I would give Debbie 6 stars if it was possible. She made this ordeal easy for me especially since it was my first book. She respectfully corrected without being condescending, which made it easier for me to work with her.

Letting someone read and edit one’s book can put authors in a place of vulnerability. The entire experience was well worth it because of her professionalism. I can’t recommend her highly enough.

Copyediting involves examining your book manuscript for errors of all kinds and can also improve the flow of language.

Copyediting is an earlier stage to proofreading. I will work on your manuscript and check for a broad range of problems, including errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation, the flow of language and issues of style. I will also carry out a degree of fact-checking.

As a writer myself, I understand the need to find a trustworthy, dependable editor, someone who will give your work the same level of care and attention that you have given it.

I work on a variety of content, including:

  • fiction (especially books set in France, mysteries, thrillers and historical fiction)
  • non-fiction (especially memoirs and autobiographies)
  • web content

🇫🇷 I specialise in books set in France due to my French degree from the University of Oxford and my experience living and working in France.

What you get

I’ll help you see the wood for the trees with my professional manuscript copyediting service. I will check for:

  • errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation
  • inconsistencies in the text
  • factual inaccuracies
  • consistency of tense, tone and language
  • use of capitalisation
  • transitions between sections, chapters and parts

I will also provide you with:

  • a bespoke style sheet, showing details of editorial decisions made and language styles used. This is useful to ensure consistency now and in the future, and is something you can use as a basis for a style guide. For fiction edits, the style sheet also includes detailed lists of characters, locations and a timeline of events.
  • a short editorial report indicating recurring issues that may have cropped up regarding the elements included in a copyedit. My clients love this report, as it helps them to improve the ‘technical’ aspects of their writing!
  • regular progress updates and unlimited email support during the project

🌳 For every 20,000 words I edit, I will donate to Just One Tree to plant a tree. So, if your book is 100,000 words, that’s five new trees in the world! Find out more about how I’m a sustainable editor.

Delivery of copyediting results

I will return your manuscript in the format in which it was provided (Microsoft Word or Google Docs), with full tracked changes. There will also be many comments throughout, explaining why certain changes have been suggested, and queries that have cropped up along the way.

I can also provide on request a ‘clean’ copy, with all changes accepted and comments removed.

Take a look at my portfolio of my favourite book projects.

What my clients say

Pricing for copyediting

My average hourly rate adheres to industry standards as advised by the Certified Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), of which I am a Professional Member. The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) has also confirmed that my rates are appropriate to my service level, reach and reputation.

As you can see, my prices are highly competitive and depend on elements such as the length and complexity of your book, and how many changes are needed. You can get a rough idea from the figures below, but every book is different. (I accept all major currencies and will use the official exchange rate on XE.com at the time of sending your quote.)

Please get in touch to discuss your needs.

Indicative prices for fiction copyediting

Number of wordsCost
50,000 words£900 (£0.018 per word)
70,000 words£1,220 (£0.017 per word)
90,000 words£1,520 (£0.016 per word)

Indicative prices for non-fiction copyediting

Number of wordsCost
30,000 words£620 (£0.020 per word)
50,000 words£990 (£0.0195 per word)
70,000 words£1,350 (£0.019 per word)
Non-fiction editing is usually more involved than fiction editing due to elements such as references, footnotes, tables, diagrams, complex ideas, technical details and more.

Save 10% off your next edit

I offer a referral scheme, by which you and a fellow author or business can enjoy 10% off your next edit! Simply refer a potential client to me, and if they hire me for a full edit or proofread, they will get 10% off their first edit. What's more, you will also get 10% off your next edit or proofread. Everyone's a winner!

Sample edit

I can provide a sample edit so that you can 'try before you buy'. If you are comparing my work with that of other editors (very sensible approach!), please send us the same sample so that you can accurately compare services.

Simply provide a sample of up to 2,500 words, and for £70, I'll provide a copyedit and a short editorial report containing advice that you can apply to your whole book.

If you then hire me for a full edit, I will deduct the cost of the sample edit from the total amount.

I can also provide a sample edit that shows the difference between line editing and copyediting for £90. I'll carry out both a line edit and a copyedit on the same section, so you can compare the two services.

Copyedit of your first 10,000 words

Editing can seem expensive due to the time, skill and experience required to do it properly. If you'd rather not commit to an edit of your complete manuscript, I can work on the first 10,000 words of your book.

Agents often request a sample of around this word count, so this is your chance to polish those first 10,000 words before querying.

You will also receive a bespoke style sheet and an editorial report, containing details that you can apply to your whole manuscript.

The cost of a copyedit of your first 10,000 words is £300.

A combined line edit and copyedit of your first 10,000 words costs £400.

Interested?

Contact me today to discuss your requirements.


Please read my contract of services for full details of what to expect regarding service, payment and contractual arrangements.