in other forms of editing as well. I’ve known people who prefer to be presented with the edit and just go through the comments, and I’ve also known people who want to be consulted at every stage. It’s usually better if the author’s prepared to not have every change discussed – that can take a very long time, which isn’t useful for them. Is there anything about working with a publisher that’s impossible to match working freelance? I don’t know that you’d match it exactly – it would still be a different experience. Unless you hire a project manager as well, which you can do, you end up being the project manager for your own book†¦ which can be quite stressful. But in terms of the book doing well, in terms of getting a good quality of finished project, I think you probably can match it.   As long as you’re willing to take the time with it and understand that you probably do need at least an edit and a proofread – generally one stage isn’t enough to get it as a finished product – then I think you can end up with a very good end product. Obviously, some people do very well indeed from publishing on Amazon, for example. Whether it will be different to a traditionally published book depends on what you as the author are happy to do with the book, and how many stages you’re happy to go through. Thank you for your time Ellie.

Old Hamlet and Claudius Essays

Old Hamlet and Claudius Essays Old Hamlet and Claudius Paper Old Hamlet and Claudius Paper Claudius, Old Hamlet and Polonius are all fathers and the way in which each is presented by Shakespeare is quite different. On the surface, the play is a revenge tragedy in which a grieving son seeks to avenge the death of his murdered father. However I think it has been very cleverly crafted by Shakespeare around a bleak theme of appearance versus reality that explores the corrupt, sinister region of the human nature that is present beneath the surface of us all. Shakespeares portrayal of many of the characters in the play and in particular of fathers is as both malevolent and egotistical. Claudius hypocrisy masquerades as fatherly love and concern; Polonius obsequiousness and search for position masquerades as service to the King, using his daughter as a pawn in the process; Old Hamlets torment and manipulation of Hamlets emotions is passed off as regaining his honour. On the surface fathers are presented by Shakespeare as having to be loved, honoured and obeyed almost without question. However the effect this has on their children is quite catastrophic leading to resentment, repression, bitterness, madness and eventually death. I will examine the way each of these characters is presented with close reference to Act 1 Scene II (Claudius), Act 1 Scene V (Old Hamlet) and Act 1 Sc. III (Polonius). Claudius, the newly crowned King of Denmark and uncle to Hamlet, assumes the role of Hamlets stepfather after marrying Gertrude following the death of old Hamlet. He takes on this role very early on in the play when he publicly announces his love for Hamlet in Act 1 Sc. II: And with no less nobility of love Than that which dearest father bears his son do I impart toward you. (I. ii. 10-12) Hamlet is very resentful toward Claudius because of his lack of mourning for the death of Old Hamlet and his hasty marriage to Gertrude A little more than kin and less than kind. This use of play on words in Hamlets first line of the play reveals his bitter frame of mind. Claudius is no longer a mere relative but his father and Hamlet is not kindly disposed toward him. Claudius on the other hand, seems more than willing to adopt the role as his new father. On the surface, he is presented as a loving father but hints of duplicity become apparent in later scenes. He is aware of Hamlets popularity and is perhaps trying to exert some control over him as well as win the favour of his people and wife. In the Lawrence Olivier filmed interpretation of the play it is only after Gertrude expresses concern for Hamlets well-being that a change in his attitude becomes apparent. At this stage of the play, the audience is unaware of Claudius devious and self-centred nature and so it is difficult to establish if he is sincere in his affection toward Hamlet. He is aware of Hamlets power to form a faction against the King because of his popularity and throughout the speech in which he talks to him, he must choose his words carefully so as not to provoke him further. He is also rather forceful in this speech and tries to persuade Hamlet not to leave for Germany, away from his prying eyes: And we beseech you, bend you to remain Here, in the cheer and comfort of our eye, Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son. (I. ii. 15-17) This is intended by Claudius to comfort Hamlet, encourage him to stay, and emphasise the point that he will be held with the greatest respect as a noble, cherished as a kinsman and loved as a son. However it could also be taken to have a very different, more sinister connotation; he would be able to constantly watch Hamlet for any treacherous behaviour. Shakespeares use of language in Claudius speech makes his words seem persuasive and cajoling, trying to make Hamlet come out of his mourning and turn to support his new father. He speaks smoothly using assonant sounds, Survivor bound in filial obligation and Throw to earth this unprevailing woe. Shakespeare uses imagery of thunder and a cannon, however, to reflect Claudius joy at Hamlets affirmative answer; these are not particularly joyous sounds of revelry which denotes he has some ulterior motive. Imagery of disease and decay used in Hamlets speech, An unweeded garden that goes to seed, helps to suggest he may have a sense of his step-fathers hypocrisy. Old Hamlet appears to Hamlet several times throughout the play, in spirit form. The audience do not actually see him in life and it is therefore difficult to judge what sort of a character he is as there is no real evidence he is not from hell The spirit I have seen may be the devil. Shakespeare presents Old Hamlet and Claudius differently and Hamlets actual father is portrayed in a much better light than his hypocritical step-father drawing a distinction between fathers and step-fathers. Hamlet draws several comparisons between Claudius and Old Hamlet. His first soliloquy is studded with imagery So excellent a King, that was, to this, Hyperion to a satyr. This is an interesting contrast; he sees Claudius as a satyr, a Greek mythological beast that loved to indulge in all kinds of sensual pleasures in comparison to his father who he describes as the Titan Hyperion, father of the sun, the moon and the dawn. He is as far from his brother as Hamlet is from Hercules My fathers brother, but no more like my father than I to Hercules ! Clearly Old Hamlet is presented in a far better light by Shakespeare and the audience feels more sympathetic towards him. It is easier to understand why Hamlet reacts to him as he does.

