The bones of the book

The X-Ray feature available on new editions of Amazon’s e-readers could be viewed as a replacement for an index. Comparisons of the details available to readers in X-Ray and in a traditional index show that X-Ray is missing valuable information and does not show us, as Amazon claims, ‘the bones of the book.’

In her article, fellow indexer Jan Wright looks at the X-Ray feature of Amazon’s Kindle Touch. Read Jan’s article here.

On vacations, health insurance, and getting paid

A famous indexer would have turned 100 today

Some people know she was a French chef.  I know she was an indexer. At a conference in 1997, she sat beside me. We are tall girls (me, 5’9″; her 6’2″), so we knew to sit in the back. It was on the top row of a big lecture hall, right after lunch. Editing Your […]

Take the L Train

I always wanted a place that was a small well-curated bookshop where you can come through, spend time, and have a beer. Next time I’m in New York, I’m off to Molasses Books in Brooklyn. Its owner, Matt Winn, knows what’s what. He thinks bookstores need to be places with atmosphere — places that offer something communal […]

100 years ago

As part of the public library’s extension work, deposit stations were put in schools, factories, clubs, and neighborhood centers — convenient spots around town — so people could borrow without a special trip to the library. (From the Rochester Images database.)

The indexer’s soft skull bones

The indexer’s soft skull bones knit together flat while she looks through the bars of the crib. The world on the other side fits into rectangles. She sorts buttons by color and size. The vase on the wall has a red bird painted on the side. One day it flies across the room and shatters. […]

Briefly, clearly, picturesquely, accurately

You want to be a WHAT ?? !!

If you really think you would like to become an indexer, ask yourself these questions: I enjoy words and texts. YES NO I can read a text very quickly and restate what each section is about. YES NO I use indexes regularly. YES NO I can be organized and meticulous. YES NO My general knowledge […]

“Carlos Fuentes has died to be loved even more

May he rest in peace.” Those were the words of Mexican President Felipe Calderon at the ceremony following Carlos Fuentes’s death yesterday at age 83. A major player in Latin American literature, Fuentes wrote prolifically. USAToday said, “He remained a workhorse until the end, keeping a disciplined writing routine that allowed him to finish novel after novel, […]

Some people just want to make the world a little better

Take Laura Dodd, for example.  “This book was lacking an index, so I prepared one for practice,” says Laura.  She did it pro bono.  You can download it for free here. The author, Amy Stewart, explains, “There was some kind of glitch in the book production system … The index never got ordered. By the […]