To find out more about how editing can enhance your work, please contact me to discuss your project.
Copyediting is a detailed review to correct errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and consistency. It also addresses sentence structure and refines phrasing to make the material easier to read. There are three levels of copyediting: light, medium, and heavy. The level required for a particular project depends on the shape the document is in when it is submitted.
Copyediting takes place when the content and structure is set and is the last step before book design. A thorough review will uncover items that can easily be missed and will make your work shine.
Because quality matters! When writers create and review their work, they become so familiar with what they want to say, they no longer see what is actually written. This is how mistakes slip in that are distracting to the reader and embarrassing to the writer.
A professional editor provides a fresh review to make content more readable and to catch errors before they become a permanent part of the communication. An editor offers an impartial perspective and has the expertise to address issues that are often overlooked—something that a friend or colleague doing you a favor may not be able to do.
Written materials that are clear, concise, and professional will strengthen your image and credibility. It is an investment, but in the end, it will save you time, money, and potential embarrassment.
I provide editing services for authors, small businesses, individuals, and publishers. The types of projects include manuscripts, business documents, websites, marketing collateral, instruction manuals, admissions essays, and more.
Copyediting focuses on the technical correctness and readability of the material, regardless of the industry, so copyeditors do not have to be an expert in every topic.
The cost depends on the nature of the project, the page count, and the extent of work necessary. Before we start work together, I will provide a custom estimate so you can anticipate costs.
Absolutely! Your work is private and will not be shared with any outside party unless directed by you. In addition, all work is by law copyright protected to the author or originator upon creation.
Determining marketability of a novel is not within the copyediting scope. Instead, you will need a manuscript evaluator. I can refer you to several competent sources.
Although a copyeditor will point out inconsistencies or implausible components of plot and character development, shaping the actual content is not within the copyediting scope. For a thorough analysis to help develop the overall structure or content of your work, you may need a developmental editor. I can refer you to several competent sources.
Materials should be in final draft by the copyediting stage. If you are having trouble developing the content or organizing your work, a developmental editor can help address the overall issues and rework the content. I can refer you to several competent sources.
Although I work in a variety of formats to address clients’ unique needs, Microsoft Word is preferred because it allows each edit to be recorded with the Track Changes tool. It is also the most efficient.
Working directly in the website carries the danger of inadvertently changing the code or formatting, thus this service is not provided. Editing the document in Microsoft Word with the Track Changes tool allows all actions to be transparent, and you have the opportunity to review each edit before it appears on the live site.
I create a unique style sheet for each project to ensure consistency throughout the document. The style sheet details the preferred spelling of certain words, how numbers are treated, capitalization rules specific to the project, character names and physical features, and more. This style sheet is returned to you along with the edited document to give visibility to style decisions that were made during the edit.
Creating a functional index is a highly specialized skill and not within the copyediting scope. I can refer you to several competent sources.
I edit existing content. If you need help developing content for your website, you will need a copywriter or ghost writer. I can refer you to several competent sources.
There are some simple things you can do to clean up your document before the editing stage. Following these tips will save time (thus money) in the editing process.