Editing and proofreading for authors
Whether you have slaved for days over an article, weeks over a short story, or months over a book it will need proofreading to make the best impression. How much intervention you need really depends on your objectives. The How the service works page sets out what I can do, but this page applies that specifically to the needs of authors.
Remember I am only going to suggest changes. It is your work, and you can ignore ideas you don't like. I will always bear in mind the style of writing and the type of work. I try to offer sensitive and sympathetic improvements. My aim is to support authors, to help them achieve the best possible finished result.
Before you choose between editing or proofreading, I strongly recommend you have a look at the editing section of the Useful Books for Authors page. In particular, The CT Method of Revision and Editing may help you to get fresh focus on your work. Remember, if your manuscript is in good shape before you send it to an editor, the editing process will be quicker, cheaper, & less painful. This applies particularly to new authors, who are sometimes tempted to think they have finished after the first or second draft. Why pay someone to tidy up things you can easily do yourself?
If you want to keep the costs down and want to do some of the work yourself, have a look at the Reduce your editing cost page.
Remember I am only going to suggest changes. It is your work, and you can ignore ideas you don't like. I will always bear in mind the style of writing and the type of work. I try to offer sensitive and sympathetic improvements. My aim is to support authors, to help them achieve the best possible finished result.
Before you choose between editing or proofreading, I strongly recommend you have a look at the editing section of the Useful Books for Authors page. In particular, The CT Method of Revision and Editing may help you to get fresh focus on your work. Remember, if your manuscript is in good shape before you send it to an editor, the editing process will be quicker, cheaper, & less painful. This applies particularly to new authors, who are sometimes tempted to think they have finished after the first or second draft. Why pay someone to tidy up things you can easily do yourself?
If you want to keep the costs down and want to do some of the work yourself, have a look at the Reduce your editing cost page.
“Sarah was a delight to work with. The work was turned around quickly and accurately. Sarah also went the extra mile to make sure my work was ready for the publishing stage”
Dr Gary Sheard, Managing Director, Sheard European Management Consultants Limited. Author of Awful Management:"Turn left or right?"
Proofreading
The lowest level of intervention is suitable for two broad groups:
- Self-publishing authors who prefer to edit their own work. Many authors have clear ideas about the style of the language they use, their voice and tone. They will have revised the manuscript several times, and just need a fresh pair of eyes for a final check.
- Authors who are submitting their work to a publisher. If you are going down the traditional publishing route, or submitting an article to a journal, your objective is to be accepted into the publisher's system. They will have their own process for editing and refining your work. Proofreading your submission will improve the first impression you make, increasing your chances of getting over that first hurdle. For new writers this is particularly important. Do you want to take the risk that you will be rejected because of some simple errors?
Editing
Other authors, particularly self-publishers, will want more work to be done. Maybe you have become so involved in your work you have not noticed things that will annoy your readers. There is no shortage of reading matter these days, and people are quick to move on if they spot a problem. I can watch out for various issue, including:
- Have you repeated the same phrase regularly, which can distract the reader?
- Have you cut and pasted text to a new position without noticing the knock on effect?
- Do your characters have an unexplained change of appearance, for example a change in hair colour?
- Do you have plot lines that disappear?
- Do you have logic errors, like too many full moons in the timespan of the story?
- As with any other form of writing, I can also make suggestions to:
- improve the flow of your work.
- improve the organisation of your content.
- ensure the work is well organised for the planned audience.
- ensure concepts are easy to follow in non-fiction work.
Resources
- Here is a page of general reference links to dictionaries and other information that may help with the writing process.
- This page has some useful books for authors.
