How I carry out a copyedit

The process

The most important thing for your copyedit to work is for you have stopped work on your manuscript.

In editing, we talk about who “holds the pen“. You hold the pen while you are still working on your book.

When you hand your manuscript over to me, I hold the pen. The time has passed for second thoughts and “quick changes”.

So we agree a timetable and on the date we’ve settled, you email me your manuscript in MS Word.

I need just your text in a Word document: no fancy formatting; simple chapter and sub-headings in bold, nothing elaborate; references; and footnotes. Illustration files if you have them.

I work on your text in several phases.

Phase One

I assess your use of language and draw up a Style Sheet.

A Style Sheet acts as the ‘rulebook’ for the edit to keep it consistent.

It sits alongside your manuscript, on my screen, at every phase of the job.

Phase Two

I clean up the manuscript and get rid of all sorts of gremlins that will have crept in during the writing process, both technical and linguistic.

I am expert in the use of MS Word, so I don’t waste your time and money on trying to solve tech problems.

To save you money and to keep me fresh for the things no computer can spot, I use macros and a proprietary editing programme (PerfectIt) at the start of Phase Two and at the end of Phase Three.

The whole reason you hire me to be your editor is because you want my brain to spot errors, exercise judgment and bring my deep knowledge of the English language to polish your work.

Phase Three

I go over the document again and again, using my brain, working methodically from the large to the small scale.

I use the Comments function to make notes or ask questions, and I use the mark-up function to show you where I have made changes.

At the end of the edit, I present you with the clean, edited version and the marked up version, along with a copy of the Style Sheet.

I keep you informed

It would be unusual if I didn’t have questions for you as I work through the manuscript.

You can choose if you want to get all the questions in one go, or if you would rather get a weekly email.

At the end, if you wish, we have a call so that you can ask any remaining questions.

Payment

When we agree the scope and timetable for your copyedit, you pay a 50% non-refundable deposit to secure time in my calendar.

Payment is made by credit card on a secure payment link.

The balance of payment is due on delivery of the final copyedited manuscript.

Contact me

Message me with any questions you have about the process or my availability to edit your work.