What is working with a copyeditor like?
If you’ve never worked with an editor before, this list sets out all the things you can expect along the way if we work together, whether that be for a copyedit, a proofedit or a proofread. This is my usual process; other editors might do things a little bit differently. Lots of these things are negotiable, so if there is something additional you need, please ask.
Assuming an author has contacted me to ask for a quote for a copyedit, a proofread or a proofedit, this is how the process generally goes from there:
- After a little discussion by email, where we establish whether my availability fits your publishing schedule, I’ll ask you to send me the manuscript file – MS Word works best. I use the file to gauge how much work your novel needs and how long that might take. At this point, if you’d like it, you can also get a sample edit free of charge. Then I email out a quotation along with a copy of my terms and conditions.
- If the quote and my terms are acceptable, you like the sample edit (if you asked for one) and the timescales, both for advance booking the editing slot and actually doing the edit, work for both of us, a 50% non-refundable deposit is payable. Paying this deposit puts your novel firmly in my schedule for the agreed slot.
- A week or so before your slot begins, I’ll email you to ask whether you’ve made any changes to your manuscript in the intervening time and to request a copy of the new file. If the word count has increased by more than five hundred words, the quote will be increased pro rata to cover the extra work. If there aren’t any changes, I’ll edit the file I was sent when I made my quote. From this point onwards there can be no rewrites or further revisions on this novel: all writing on this project must stop or the edit will be pointless and a waste of your money. Any further writing work must wait until you receive the edited file back.
- Before I begin the edit I’ll do some analysis on your manuscript to establish what your natural style preferences are. This is for things like spelling (‘ise’ or ‘ize’ verbs, for/to/backwards, etc), punctuation (such as serial commas, and single or double quote marks), capitalisation, hyphenation, use of dashes, etc. I’ll also be determining the POVs used throughout. I’ll send my findings to you so that we can agree on which styles you prefer, and when we’ve done that I’ll begin my edit or proofread, whichever I’ve been contracted for.
- When I’ve finished, I’ll return your file to you with the edits marked using Track Changes. This shows the changes I’ve made and leaves them available for you to accept or refuse. Only the most basic edits (double spaces, obvious typos, etc) will be made without tracking. I’m also happy to supply you with a clean copy – with all the edits already accepted, that is – if you’d like one.
- There will be comments in the margins of the file. These are for things like questions I need to ask about the content, suggestions for improvements and short explanations for why I’ve made an edit. These can also be supplied as an extra document or table if you’d prefer. These comments will need to be reviewed even if you request and use a clean copy of the edited manuscript.
- The quoted cost assumes that you will make any changes prompted by my queries yourself, but does include a free review of any sentence rewrites prompted by my suggestions, up to a maximum of fifty words.
- The returned edited manuscript will be accompanied by a short editorial report noting the issues I encountered the most often and anything I think you need to be aware of, my invoice and, if I’ve done a copyedit, a style sheet.
- The quoted cost includes one readthrough but I’m always happy to answer any questions you have on your completed edit. These are best compiled into a list for one email because your quoted cost allows for an extra hour for answering your queries but any protracted correspondence for lengthier explanations will incur further charges.
Ask for a sample edit, free of charge.
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Clued Up Editing 