Copyediting and Proofreading
Are you concerned that your soon-to-be published manuscript might not pass the grammar sharks unscathed? I offer a copyediting/proofreading service that is committed to quality and affordability. I have completed a course from Education To Go as well as gained practical experience from 8+ years of copyediting magazine issues, fiction, and nonfiction. Each project receives my passionate dedication to detail. My greatest desire is to come alongside the author as a friend to help them publish their best book!
What I offer:
- Three read-throughs searching for typos, grammar and punctuation mistakes, and consistency.
- Friendly comments and enthusiasm for your project.
- Suggestions for improving style, if you desire.
- Honest “reader” feedback on individual scenes, if you desire.
- Punctuality—I meet deadlines.
- Flexibility if you can’t afford my going rates—tell me your need and we’ll see what we can arrange!
Rate:
$0.006 per word. So, $300 for a 50,000 word novel.
Note: This is my copyediting/proofreading rate. My line editing rate varies with the amount of work needed.
I work with Microsoft Word documents and use the track changes feature. Contact me HERE and let's get started. I look forward to working with you!
$0.006 per word. So, $300 for a 50,000 word novel.
Note: This is my copyediting/proofreading rate. My line editing rate varies with the amount of work needed.
I work with Microsoft Word documents and use the track changes feature. Contact me HERE and let's get started. I look forward to working with you!
The Different levels of editing
I focus on copyediting and proofreading, but I will do line editing for a higher rate per word. To help you decide if I'm the editor for your needs, here is a description of the different types of editing.
1. Developmental Editing
This kind of editing is also known as content editing and rewriting. For nonfiction, this typically happens before a manuscript is finished because a developmental editor helps an author develop the content of their book and write it.
For fiction, the manuscript is typically finished but in need of something. Maybe the protagonist is abominable, or the plot is Swiss cheese, or the ending is threadbare. Maybe the novel is too long and convoluted or too short and sparse. Developmental editing fixes the story on a structural level.
2. Line Editing
It’s all about the prose, making sure it’s clear, flowing, and delicious like spring water. It polishes the author’s voice to be the best it can be, getting meticulous about word choice, sentence structure, clarity of meaning, and other literary issues that affect style and readability.
Reading aloud helps here. Did you use that unusual word five times in the last two pages? Is that phrase a cliché? Do all those sentences sound the same? Does that description really help the reader see? Line editing should make your writing sing.
3. Copyediting
This one is technical. It focuses on rules of grammar and punctuation and hunts out obvious errors that would trip a reader. It catches formatting issues and inconsistencies within the book. It can be done on various levels – light (pretty close to proofreading; see below); medium (pretty close to line editing, in that it suggests tweaks in wording, but it’s not as extensive); and heavy (also called substantive; this dips more into rewriting and deep line editing).
Some copyeditors don’t get into those different levels, so unless otherwise noted, you can probably assume a copyeditor will give you a medium copyedit fixing all mistakes and consistency issues. Basically, if this type of editor sees a glaring problem with the manuscript, they’ll point it out to you.
4. Proofreading
Proofreading is the last touch. It should catch blemishes on an otherwise clean manuscript, such as typos, misused homonyms, unruly punctuation, and formatting errors. A proofreader doesn’t look for defects in story structure or make improvements on writing style. If they see an obvious inconsistency or factual mistake, though, they should alert you.
1. Developmental Editing
This kind of editing is also known as content editing and rewriting. For nonfiction, this typically happens before a manuscript is finished because a developmental editor helps an author develop the content of their book and write it.
For fiction, the manuscript is typically finished but in need of something. Maybe the protagonist is abominable, or the plot is Swiss cheese, or the ending is threadbare. Maybe the novel is too long and convoluted or too short and sparse. Developmental editing fixes the story on a structural level.
2. Line Editing
It’s all about the prose, making sure it’s clear, flowing, and delicious like spring water. It polishes the author’s voice to be the best it can be, getting meticulous about word choice, sentence structure, clarity of meaning, and other literary issues that affect style and readability.
Reading aloud helps here. Did you use that unusual word five times in the last two pages? Is that phrase a cliché? Do all those sentences sound the same? Does that description really help the reader see? Line editing should make your writing sing.
3. Copyediting
This one is technical. It focuses on rules of grammar and punctuation and hunts out obvious errors that would trip a reader. It catches formatting issues and inconsistencies within the book. It can be done on various levels – light (pretty close to proofreading; see below); medium (pretty close to line editing, in that it suggests tweaks in wording, but it’s not as extensive); and heavy (also called substantive; this dips more into rewriting and deep line editing).
Some copyeditors don’t get into those different levels, so unless otherwise noted, you can probably assume a copyeditor will give you a medium copyedit fixing all mistakes and consistency issues. Basically, if this type of editor sees a glaring problem with the manuscript, they’ll point it out to you.
4. Proofreading
Proofreading is the last touch. It should catch blemishes on an otherwise clean manuscript, such as typos, misused homonyms, unruly punctuation, and formatting errors. A proofreader doesn’t look for defects in story structure or make improvements on writing style. If they see an obvious inconsistency or factual mistake, though, they should alert you.
Confused yet?
Developmental Editors
Fix the story |
Line Editors
Fix writing & prose |
Copyeditors
Fix technical mistakes |
Proofreaders
Fix whatever mistakes still exist in the final copy |