Services.
Below is an explanation of services. For rates, see the Rates page. We offer a flat-rate fee model to allow prospective clients the ability to estimate their project cost. There are additional fees for research and fact-checking, working on translated text (particularly if it’s inadequately translated), indexing, coordinating multiple authors who are providing multiple rounds of edits, and ghostwriting.
Specializations include Law, Textbooks, Poetry, and Stage scripts.
Proofreading.
Proofreading gets its name from page proofs, or first proofs; these are manuscripts that have already been sent to the publisher, who has designed, typeset, and laid out the pages as they will appear in print. These proofs are then returned to the author for one last review before going to press. Consequently, proofreading checks only for basic, glaringly obvious errors. It is a high-level overview intended to catch typos, incorrect page numbering, errors in indexing, misaligned text, and structural issues. Proofreading does not cover the correct usage of punctuation or proper grammar; for that, see “Copyediting.”
Copyediting.
This is what most people think of when they say “proofreading.” Copyediting focuses on correcting faulty spelling, grammar, and punctuation. This includes ensuring consistency in hyphenation, numerals, fonts, capitalization; properly sequencing and formatting lists, tables, and other display elements; verifying that citations are correctly formatted; ensuring adherence to a specific standard (APA, Chicago Manual of Style, etc.) and more.
Legal texts and law review articles will also be checked for adherence to specific publisher, law review, or series formatting guidelines, and/or for adherence to Bluebook and/or Redbook guidelines, as requested.
Line editing.
The most popular choice, line editing is sometimes referred to as heavy copyediting or substantive editing because it includes everything covered by copyediting, plus corrections to structure and a line-by-line review of the text for clarity and consistency. Text is reviewed for ambiguous passages, redundant statements, inapt phrasing or figures of speech, wordiness, triteness, clarity, and readability. Fiction works are edited for continuity of plot, setting, and character traits (wasn’t he left-handed?). Recommendations are made to add or delete text in a sentence or paragraph to smooth transitions or make something easier to read. Headers are assigned or reorganized to achieve a logical, parallel structure that achieves consistency throughout the work.
Textbook editing includes chapter previews and summaries, end-of-chapter questions, appendices, etc. Excludes the Index.
Legal texts will also be checked for adherence to specific publisher, law review, or series formatting guidelines, and/or for adherence to Bluebook and/or Redbook guidelines, as requested.
Developmental editing.
Sometimes referred to as content editing or even project management, developmental editing focuses on the “big picture” and often takes place before or during a manuscript’s creation. It is a series of conversations between the author and the editor, discussing what changes can be made to achieve the best end.
For fiction: Are there plot holes? Is there too much foreshadowing or too little? Is the protagonist likeable, or at least interesting? Could this character be replaced by a lamp with zero impact on the story? Does the story move too slowly from one scene to the next? Can the action scene be realistically pulled off in the world the author has created? Are plot conventions used in satisfying ways? Does it sound like all the dialogue is being said by the same person?
For non-fiction: Is this book being written for scholars or laypersons? Will the readers be third graders, high schoolers, or sitting judges? Does it cover one aspect of a topic or offer a general overview? Do the sections progress logically? Are terms defined early enough? Are sources proper and properly cited? Will this be sold only in one state? Only for one year?