Dear Author,
RE: Editing/Proofing options
If you are not sure what level of editing your book requires (ex: Do I need a copy editor or a proofer?), I recommend hiring Daniel Siuba dannysiuba@gmail.com. Daniel is an academic editor (he edits dissertations for students in masters programs) and someone I hold in high regards. His fees are reasonable and he'll be honest (transparency is a trait I admire in a partner).
These are editors on the Gold list of the Christian Proofreaders and Editors Network (PEN). In order to be on this list, an editor must have at least two years' experience and pass editing tests (85%+) for the Christian Editor Connection (CEC):
Here are some reasonably priced gals I can recommend (who are local to me): http://www.thecrimsonquill.com/meet-the-editors.html (Be sure to ask about their backlog/wait time as that might be a showstopper).
Another editor I recently connected with on LinkedIn. I haven't sent her any work yet, but plan to. Her tips on editing:
Here are 3 more editing services I just found out about that have been around for awhile. Buyer beware - I have no idea of how good these companies are:
When editing work is being outsourced overseas where english is not their first language, it's a red flag.
While we do a technical proof of the layout as part of the service we offer, we don’t do copy editing/proofing. Here's what I suggest (which is always in flux based on client feedback):
The danger in proofing someone else’s work is that often times, what may appear wrong to me is exactly what the author intended, so as a practice we never change what format/convert.
Writer’s Digest offers a service through their pool of editors at $2/page.
You could also try one of the digital proofing tools like ProWritingAid which also works with MS Word.
You can also check out WhiteSmoke and Grammarly.
Editing is a very subjective role, and I’ve found that one author will love an editor that another author hated. The work can often be impacted based on the workload an editor takes on, as well as the deadline to complete the work will often impact the quality of work.
For this reason, I don’t like to do referrals because editing is subjective, but I’ve had consistently positive feedback for Irene Chambers who you can contact at: irchambersva@gmail.com.
I also recommend Meagan Friberg. She can be reached at meaganfriberg@gmail.com.
Be sure to mention to them I referred you, and let me know how it goes if you hire one of them.
Grammarly is quickly becoming an indispensable technology for all writers - I can’t imagine the hours of rework that we could have avoided if every author used Grammarly BEFORE sending us their manuscript to format!
Here’s a video I made for a client to show it in action:
There's also an MS Word Add-in (if you are on a PC), but only use it when you go into final proofing because it removes the undo function!
If you are on a Mac, you'll need to copy & paste into their web editor.
Hope that helps!
The different levels of editing that authors need to be aware of:
Key takeaways:
It's important for authors to understand the different levels and communicate clearly with editors about what type of editing they need.
Editors use different terminology, so authors should clarify what is included at each level.
Having realistic expectations is crucial - no edit will catch 100% of errors, editors study grammar/style in depth, editing takes significant time.
Authors should get sample edits from prospective editors to gauge editing style/approach.
Established industry rates for editing are $40-60/hour usually, depending on level. Editors often charge per-word.
The editing process typically involves the author submitting to the editor, the editor working in Word with Track Changes, the author reviewing/accepting/rejecting edits, and potentially multiple rounds.
Authors should respond to all editor queries and make any new content additions in the main text.
Getting editing done on a very tight timeframe (e.g. 2 weeks) is often unrealistic unless working with a currently available editor.
Communication and having a professional contract are vital for a successful author-editor relationship.