Proofreading explained
Proofreading is the final step in the editorial process before publication. It comes after a story has been developmentally edited and copy/line edited. But it’s more than just a quick read-through! Proofreading involves careful, meticulous attention to detail, since the proofreader is the last person to see a project before publication.
The service may involve the following, depending on your needs:
- Making corrections to grammar and spelling
- Checking page numbers
- Checking headings and chapter titles
- Checking contents pages/copyright pages
- Ensuring consistency (using a copyeditor’s style sheet, if supplied)
- Checking nothing has been left out, such as maps/illustrations
- Ensuring paragraphs are correctly indented
- Checking scene breaks
- Sometimes proofreading may involve making sure there are no awkward word breaks, or checking for widows and orphans
I can work in Microsoft Word, using the Track Changes feature, or, alternatively, in Adobe Acrobat on a PDF of the designed book if needed. I’m able to work on both US and UK English.
Pricing
Every project is unique and requires a different level of editorial intervention. This is why it’s difficult to put a fixed price on editing without knowing more about the project first. Prices vary depending on length and complexity, and how long the edit will take. I’ll always ask to see a sample before providing a quote in full. My pricing is guided by the CIEP’s suggested minimum rates and the Editorial Freelancers Association’s rate chart. If we decide to work together, I require a 25% booking deposit that is non-refundable.
Do you do sample proofreads?
Yes. I charge a small fee for a 1,000 word sample, which is deducted from your price if we end up working together. Many experienced professional editors charge for these, for a variety of reasons. A small number of authors try to cheat editors into doing free work (not cool), which is why I choose to charge. I go into this in more depth in a blog post here.
Testimonials
I’ve been lucky enough to count Rachel among Black Library’s pool of freelance editors and proofreaders since 2018, and since then she has lent her talents to a variety of products across our range, including work on our fantasy, science-fiction and horror genres. Rachel is a professional and conscientious editor, taking the time to provide in-depth queries where necessary. She is extremely thorough in her work, always hits deadlines, and is seemingly never phased by the amount of unusual terms to be found in our fiction! She has worked on both short and long-form stories, and seems eager to tackle any task. I would not hesitate to recommend her services.
– Karen Miksza, Desk Editor, Black Library
Rachel has a great attention to detail and is always punctual and communicative.
– Alexandra Holmes, Managing Editor, Bookouture