This depends on the level of work that is required. Some documents only need a ‘true’ proofread while others require more work and formatting. When you contact me we can discuss what your project involves and I’ll give you a quote based on the work that is needed once I have seen your document.

I take a look at the document you provide to gauge how much work is needed. For a longer project I will often time a sample edit of 1000 words to make my time estimate as precise as it can be.

Once again, this depends on the level of work required and the length of the document. In the initial stages of a manuscript, for instance, progress is slower as the style guide is built up. And it’s not just an issue of reading it through once. There are at least two passes made on any document, checking for different issues each time. I will base your quote on how many words my experience and sample edit tell me I can edit in an hour to get your document to the standard you require.

You will receive an invoice on the completion of the work. For longer projects you may be asked to pay a deposit (to hold your time slot) and progress payments. There is more information about payment on the small print page.

‘Editor’ is the generic name for the roles involved in making changes and improvements to a document or manuscript. In the publishing world there are three general roles:

A developmental editor will look at the structure, plot, characterisation and flow of a manuscript. They will talk to you about your prospective audience and how the manuscript can be changed to become more attractive to them. This all occurs during the writing stage.

A copyeditor will pay attention to matters such as spelling and grammar, typos and omissions, graphics and captions, fact-checking, appropriate language for the audience and overall style and consistency.

A proofreader will be the last person to check the document before it is sent to print. They will be checking a document that is all laid out and ready to print.

Outside of publishing, most documents and manuscripts I see require a full copyedit. After the author has incorporated all corrections and suggestions it is advisable to get a final proofread.

I offer you copyediting and proofreading services.

Even editors employ other editors to check their work. It is hard to edit your own words efficiently. You know the message you are intending your readers to receive, but are they really getting it? You can be so involved in your writing that you don’t actually see the words anymore, which makes it hard to check them. And if there are multiple sections in your document, or if multiple authors are involved, it can be difficult to keep track of the consistency of content and voice.

Online grammar checking programs can put you wrong if you don’t already understand English grammar. They are simply more advanced forms of Microsoft Word’s spell checker. They cannot think about what you have written in the way a real-life editor can. They may also create more work for you. When I edit your work in Word I will often make the non-negotiable changes without tracking them (for instance correcting spelling errors). This means you have less work to do when your edited document comes back to you.

It is important that you feel comfortable putting your work in the hands of an editor. You need someone who is enthusiastic about your genre, who has experience and training and who understands what you need. Not every editor is right for you. Ask questions and make sure you understand what level of work is being offered. Make sure the editor sees at least some of your document before the quote.