Proofreading for Authors

The final stage in your manuscript’s journey.

Eliminate mistakes and make your story shine with a proofread.

What is proofreading?

Proofreading is more than just a quick readthrough of the text to find typos; it’s a slow, careful readthrough that ensures consistency in layout, capitalisation, grammar, and punctuation, making your novel error free and easy to read.

How does it work?

First, tell me what you need. Do you need a basic proofread that looks only at the nuts and bolts of language, or do you need a proof-edit to look deeper into your work?

I’ll ask you if you have a style guide for me to work with. If you do, fantastic! If you don’t, I’ll make one and return it to you. This will be invaluable to you throughout the rest of your publishing journey!

Next, send me around 2,000 words of your novel (30,000+ words). I’ll proofread and return these free of charge. This is a chance for you to see if my services are right for you.

If you’re happy, we’ll decide on a deadline and rate for the project, and I’ll get to work.

How much does it cost?

The cost will depend on the length of your novel and the level of editing required and can be worked out either by an hourly rate or by a per word rate (rounded to the nearest 100 words).

I charge £0.0085 per word.

My hourly rates are based on the CIEP’s Minimum Suggested Rates. On booking, a 20% non-refundable deposit is required.

Payment plans are available on request.

If you’re unsure where you are in the editorial process, check out my resources.

Testimonials

Get in touch!

Remember to include important information such as word count, deadline, and genre.

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FAQs

  • Many factors impact this; as such I am unable to give a definitive answer here.

    No matter the project, we will agree on a deadline before any work begins and I am always happy to update you on my progress.

  • No. Proofreaders are your last line of defence; the guard who stop pesky typos and unwieldy commas from entering the published world.

    Copyeditors work to improve the craft of your prose.

    When working with self-publishing authors, I often work as a proof-editor, a hybrid of copyediting and proofreading. This allows me to help you improve elements of your manuscript that would normally be outside of a proofreader’s remit, reducing the overall cost of editing.

    If you’re unsure where you are in the editorial process, check out ,y resources.

  • I do, though my primary focus is on science-fiction and fantasy stories.

    If after the sample edit we find we aren’t a good fit for each other, I am more than happy to refer you to another great editor who will fit your genre or style better.

  • No, I do not use AI tools to edit or read manuscripts. All editing and reading is done solely by me.

  • Sometimes I will be, but your best bet is to get in touch a few weeks before you need my services. This will give us time to discuss your manuscript and book a slot so you can meet your deadline.

Qualifications

Essential Grammar (The Publishing Training Centre), January 2023: Self-assessed.

Essential Proofreading (The Publishing Training Centre), March 2023: Pass.

Copyediting 1 (Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders), February 2024: Pass.