Services

Copyediting

When you engage me as a copyeditor, rest assured I will respect your unique voice while fixing errors, pointing out sections that may need clarity, and creating a style sheet to ensure consistency. This phase typically occurs before a designer has placed the text into the final design. It’s all about getting the words right first.

Before I get started on the job, together we will determine which level of editing you prefer—light, medium, or heavy.

A light edit will make sure the piece is free of grammatical errors but does not include services like rewriting wordy spots or reorganizing awkward sections. When I come across such things during a light edit, I flag it so the author can address the issue.

Medium and heavy edits are similar in that they involve much more rewriting and a good bit of focus on flow and tone. In a heavy edit, I rarely flag issues for the author and instead do much more rewriting and reorganizing.

Proofreading

People often—and understandably—confuse copyediting and proofreading. The services overlap in some ways. Both correct errors such as misspelled words and subject-verb agreement problems.

The primary difference in the two is that proofreading occurs at the very end of a project, and any changes made in this phase are mandatory, not subjective. The writer wrote, the editor edited, changes were implemented…and now I come in with fresh eyes and make sure no glaring errors were introduced or missed along the way.

Proofreaders see the copy as it is designed for publishing, so they also look for issues with margins, spacing, word breaks, etc. Now is not the time to change the word utilize to use. That should have been done during the copyediting phase. Because the design is complete, the proofreader exercises restraint and only makes changes that fix errors.

Writing

Are you a whiz when it comes to dreaming up an innovative new business, but the notion of writing web content makes you want to crawl into a hole? Or perhaps your company’s website is up and running, but you can’t find the time to add blog or news content that keeps your site fresh.

I can take the writing stress off your shoulders and let you focus on running the business. I’ll put myself in your shoes by learning all I can about your business’s goals, voice, strengths, and target market.

You may only need a writer for one quick project, or together we may craft an editorial calendar that results in new content coming your way at scheduled intervals. The good news either way is that your full plate has one less thing on it so you can focus on the business of running your business.