Editing and Proofreading Services
All new clients receive a free sample proofread (1,000 words). This ensures we are a good fit.
If you’re looking to bundle services, contact me for pricing.
Line Editing
Line editing involves editing content for tone, flow, clarity, and language. Line editing deals with the specific issues at the sentence and paragraph level. This is where I will make sure your manuscript is clear and your writing is correct. It is often called stylistic editing because it focuses on preserving the writer’s style. I will review your writing for:
Word use
Redundant use of language
Filler words and filter phrases
Repetition
Empty words or phrases
Overly wordy sentences
Reader flow
Ambiguity in meaning
Suitable tone
Mistakes in grammar
Fact-checking
How it works:
I will complete two passes.
All edits will be made to your manuscript using Track Changes in Microsoft Word and using The Chicago Manual of Style.
Cost: $0.018 per word
Copy Editing
Copy editing comes between line editing and proofreading. It's where I’ll make sure commas are in the right spot and ensure your dialogue and action beats are punctuated correctly. I will be looking for:
Mistakes in grammar, spelling, and punctuation
Syntax
Minor fact-checking
Flagging repetition, plot holes, awkward phrasing
Flagging continuity problems, ambiguous vocabulary
Dialogue punctuation
Consistency in spelling, punctuation, character names, font, capitalization, numeration, etc.
Formatting issues (quotations marks are facing the correct direction, extra spaces, etc.)
How it works:
I will complete two passes.
All edits will be made to your manuscript using Track Changes in Microsoft Word and using The Chicago Manual of Style.
Cost: $0.013 per word
Basic Proofreading
Basic proofreading is the last (not the only) line of defense for correcting those pesky mistakes. By now, your manuscript has likely been through a line edit, a copy edit, and possibly even a first round of proofreading. I will be looking for:
Obvious typos and misued words
Missing words
Continuity problems (was your MC wearing blue in the paragraph above but is now wearing green?)
Consistency in spelling, punctuation, font, capitalization, numeration, etc.
Basic formatting issues (extra spaces or tabs, subtitle consistency, etc.)
How it works:
This service includes one editing pass. All edits will be made to your manuscript using Track Changes in Microsoft Word and using The Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster Dictionary for reference..
** Note: This is NOT a copy edit. If the manuscript has extensive grammar and punctuation issues, you will be charged at the copy edit rate. Please do not request this service unless your manuscript will be copy edited first.
Cost: $0.009 per word
Submission Process
Contact me at vb.proofreads@gmail.com with questions or to schedule.
I will happily complete a sample edit or proofread (1,000 words or less) to make sure we are a good fit.
I require a $150 nonrefundable deposit to hold dates on my project calendar. (For projects under 15,000 words, I require a $75 deposit).
If you need to reschedule, the earlier you contact me, the better. I will do my best to work with you, but I cannot guarantee that I’ll have your manuscript returned by the agreed upon date.
I will send an invoice for the remaining balance on the date I begin work on your manuscript. Payment is due before I return the first round of edits.
Please email manuscripts in Microsoft Word format by our agreed upon start date. All edits are done using Track Changes and comments.