Question 1

What kinds of books do you edit?

Accepted Answer

My specialty is non-fiction copyediting and proofreading. Areas of expertise include food, gardening, self-help, history, popular science, biography, business and how-to manuals, but I can tackle other subject areas too.

I also edit creative non-fiction (think travel, reportage, personal essays or memoir – anything that uses narrative elements to tell a true story) and literary fiction.

If your book fits into a different category, get in touch and I'll let you know if I can help. If not, I'll recommend a colleague who can.

Question 2

What kind of business or marketing content do you edit?

Accepted Answer

I can edit websites, blogs, articles, case studies, email sequences, social media posts and newsletters. I can even help you rewrite them if you're really stuck!

Note: I don't edit annual reports, academic essays or technical documents.

Question 3

How long does it take to copyedit a book?

Accepted Answer

This depends on how long the book is and whether it requires a heavy, medium or light edit. A second pass to check rewrites may also add to the timeframe. When you send me a sample, I'll calculate the cost and estimated delivery date.

Keep in mind that I often have projects running parallel or booked in advance, so there may be a waiting period. On average, an 80,000-word book can take about 3–4 weeks to copyedit. For more on this topic, see How long does it take to copyedit a book?

If you require proofreading, this usually takes less time (about 1–2 weeks for an 80,000-word book), depending on its complexity.

Question 4

Do you provide a sample edit?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I can provide a sample edit to determine how much work is required and if we're a good fit. In fact, I provide a sample at the start of every project (unless you're a publisher or retainer client). This gives you a feel for my editing style and ensures that the edit meets your expectations.

I usually charge $50 for a 1,000-word sample edit. It's a small investment that covers briefing and editing time. If you decide to go ahead, the cost of the sample will be deducted from the final project fee.

Question 5

How much does editing cost?

Accepted Answer

This depends on the type of edit, how much work is required and the length of the manuscript. In general, copyediting is more labour-intensive, so it costs more than proofreading. See my Services page for rates.

If you want to minimise costs, consider spending more time self-editing your book. For more on this topic, see How to self-edit your non-fiction book.

Question 6

Do you work with book publishers?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I provide non-fiction copyediting and proofreading services for local and international publishers. My rates for publishers are lower as their books require less client management and fewer passes. If you'd like to add me to your freelancer list, get in touch!

Question 7

Will my writing be 100 per cent free of errors?

Accepted Answer

I do my best to eliminate errors in your writing. However, even experienced editors are fallible and can't guarantee perfection. The IPEd accreditation pass mark is 80 per cent, which means that an error rate of up to 20 per cent is considered acceptable for an accredited editor.

My error rate is much lower than that, but to ensure your writing is as clean as possible, I recommend a copyedit (with more than one pass), followed by a proofread (by a different editor) to catch outstanding or introduced errors and any other mistakes that may have slipped through.

For more on this topic, see Do editors catch all errors?

Question 8

What's the difference between copyediting and proofreading?

Accepted Answer

Copyediting involves checking for grammar, spelling and punctuation errors. It also includes fact-checking, improving flow, applying style guides, eliminating repetition and enhancing clarity.

Proofreading is a final check to ensure no language or design errors have slipped through.

For a more detailed explanation, see Copyediting vs. proofreading: What's the difference?

Question 9

What style guide do you follow?

Accepted Answer

I'm based in Australia, so I use the online Australian Government Style Manual. This is the standard for many local businesses and publishers. However, I use The Chicago Manual of Style for US-based editing and content writing jobs.

I'm also happy to follow specific house styles set by your publisher, company or marketing agency.  For more on this topic, see Why do editors follow style guides?

Question 10

What file formats do you work with?

Accepted Answer

When I'm copyediting, I prefer to use Word. It has functions, features and macros that make editing faster and easier (compared to using Google Docs). It also helps with document control.

While it's possible to edit in Word and then save the file as a Google Doc (or vice versa), some changes may not appear, leading to errors. Plus, some edits may not be saved (on your end or mine) if there are connectivity issues. For more on this topic, see Word or Google Docs: Which is better for editing?

When I'm proofreading PDFs, I use the comment tool in Adobe. With slide decks, I use the comment tool in PowerPoint.

Question 11

Do you have a payment plan?

Accepted Answer

I often request a 50 per cent deposit for all editing and copywriting projects. The balance is then invoiced upon completion. (Publishers and retainer clients may have other arrangements.) However, if your project is large or you'd like to stagger the payments, I'd be happy to discuss a payment plan that suits your budget and needs!

Question 12

Do you use  AI?

Accepted Answer

All my editing or copywriting work is powered by human knowledge, research, skill and experience. While I use Word macros (automated shortcuts) and PerfectIt (non-AI software) to pick up inconsistencies or minor errors, I check each one individually before accepting changes.

Some editors may use Grammarly, ProWritingAid and other grammar checkers to do the bulk of their work, but these tools have their limitations. You need a firm grasp of grammar (and the author's style, tone and target audience) to know which flagged errors should be accepted or rejected.

Plus, these tools don't pick up factual errors, clichés, bias or information gaps – which is the last thing you need if you want to build trust, educate or persuade readers to take action. For more on AI, see Will AI replace editors?

FAQs