Editorial Services

33 South Textworks provides copyediting and proofreading services from Helensburgh, Scotland.

I’ve got a BOOK    I’ve got a BUSINESS    

David Crystal, honorary president of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP –  the standards body for UK editorial professionals), says:

“… the aim of an editor is simply stated: to let nothing interfere with the goal of achieving total communicative rapport between writer and reader.”

How it’s done

Copyediting is done on Word documents, using the Track Changes function. This method will let you see exactly what I adjusted. Final acceptance of the changes, as always, is entirely up to you. (If you’re unfamiliar with Track Changes, check out my Blog post!)

If you have text in another format, please GET IN TOUCH to discuss.

An example of the display produced using Track Changes

Copyediting

Copyediting is an in-depth review of the text; line by line, sentence by sentence. I will mechanically read your copy, searching for and correcting: grammar, logic, style, spelling, consistency, and tense. A copyedit will improve the flow, improve the readability, and remove the inconsistent or ambiguous.

The primary goal is to produce a correct, concise, seamless, question-free read that flows, engages and satisfies the intended audience.

For example, as well as correcting spelling and grammar:

• I will let you know about any plot holes or sentences that are unclear in meaning (suggesting alternate wording where possible).
• I’ll check facts and highlight any possible legal issues. I might suggest moving sections of text around to improve the flow.
• I will ask for explanations on anything I find ambiguous. I’ll tell you if your character has suddenly changed hair colour, or if you’ve skipped a day in your timeline.

For businesses, I can help translate your technical text into something suitable for those without your extensive knowledge. See my BUSINESS page for specifics.

I can guarantee that at the end of the process, you will recognise your work and your style. I will not change your work or remove your ‘voice’.

You have my upmost respect. You did the hard work, chipping out the stone to form the sculpture. Let me help you with the sanding and polishing.

A copyedit is a collaborative process, where we are both responsible to our ultimate boss – the reader.

What will you receive after the edit?

I return two copies of the work: a Clean copy that shows only comments, and a Markup copy which will show every change made to the original.  You can accept or reject these changes, as you like. 

I also build you a Style Sheet whilst editing, if you don’t already have one, and send it to you when returning your manuscript.

Manuscript Critique

I’ll read your book and produce a report for you, noting:

• ambiguities,
• timeline issues,
• dialogue dramas,
• anything that needs expanding,
• characterisation problems,
• anything you specifically ask me to look at, or
• anything that makes me think ‘that’s just not right’.

Critiques are charged a flat £375, and turnaround time will depend on wordcount. 

Critiques can requested for files in any readable format – as long as I can read it, I can report on it.

Proofreading

A proofread is the final step before publishing, a last chance to make any changes before you pull the ‘publish’ lever!

Proofreading usually occurs AFTER typesetting/formatting. It’s a final chance to check everything is where it’s supposed to be, that the formatting works properly.

I do a final run through before you submit your text for publication and check for consistency in spelling, formatting, page numbers, capitalisations, chapter titles, any citations or quotes, the references or index/bibliography (among the long list of other things) and make sure your work is as perfect as it can be.

Note: the proofread does not edit the text itself, but check for errors or inconsistencies ONLY.

If your work has been edited already and you’ve had some beta reading done, a proofread should work for you.

What will you receive after the proofread?

Like in a copyedit, I’ll return two separate copies of your work: a Clean copy that shows only comments, and a Markup copy which will show every change made to the original.  You can accept or reject these changes, as per your preference.

I will also build you a Style Sheet whilst proofreading, if you don’t already have one, and send it to you when returning your manuscript.

How can I help YOU?

I’ve got a BOOK    I’ve got a BUSINESS    

Not sure what service you need? This document from the CIEP might shed some light for you.

 GET IN TOUCH