Editing Packages - What to Expect

Every editor, proofreader, or publishing company will provide book editing services to clients in their own way. Some might provide a corporate approach (professional, but formal), while others might adopt a more personal, customer-oriented approach (equally professional).

Here at ProofwriteUK, our approach is definitely more of a friendly, customer-first perspective.

But, as a prospective editing client, what should you expect from your future editor? If you were to schedule the editing of your manuscript, what happens next? What information should I provide? How do I pay? There are probably a hundred questions buzzing through your mind.

If you were to choose ProofwriteUK as your future editor, this is what you can expect from us:

• You make initial contact with us via our website, email, Facebook, or X (Twitter) pages.

• ProofwriteUK will reply asking you for any additional details that you might not have already supplied regarding your project. At the very least, we'll need to know the final word count, the genre, UK/US English (or other), whether the manuscript is complete, whether your text is written in MS Word format, your ideal timescale for completion, whether there has been any previous editing input, the level of editing you require, and your target audience (age range). If you have any special requests, now is the perfect time to mention them.

• Having received your initial replies, we'll have a fair idea of your project requirements. However, we will not know how much work will be required to edit your book (having not actually seen it yet). The solution - We would suggest that you take advantage of our FREE SAMPLE EDIT. We would request a 1000ish word sample from the middle of your m/s which we would then copyedit. This is not a compulsory requirement, but it is highly recommended.

• Once you receive your sample edit, you'll be able to see the level and quality of our service from which you can decide if you wish to continue. From our perspective, we will have a better idea of the amount of editing your m/s will require, from which we can calculate a timescale and a quote. Assuming you wish to go ahead with the full editing project, we'll provide a written quote, start date, and completion date (all negotiable).

• Once you have agreed in principle, we will draft a formal contract putting all of the T&Cs, costs and timings in writing, and a copy will be sent to you. This protects both parties in the event of any problems, and establishes your copyright entitlement in law. Should you want to alter anything, feel free to contact us to discuss the matter further.

  
  

  

  Agreeing a contract

• Next, we'll send you an author questionnaire for you to fill out. This form asks you detailed questions about your preferences for the editing. It asks questions (as prompts) to obtain your choice of style guide, dictionary, dialogue style, punctuation preferences, etc. Don't worry if there are questions you hadn't considered, or don't have a preference about (we'll use standard preferences for your area of the world if you don't have a preference). From this, it sets our standards for editing, and we can base our Style Sheet on these criteria. If you've had previous editorial input, and the other editor provided a style sheet, we'll work to the standards detailed on that document.

• Just before commencing work, we'll send an invoice for 50% of the agreed fee for the project as per T&Cs (special arrangements or part-payments can be arranged, and incorporated into the contract). We use PayPal for convenience as it protects both parties in the unlikely event of a dispute. Payment of the deposit means acceptance of the T&Cs and contract details, and means work can start on your editing. You would then send us your manuscript in MS Word format (or agreed other format).

• Initially, we'd read through your entire document, getting a feel for the story, plot, and style of writing (author's voice). Then the editing commences.

• We generally divide the original document into 4 (or more) working copies for ease of handling. As we complete each section, we send it to you for your review. While you go through the revisions, we carry on with the next section of editing. By doing this, you don't have to wait until the entire book is finished (although you can if you want to), and then have to spend weeks working through the revisions. It saves you time, and should you spot anything that you wish to change early on, we can incorporate it into the latter sections of editing. As we progress through the editing, we provide regular updates, and should there be anything we're unsure about (or we need your input on), we'll contact you as required. At the same time, we also produce a style sheet which becomes a "living document" adapting as the project continues (For more information about Style Sheets, see my blog post).

  
  

  

  Editing a document

• Once the editing is complete, you'll receive all WORKING COPIES with the edits and comments added using TRACK CHANGES in Word. We provide a cover document with details of how to read these changes and the settings you need on your computer (should you not be familiar with track changes). Each change can be accepted or rejected individually (or as a whole), but it is recommended that you read each comment thoroughly as some might be asking for your opinion or choice. If you have minor changes, they can be done at your end if you choose, or returned to us for including in your final proof copy.

• Once all agreements are discussed and changes made, you'll receive a CLEAN COPY which is your entire manuscript with all changes incorporated within it. You'll also receive a STYLE SHEET which details technical settings, punctuation/grammar/spelling requirements, and plot/character/settings information.

• Depending on your requirements, you might also have requested a Critique Report or formatting ready for publishing, in which case you'll also receive these documents too.

• Once you are happy with your edited manuscript, we'll send a second invoice requesting the final instalment of the fee. Although this marks the end of the contract, should you have any questions regarding the work, or about the publishing process, you can always ask, and we're always available to help.

• Once you publish, we like to keep track of the books when they enter the big-bad-world, and where the author agrees, we'll add links to it from our website and blogs (for free).

  
  

  

  Books in a line showing pages

  So, as you can see, our method involves a lot of communication in both directions. After all, editing is a collaboration with the author. Do not believe the myth that editors TELL the author what MUST BE WRITTEN. Maybe that happens a little with traditional publishers where they have to adhere to set guidelines, but as a self-published author, we (editors) SUGGEST changes and opinions. If you don't agree, you have the FINAL SAY on the matter. It's your book.

  
  

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For information of my copyediting, line editing, and proofreading services, go to https://www.proofwriteuk.com where all of your questions will be answered.

If you'd like to discuss your manuscript's requirements, or would like to obtain a FREE quote (or a FREE 1000 word sample edit), please contact me through my website's "contact" page or via Facebook or X (Twitter).

Email: AJHeasman.ProofWrite@aol.com

I also offer my services through Fiverr