Editing
I offer substantive/structural editing, stylistic editing, copy editing, proofreading, or a combination of editorial rounds. Price is per word, per round.
Unsure what type of editing you’re looking for? Check out the guide below.
Service includes an editorial note upon completion.
Reading
Whether you want a beta read or a fresh set of eyes, I’m happy to look over your project and provide insight.
Service includes a reader’s report upon completion.
Guide to Editorial Skills
Substantive/Structural Editing
Editing draft material to improve organization and content.
Includes:
- Clarifying characterization, plot, and themes.
- Cutting, expanding, reordering, and revising sections.
- Writing original material for suggested addition.
Timeline:
1-3 pages per hour, depending on the density of the material.
Stylistic Editing
Editing draft material to clarify meaning, optimize flow, and refine language.
Includes:
- Adjusting the length and structure of sentences and paragraphs.
- Enhancing authorial voice, level of formality, mood, style, and tone.
- Maintaining the language appropriate for the intended audience.
Timeline:
1-3 pages per hour, depending on the density of the material.
Copy Editing
Editing to ensure accuracy, consistency, and correctness as per the Chicago Manual of Style or requested style guide.
Includes:
- Editing for grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
- Editing figures, lists, and tables, when applicable.
- Ensuring consistency throughout the material, including anachronisms, names, and treatment.
- Querying general information that should be fact-checked.
It may also include:
- Canadianizing or other localizing (e.g. “favourite” versus “favorite” or converting measurements into metric).
- Checking web links.
- Editing figures, lists, and tables.
- Editing indexes.
- Listing permissions needed (e.g. quotations from copyrighted material).
Timeline:
2-7 pages per hour, depending on the density of the material.
Proofreading
Editing material to correct errors.
Please note that proofreading is conducted after the material has been edited and placed in its final format. It is not a substitute for editing.
Includes:
- Correcting minor mechanical errors, such as spelling mistakes.
- Ensuring the accuracy of elements, such as captions, cross-references, and running heads.
- Inserting page numbers and/or checking them against page references.
Timeline:
4-9 pages per hour, depending on the density of the material.
Got questions?
Feel free to reach out.
Alicia Murray 