Like most professional editors and proofreaders, I don’t work with anyone who happens to come along with a manuscript or website. Discover whether I’m the right editor for you.
Choosing the right editor or proofreader can seem like a daunting task. There are so many of us! However, skilled, professional editors don’t work with any and all clients who come their way.
Most of us specialise in some way, or at least have certain kinds of content we wouldn’t touch with a barge pole (the same content that other editors lap up – one editor’s meat is another editor’s poison).
In this article, you’ll discover whether to consider me as your editor or to look elsewhere, saving both of us time and frustration!
TL;DR
I work with:
I don’t work with:
- Authors who need help with story structure or plot development
- Authors who need a quick turnaround
- Authors who need an edit or proofread on the cheap
- Authors who have created a manuscript using AI
I work with …
If you’re a self-published author of a book set in France, historical fiction, a mystery or thriller, or a memoir or autobiography, read on! Also welcome are website owners who need a helping hand with their content, including advice on SEO, accessibility and usability.
Self-published authors
I work with a lot of first-time self-published authors who then return to me for their subsequent books. I’ve been described as an “editor to learn craft from” because I offer detailed feedback about the writing craft.
I’ve written my own novel, a mystery set in France, so I can bring my own research and experience to bear on the manuscripts I edit. I treat every project with the respect and care it deserves, as I understand the blood, sweat and tears that go into the writing process!
I have worked on a range of genres and themes, but the types of books and genres I particularly specialise in are:
Books set in France (or with a French theme)
I have a degree in French (and Portuguese) from the University of Oxford, I’ve lived and worked in different regions of France, and I’ve written a book set in the south of France. All this knowledge will come in handy when I work on your manuscript.
Not only will I carry out all the careful checks involved in a normal line edit, copyedit or proofread, I will also ensure that any French in your book is accurate (accents and all!), placenames are correct and the setting and characters are authentic.
Historical fiction
I love the fact-checking that comes with this territory. I tend to edit a lot of historical fiction set in France, which wonderfully merges two of my specialisms.
Mysteries and thrillers
As my own novel is a mystery, I have delved into the dos and don’ts of writing these kinds of books. I also read mysteries for pleasure, so I’m familiar with the tropes, best practice and idiosyncracies of this genre.
Memoirs
I have edited a range of memoirs for self-published authors.
Memoirs are highly personal accounts of a particular time in a person’s life. They require sensitivity and a delicate touch. Previous clients have welcomed my kind approach to editing this type of manuscript.
Biographies and historical non-fiction
Authors of biographical manuscripts and historical non-fiction have usually carried out a huge amount of research. They deeply care about the subject of their book.
I understand how much work has gone into preparing these kinds of manuscripts and tailor my approach accordingly.
Small press and independent publishers
I have worked for a few small presses who have welcomed my professional approach to the books in their care.
They tend to have a lot invested in each title (not only in monetary terms but also often an emotional investment, not to mention a close relationship with their authors), and I work closely with them to ensure the final manuscript is delivered as error-free as possible.
Website owners
Before I became a freelance editor and proofreader, I spent 20 years working on the websites of major organisations.
I can edit your web copy or proofread your website not only for language and formatting issues, but also through the lens of SEO, accessibility and usability.
I don’t work with …
I work on a wide range of genres and content types, but there are certain folks I don’t work with. If you fall into one or more of the following categories, I’m not the right editor for you:
Authors who need help with story structure or plot development
I’m a trained line editor, copyeditor and proofreader, but I haven’t formally studied developmental editing.
I may briefly point out issues regarding plot, structure or character arcs if they jump out at me during a line or copyedit, but I don’t offer this as a separate service. There are other editors more qualified to do so.
However, once you’ve worked with a developmental editor or book coach to whip your manuscript’s structure into better shape, feel free to get in touch with me to ask about the next stage of editing!
Find out more about the editing services I offer
Authors who need a quick turnaround
I can carry out a sample edit of up to 2,500 words with one to two weeks’ notice, but for full-length manuscript edits, I need plenty of notice.
There are two factors at play here:
- How soon I’m available to begin working on your manuscript
- How long it will take to complete your project
Most skilled, professional editors and proofreaders are booked up from a few weeks to a few months in advance. (Consult my availability calendar on my Contact page.) Therefore, start to research editors before you’ve finished the final draft of your book.
I’d rather you contact me too early (in reality, you can’t; I’m happy to chat about your book no matter how far in advance!) than too late.
How long I will take to work on your book depends on a few factors:
- level of editing
- word count
- complexity
- workload
I would need to know a few details about your project before determining timescales, but to give you a rough idea, I’ve listed below approximate times for working on a book of 80K–100K words:
- line edit: 4–6 weeks
- copyedit: 3–5 weeks
- combo line and copyedit: 5–7 weeks
- proofread: 2–4 weeks
Authors who need an edit or proofread on the cheap
I get it. Editing can seem expensive because it is extremely time-intensive and takes a lot of skill, patience and concentration.
Once it’s broken down to an hourly rate, it’s surprisingly good value for money.
However, I understand not every writer can afford a trained, experienced editor or proofreader. If you’re looking to hire an editor for less than the CIEP’s suggested minimum rates, I’m afraid I’m not the editor for you. I have to feed my family too!
Authors who have created a manuscript using AI
I’m a firm believer in books deriving from the human brain, especially fiction and narrative non-fiction. In my opinion, for what it’s worth, writing in these genres is not about saving time or making money in the first instance; it’s about getting your unique style of humanity onto paper (or screen) and creating a human connection with the equally human person reading it.
Moral reasons aside, in my experience, AI creates sterile, bland, ‘almost-English’ books. For editors, it is harder to tease out what is wrong with sentences written by AI (a bit like books that have been auto-translated), as they are so close to being right while sounding off.
I understand (just about) why some people choose to use AI to create a manuscript, but if you’ve ‘written’ a book using AI, I’m afraid we’re not the best fit for each other.
In summary
If you’re a self-published author or a small press and write or work with the following kinds of books, feel free to ask me about how I can make your book shine:
- books set in France or with a French connection
- historical fiction
- mystery or thriller
- memoir or autobiography
- biography or historical non-fiction
I tend to be booked up a few months in advance, so do bear this in mind when sending an enquiry! Check my availability for large projects.
If you own a website and aren’t sure how to improve it, contact me to find out more about my editing and proofreading services for website owners and my web mentoring service.
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