Hello,

You’d think after freelancing now for about fifteen years that I’d be better at turning down work that isn’t in my wheelhouse. It is not that I can’t figure out how to index such books; I’ve indexed enough diverse subjects that I kind of think I could index most anything. I hope that isn’t just hubris speaking. I believe there is something to being proficient with the tools of the trade which can cover for a lack of subject expertise.

And yet, I am still reminded that subject expertise is really helpful to have, if for no other reason than to make indexing more enjoyable. It is a distinctly peculiar and unpleasant feeling to finish indexing for the day and to think, “I have no idea what I did today.” To not understand any of the concepts well enough to be able to describe them.

There are definitely subjects for which I lack sufficient background. I also tend to struggle with scholarly books which are written at a highly abstract, theoretical level. When I studied for my BA in political science, I did much better in comparative politics than political philosophy. And yet I still sometimes find myself indexing books which I am not well-suited for.

There are various reasons why. One is if I didn’t fully vet or understand what the book is about. Contents don’t always match their descriptions. Another is if there is some aspect that does interest me, and so I talk myself into thinking that the index will be easier than it actually is. Or, the project is from a regular or newish client and I want to maintain a good relationship with them. Lastly, the client has accepted my quote. If I am not sure about a project or if I anticipate the index to be difficult, I often quote high, kind of hoping that the price will deter the client. But sometimes the client accepts anyway (which is maybe a sign that I need to raise my prices overall), and I am committed to honoring our agreement.

So how do I index books that I don’t understand? And how do I deliver indexes that the client will still—hopefully—be happy with? I use a few tactics to help me through.

• Conduct research. I identify what I don’t understand and I look it up. This can mean looking up definitions for unfamiliar words and concepts, or this can be background information to provide context for the discussions in the book. If I am in contact with the author, research can also mean directly asking the author. I don’t want to spend too much time on research, and by the time I am finished I am still not an expert, but a little bit of additional knowledge can go a long way.
• Leverage what I do understand. While I may struggle to understand the central premise or key concepts, there are often concepts and sections that I do recognize, even if dimly. Finding those can feel like finding a life preserver, a sense of traction and progress. The temptation is the latch onto what I recognize, treating it as low-hanging fruit, and neglect the parts of the book that I do not understand. I still need to somehow find a way to index those parts which make my head spin, but having something that I recognize can both inspire confidence and provide an entry point, a sort of backdoor or side entrance to the rest of the book.
• Go slow. Don’t be in a hurry to complete the rough draft or to edit. Which can be tough if a deadline is looming, but rushing and skimming won’t help me understand. Instead, read slowly. Re-read sections as needed. Spend more time reviewing and double-checking entries when editing the index. Spend time reflecting on the text and writing summaries. Engaging more deeply, while slow, often leads to better understanding.
• Lean on indexing technique. I also fall back on my knowledge of indexing. I may not fully understand the text, but I know how to read a text. I know how to identify regular discussions and supermain discussions. I know how to pay attention to chapter titles and headings, and how to tease out terms. I know how to structure the index and how to make arrays and entries clear. Despite gaps in my knowledge, I can still put together the best index I can.
• Fall back on pointing to information. The index, after all, is to provide access to information; it is not about rewriting the book. If I can at least identify key terms and concepts, I can point to them, even if I don’t actually understand the discussions. This is not ideal, as I fear that headings and subheadings will not be as clearly written if I don’t understand what they point towards, but hopefully I can still manage to point readers in the right general direction.

Ironically, I often get the most praise for the indexes I most struggled to write. Maybe I overcompensated for my lack of familiarity by taking extra care with the index, or maybe the client, knowing that it was a difficult subject and having low expectations for the index, was pleasantly surprised. Either way, while those indexes were not easy, it does reinforce that I can index what I don’t know.

The best option remains saying no to the project. That is the most enjoyable option, avoiding work that I struggle with. That is also usually the easier and more financially lucrative option, as the index is less work to write. I do turn down projects that I don’t think are a good fit. But sometimes I find myself with a challenge anyway.

It helps to have strategies and a plan for getting through difficult books. I hope the above gives you some ideas. As indexers, we may see ourselves as specialists within certain subjects (and may have the degrees and work experience to back that up), but clients often see us as generalists. Inevitably, a project is going to come along that is not a good fit, subject-wise. If you accept, lean into your indexing expertise. You can still deliver an excellent index.

Happy indexing,

Stephen