Services

Developmental Editing

Developmental editing is the big-picture editing that takes place in the early stages of revision. Whether a document is completed or just outlined, a developmental edit will focus on the content, organization, and messaging of the manuscript, as well as genre considerations. At the end of a developmental edit, the author should have a clear understanding of the next steps required for revising their work to ensure clarity for their readers.

A developmental edit usually consists of an initial virtual or in-person meeting between the editor and client, in-document marginal comments and an accompanying editorial letter from the editor, and a final meeting to discuss the work and next steps. An abridged developmental editing service known as a manuscript evaluation may be offered in which an editorial letter is delivered without the in-document marginal comments.

Copyediting

Copyedits are focused on the sentence and paragraph level and take place after any developmental editing and major revisions. During a copyedit, errors in spelling, grammar, syntax, and punctuation are corrected. If the writing needs to conform to style guidelines, a copyedit is when these guidelines are enforced and when references are verified and styled correctly. A copyedit includes some tweaks to language for the sake of clarity or establishing a consistent tone. It also involves minor fact-checking to ensure proper names and other details are accurate. At the end of a copyedit, the manuscript will be styled consistently and free of errors and inconsistencies.

Copyediting usually involves email communication between the author and the editor to establish project details and the delivery of the edited document with a brief editorial note about what was addressed and any remaining issues to be resolved through revisions.

Proofreading

Proofreading is the very last pass a document will receive. If there have been several rounds of revision, multiple people have been working on one document, or the manuscript is being reformatted, proofreading ensures that no errors have been introduced in previous edits and that all required changes have been made correctly. A proofreading pass may address typographical errors and issues with typesetting specifications. Traditionally a proofread is performed using PDF markup, but proofreading rates may also apply to a document that is in very good shape and needs only minor copyediting.

Additional Services

Additional services I offer include manuscript evaluations and assistance with book proposals, article pitches, and query letters.