When Should you Hire a Professional Editor?
In today’s blog post, I’m going to break down the different services I offer so that you can make an informed decision about when to hire me! You’ll learn what you’ll get with each service and how long it should take.
If you’re new to self-publishing or just need a refresher, the following information will guide you through the different stages and when to use my services.
First
Write your manuscript! You’ll probably have written your first draft and done some self-editing at this point. You may even want to do a few more edits and a few more drafts! When you are ready – perhaps you’ve had a short break and taken some much-needed self-care – a developmental edit may be for you; especially if you are new to writing or would like more in-depth feedback on your manuscript.
Developmental editing
This can seem scary – handing over your pride and joy, the thing you’ve spent every waking (and sleeping) hour on. But please rest assured that I am here to support you in making your content or story sparkle!
I may suggest rewrites in the text itself, or offer suggestions in the form of comments, but please don’t worry, it’s not all negative! I absolutely love to let you know about the bits I enjoyed too!
A developmental edit is meant to be supportive to the writer, to help you deliver a story that improves the reading experience for the reader. You will be able to go back and make big-picture changes yourself, once you have received my feedback.
Please allow around five to six weeks for me to do a quality developmental edit for your manuscript. This will, of course, ultimately depend on the size of your manuscript.
Copyediting
Now it’s time for a deep dive into your manuscript! My copyediting services involve looking at your words and sentence structure in detail.
I look at correctness – making sure facts, grammar, and spelling are all correct and error-free. I also make sure everything is clear and concise – is the reader clear on the narrative, or are the sentences too long? Then I check for consistency – making sure that the details are consistent all the way through. I also make sure that the language used is inoffensive and inclusive – ensuring that there is nothing that could be misunderstood or harmful.
When copyediting your manuscript I will produce an editor’s brief, outlining any queries to consider, and some feedback. You will also receive comments and corrections to your manuscript.
Please allow around five to six weeks for me to copyedit your writing. Again, this will depend on the size of your manuscript.
Proofreading
Ready to publish? Proofreading is the final check before publishing, focussing on correcting those last errors that slipped through the net!
I will ensure that all spelling, punctuation, and grammar are correct as well as formatting and page layout too. This means looking at the tiny details like page numbers, font, and word spacing.
Once your manuscript or content has been proofread, it will be ready to be enjoyed by readers!
Please allow at least three weeks for a quality proofread. Of course, this will ultimately depend on the size of your manuscript.
That’s it!
I hope this blog post has helped guide you through the process of getting your work ready for the world to enjoy. Whichever stage you’re at, or whatever it is that you’ve produced, I hope there is a service here that will be the right fit for you. Please get in touch or choose one of the options below if you have any queries or you’d like to learn more. I’m happy to support you in any way.
Natalie x
