“To write is human - to edit is divine.” Stephen King
COPYEDITING SERVICES
You’ve put the last full stop in, sat back and taken a deep breath, but you’re not quite sure whether what you’ve written hits your target reader and suits your purpose. So, why not let me copyedit it for you?
What is copyediting?
If you’re not sure whether your writing is suitable for
your target reader and whether it suits your specific purpose,
it means that my copyediting services are just what you need because I am totally focused on:
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who is reading your work?
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why are they reading it?
I copyedit with this in mind. By putting myself in your reader’s shoes, I am committed to making sure that:
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your reader is totally engaged with your work.
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the purpose of your work is fully realised.
Your intended reader and the purpose for your writing affects the content, structure, style, format and tone that is needed. It affects how punctuation is used, what type of language should be chosen and how long the text should be.
I offer three copyediting options depending on the level of editing that you think your work needs.
Take a look at each option to help you decide which is suitable for your work.
“Editing is like watching the seed of your story grow into a beautiful flower.”
Dawn Ross
Option One – TECHNICAL COPYEDITING
This option includes proofreading, and I also check that:
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the punctuation and grammar is appropriate for the meaning to be easily understood by your target reader.
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the TECHNICAL aspects of the writing are accurate.
In non-fiction, this will include aspects such as citations, checking that captions match the image, cross–referencing, missing references, accuracy and consistency in footers.
In fiction, this will include aspects such as changes in tense, the consistent use of point of view narrative, consistency in the way that speech has been used, inappropriate changes from first to third person.
Option Two – STRUCTURAL COPYEDITING
This option includes proofreading, Option One - TECHNICAL COPYEDITING, and I also:
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make changes to the structure of your writing to ensure that the meaning is clear and logical for your reader.
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rephrase parts of your writing to ensure that the author’s voice consistently suits the reader and the purpose of your writing.
In non-fiction, this will include changes such as rephrasing the language and altering sentence structures and length because rephrasing would support the reader and the purpose of the text more effectively.
In fiction, this will include focusing on characterisation to ensure that they are realistic, believable and consistent in their behaviours to make them convincing to the reader, and ensuring that the style and content is appropriate for the target audience.
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check for consistencies in names, figures, dates, abbreviations and pronouns.
Option Three – SUBSTANTIVE COPYEDITING
This option includes proofreading, Option One - TECHNICAL COPYEDITING, and Option Two – STRUCTURAL COPYEDITING.
This option goes much deeper into the text and involves the reconstruction and rewriting of parts of your work to ensure that your reader will be totally engaged and that the purpose of your work is fully realised. It will include focusing on:
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the flow and tone of your writing (e.g. does the writing flow naturally and logically?).
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the structure of sentences and paragraphs.
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the organisation of the entire text.
What next?
“The first draft is black and white. Editing gives the story colour.”
Emma Hill
Whichever copyediting option you choose, any changes that I suggest during copyediting can be accepted, or ignored if you prefer to keep the original version.
If you’re not sure which copyediting option your writing would benefit from, by providing me with the text, or a sample of your text, I can advise you which option may be more suitable.
Let me help you bring colour to your document by copyediting for you.
