The Second Step--Rough Draft Indexes
Read the article this discussion is about
- Pddf
- Indexlady
- Pddf
- Indexlady
This archived discussion is "read only".
For the corresponding "live" discussions, post in the active topic forum here.
» Pddf - Rough Draft Indexes
Hi! In my rough draft indexes, the book I chose with an index was quite a challenge. The indexer didn't index several items that I thought were very important. This book was not very well written and the few nuggets I got out of it weren't indexed. I intend to do another rough draft of another book to see how well that one goes. My question...In evaluating our response to the rough draft index, how much import do we place on our ability to index pretty much the same items as the previous indexer?I had thought that the author also wrote the index, (which my children tease me about being my favorite part of a book because I am always telling them to check the index when they can't find something in their homework textbook) and am happy to find it is something I can do freelance along with my other freelance writing work.
Thanks for your excellent articles on this subject!
Pddf
-- posted by Pddf
» Indexlady - re: Rough Draft Indexes
First, let me thank you for your kind words about the articles I write. I always hope they help new indexers get where they want to be a lot faster.To a certain extent, you don't need to worry about what the other indexer did. To another extent, you DO need to consider it.
Let me explain.
We don't know what kind of restrictions were put on the indexer by the publisher. It can be very excruciating to create an index under some of the limitations. I once had to create an index to a reference work in the health science field, and only had room in the index for about 1 entry per book page!
So, if that was one of the books you used for your rough draft index, well, now you know why a lot of stuff didn't get indexed! (Big Laugh!)
You do want to consider some of the terms, and reread the passages to try to understand why the indexer choose that particular term.
Sometimes, we can't index details because there isn't enough room in the index to even cover the main points in the book!
It's always those details that I want to refer to when I come back to a book. What's the common saying in decorating? "God is in the details." This also applies to indexes. And I do get frustrated to the point that I annotated the indexes in my personal library long before I became an indexer.
But, the primary reasons for indexing these rough drafts are:
1. To see how you like indexing.
2. To see how your family likes you indexing, and how it feels to be indexing with your family's schedule.
3. To see if you want to pursue the field in greater detail.
There will always be a difference in how you form terms, but you should be at least along the same lines in some of the entries.
If you really wanted to see how in sync you are with indexing, try creating your own index for a book that has an award-winning index. THEN you can be certain about the index entries and examine more thoroughly the differences.
All the best,
Dawn
-- posted by Indexlady
» Pddf - Thanks Dawn
I hadn't really thought of the limitations that may have been placed on the indexer. One entry per page sounds tough and this particular indexer could certainly have been under such constraints.I also need to take into account the intended audience which may have been less informed on that topic.
I did enjoy the indexing. Like you, I have been known to add to the index in favorite books with problem indexes, so it was fun to actually be the one who made the index rather than the one frustrated with it. Thanks again for your input.
Off to track down an award winning index to play with!
Paula
-- posted by Pddf
» Indexlady - re: Rough Draft Indexes
Actually, most of newbies don't take limitations into consideration. I was the same way at one time. Until you really get into indexing, you don't realize there ARE limitations.We just look at the index and think, "I could do better than that."
Chances are the indexer could also have done a better job but they have a problem--the publisher's limitations! Big laugh!
So far, I've never had a job without limitations. I think they are out there, but I've not been privileged to work in that manner.
Good luck, and keep in touch with how the award-winning indexes go!
Dawn
-- posted by Indexlady
Please follow the guidelines set forth in the Suite101 Posting Etiquette when adding to the discussion.