Services
What's the right edit for you?
Don't book a proofread when the prose still needs shaping. Don't pay for a copyedit when the plot structure is faulty. What level of editing does your manuscript really need?
I can't see the wood for the trees!
= Developmental Editing
Get the big picture on plot, character development and narrative perspective.
The sentences feel awkward.
= Line Editing
The story works but the prose doesn't. Identify issues and address repetition, inconsistency and unclarity.
I keep catching typos.
= Copyediting
Improve the prose – address word choice and syntax, and the mechanics of style, grammar and punctuation.
It's been copyedited. I'm finally ready to go to print!
= Proofreading
Proofreading – the final polish.
Story-level Services
Developmental Editing
The main aim of developmental editing is to help you deliver your story clearly and effectively to your intended audience. This involves in-depth work on issues such as plot structure, character development, narrative perspective and theme.
Does your first draft feel like it lacks a central cohesion or strong narrative flow? I will query the most crucial areas and help devise strategies to fix these problems.
A developmental edit looks at the big picture. It doesn't look at language conventions, layout and other mechanical aspects, which are dealt with in a copyedit.
Sentence-level Services
Line Editing
Editing of literary style at sentence and paragraph level.
You can expect substantive corrective work addressing clarity, chapter sequencing, character-trait consistency, dialogue expression and effectiveness of plot points, along with the mechanics of spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Copyediting
As an experienced copyeditor, I can offer a command of English punctuation, spelling, grammar, diction and usage. Addressing sentence structure, outline, word choices, flow, tense and consistency, I work with you to optimise your writing and ensure a clean and correct text.
Proofreading
Your manuscript has already been professionally edited at sentence level and may even be typeset for publishing.
A proofread is the final tidy-up to ensure no errors have slipped through and that it is correctly formatted.