Authors often ask me what type of editorial services I offer. “What kind of editing do you do? My response: “Whatever I feel your manuscript needs.”
Sometimes an author will come to me for proofing. “All I want is for you to proof my manuscript.” So what is proofing? In my world, it is whatever the manuscript needs.
Whether an author hires me to proof his work (check for errors) or do complete line and content editing, he’s going to get pretty much the same thing—whatever I determine this particular manuscript needs.
First, I provide a free sample edit/proofing and estimate. So the author understands from the start the type of problems I see going on in his or her manuscript and how I plan to approach them. While some manuscripts are pretty clean—they don’t require a lot of editing, others need a lot of help in many areas. The author may not understand how to properly use the apostrophe and the em dash. She might have a habit of writing run-on sentences or use clichés. Her story might need a facelift to make it more interesting and I might have some ideas for her. If so, I generously lay them out. Some authors repeat words, are inconsistent in presenting facts and information, don’t have a knack for fleshing out their characters, etc. I try to help in these situations.
I’ve worked with authors who paid me to proof their manuscripts, even though I provided strong editorial feedback. One, in particular, didn’t believe he needed an editor—just a proofreader. So I hired on as a proofreader and edited his manuscript. By the way, it was in dire need of editing. Not ready for proofing. The thing is, I don’t care what you call it—proofing, editing, critiquing, altering, revising, correcting… If you bring it to me, your manuscript will get what I think it needs and I believe that’s how most editors work. Who would hire on to proof a manuscript and neglect to point out editorial errors?
Do you need an editor or a proofreader? If you’ve written a book and you’ve already done hours and hours of self-editing, it’s time to turn it over to a book editor. Before you hire an editor, you might ask some of your more astute friends and family members to read your manuscript and provide honest feedback. You’ll learn a lot through this process. Based on this feedback, do another several rounds of self-editing. Then contact one or more editors and ask for a sample edit and estimate.
What’s it going to cost you? Anywhere from $800 to $3,000 or more depending on the size of your manuscript and the shape it’s in. Contact me for a free sample edit and estimate: PLFry620@yahoo.com