Copyediting

You may not have heard of copyediting before: in the publishing world, some publishers or copyeditors like to differentiate between copyediting and line editing, but I tend to apply a blend of both (which many other copyeditors do, too), which means I go through your text line by line, as well as considering the book as a whole when making any amends or suggestions. When you ask me to copyedit your book, it’s more than likely this is the first time someone will start to edit the actual words.

I offer two copyediting services: copyedit of 10,000 words or copyedit of your full manuscript.

Copyedit of your first 10,000 words

You can opt to have the first 10,000 words of your non-fiction book copyedited. This is ideal if you are submitting your work to a publishing house and want to have your submission polished first. If you are self-publishing, you can apply the amends made to the rest of your manuscript.

This is offered with or without a handover call (one hour).

Copyedit of your whole manuscript – my copyediting process

We start with a free discovery call, so I can find out more about your subject matter, format, and editing requirements.
I edit 1,000 words for FREE so you can get a sense of my editing style and I can gauge how long your edits should take. I send back my copyediting fee based on this sample edit and the requirements you raised during our discovery call.
My line-by-line copyediting service includes creating and following a style guide, detailed comments throughout your manuscript, and a handover report detailing particular queries and what to think about when you're making the amends to your manuscript.
Before sending back each round of revisions we will have a handover video call (one hour) to clarify any confusion within the manuscript, as well for me to show you how to use Track Changes and reassure you that the amount of red amends to your book is completely normal (and doesn’t mean you are a ‘bad writer!).

What’s included in my copyediting service?

My copyediting approach includes a line-by-line edit, which covers aspects of proofreading, but also focuses on the language style and mechanics of your book, such as:

typos, spelling, and grammar
inconsistent use of font types, header styles, table layout
issues with clarity, fluency, and readability of text
adhering to or creating a style guide
repetition or monotonous style
thinking about your target audience
fact and reference checks (including any potential copyright concerns).

My copyediting service also includes a handover video call before I send back your manuscript, an editorial report and a style guide if one hasn’t previously been created.

Copyediting pricing

A bespoke package, every time

First of all, don’t worry if you’re not sure what you want, that’s what I’m here for! I can also provide some examples of the different editorial services on offer.
After an initial discussion about your project, I will provide a free sample editing service of up to 1,000 words and provide your quote based on the amount of time I anticipate will be needed.
You have no doubt discovered that some of your copy takes more time to write than you thought. We experience the same when editing: some projects require more time than others.
If your manuscript requires very few changes, this will naturally take me less time to edit and therefore cost less. Conversely, should there be significant re-writes and fact-checking needed (and the timeframe allows for this), then the time taken to complete this would be reflected in the price.
I will always let you know what can be achieved according to the level of work you require, the budget you have, and the total lead time until the publication date.

Pricing guidelines

Please see below for indicative pricing for one round of line-by-line copyediting, a handover call, editorial report, and style guide:

Additional editing rounds

I offer additional editing rounds with a 20% discount. This is an ideal service if numerous queries have been raised during your first edit or you've decided to expand sections or add completely new ones. Please get in touch if you want to work on additional revisions with me. This includes if you want me to copyedit one chapter instead of the whole manuscript again.

Specialist subjects

My copyediting and proofreading skills lend themselves to a wide variety of non-fiction genres, but my personal interest and editorial interests are especially adept to working with the following subjects:

Mental health
Wellbeing
Self-development
Women's health
Anxiety recovery
Disordered eating
Intuitive eating and exercise
Active women / women in sport
Anti-diet campaigns

Please note: the publication examples and services detailed are not exhaustive lists, but are provided to give an idea of how I can help you. Read more about my experience or my personal interests.

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