Using SAP in Electronic Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Using SAP in Electronic Government - Essay Example The study finds that immediate concerns are technical in nature, including weakness in the IT infrastructure, lack of knowledge, inadequacy in security and privacy of information, and lack of training of personnel. In the longer term, socio-cultural factors and a governance system that allows for e-Democracy are salient factors. For now, SAP assistance and programs promise to contribute much towards the technical and structural foundation of a robust e-government system. The impetus to develop e-government capability is a primary concern of all nations, particularly the member states of the United Nations, which has made it a priority initiative. Saudi Arabia is expected to play a pivotal role in e-government establishment in the Middle East region, not in small part due to the UN assessment that it is one of the more advanced Arab nations in information and communications technology (ICT). The business sector has long forged ahead in ICT applications, and further development of the nation necessitates the adoption of ICT in making the government more responsive and interactive with the citizenry and business sector. The challenges that tend to impede e-government development must be first addressed in order for efforts to be successful. The main purpose of this research consists of three axes. First, the definition of SAP and its characteristics. Second, identify the E-Government and know its components. Moreover, identify the challenges that facing e-government. Finally, the role of SAP in reducing these challenges and the development of e-government shall be discussed. The Systems Application Products (SAP) portfolio is a modular system, meaning that the software is packaged separately according to its various functions. The modular feature of this system allows it a great amount of versatility, making it suitable for application in small and medium scale enterprises, large-scale business corporations, and even

Answering the questions according to reading Essay

Answering the questions according to reading - Essay Example Gender, politics, and race intersect in producing repressive heteronormative gender relations. Lindsey Feitz and Joane Nagel explore the intersections of gender, war, and sexuality in â€Å"The Militarization of Gender and Sexuality in the Iraq War.† They assert that although the U.S. military employs more women in army operations nowadays, the same heteronormative relations are imposed on the latter. Feitz and Nagel add the complication of race, as sexuality and gender issues intersect. They talk about the example of the rescue of Private First Class Jessica Lynch, whose race and gender contrasted to those of her takers, where â€Å"American men [were] saving a pretty, young, white American woman from the possible sexual and personal assault by dark and dangerous Iraqis† (206). ... Gil Z. Hochberg presents heteronormativity that is more racial than sexual, although the causes and effects have gendered dimensions in â€Å"‘Check Me Out’: Queer encounters in Sharif Waked’s Chic Point: Fashion for Israeli Checkpoints.† Hochberg shows how checkpoints in West Bank and Gaza depict heteronormative exploitation. In his analysis, he asserts that checkpoints serve to â€Å"produce the Palestinian body both as a symbol of imminent danger (â€Å"the terrorist†) and as the object of complete subjugation lacking any political agency (â€Å"the occupied†)† (578). Because these checkpoints target both men and women, heteronormativity is depicted in a regional scale, wherein one male nationality controls and suppresses a different male and female nationality. Sex and gender become political arenas of power over those who are more powerless or those whom the dominant race wants to render powerless. The male gaze is an important ima ge of heteronormative sexuality production in several articles. How the heteronormative male sees women affects how they treat them. Feitz and Nagel indicate the role of gender in the male military gaze. Military personnel, for instance, continue to see military women in their stereotyped roles (Feitz and Nagel 204). Female soldiers continue to be embedded into the heteronormative aspirations of the military in specific and the American society in general. In â€Å"Securitizing Gender: Identity, Biometrics, and Transgender Bodies at the Airport,† Paisley Currah and Tara Mulqueen explore gender issues in the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) gender and biometrics practices. They describe that by using biometrics and comparing its results that to gender information, TSA’s programs

