Do you really need one? If you are serious about getting published, then yes, you do. Whether you are going down the traditional route and need to make your level of work stand out amongst the numerous others that an agent or publisher is receiving; or you intend to self-publish, you cannot send out something that isn’t polished. You wouldn’t want to buy a book and find all kinds of mistakes in it, and it’s my job to ensure your book makes you look like a professional writer.

You can and should self-edit to get your work as good as it can be. However, an outside perspective is vital to see what you can’t. We know our stories so well that we aren’t always going to notice that little spelling mistake here or that misword there. Asking friends or family is a great way of helping at the self-edit stage to catch these minor things, but after that, an editor is needed for a much bigger task.

A trained Copy Editor will not only correct your errors, such as typos, misspellings, grammar and punctuation, but also catch the repetition issues, (where words and phrases are used too often), consistency errors (in the style you use, the weather, time, names, appearances and timeline blips). They look at the flow of your sentences and that you are getting the most out of your scene. It’s a competitive market and you need to be spot on to have a chance of getting your story out there. 

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Why you should choose me

* I’m a trained editor with the CIEP as well as having a First-Class BA Creative Writing degree. 

* I charge by the word and my costs are clearly set out. I’m not going to get in touch later on, announce it took me longer than expected, and increase the bill. 

* I keep my costs as low as I can because I don’t want financial issues to stop authors getting their work edited. Additionally, there are budget options and if you aren’t ready for editing or don’t think you can afford it, I am happy to advise you of other options and/or create a makeshift service to assist. 

* All my previous clients have been delighted with my service, and I have kept in touch with them because I am their biggest fan! 

* I want authors to succeed, it isn’t about how much money I can earn but how much I can help you achieve. I’m a people person and you aren’t just a job to me, I care about your writing journey and will do what I can to help you get the results you want. 
 
 

What I won’t do

* I won’t take your job for the sake of it. If I don’t think I’m the right fit for you, for example, your writing style or genre may not be my cup of tea, I will explain the reasons and attempt to refer you to someone who is more suitable and can give you the best service.

* I won’t edit your work if it isn’t ready. You have worked hard on your manuscript, and I won’t blindly edit it if it isn’t at the right stage. For example: -

   a) If you ask me for a proofread but I feel you actually need a copyedit, I will inform you and go over the details of what your story requires and why. 

   b) A Developmental Edit may be necessary if there are consistent issues throughout that need addressing. I won’t waste your time and money editing smaller issues, when you need to re-write, remove or rephrase whole sections.

   c) Your manuscript may be underdeveloped. This could be for several reasons; perhaps you need a Beta reader first who can help you work out what requires improvement. More time and thought may be required to perfect your character arc and/or story elements. Perhaps you are a new writer and still need to develop your skills. I am likely to refer you to a writing group, a course, or books to help you build on what you have so far. My aim is to help you achieve and not leave you hanging.

In the near future, I would like to have a network of trusted professionals to refer clients to, whether it be other editors, book coaches, agents, and/or publishers that can assist you through the writing and publishing process. So, watch this space!

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Try before you buy

If you are still unsure about whether you need an editor, you can send me a few pages for a free sample edit, which may assist you to come to a decision.

Still not sure. No problem! Message me and ask what I can do for you. Whether it is advice about your writing, self-editing, querying a personal cost or anything else, please feel free to get in touch. I won’t bite and I will take time to help you or refer you to someone who can.