Overview of Services
Which service is best for your project?
Editing is best done in steps that correspond to where you are in the writing or publishing process. Each step has a distinct focus that enhances your readers’ experience.
The terminology for all the different types of editing can vary and be mystifying, so below I’ve briefly defined the four services I offer. I’ve worked with publishers, book packagers, organizations, small businesses, and individuals, and I’ll draw on this experience to help you determine the best fit for your project based on your goals, budget, and content.
Rates are customized to each project. My process gives an overview of how we’ll work together, my default resources and style, and the formats I work with.
> PROOFREADING
Mistakes can slip through even after rounds of editing—and they can ding your credibility and divert your readers’ attention. Skillful proofreading helps you safeguard against errors and ensure accuracy, quality, and consistency of both content and formatting so you can publish with confidence.
Authors often request proofreading when they mean “I want help with refining or polishing my writing.” If your goal is to improve the quality of your writing, apply a global style, or ensure overall consistency, see my basic copyediting service. Proofreading should occur after you’ve finalized the writing and done interior formatting to turn your manuscript into a book. A key focus of book proofreading is checking the layout and design elements that have been introduced.
These are the standard proofreading items I check for:
errors: typos, misspellings, duplicated or missing words or spaces
working URLs and media links
inconsistencies*
formatting/spacing/layout
*Especially for book-length content, global consistency issues should be addressed prior to proofreading. Numerous changes can be costly to make after a book is in its publish-ready format.
Depending on the type and format of your content, I offer two options:
Document proofreading —> short content / for individuals & small businesses
Document proofreading is intended for shorter, textual content (5K words or less) in MS Word with simple formatting, such as blog posts or job application documents; other word processing formats may be considered. This service includes the standard proofreading items above and can also be customized to include select basic copyediting components.
Traditional proofreading —> longer content & books / for publishers, organizations & authors
Traditional proofreading is for longer, designed content in publish-ready form, such as books, journals, magazines, or marketing materials. Typically, proofreading-ready files will be PDFs generated from a layout application such as InDesign. This service assumes a “cold” read of the publish-ready PDF only, but I can also do a comparison read of the publish-ready PDF against the copyedited manuscript.
In addition to the standard items above, I’ll check for:
pagination issues: TOC corresponds to rest of book; headings in hierarchical order
correct formatting of citations, footnotes, endnotes, and bibliography/references list
accuracy of tables, figures, and graphics, including captions, titles, and numbering
accuracy of internal cross-references and directionals (such as “see page XX”)
overall quality of design and layout: end-of-line breaks; hyphenation; orphans and widows; gappy or tight lines
What I’ll deliver: For document proofreading, unless the format is otherwise negotiated, you’ll receive MS Word files with changes tracked and queries or suggestions in comments. For traditional proofreading, you’ll receive marked-up PDFs with comments. Both include a brief summary memo. All proofreading is one round only.
> COPYEDITING
Once the overarching aspects of your content are in place—the message, structure, story, and organization—it’s time to refine the writing on a wording and sentence level. Copyediting adds clarity, conciseness, and a professional polish. I offer two levels: basic and comprehensive.
Basic copyediting —> elevate readability with consistent style and usage
Basic copyediting fine-tunes the mechanics of your writing on a wording level to eliminate errors, apply consistency in style and usage, and ensure proper grammar. This elevates readability and removes distractions, such as the same term spelled three different ways, inconsistent capitalization, or unintended word repetition. This level of edit comes before before layout and proofreading.
Basic copyediting addresses:
spelling, punctuation, capitalization, hyphenation, abbreviations, and terminology
conformance to your preferred style and standardization of element formatting
light fact-checking or spot-checking of verifiable information (proper/place names, URLs, and dates)
Comprehensive copyediting —> clarify, strengthen, and streamline the language
Comprehensive copyediting addresses the language on a sentence level to improve the quality and effectiveness of your writing. I’ll help you strengthen your connection to your audience through clear, concise writing that maintains your voice.
In addition to the items included in basic copyediting, comprehensive copyediting may address:
sentence length, construction, and transitions
clarity, logic, parallelism, redundancies, and conciseness
flow, tone, and perspective
more comprehensive fact-checking of verifiable information
What I’ll deliver: For both types of copyediting, you’ll receive MS Word files with changes tracked and suggestions or queries noted as comments. I’ll also create a customized style sheet to capture editorial choices for your project, or I can add to an existing style sheet you provide. Copyediting may include one or two rounds.
> SUBSTANTIVE EDITING
When you’ve been immersed in a piece of writing, a new perspective can help you move past roadblocks and lead to productive revisions. Substantive editing is a strategic, high-level review to gauge overall effectiveness of your strategy and message and identify areas to improve.
Substantive editing —> high-level review of structure, organization, and message
Substantive editing is a good fit if you seek big-picture feedback and guidance for shaping, trimming, expanding, or structuring your content as a whole before revising on a granular level. This service can also help you repurpose content for different audiences or formats. Please note that substantive editing is currently offered for nonfiction content only (trade, professional, and instructional) and does not include copyediting.
Substantive editing may address:
assessment of writing style, tone, and appropriateness for audience
content development, organization, and structure
review for biased language
What I’ll deliver: You’ll receive MS Word files with suggestions and queries, as well as a detailed report that addresses key areas of focus tailored to your needs and goals.
> INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT QA & TESTING
Are you a small business, entrepreneur, or publisher who’s planning to launch an online course? I offer a service that combines user testing, quality assurance, and editing or proofreading so you can deliver a seamless user experience with polished content.
Instructional content QA & testing —> ensure a seamless user experience & polished text
Instructional content QA & testing bundles an assessment of your course’s organization, logic, and functionality with a copyedit and/or proofread to address the content and target the writing on a deeper level than a typical beta test. After we identify your key focus areas, this customizable service may be done in one or two review passes depending on the production stage, complexity, and length of the material. This service does not include course design or subject matter expertise. Supplemental materials such as handouts, workbooks, or promotional materials can be included for cross-checking and consistency purposes.
Instructional content QA & testing may address:
functionality of URLs, media, forms, and interactive elements
ease of navigation and instructions
accessibility and bias considerations
question-and-answer test banks (answers map to chosen format and fit the question)
consistency of style, terminology, and formatting
What I’ll deliver: We’ll work together to determine the best method for feedback depending on the content’s platform or format. I’ll also include a report that summarizes findings, global issues, and queries, by category and priority.
Rates
Each project is unique, so rates are customized based on the service, length and complexity of the content, and scope of work. Rates may be hourly or a per-word or per-project basis.
Please note that I am only able to offer a rate or fee estimate after I assess your content for the level of work that is necessary to achieve your goals.
Short documents starting at 1,000 words are welcome for proofreading and editing; minimum fees will apply.
Complimentary sample edits of 500–800 words (approximately 2–4 manuscript pages of 250 words/page) may be provided for longer content. Sample edits of 1,500 words or more are available for a fee, which can be credited toward the project cost if you decide to move forward.
“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