5 Questions With the Founder of Editorially, a Shiny New Toy For Collaborative Writing

Introducing Editorially, a Web-based platform (currently in beta) that seeks to streamline the writing and editing process and facilitate simple collaboration in the digital space. I asked Editorially Founder and CEO Mandy Brown some questions about her vision for the product and what it could potentially offer to journalists and editors: AW: Can you give me a brief history of your career? Does it involve writing/journalism on a daily basis? MB: I started in book publishing, moving from copywriting to print design, then web and product design. I’d describe myself as a design-minded writer or editor. AW: How did you discover that there was a need for Editorially? What problems does it solve? MB: The initial impetus for Editorially came from my work on A Book Apart (where I’m a cofounder). We were troubled by the lack of web-native editorial tools and started to think about how we might build something for ourselves. It quickly became clear in talking to others that that was a need we shared. With so many people finding publishing as part of their job responsibilities, we felt there was a strong need for a web-native, editorial tool that can not only help people do their work, but help them get better at it through revision and discussion. AW: What is the best use you can think of for Editorially in the newsroom? Multiple reporters working on the same project and sharing notes? An ongoing dialogue between writer and editor? MB: We’re focused on the editorial workflow — the process by which a writer (or writers) works with line editors, fact checkers, and so on to bring a first draft along to final publication. AW: How is Editorially different from/superior to Word, Evernote, Page, etc.? MB: We’re web-native: Editorially works in any modern browser (including iOS and Android), and its plain-text writing environment lets writers and editors compose clean markup easily. And we provide version control and discussions, which let writers and editors collaborate effectively. Plus lots more to come :) AW: Your single favorite feature on Editorially? MB: I love the versions system: saving versions while writing and editing, and commenting on those versions, makes for a kind of transparency and reflection in the writing process that I think benefits both collaboration and the solitary writer. Brown is still keeping some details close to the vest, including what kind of publishers are using Editorially and which features are in the works. Click here to see how Editorially works or sign up for free. What do you think? Will you be using Editorially for quicker feedback and processes in the newsroom?

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5 Questions With the Founder of Editorially, a Shiny New Toy For Collaborative Writing

Angela Washeck

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Angela Washeck