Index Consultation, Review,
and Mentoring Services

If you're looking for a professional indexer to answer your questions about an index you're writing, to help with final edits to your index, or to ask advice and guidance about freelance indexing businesses, you've come to the right place! I've been providing these services since 1998.

Authors, editors and publishers: please read my page about editing indexes written by others for my services related to reviewing and editing your indexes.

"I can't tell you how grateful I am that you were available to mentor me through this ordeal! Though I am a diligent person about learning, and a conscientious one about work, indexing is so (frightfully/deliciously) multidimensional and complex! I benefited tremendously from both your skill and your compassion in communicating what I needed to be aware of, especially when my self-confidence hit rock bottom." - Diane Johns (2003)

When you're feeling overwhelmed, I can help you with a number of issues, including:

• Reviewing your index before you send it to your clients. Working together, we will be sure the index is as good as it can be before your client lays eyes on it. Because individual indexing styles are unique, I never impose my style on someone else's work. Rather, I help you identify your style and make certain that your index is consistent and complete. Jump to the Editorial Reviews section below.

  "I have had a chance to look over your excellent comments on my index. You were incredibly thorough and made a number of excellent points..." - anonymous (2003)

• On-call troubleshooting and guidance as you write your index. Do you feel overwhelmed while balancing maintaining communication with your client, keeping in mind technical rules of indexing, and getting used to your indexing software, all while trying to write a solid index? I can be available to you during your project, so you can get guidance, advice, and encouragement from an experienced professional exactly when you need it. Jump to the Ongoing Consultations section below.

• Establishing your business can be difficult. Selling your services by writing letters to or cold-calling potential clients is an excruciating task for many people. I can review your letter, phone scripts, or other materials and provide useful feedback about ways to improve your pitch. If you have no idea how to begin, I can provide draft outlines of these documents. I can also provide assistance writing contracts, writing indexing resumes (what do you include on a resume before you have experience), and ideas for landing that first project (how do you get experience if you don't have experience). Jump to the Business Issues section below.

  "I just wanted to tell you I did a drastic rewrite of both my resume and cover letter based on your very helpful suggestions. I sent them off, and I think they are so much better thanks to your comments." - anonymous (2003)

• Whatever you need, I'm interested in helping you in the ways you need help, so contact me if you have other ideas about how I could help as you begin your indexing career.

How this usually works... You send me a copy of your index and the table-of-contents from the text. I make editorial comments on a print copy of the index, and I return my comments to you. We meet to discuss the index (we can also work through e-mail, Instant Messenger, and/or phone if that is more convenient).

Before you send your index to your client, I'll look through it to provide comments and open a discussion with you on issues like:

• Have you made good choices with subject analysis? Is anything in the book missing or misrepresented in the index? Are the topics in the index relevant and important? Is the level of specificity and exhaustivity accurate and consistent?
• Is the depth of indexing consistent?
• Is there adequate double-posting and are those access points appropriate for this audience?
• Is the wording appropriate? If not, how could it be improved?
• Are any subheadings awkward or misrepresentative? If so, how could they be improved?
• Does the index need to be condensed or whittled down to fit onto fewer pages? If so, how do you do that without compromising the structure?
• Does the structure of the index appropriately emphasize the author's approach? Are important topics covered in detail in the index?
• Does the structure need to be tightened? Is the depth and style consistent? Are the entries arranged appropriately? Are there adequate cross-references? Are the entries treated as part of whole, as well as being their own entities?
• If you have any other specific concerns, just tell me what you want me to look for.

How this usually works... You contact me at any point in your process when you want guidance or want to bounce ideas off of an experienced indexer: from your first communication with your client to your final edits. You can send different parts of the index at different times in your process, or call me when you are struggling with different aspects of indexing (for example, deciding on wording, appropriate levels of detail, or editing). It's up to you! I've provided help for indexers unsure of what fee to quote to clients, help with writing contracts, and just about any step in the process you can imagine.

During indexing, I'll provide guidance and feedback on business issues like:

• Asking useful questions before you agree to a fee or time schedule (i.e. how to sound like you know what you're doing).
• Writing an effective contract.
• Asking questions about style as they arise: preparing to call or e-mail clients.
• Dealing with client questions or concerns during indexing.
• Invoicing.

During indexing, I'll provide feedback on indexing issues like:

• Term selection: are these concepts worth indexing, are these main headings useful, are these cross-references and double-posts useful?
• Handling special features: when do you index illustrations, programming code, or tables? What entries are appropriate for the features in this text?
• Maintain a consistent depth of indexing.
• Create adequate and useful double-posts and cross-references for this audience.
• Emphasize the author's approach in your index structure.
• Use clear, efficient phrasing.
• Use clear subheadings to make entries concise, but thorough.
• Follow your client's style guide, or make sure your style decisions are appropriate for this audience.
• Meet your client's length limits without compromising index structure.
• If you have any other specific concerns, just tell me what you want me to look for.

How this usually works... Let me know what you feel ready to do, and what you don't. Tell me what your marketing insecurities are, and the areas in which you're confident. I'll tailor my assistance to target your weak areas.

The business services I provide depend on the areas in which you want help:

• Finding potential clients specializing in areas of interest to you (I'll help you compile a list of publishers to approach).
• Guidance and feedback in writing cold query letters, background statements (a.k.a. resumes), and marketing packages.
• Guidance and feedback in writing documents and scripts helping you prepare for receiving your first project: contracts, invoices, list of questions to ask potential clients when they call you.
• Anything else you need help with.

Send me e-mail to let me know if you are interested in talking with me about the kind of index consultation and editorial services I can provide for you.

Send me e-mail to get a quote for my fees, hear if my schedule will work for you, or to get a list of references from indexers who've used these services in the past.

Contact me as early as possible, so we can work out a schedule that works for both of us. If we meet face-to-face, we can limit my time to just our discussion without me seeing and reviewing the index ahead of time.

You can set a maximum number of hours for me, so there are no surprises when I invoice you. I devote a minimum of 2 hours per index, so that my edits will be in-depth and useful to you. The maximum depends on you: how much input do you want from me? If I consult with you during the indexing process, the hours will depend on how much help you feel you need.

I'll work with you in setting a payment plan that works for you. I accept credit card or check payments for the entire amount or for smaller amounts on a payment schedule. We can also make arrangements allowing you to wait until a client pays you before you begin paying me.

Contact Kari

Copyright ©, Kari Kells.