Nan Badgett - The Accidental Indexer

Medford, New Jersey

First printing

The Accidental Indexer

Copyright 2015 by Nan Badgett

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Published by Information Today, Inc., 143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, New Jersey 08055.

Publishers Note: The author and publisher have taken care in the preparation of this book but make no expressed or implied warranty of any kind and assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of the use of the information contained herein.

Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Information Today, Inc. was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Badgett, Nan.

The accidental indexer / Nan Badgett.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-57387-514-1

1. IndexingVocational guidanceUnited States. 2. Abstracting and indexing services industryUnited States. 3. IndexersUnited States. . Indexing. I. Title.

Z695.94.U5B33 2015

025.3dc23

2014049783

Printed and bound in the United States of America

President and CEO: Thomas H. Hogan, Sr.

Editor-in-Chief and Publisher: John B. Bryans

Associate Editor: Beverly M. Michaels

Production Manager: Norma J. Neimeister

Indexer: Kate Mertes

Typesetting by Amnet Systems

Cover Design by Ashlee Caruolo

Author photo page 215 by Lisa Marie Taylor Horn

infotoday.com

To Spencer, who influenced my career far more than he realized.

Speaking as an accidental indexer, I wish Id had this book in hand when I started indexing two decades ago! But then, of course, much has changed in the indexing world since the mid-90s. My first index was created for the back issues of a scholarly journal for which I worked as a graduate assistant. I used a controlled vocabulary that I had created, and worked in a database on a mainframe. When I wanted to see how the index was progressing, I called the computer department and requested a printout, then walked down the next day to pick up the wide-format, dot-matrix-printed, green-and-white-striped paper printoutthe kind that came folded accordion style. Several years later, I met a professional indexer and made a conscious decision to pursue indexing as my career. After creating my first back-of-the-book index, I knew this was what Id always wanted to do when I grew up.

Beyond a concise history of the indexing profession and an up-to-date overview of its current challenges, Nan Badgett has written a substantive guide to the many facets of an indexing career. Potential and newer indexers, curious onlookers, and even seasoned pros will find in these pages much to enlighten and delight them. Potential and fledgling indexers will find specific guidance on whether or not indexing is a good choice for them, where to get training, what types of indexing projects are available, what equipment and resources are needed, and how to market and deal with clients, along with cautionary advice on the pitfalls of the profession. Long-time indexers will find new ways of dealing with some of the challenges, gain reassurance that they are not totally alone despite the inherent isolation, and recognize their colleagues in the illustrative anecdotes.

The Accidental Indexer does not hide the difficulties that indexers may face; rather, it lays out the pros and cons of choosing this profession. After all, not everyone is cut out to be an indexer. Other readers, such as indexers friends and families, will fulfill their curiosity about indexers lives, schedules, and work processes.

Thus, a variety of readers will gain insights from reading The Accidental Indexer . Indeed, what Nan has accomplished in these pages demonstrates what every good indexer must do: gather up the important bits of information, organize them in a usable format, and create a tool for exploration. Beyond that, the book points to many additional helpful resources.

The Accidental Indexer will reassure long-time indexers, enlighten our family and friends, and provide much for potential and newer indexers to cogitate as well as clear steps to move forward in this career. In short, it is an inspirational map of the challenging, ever-changing indexing profession, and a great starting point for making it ones own.

Margie Towery

January 2015

A published book, like so much else in life, is something we cant do alone. From inception to binding, there are many people involved in the process and many to thank.

First, thanks to all the indexers and editors who took the time to participate in The Accidental Indexer survey, answered interview questions or other queries, and allowed me to use their stories. The book wouldnt be nearly as interesting without your contributions.

Many thanks to my peer reviewers, Lucie Haskins, Sherry Smith, Pilar Wyman, and Enid Zafran, who read the manuscript in whole or in part and enhanced the work through their suggestions and corrections. Sherry deserves a special acknowledgement for her significant time investment and especially for meeting my deadlines. Enormous thanks to Margie Towery for her clever foreword and to Kate Mertes for her excellent index. Their contributions greatly enhance the book.

Deep appreciation goes to the friends who provided editorial and emotional support: Sonya Manes, skilled copyeditor and occasional indexer; Alex Roth, ASI member and professional proofreader, and Charl Maynard, retired librarian and friend whose first comment was, Wow! Im also grateful to Mary Brown, PhD and communications specialist, for acting as survey consultant and for believing in my abilities.

Im grateful to John B. Bryans, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher at Information Today Books, who recruited me for the project and provided needed guidance and encouragement. I also appreciate my colleagues, Pilar Wyman and Janet Perlman, who suggested me to John. Thanks are also due to the many others at ITI who helped to produce this title.

Im eternally grateful to my big brother Tom Badgett, an accomplished writer and entrepreneur who has served as my business mentor and IT consultant, and who has always encouraged me to pursue opportunities. Thanks for allowing me to benefit from your experience by sharing your valuable writing tips. And thanks for not killing me as a kid when I periodically jammed the keys on your manual typewriter and then quietly slipped out of your room.

These acknowledgments would not be complete without an expression of gratitude to my husband, Jerry Harmon, who has always supported and encouraged all my endeavors and who believes in me even when I dont believe in myself. Thanks for reading every word I write.

accidentalindexer.com