Editing Services



If you are a student, an entrepreneur, an author, or anyone with a written document, you can benefit from using an editor to look over your work. A second set of eyes and an objective reader can mean the difference between rejection or acceptance of a submission, a B and an A on a paper, breaking even or making a profit in a new business.

An editor improves your product's readability. Contracting the services of an independent editor for an important project or hiring a full-time writing specialist to oversee documentation and copy-writing has become the ideal solution to ensure reliable, consistent, and accurate communication. A professional product reflects well upon your company, and upon you.

Working together, we can develop a strong, clear presentation of your ideas and/or your services. As an editor, I can not only look at your words, I can help you further refine your project or lecture to ensure clarity, flow of ideas, and professional presentation.

As an editor, I offer various degrees of:


Who Can Benefit?

Writers often turn to other writers or editors for feedback on a project, because a second set of eyes provides an honest and independent response to the work. Anyone and everyone who uses the written word to communicate can benefit from an editor:

Any project, big or small, can be improved by the editing process to tighten it up, smooth it out, and make it as strong as possible:

Please note: Editing work intended for submission for publication will not ensure its acceptance by a publisher, but it will improve your chances by offering a clean and professional manuscript, allowing the publisher to focus on the product instead of its presentation. Furthermore, a publisher may have an in-house copyeditor or developmental editor do an additional edit on your work to make it suitable for publication in their style.


Services Offered

Before I undertake a project, a preliminary evaluation of the work must be made. This is done by reading through all or a sample of the material to ascertain what services are required, and to estimate how much time it will take to complete the project. After evaluating what work needs to be done, I will submit a short proposal outlining the recommended services, the fee and/or the rates, and a suggested deadline. After negotiation, I will draw up a contract outlining the agreement to be signed by both parties before work begins.

The services I provide are as follows:

COPYEDITING: A copyedit identifies and corrects spelling, punctuation, word use, and grammatical errors only.

BASIC EDITING: A basic edit goes beyond the technical aspect of copyediting to address such things as style, clarity, tone, flow, consistency, redundancy, repetition, structure, and audience. A basic edit also includes the copyediting service.

DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING: A developmental edit is appropriate for projects requiring reorganization and/or rewriting by the author. This level of service includes significant communication between the editor and writer to develop the project into a strong product appropriate for the intended audience. Also known as a substantive edit, developmental editing also includes the copyediting service, but only after the manuscript has attained clarity and unity of organization.

PROOFREADING: Proofreading is done by examining the print proofs of the material before it is sent to press to ensure that the final product accurately represents the edited manuscript. Proofreading identifies any errors that have occurred in the typesetting or layout process. It is a particularly valuable service for those who self-publish their work. Proofreading does not include copyediting, basic, or substantive editing.


Fact checking is not included in any of these services. I am willing to do a fact check edit independent of these services, or as a complement to them. Fact checking and other such research is billed separately at a rate determined by the type of project and the amount of research necessary. Please inquire for more details.

Rewriting services are also available, but fees and further details are dependant on the project. Please inquire for details.

Ghostwriting services are also available. Ghostwriting can be the answer for a client who has an idea or information, but wants or needs someone else to create the product. Fees and further details concerning the development and resulting final manuscript are dependent upon the project. Please inquire for details.


Rates

Rates and levels are negotiated on a project-by-project basis. As standard practice, one-third of the project's fee is to be paid up front, one-third at a specified date halfway through the work period, and the final third upon completion of the project.

The fee for your project will be calculated in one of two ways, or by a combination of the two if necessary:

Rates are dependent on the services applied to the project in question, the size or length of the manuscript, the degree of editing required, and the deadline. Bearing in mind that every project is calculated on a case-by case basis, here is a rough guideline to the rates and fees associated with various projects:

Rush jobs are charged extra. Double the rate is customary, although depending on the deadline this may be negotiated.

Revisions: When negotiating a contract, a specified number of revisions will be included at an agreed rate, dependent upon the size of the work and the level of editing required. The client may ask for further revisions, but each revision will be charged at an hourly rate appropriate to the project and the deadline. Please note that due to its ongoing evolving nature, developmental editing rarely has a specific number of revisions defined in the contract.

Expenses: Should a project require specific supplies, services such as copying, research, or travel, associated costs will be billed to the client unless other arrangements are made.

Please note: If a payment is missed, work will be suspended on the project until such time as payment is rendered. Overdue payment may also be subject to a late fee.


Contracts

In general, the contract I offer will specify the following:


Editing Experience

In the past I have:

Over the years I have received numerous commendations and compliments for my reliability, responsibility, and flexibility. My many years of experience in dealing with both writers and fellow editors have outlined for me certain key goals: to provide excellent service and communication, and to offer constructive value to each and every project I undertake.

If you have a query or wish to contract my services as an editor, please contact me.

I look forward to working with you.

Where to next?

Writing Services page

Editing Services page

Samples page

Curriculum Vitae page

Writing Bio page.



This material (c) 2006-08, A. Murphy