How May I Serve You?
Trust me with your words and I will polish your work until it shines.
Services
Substantive Editing
You have a rough draft to refine. I consider the overall intent, style, and organization to help you produce a functional, professional product. This includes rewriting or reorganizing text within an MS Word document. This is a paragraph and sentence-level check to refine voice, style, consistency, and syntax. You receive an editor's note and your document with queries, comments, and edits to review and implement.
Copy Editing
You have a complete manuscript draft that needs polishing. I review the MS Word document to fix inconsistencies, repetition, and unintended errors. I suggest changes within the document to words, phrases, jargon, and sentence structure. I ensure adherence to applicable style guides. You receive a brief editor's note and your document with queries, comments, and edits to review and implement. This may be a light, standard, or heavy review of the draft.
Proofreading
Your final pages are ready to print and publish, but you need fresh eyes to review them one last time. I check the PDF page proofs for typographical errors, punctuation errors, misspellings, and formatting issues that may have slipped by in the editing process. You receive a marked-up PDF with corrections to be implemented by author or publisher. I scrutinize with a fine-toothed comb to catch it all.
- Contact me for more information about other services such as typing and collaborative writing/editing
Want to better understand the differences between levels of editing and proofreading?
Read this helpful article:
https://www.janefriedman.com/the-differences-between-line-editing-copy-editing-and-proofreading/
Before you hire and editor, read this article:
https://www.janefriedman.com/how-to-survive-editing/
Clients
Authors and Publishers
Master your manuscript; reach your readers with your story succinctly expressed. I can proofread your page proofs or copyedit your prose, ghostwrite your memoir or type your manuscript into word processing software.
English Language Learners
Clearly communicate your content in English in your academic, professional, personal, or application writing. I can work with you as you write your material.
Business professionals
Communicate to your clients, make yourself known, and grow your business with winning words. For example, I can word bios for your website and edit newsletters for your clients.
Students
Set yourself apart from the rest with superior application essays and cover letters. Turn in top-notch research proposals and articles. I can proofread your materials, saving you from needless errors.
Individuals
Present yourself precisely on your résumé or application material, your blog or your memoir. I can ghostwrite your story or proofread your blog.
Editing Process
I proofread and edit documents using the track changes function in Microsoft Word or comments in Adobe Reader, adding comments and suggestions. Once the editing or proofing is finished, I return your file with all changes and comments showing. It is the author or publisher’s job to approve and implement the edits. (If it is an MS Word document, I will also return a copy of your file with all amendments accepted and only comments showing so that you can more easily review the changes.) At that point in the process my work is through, and you may review your document and accept or reject changes as you wish. I am available to discuss any follow-up questions as you review. If a new editorial pass is needed on the project after my contract is completed, then a new contract may be discussed.
I primarily refer to The Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary as well as other references. Please let me know of your preferences or if you have a specific style guide for your document before I begin. Please indicate the file type of the document I will be working on. We will both sign a letter of agreement before I begin the work. I will return your file with a summary of my overall work and style choices for your particular proje(