Overview of Services
I currently offer four editorial services: proofreading, copyediting, developmental editing, and instructional content user testing.
There’s lots of editing and they don’t always mean the same thing to everyone, so the descriptions that follow are how I define each category. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Some services can be customized to meet your needs.
With each service, you’ll get also attentive, responsive project management and clear communication so you’ll know what’s happening each step of the way.
The Chicago Manual of Style v.17 and Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary are my default resources, and I’m familiar with other style guides, too.
> Proofreading
Proofreading is the last quality check of your text and formatting before you publish. I offer two flavors of I’ll help you cross the finish line with content that is clean and free of typographical errors that might distract or confuse readers.
Who it’s for: Your content is final but needs keen eyes and a fresh perspective to catch any errors that were missed or introduced during revision or design stages.
I have a robust set of proofreading elements that I’ve developed from years of experience, and I create customized checklists for bigger or ongoing projects. My standard checklist covers:
spacing and formatting issues
typos and misspellings; duplicated, repetitive, or missing words
proper navigation of URLs and media links
overall consistency
For book, magazine, and journal pages in their final design or other formatted material, I will check:
pagination and TOC
end-of-line hyphenation and line breaks
internal cross references
figure and table numbering
running heads and footers
Style guides are welcome to verify global preferences and help ensure consistency. If I encounter bigger issues that may warrant your attention, I’ll flag them for you.
What I’ll deliver: You’ll receive MS Word files with changes tracked and comments or a marked-up PDF depending on the format you provide—I am equally comfortable with either—plus a memo summarizing global queries, issues, and style choices.
> Copyediting
I offer two levels of copyediting: basic and comprehensive. Think of these services as a zoom lens that focuses on the language. Basic copyediting ensures that the mechanical details are accurate and a consistent style is applied. Comprehensive copyediting also addresses your content on a structural and stylistic level to enhance readability. I’ll take care to preserve your voice while making your writing leaner and stronger, and can customize the copyedit to fit your goals and budget.
Who it’s for: Your draft’s framework and content is in place, and you’re ready to polish the writing on a wording and sentence level.
Basic copyediting covers:
grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, abbreviations, and terminology
standardization of style and formatting
light or spot fact-checking of verifiable information (proper/place names, URLs, and dates)
Comprehensive copyediting covers items listed for basic, plus:
sentence length and transitions
clarity, logic, and conciseness
flow, tone, and perspective
What I’ll deliver: You’ll receive MS Word files with changes tracked and reader-centric suggestions or queries noted as comments. I’ll also create a customized style sheet that captures editorial choices for your reference.
> Developmental Editing
My developmental editing service is a higher-level review of your draft from both a reader’s and an editor’s perspective. Think of a panoramic lens; this is a big-picture review of the content as a whole. Does the structure work? Would examples help? Does the organization make sense?
Who it’s for: You’re seeking feedback and guidance for shaping, trimming, expanding, or structuring your existing draft or content before you revise on a more granular level.
It may cover:
writing style and tone
content development
organization and framework
repurposing content for different audiences or formats
review for biased language
What I’ll deliver: You’ll receive MS Word files with some changes tracked but primarily suggestions and queries in comments that are targeted at specific areas. You’ll also get a detailed report that addresses key areas.
> Instructional Content User Testing
I offer user testing to evaluate the effectiveness of instructional content from an editorial perspective for a seamless user experience. I’ll assess the content’s structure, logic, functionality, and ease of navigation. This service includes either a basic copyedit (depending on subject matter) or proofread of the text so it’s clean and consistent.
Who it’s for: You have a new or revised version of instructional or educational content (online courses/modules, instruction manuals, guides, textbooks, recipes) and seek feedback on the user experience and an editorial review of the text. Your material may be in a course platform, a designed PDF, or a word processing document. You are looking to polish the written content and put the functionality to the test, not design or develop the content or for subject matter expertise.
Specific items that I’ll check may include:
internal links, cross references, and interactive functions
media and URLs
question-and-answer banks (answers map to chosen format and fit the question)
What I’ll deliver: You’ll receive a detailed report that summarizes findings, global issues, and queries, plus a tracked and/or commented file depending on the format your instructional content is in.
Process and Rates
Process at a Glance
After you contact me with initial information and I answer any quick, general questions, here’s a snapshot of the process:
If you didn’t already, you’ll provide a representative sample of your content (500–1,500 words, depending on its length).
We’ll have a complimentary 15- to 30-minute call to discuss your goals and expectations. I’ll ask specific questions based on the sample and information you share.
For most editing projects, I’ll follow up with a sample edit for your review along with a rate/fee and estimate. The sample edit will help us confirm that our expectations align, and that you like my approach. If not, there’s no obligation.
If you want to proceed, we’ll finalize scheduling and payment details, you’ll review and sign my letter of agreement that outlines the scope of work and terms of service, and we’ll get started!
Rates and Fees
Each project is unique, so rates will depend on the type of service and content, scope of work, and quality of the source material.
Fees may be hourly or charged on a word count or per-project basis depending on length and complexity.
Short documents are welcome; minimum fees will apply depending on the type of service and content.
“Christa proofreads almost every article in the magazine before it is published. Working with Christa has saved me so much time, and her sharp eyes have prevented many errors from making it to print. I would hate to have to muddle through the production process without her.”
— Stacey Lutkosky, Managing Editor, American Scientist magazine