Copyediting

If you’re confident that your story and general narrative structure is strong, and you’ve undergone line editing (if appropriate) to improve the style, flow, and impact of your prose, then the next step in the publishing process is copyediting.

Copyediting looks at the fine detail of your manuscript, examining the prose on a line-by-line and a word-by-word basis. As a copyeditor, I will check for irregularities of grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntax, and formatting (for example, inconsistent chapter headings), as well as stylistic inconsistencies, logic issues, and timeline/continuity inconsistencies. I will also do some light fact-checking, as required. Additionally, I will note any possible legal issues that I may pick up while editing, such as inadvertent copyright infringement (this often comes up when authors try to include popular songs in their work; see my blog post on the subject, here). I will also create a style sheet/style sheets that can act as a guide for your novel, detailing the book’s prevailing style (and any exceptions to that style), character details, details of any major settings used in the story, and any unusual spellings or word choices. Finally, at the end of my edit, I’ll write a letter that helps guide you through my edit and points out any queries that I made on the manuscript that you’ll need to resolve.

I’m comfortable working in either UK or US English and am familiar with both The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition and New Hart’s Rules.

The fee for copyediting depends on the level of amendment required.

For materials that are shorter in length, I charge an hourly rate of £37.11, which is in keeping with the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading’s suggested minimum rates. A project quote can be provided, however, if this is preferred. If you’re a publishing company, then I’m happy to quote a per-word or per-project rate. Contact me for further details. Please note that I’m happy to provide a sample of my work.