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Services
Copyediting is the “correcting stage” of fiction editing. At all levels of my Copyediting service—light, intermediate, heavy, and Indie Author—I’ll be working on the five C’s of copyediting:
- Correctness
- Completeness
- Consistency
- Clarity
- Concision
Inconsistent or non-standard spelling, grammar, and punctuation are attended to, and logic is checked so that the reader can follow the story without distraction.
Proofreading is the “quality-control stage” of editing where any final errors or layout problems are flagged to make your manuscript suitable for publication. I provide Proofreading services on fully edited and formatted documents. Proofreading is important because it is the last chance to find and fix errors before a manuscript is presented to readers.
Step 01
Sample Edit & Estimate
Fill out the linked form and submit your sample for a free sample edit. You will submit around 1,000 words and I will perform a free sample edit for your review. Upon receipt of the sample edit, you will receive an estimate of cost for the three copyediting options or for proofreading.
Step 02
Copyediting
First, I will perform two passes of copyediting through the manuscript. I will copyedit your document using Microsoft Word’s Track Changes feature. This will show all corrections and comments with queries or explanations.
STANDARD COPYEDITING FICTION SERVICE: Includes 2 passes of copyediting, an optional clean-up edit (see next step), and a style sheet.
INDIE AUTHOR PLAN: Includes 1 pass of fiction copyediting and a style sheet for $1,200 (up to 100K words). Only good for first time.
After this round, I will return a finalized copy of the document showing all tracked changes, edits, and any comments or queries. Copyediting service comes with a personalized style sheet.
Copyediting services include:
Grammar
Capitalization
Punctuation
Spelling
Hyphenation
Number Style
Abbreviations
Formatting (italics, headings, lists, etc.)
Extra letter and line spacing
Word usage
Homophones
Pronouns
Verb tense
Consistency in text and story (characters, plot, time, attributes)
Parallelism
Jargon, cliches, and biased language
Awkward, wordy, or confusing sentences
Localized language
And, if applicable:
Table of Contents
Bibliography or References
Footnotes or Endnotes
Step 03
Optional Clean-up edit
One round of copyediting of a manuscript is often not enough to resolve all editorial issues – the editor is likely to have some queries for the author. The author may prefer that the editor incorporates their responses to these queries and edit any further changes made to the text after editing.
After you review my edits and queries, I will do another editing pass through the revised manuscript and perform a clean-up edit for an additional fee. I’ll be looking at any new changes that may have occurred and editing those, as well as implementing your responses to my queries.
At the end, I will return a finalized copy with all revisions edited and changes accepted (a clean copy). You will also be provided with a personalized style sheet.
STEP 04
Proofreading
Proofreading eliminates grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and formatting mistakes, allowing us to communicate our message accurately and effectively. I will perform this on a formatted pdf in Adobe Acrobat or on a physical copy.
*Must have professional copyedit from me or another editor before proofreading.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What style guide do you use?
I copyedit and proofread fiction and nonfiction manuscripts using the Chicago Manual of Style (17th ed.) or the style guide of your choice along with Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.) for US style or the New Oxford Style Manual for UK style.
Which types of genres do you copyedit or proofread?
| Fiction | Nonfiction |
| Romance | Creative nonfiction |
| Action/Adventure | Query Letters |
| Science Fiction and Fantasy | Synopses |
| Horror | |
| Suspense/Thriller | |
| Mystery/Crime | |
| Historical Fiction | |
| Literary Fiction | |
| Western |
What is the "Indie Author Package?"
The Indie Author Package is my newest service for the cost-conscious indie author. This single-pass, basic copyedit gives your work of fiction the refinement needed to elevate it above the rest in a crowded marketplace. This package is for copyediting services to indie authors only. For $1,200, a one-pass copyedit will be provided for a manuscript of up to 100,000 words. Also included is help on a query letter and synopsis, if applicable. Only good one time.
How do you determine the pricing?
Every manuscript is unique and deserves the proper attention. I will look over your sample and determine the level of editing it will need as well as the time it will take to complete the process thoroughly. Then, I will send you an estimate with a price range for the services. Prices vary depending on the length of the manuscript, and whether you have any additional requirements from the service such as reading through revisions. My pricing is guided by the CIEP’s suggested minimum rates and the Editorial Freelancers Association’s rate chart. If we decide to work together, I require a 25% booking deposit that is non-refundable.
How long will it take?
Once I start on your project, it can take 2-6 weeks depending on the length of the manuscript and the plan chosen.
What are the parameters for the free sample edit?
I offer a free sample edit of the following:
1,000 words for manuscripts over 20,000 words
500 words for manuscripts under 20,000 words
10% sample for manuscripts under 500 words
What do I get back upon completion?
For copyediting service, you will receive a fully edited manuscript showing all changes and author queries, a copy of the fully edited manuscript with all changes accepted (a clean document), and a style sheet.
For proofreading service, you will receive the proofread manuscript with all edits showing on the pdf or physical proof.
How does billing work?
Upon acceptance of terms, you will be invoiced 25% due at booking and the other 75% owed when the final edit is returned. Payment plans can be adjusted as needed.
Which types of payments do you accept?
PayPal, Stripe (credit and debit cards, direct transfer), Wise for international payments
What is the difference between copyediting and proofreading?
Both types of editing involve looking for errors and inconsistencies in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Copyediting also involves word usage and style. Proofreading is performed on a fully edited and formatted document prior to publication and also examines layout.
Click here to see how Tracked Changes works.
*All services require a 25% non-refundable down payment at time of booking.