FAQs

The short answer is no. The long answer is that there are many levels of editing: Developmental editing, line editing, copyediting and proofreading. Developmental editing deals with big picture issues, such as character development and story arc. Although I don't offer developmental editing, I do provide manuscript evaluations.(www.proofreadingbyhayley.com/manuscript-evaluation) These are less invasive and much more cost-effective when working within a budget, offering guidance on what's working and where to improve. Line editing improves sentence structure, pacing and logical flow. Copyediting is more technical and improves clarity and consistency. Having worked on many books, I find it's rare to work on a manuscript where line and copyediting don't overlap. This is why I combined line and copyediting (www.proofreadingbyhayley.com/line-and-copyedting)into one service, so you get more bang for your buck. Proofreading is the final stage of the editing process and deals with ONLY definitive errors. This includes slips such as spelling mistakes, typos, punctuation errors, capitalisation confusion and inconsistent formatting. This is NOT the time to make any major changes to the manuscript. Proofreading (www.proofreadingbyhayley.com/proofreading)is the last time your manuscript will have expert eyes on it, and any changes could introduce errors back into the manuscript. The lines between the levels of editing blur for different editors, so be sure to check that you're happy a service meets your expectations before hiring an editor.

Self-editing is an important part of the editing process, but this is complementary to professional editing. As the writer, you become too familiar with the text to spot the errors. You see and read what you expect it to say, what's in your head, rather than what is typed on the page. You may have spent weeks, months or even years developing your manuscript, and you've likely read it countless times, tweaking and self-editing bits as you go. But some errors get overlooked and/or introduced the more you read and edit it yourself. Having a fresh pair of eyes look at your work and a professional's perspective could be the invaluable piece of insight you require when you want your writing at its best for your readers. Is it time you got outside feedback on your writing? Let's chat!(/contact)

Automated tools are good at helping you spot basic errors, but they can’t follow a plot, grasp subtext, or see gaps in character development. As a trained professional, I bring the human perspective to editing: understanding nuance, pacing, and the emotional heart of a story, so your manuscript isn't just grammatically sound, but engaging and true to your vision. That’s not to say they can’t help you self-edit to a degree, but they shouldn’t be relied upon, and issues regarding copyright and intellectual property need to be carefully considered before using such tools. If you want a human editor, get in touch!(/contact)

Lots of factors are taken into account when pricing a project, e.g. genre, word count, level of intervention and turnaround time. That's why all quotes are tailored to the individual author's manuscript. However, I know having a ballpark figure is really helpful for authors who are trying to budget for the essentials, which is why I show indicative prices on each service page so you aren't going into the process blind. I also offer many options to make editing more affordable and flexible, so it's accessible to as many authors as possible. Contact me (/contact)to find out your tailored quote based on your requirements.

Editing is a highly skilled job that requires time, skill and dedication to carry out. This means I need to quote appropriately for the length of time taken and the value I can add to your manuscript. That said, I appreciate editing can be an expense some authors struggle to justify. But a professionally edited manuscript is always better than one that has had no help whatsoever, which is why I offer ways to make editing more affordable. Milestone payments and installments: Paying by milestones or installments allows you to spread the cost of editing into smaller, multiple payments rather than one lump sum. This means you can source funds between each payment so the cost isn't felt so dramatically. Reduced services: If you feel there's a particular part you can focus on whilst I focus on others, reducing what you expect from me may be an alternative way to get professional feedback but at a reduced cost. For example, if you don't require me to check formatting discrepancies or you already have a style sheet so I don't need to create one, great! A job off my list is a cost off yours. 10,000-word mini edit: When your budget can't stretch to a full edit, gaining some editor insight on a smaller portion of your book that you can then apply to the rest of your manuscript is better than none at all. You can read more about this service here.(/copy-of-proofreading-1) If you have any concerns or queries about budgeting for your novel, don't be afraid to discuss them with me.(/contact) I'm sure we can find a solution.

I strive to provide as clean and clear a manuscript as humanly possible. But no editor can guarantee 100% error-free writing. If they ever do, run a mile. That's a massive red flag!

Yes! I work with authors worldwide and edit primarily in UK, US and Canadian English, using the appropriate dictionaries and style guides that align with the author's preferences. Typically, this is the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) and Merriam-Webster for US and New Hart's Rules and the Oxford Dictionary for UK, but this is variable. I'll work to any style guide you prefer, and if you've not already chosen one, we can decide on one together. Sound good to you? Let's chat!(/contact)

To provide a combined line and copyedit (www.proofreadingbyhayley.com/line-and-copyediting)or a proofread,(www.proofreadingbyhayley.com/proofreading) a complete manuscript needs to be submitted. Ideally, a full manuscript would also be submitted for a manuscript evaluation.(www.proofreadingbyhayley.com/manuscript-evaluation) However, I have helped authors struggling to bring their stories to a close by offering insights on what to focus on in their reports, allowing them to tie up the story with a renewed endpoint in mind. If I feel you need more than my services provide, I can put you in touch with editor colleagues who may be better able to assist you.