Do you know how to work with bookmarks in a word document? What about comments? If you’re an author and you don’t know, then it’s important that you learn so you can communicate easily with your editor.
And being able to do that will make you feel like this:

This is the second in a series of posts on how to work with Word to help you communicate with your editor. In the last post, I talked about how to set up your Word document and format your headings so you can see the outline of your manuscript in the Navigation pane. The next post will tell you how to work with Track Changes.
The best way to learn is by watching this video, but I also have some notes below that will show you where to find the bookmarks on older versions of Word.
Comments
Manuscript appraisals are usually the first step in editing, and an editor will talk to you by using comments. If you don’t see comments on your manuscript appraisal. Go to the Review menu and click Show Comments. In the same area, you’ll find buttons to add and remove comments.
Bookmarks
My editing process involves leaving bookmarks for you so you can find places in the document where I’ve asked you to add something, or want you to check something. Bookmarks are not the same as comments. Bookmarks save you looking through the document to find the comments I want you to look at. So you will need to know how to read the bookmarks I leave for you. It’s quite simple, just go to the Insert menu and click on Bookmarks. A box comes up, then you select the bookmark and click on the Go To button
Word 2010 and 2013

Word 2007

Word 97-2003

This is what the box looks like that comes up when you click on Bookmark on older versions of Word.

Sometimes you will need to make bookmarks yourself.
If you change something or add something after I’ve been through your manuscript, then you’ll need to leave a bookmark so I can find it easily. I won’t be scrolling through the document looking for something you’ve added or changed, so please book mark the place I need to look at.
Just put your curser in the spot you need to bookmark. Find the bookmark box as above, then click Add. That’s it. Easy!
Please also make sure that all your additions are in red.
If you want more info on bookmarks this article should help.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/30918/use-bookmarks-to-navigate-word-documents-faster/
This is part of a series of blog posts on how to write a novel. It doesn’t just cover the technical details, but also the emotional journey we take and the personal challenges we meet on the road from potential author to author. Join the journey now, and don’t miss a post, click here to sign up to get my Novel Revision Checklist and links to the articles sent to your inbox.
If you’re an author check out my editing services.
You’ll also find my book on writing, The Elements of Active Prose: Writing Tips to Make Your Prose Shine, very helpful.
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