Cutting an index to fit a tight space limitation is never fun. At least, I do not enjoy it. By cutting, I mean shortening the index beyond what I think the index should be. Editing may lengthen or shorten the index, depending on what needs to be done to make… Read More »Using Triage to Shorten an Index
Indexers hold great power, more than I think we often realize. Since the index we write will serve as a major entry point into the text for readers, we have a lot of influence over what readers find and how. I first came to this realization a few years ago… Read More »The Power to Reveal and Conceal in an Index
A blessed Easter to all of you celebrating this Sunday, or if you are simply enjoying the long weekend. And a blessed Holy Week and Pascha if you, like myself, will be celebrating next Sunday according to the Julian calendar. Given the festivities, I have decided to not blog on… Read More »Easter Break
First, a definition. An entry, sometimes also called an entry array, is a single unit comprised of the main heading and everything that goes with it, which can include subheadings, locators, and cross-references. It is complete unto itself. Yet though complete unto itself, a single entry is not an index.… Read More »Index Entries, Reconsidered
I have been reminding myself recently to not get frustrated over my slow progress writing fiction. It has been a dream of mine since I was a kid to be a writer. In grade four I managed to turn a two-page story assignment into an epic that was at least… Read More »Mastery Before Speed
Early in my indexing career I indexed a gardening book. In trying to follow the principle of specificity, I decided to create an entry for each tool which was discussed within a brief section on gardening tools. In her review, the client, who was also the managing editor for the… Read More »Choosing Appropriate Depth for an Index
In her book Ten Characteristics of Quality Indexes, Margie Towery recommends taking a nap as a way to boost concentration and attention. Other suggestions include going for a walk, meditation, or yoga. As she puts it, “the trick is to be aware of when your productivity is suffering and then… Read More »Cross-Training for Freelancers
Happy National Indexing Day! This is a celebration started in the UK by the Society of Indexers and is starting to spread around the world. From across the pond in Canada, I thought I would join in the fun too. The question I get the most from non-indexers is, how… Read More »Five Steps to Writing an Excellent Index
A couple of months ago I wrote a free email course on indexing. It provides an overview for how to write an index, from start to finish, as well as pointers for what makes an excellent index. When I first announced this project, I got a few puzzled reactions. One… Read More »Why Hire an Indexer?
I do not check email in the morning. Depending on the day, I either first check around 12:30 pm or 1:30 pm and respond to what I can within half an hour, though I often don’t need that much time. I then check again around 5 or 5:30 pm, though… Read More »Mindful Communication with Clients