FAQs
What order should the editing process follow?
Once you've finished self-editing, ideally, you should start with beta readers and progress through developmental editing to more beta readers, line editing, copy editing, and lastly, proofreading. As a final check before you publish, consider sending out ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) for input about anything that might have been missed. Allow time for all of this!
What are beta readers?
Beta readers go through your manuscript when you've finished self-editing, before the formal editing process. Their input is also helpful after changes have been made during a developmental edit.
Beta readers are people with an understanding of your genre who you can trust to give honest and knowledgeable feedback within the required timeframe.
Family and friends usually don't qualify because they may lack critiquing expertise (what to look for), may have little experience of your genre, or may find it hard to be brutally honest when they spot problems.
Finding experienced beta readers: You can message us here for help with where to look.
What is developmental editing (also called content editing and substantive editing)?
Different editors have different names for this level of editing, but all refer to the same thing. It looks at the big picture—the book in its entirety. Things like structure, suitability for the genre, story arcs, timeline, plot and subplot, any plot holes, your characters (are they dynamic and believable, is your character development appropriate?), themes, chapter order, chapter breaks, etc.
The editor won't make any changes to the wording and usually provides a detailed report or margin notes. Some developmental editors may walk you through any changes.
A developmental edit helps you make sure your story has great bone structure and is ready for the next stage of editing.
What is line editing? Copy editing? Proofreading?
You'll find details about line editing, copy editing, and proofreading on the Services page.
Do I really need proofreading done?
The line editing process doesn't include double-checking for spelling and typos, or consistent use of capitals and hyphens, and it doesn't cover punctuation. A line editor may correct issues that they notice, but it's not their focus. To be certain your manuscript is as error-free as humanly possible, don't skimp on the proofreading.
Do you offer academic editing?
We don't offer academic editing, but we can put you in touch with great editors who do.
I'm on a tight budget! What is the best use of my money?
Do the best self-editing you can manage. Send us a message here if you'd like some resources for doing that. The Free Stuff page has information about YouTube channels (10 Great YouTube Channels For Authors) that include self-editing information.
Then, arrange some free, experienced beta readers to critique your manuscript (not family or friends!—see the FAQ about choosing beta readers). Let us know here if you need help finding beta readers.
If you can manage a "light" edit and proofreading (talk to us about rates), these tend to be non-negotiable for a professionally finished book. You have two further options there. Delay publishing and save up until you can afford them, or do just some of it before you publish, knowing you may get some bad reviews. You can re-publish at a later stage when you can afford the final editing.
Send out ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) to trusted readers before you publish, and ask them to let you know about any mistakes they find. You can even run a competition to encourage feedback!
Will you do a free sample edit?
Absolutely!!! Before you decide whether or not to hire us, we'll gladly edit a 500- to 1,000-word sample of your work for free and without any obligation to you. The length depends on the type of book you're writing, as well as how long it is. It'll give you a good idea of what we can do for your manuscript, and we'll have a better sense of the level of editing needed. You can then make an informed decision about whether what we do and the way we do it is what you're looking for, and if you think we could work well together. You can ask for a sample edit here.
If you get sample edits from several editors, for the most accurate comparison, make sure they all edit the same text!
What platform do you use for editing?
We usually edit in Google Docs and sometimes in Microsoft Word, using the tracking functions. We mostly proofread in Word. If it's your first time using Google Docs, we'll talk you through it at no extra charge! If you feel very strongly about using Word for your editing, however, we'll certainly try to accommodate you. Have a look below to see why we switched over to Google Docs.
Why Google Docs?
The Google Docs user interface is very clean and simple to interpret. Word tends to become cluttered if there are lots of suggestions. Google Docs is also great for collaboration if we need you to work inside the manuscript with us. Manuscripts can be converted seamlessly from Word at the start of editing, and back to Word or any other platform of your choice once editing is complete. This won't affect any formatting, and any suggestions, notes, or comments will be accurately converted as well.
What style guides do you use?
In American English, the industry standards for fiction, non-fiction self-help, and memoir are the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
For British English, we use New Hart's Rules and the Oxford Dictionary, which are also the industry standards.
How long does editing take?
Duration depends a great deal on the amount of work your manuscript needs, its length, the time you take to go through each stage of the edits, and, of course, by when you wish to have it completed. Contact us, and together, we'll work out a timeline depending on your needs. Bear in mind that we are sometimes booked up a few months in advance.
What about communication?
We pride ourselves on our excellent communication and can keep in touch with you by email, Facebook Messenger, Zoom, Teams, or all of them! While we're working on your manuscript, we'll send you updates every few days so you know we haven't forgotten you and to give you a good idea of how things are progressing. You're always welcome to contact your editor at any stage.
What do you charge?
We try to accommodate you and the level of editing you need, so after the free sample edit, we'll discuss cost with you. You could contact us for a ballpark amount, but those are not always very accurate. Rest assured that we'll work with you when it comes to price.
How does payment work?
We usually ask for a 10% non-refundable deposit to book your place in the queue. After that, we generally charge 40% upfront, with the final 50% due on completion of the work. You can pay using PayPal, Wise, or Yoco, or contact us to discuss other options.
I have a different question!
We're happy to answer it, and you can get hold of us here. All your questions are 100% obligation-free.