I’ve spent the past two weeks immersed in the world of Dungeons & Dragons for the very first time. It’s a world I knew was there, knew friends or friends of friends who liked it, but had never entered it myself. And was I in for some surprises.
When I was approached to copyedit a cocktail book that was inspired by and engaged with the world of D&D, I didn’t realize that it would ask for the same engagement from me. And yet, the language is just a step away from standard English, requiring a careful review of phrases that might at first appear to be errors. The creatures include goblins and fairies, but they aren’t like those found in traditional fairy tales.
This project required a lot of research and fact-checking to make sure that I understood what the typical target reader understood. It had me very grateful for the timely help of more knowledgeable people online and in real life as I built a clearer picture of how things worked in this creative world. And even though I’ve turned over my edits, I haven’t turned over the sense of awe this project gave me for the incredible world-building and imagination that comes part and parcel with D&D.
More details to come on the book as it reaches publication! In the meantime, what worlds live in your head? You can tell me about the creative projects you are building by using my Contact page.
Natalie Roth Editing Services 