Why do I need my manuscript edited?

An editor provides a fresh set of eyes to go through your work with a fine-toothed comb and ensure each detail is polished, professional, and interpreted the way you intended your work to be from start to finish.

How do I know what kind of editing my manuscript needs?

If you’re unsure what level best serves please contact me at any time with a query and we can discuss where your manuscript is currently and where you want it to be. Each manuscript is different just as every author’s writing style and voice is unique. I want to help polish your work and encourage your individual development, not reinvent the wheel. I may ask to review your work to gauge how much work is involved and what level of editing I would suggest.

How much will it cost to edit my document?

Send through a query that includes:

• a sample of your work
• length of the manuscript (word count)
• intended audience (children, advanced adult readers, business etc.)
• genre, formality and/or any strong themes
• the deadline for completion
• and which service is required.

This will help to provide me with an idea of what your writing style is, who the manuscript is for and how much editing is required. With this information, I can give you a more accurate quote.

Additional charges may include: if it is expected to attend meetings, other expenses such as postage, travel, and in-depth feedback or discussion outside of the original agreed quote.

I’ve got my quote, how long is it valid?

Once we’ve had a chat and a quote for your manuscript has been provided this will last for 6 months. Once these 6 months are up you will need to renew the quote as well as provide details of any changes made to the manuscript since the initial quote. If substantial changes and/or additions have been made within these 3 months please let me know so that the quote can be amended to reflect this.

How long will edits take?

Every manuscript is different so it is difficult to provide set dates and times for individual editing projects. The amount and level of editing will differ between writers and where their manuscript’s draft is. However, if you have a specific deadline that requires edits to be completed within a certain timeframe please make sure to let me know as this will affect my work schedule and possibly impact the overall quote for your project.

How will you edit my manuscript?

Before reading the draft, we will discuss your specific needs and goals for the work and gauge what is required as well as what your expectations are. I will then read through your work and provide notes and amendments using ‘Track Changes’ and ‘Comments’ in Word Document which you can accept or reject upon receiving. Any photos, graphs, maps, etc. should also be sent through if you have these already as these will need to be checked before publication as well. For proofreading it is usually better to send through a copy of the manuscript in its final formatted state in a PDF file along with a Word document for me to make edits if possible.

If you or your publisher has a specific house style your manuscript needs to adhere to please provide these style details for me with the draft. Otherwise, all edits will follow Australian/UK style. This encompasses punctuation, spelling, and formatting guidelines: e.g. realise not realize, single quotes for dialogue, colour not color, theatre not theater. If you require US or a blend of formatting, please let me know.

What’s the difference between a Proofreader and an Editor?

Technically a proofreader, copyeditor and structural editor are all considered editors. However, the level of time and overall objective of each varies.

The goal of an editor is to ensure the text is ‘fit for purpose’. The goal of a proofreader is quality control. This means the focus and intent are different. An editor will approach a project with the focus being: What can I do to make this clearer and what change will improve the text? While a proofreader will focus on how to reduce errors and fix obvious issues.

Typically, the stages of publishing follow an editorial workflow of:

Writing > Structural Editing > Copyediting > Layout & Design > Proofreading > Indexing > PUBLICATION!

What if I don’t agree with your edits and/or suggestions?

One of the reasons I prefer to use Word’s ‘Track Changes’ is that it offers authors the option to keep or disregard edits I’ve made. All edits and suggestions made for your manuscript are from my professional experience and industry education, but at the end of the day, it is your book and your decision to take my advice on board. Keep in mind that Indie authors have greater artistic say in their work, some publishing houses will not give you the option to disagree with edits to the same extent.

More Information

For additional information on editorial standards, the three levels of editing, costs, and general editorial info check out:

Central Editing – The Cost of Editing and Proofreading

IPEd – The Institute of Professional Editors Limited

Have more questions?

I am always happy to answer questions you may have (at no charge). Shoot me an email to emilymorrisoneditorial@gmail.com