Research process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Research process - Essay Example Stage 2: Collection of secondary data: - The next step that is to be followed in this context of the study is collection of secondary data. In this aspect relevant secondary data can be used. For example data from other travel agencies regarding their special tour packages can be collected to serve the purpose. The secondary research must be carried to know the facts such as the tourist destination that will be able to provide accommodation to people with disability. The secondary research can be also about facilities needed for a disabled person. Stage 3: Once the secondary data is collected, the next step is to collect the primary data. In this perspective among qualitative and quantitative form of research, qualitative research must be used. It is because the target group is small in numbers and hence the required respondents will be also less. The sample will be 5-10 disabled people. The data will be collected through observation method as it is the best possible way. Through observation method the patterns and problems of the disables will be identified and accordingly the characteristics can be

The capital punishment

The capital punishment Capital Punishment Capital punishment is the lawful act of taking the life of a person who has been convicted of a crime. There has much debate over the years concerning capital punishment and its effectiveness as a crime deterrence, retribution, and the methods in which the executions are carried out. All the mentioned factors lead to the question of should the United States use capital punishment? According to Cheatwood the deterrence argument for capital punishmentclaims that the existence of thedeath penalty and the use of that penalty will deter violent crime within the political jurisdiction in which the law exist and is applied. If that is true, then in two fundamentally similar jurisdictions that differ only in the existence and use of capital punishment the level of violent crime in the jurisdiction that employs the death penalty should be lower than the level in the jurisdiction that does not (Cheatwood,1993,para.17). Cheatwood(1993) found that in consideration of the research conducted in 1976 it showed that neither the existence of capital punishment at state level, nor the enactment of provision as demonstrated by the number of executions in the state would have an effect on deterring crime at the county level. Some think that capital punishment is brutal, others believe that it is retribution for horrific crimes committed (Zimring, 2000). Many would agree with me that in the case of Angel Diaz a man who was convicted and sentenced to death was subjected to brutal and inhumane conditions, something went terribly wrong. The drugs administered left his arms badly burned; the medical examiner said that none of the medication administered went to the right place. Witnesses stated the deceased seemed to suffer during the process, according to testimony it took 34 minutes, which is 20 minutes longer than usually required for an execution. According to testimony 14 vials of material was used before Diaz was successfully executed (National Public Radio,2007). Jed Bush who was the Governor of Florida during this botched execution called the moratorium in that state on all prosecutions until they could get to the bottom of what was going wrong with the legal injection protocol(National Public Radio, 2007). During an interview on National Public Radio Dahlia Lithwick stated that 22 of the 40 states that allow the death penalty either have moratoria or theyre considering imposing moratoria. Two other states formally banned lethal injection, and one has found the death penalty unconstitutional (National Public Radio,2007). Some states admit that they believe in capital punishment but do not agree with the disastrous way it is administered (National Public Radio,2007). Some states think that if the accused has committed murder then he or she must die as retribution. They believe that life imprisonment does not serve as retribution for the loss of innocent life. Defenders of capital punishment also argue that it is a crime deterrent. I do not agree with capital punishment, but many agree that it is just retribution. How can we stand behind a law that commits the same act that it convicts? I do agree that society has an obligation to protect its citizens. Murderers and others who commit crimes that are detrimental to the safety and welfare of society should be reprimanded but lawfully killing another is committing murder. Some feel that the only way to guarantee that a convicted murderer will not kill again is by imposing the death penalty. This is true; the accused will not kill again because he or she is deceased. Most research has produced no findings that capital punishment is a crime deterrent. There is no evidence to support the claim that the death penalty is a more effective deterrent of violent crime than, say, life imprisonment. In fact, statistical studies that have compared the murder rates of jurisdictions with and without the death penalty have shown that the rate of murder is not related to whether the death penalty is in force: There are as many murders committed in jurisdictions with the death penalty as in those without. Unless it can be demonstrated that the death penalty, and the death penalty alone, does in fact deter crimes of murder, we are obligated to refrain from imposing it when other alternatives exist (Andre Velasquez,1988,). This is a debate that will go on for years to come. Capital punishment should be abolished because of botched executions and claims of racism. It also fair to say that those who cant afford to appeal their cases because of lack of funds are more likely sentenced to death than those who can afford a good legal defense. In some cases innocent people are sentenced to death. All life is of value whether or not it is taken illegal or legal it is unjust. References Cheatwood, D.(1993).Capital punishment and the deterrence of violent crime in comparable counties.Criminal Justice Review(Georgia State University), 18(2), 165-181. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=truedb=sihAN=14243834site=ehost-live Zimring, E. F. (2000) Capital Punishment, Online Encyclopedia Retrieved from http://autocww.colorado.edu/~blackmon/E64ContentFiles/LawAndCourts/CapitalPunishment.html National Public Radio, Day to Day. (2007, February13). Florida mulls lethal-injection problems. Message posted to http://http:/www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=7382349 Andre, C., Velasquez, M.(1988).Capital punishment our duty or doom.Isssues in Ethics, 1(3), . Retrievedfromhttp://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v1n3/capital.html

