FAQs

EDITING

 

What’s the difference between copy-editing and proofreading? Which do I need?

In the publishing world, a copy-edit is done on text prior to it being typeset. This type of edit may involve all of the different tasks listed on my services page. The text would then be typeset and sent to a proofreader, who would do another read through to catch any remaining errors.

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Outside of publishing, most people tend to use the term proofreading as a catch-all for most of the things I check as part of a traditional copy-edit. For self-publishing authors, a copy-edit is the standard editing service.

 

Do you only work on books?

No, I’m happy to edit most forms of text. I specialise in fiction – most often working on crime, thrillers, romance, YA and fantasy – but have worked on many types of non-fiction, marketing materials, website copy, etc. No job is too small. 

 

Will you catch every error?

No editor will catch every mistake – it just isn't possible. The industry standard is 80–90% (see here), though a lot depends on the level of mark-up the text requires in the first place. This is why professional publishers have each book read multiple times by different editors (and different types of editors) before publication (and why most of you will still have spotted typos in published books!) But every round of edits will help improve your writing – and help you learn what to look out for in future.

 

 

BOOK DESIGN

 

Which page size should I choose?

For most fiction and prose non-fiction (i.e. not heavily designed art books), it’s best to stick to one of a couple of industry standard sizes (or their closest equivalent depending on what self-publishing platform you choose to use) as follows:

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• B format (around 129 x 198 mm) – good for mass-market fiction

• Demy format (around 135 x 214 mm) – good for non-fiction or longer fiction as it allows for more lines per page

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Choosing a bigger size doesn't automatically mean more words per page – the design still needs to be tailored with readability in mind, so everything else (font size, etc.) will have to increase too.

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Why is a professional typeset worth it?

As with all forms of design, there are subtle rules that should be adhered to in book layout to ensure that text looks its best and readability is maximised. These relate to things like white space, font choice, hyphenation, number of words per line, the space between lines and the avoidance of widows and orphans (single lines of paragraphs that appear at the top/bottom of pages) – things that may not be immediately obvious but can make a big difference to how professional the end result looks. 

 

 

SELF-PUBLISHING

 

Can you help with the whole self-publishing process, from editing to getting the book on sale?

Yes, I’m happy to help with as much or as little of the process as you need. Everything beyond editing and book design is covered by my know-how service.

 

What are my options if I want to self-publish?

The easiest place to self-publish is with Amazon, where you can set your book up as an ebook and/or a print book for free. Amazon will then take a royalty from each sale made. The print book is produced via print on demand, so copies are only printed when sales are processed.

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Similarly, it is possible to publish your ebook for free via Kobo and Apple.

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Another self-publishing platform some of my clients have used is IngramSpark. It does have a set-up fee – and charges for file revisions – but can allow you to get into traditional bookshops and other ebook retailers.

 

If I want you to handle the whole process, how does payment for this work?

Usually we would split this into sections, as follows:

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• deposit for edit based on estimate

• balance for edit

• deposit for typesetting/cover work (may be combined with balance for edit if you want to proceed immediately)

• balance of typesetting/cover work/any upload work

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I’m on a limited budget. What’s the best service to focus on?

A professional edit is the best way to avoid your book standing out for all the wrong reasons. There are tools out there that can assist with text and cover design, and though it can be difficult to achieve a professional finish, readers tend to be more forgiving of these issues than errors in the text. 

 

 

PAYMENT

 

How can I pay?

All quotes are in GBP and I accept payment via bank transfer or cheque. Deposit payments must be paid before work begins; all other invoices must be paid within 14 days of invoice date. I reserve the right to exercise my statutory entitlement to interest and compensation in the event of late payment under the Late Payment of Commercial Debt (Interest) Act (1988).