After your manuscript is structurally sound, it is ready for copyediting. The term “copyediting” can refer both to heavier-grade editing that addresses significant issues, including consistency of style and tone, logic, and organization, as well as sentence-level corrections: spelling, grammar, punctuation, formatting, consistency of tenses, and ensuring the manuscript follows the appropriate style guide for that book. Most books written for the general public, as opposed to academic or books for medical professionals, are edited based on the Chicago Manual of Style.
My copyediting fuses both heavier-grade editing (where and when necessary) and sentence-level work. If I begin a copy edit and see that the manuscript could benefit from more substantial reworking, I will stop and consult with you about it, and discuss the best path forward for your goals. It is a waste of your money to correct paragraphs that may be replaced completely entirely in a revision.
Some clients tell me, “Give me your brutal assessment, Judy!” Other clients ask me to be gentle because this is a work of the heart and they have already invested so much of themselves into it. As an author myself, I understand the need to provide editorial feedback with sensitivity. But for those who are ready for “tough love,” I can do that, too!
Proofreading is an essential final step before the book is laid out for production, and I do not recommend using the same editor for both copyediting and proofing. An editor who is so close to the project is likely to miss errors, and understandably so. I do not offer proofreading services but refer clients to qualified proofreaders and indexers, if required. My recommendations will all be members in good standing of professional editorial organizations, such as the Editorial Freelancers Association or The Society for Editing (ACES).
Want to work with me? Email me at judyrgruen@gmail.com and tell me about your project!
