What types of editing do you provide?
What is line editing and copyediting?
Which book categories do you work with?
What file format should the manuscript be in?
What additional information do you need?
Can we have a follow-up session as well?
What if I disagree with your comments or edits?
How much do your editing services cost?
Do I have to pay the whole fee in one go?
This type of editing doesn’t sound quite right for me…
How do I book your editing services?
“Writing is more like a sculpture where you remove, you eliminate in order to make the work visible. Even those pages you remove somehow remain.” Elie Wiesel
What types of editing do you provide?
I offer copyediting/line editing, and manuscript assessment (a kind of structural editing). There are a few different types of editing, which should be performed at different stages of the book’s development.
What is line editing and copyediting?
This service is best for writers who are confident that their content is sound, and need help with the writing at paragraph and sentence level.
Line editing tightens up the text and makes it flow smoothly. It fixes all the little bumps that can take a reader out of the book. It considers:
- Word choice
- Intended meaning
- Clarity
- Repetition
- Redundancy
- Consistency
As part of copyediting I will also fix mistakes in grammar, spelling, and punctuation, ensure consistency in hyphenation and capitalisation, and check the formatting is standard.
Line edits, corrections and comments will be made to the manuscript in Track Changes, and I will provide a style sheet concerning all style decisions implemented throughout the manuscript.
Further changes by the author to the manuscript should be made carefully and with reference to the style sheet, so as not to introduce new errors and inconsistencies.
Which book categories do you work with?
I work with general and popular non-fiction and commercial fiction in all categories for adults.
In non-fiction, I particularly enjoy memoir, biography, careers, and self-help books, and in fiction I’m most comfortable with mysteries, thrillers, comic fantasy and women’s fiction including romance and cosy mystery.
I don’t work with poetry or children’s books.
Do I need to book in advance?
It’s a good idea to be organised and start lining up an editor before you need them, so you can get in touch up to a couple of months before your manuscript will be ready for editing and book in the time.
If your manuscript is already ready for editing when you get in touch with me, please be aware that I may be booked for the immediate future and not be able to get to work on your manuscript for a few weeks.
How long will the edit take?
This depends on the length of the book, the condition of the writing, and how much other work I have on at the time.
I will estimate the time to turn the project around at enquiry stage and confirm a delivery date before beginning the work.
What file format should the manuscript be in?
Please send the manuscript as a Word document.
Most book editors edit in Word: it is more powerful and has more tools than other word processing programs. Some editors don’t mind using Google docs, but that’s really a better tool for co-writers working collaboratively on one or two chapters at a time, than for an editor working on an entire book.
What additional information do you need?
When you first get in touch, please send me a sample of the work and tell me the book’s word count, category, and its intended audience. It’s also useful to know a bit about your writing background, and your goals for the book: for instance, are you aiming to be traditionally published or are you more interested in self-publishing?
Before getting to work, I will need to look at the complete manuscript and discuss with you your areas of concern and the particular issues I would address.
Can we have a follow-up session as well?
I’m happy to answer any clarifying questions on a phone call. If you have several questions, it’s best to make a list of them and arrange a time to discuss them in one go.
My mini consultation service is also available for clients who want further advice, encouragement and support.
What if I disagree with your comments or edits?
I wrote a post about disagreeing with your editor: read it here.
How much do your editing services cost?
Copyediting and line editing starts at £15 per 1000 words.
I will confirm the fee per 1000 words before the work begins. The more corrections are needed, the slower the work goes, so text that requires heavy editing will attract a higher fee.
Fees will also increase if the deadline is short, or if the scope of the work ‘creeps’ after the project begins.
Do I have to pay the whole fee in one go?
I usually ask for a 50% non-refundable deposit up front to secure the booking, and the balance on delivery of the corrected manuscript, so the fee is divided into two.
This type of editing doesn’t sound quite right for me…
You might find a manuscript assessment or a mini consultation better suits your needs.
How do I book your editing services?
There are two ways.
You can fill in the contact form or press the button below and select the type of editing you require. Or you can email me and put the type of editing you want in the subject line.
Either way, please tell me a bit about the book, including its category and word count, and a bit about yourself and your writing experience and goals.
Any other questions?
You’re welcome to email me with any further questions.
