services

manuscript assessments + editing

I assess, copyedit and proofread manuscripts, helping authors get their work ready to be published. I work broadly across fiction and non-fiction, with special interest in memoir, YA fiction and humanities non-fiction.

If you want some gentle but direct feedback about the strengths and weaknesses of your manuscript to allow you to then go back in and tighten it up, an assessment is a great idea. I will offer reflections on structure, character and plot arcs, pace, perspective, tone and style.

copyediting

A copyedit ensures that your writing is clear and logical, and that your sentences are strong. You’re after a copyedit if you’d like someone to check things like consistency of style, spelling, heading structure and tone throughout your work.

A copyedit is more in depth than a proofread and it can also include rewriting to find a unifying voice in a document with many contributors, or to find the right tone for your audience. One thing I love to do for government and corporate clients is create clear messsages by reshaping any alienating jargon.

proofreading

You’re after a proofread if your piece of work just requires a final polish to check things like spelling, grammar, punctuation and basic layout checks.

plain english editing

If you need your content to be clear and straightforward so it’s easily understood, or if you need it at a certain reading level, I can assist you with a plain English edit.

formatting word docs

Need a hand with headings, styles, contents pages, captions and all the rest in your Word project? I can help.

production proofing

This is a check of the manuscript layout once it has been typeset, to check that everything is where it should be, the preferred styles were applied, elements are in the right positions, among other things. Depending on the length and features of the book, this usually only takes a couple of hours.