Hamlets Immaturity in Shakespeares Hamlet :: essays research papers

Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, is an immature child who craves attention. Throughout the play â€Å"Hamlet† by William Shakespeare, Hamlet creates difficulty for himself because of his inability to handle the situations life throws at him. There are many aspects of life that become easier with maturity. Hamlet’s lack of maturity makes his entire life that much more difficult and, in the end, his immaturity kills him. Hamlet is given reason to believe that his Father was murdered. A ghost bearing the â€Å"†¦same figure like the king that’s dead.† (Bernardo 1:1) informed him that the old King’s death was â€Å"Murder most foul†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Ghost 1:5). When Hamlet eagerly inquires as to the meaning of the Ghost’s words he is told that â€Å"The serpent that did sting thy father’s life/ Now wears his crown.† Upon hearing this Hamlet immediately knows that his Uncle Claudius, the new king and his new step-father, is the guilty party. A mature person upon hearing news like this would, most likely, also have gone slightly insane with anger. How ever a mature person, upon regaining some control of his or her faculties, would have taken steps to punish the murderer in a just fashion. These steps would have included informing to populace and the Queen of the New King’s treachery against the old. Hamlet does not do this, instead he schemes and plots ways to kill his Uncle as opposed to giving him the opportunity to exculpate himself. Had Hamlet acted with maturity and expressed his concerns about his uncle the lives of many people would have been spared. A second example of Hamlet’s immaturity, which stems from his plotting against Claudius, can be seen in his treatment of Ophelia, the daughter of a court advisor. Hamlet himself gives cause for belief that he is in love with Ophelia. He writes to her informing her that she is his â€Å"†¦soul’s idol†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Polonius 2:2). How ever when Hamlet affects insanity he treats Ophelia in a very ribald manner. After a litany of insults directed at Ophelia because of Hamlet’s belief that she is in league with Polonius in trying to trap him he goes so far as to proclaim â€Å"I loved you not.† (Hamlet 3:1) Hamlet used Ophelia quite cruelly in order to strike a blow at her father and Claudius. Instead of acting like a man and telling them directly what he thought of them he abused a trusting, loving, girl in order to deliver his message of loathing. Hamlet's Immaturity in Shakespeare's Hamlet :: essays research papers Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, is an immature child who craves attention. Throughout the play â€Å"Hamlet† by William Shakespeare, Hamlet creates difficulty for himself because of his inability to handle the situations life throws at him. There are many aspects of life that become easier with maturity. Hamlet’s lack of maturity makes his entire life that much more difficult and, in the end, his immaturity kills him. Hamlet is given reason to believe that his Father was murdered. A ghost bearing the â€Å"†¦same figure like the king that’s dead.† (Bernardo 1:1) informed him that the old King’s death was â€Å"Murder most foul†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Ghost 1:5). When Hamlet eagerly inquires as to the meaning of the Ghost’s words he is told that â€Å"The serpent that did sting thy father’s life/ Now wears his crown.† Upon hearing this Hamlet immediately knows that his Uncle Claudius, the new king and his new step-father, is the guilty party. A mature person upon hearing news like this would, most likely, also have gone slightly insane with anger. How ever a mature person, upon regaining some control of his or her faculties, would have taken steps to punish the murderer in a just fashion. These steps would have included informing to populace and the Queen of the New King’s treachery against the old. Hamlet does not do this, instead he schemes and plots ways to kill his Uncle as opposed to giving him the opportunity to exculpate himself. Had Hamlet acted with maturity and expressed his concerns about his uncle the lives of many people would have been spared. A second example of Hamlet’s immaturity, which stems from his plotting against Claudius, can be seen in his treatment of Ophelia, the daughter of a court advisor. Hamlet himself gives cause for belief that he is in love with Ophelia. He writes to her informing her that she is his â€Å"†¦soul’s idol†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Polonius 2:2). How ever when Hamlet affects insanity he treats Ophelia in a very ribald manner. After a litany of insults directed at Ophelia because of Hamlet’s belief that she is in league with Polonius in trying to trap him he goes so far as to proclaim â€Å"I loved you not.† (Hamlet 3:1) Hamlet used Ophelia quite cruelly in order to strike a blow at her father and Claudius. Instead of acting like a man and telling them directly what he thought of them he abused a trusting, loving, girl in order to deliver his message of loathing.