Sample edit
Why choose a sample edit?
A sample edit helps you gauge if my editing, working style and budget work for you.
It's a small investment – A$50 for 1,000 words – but it's deducted from the total fee if we end up working together. Typically, I ask for a sample from the middle of the book (because an introduction or first chapter are never indicative of the whole).
What does a sample edit include?
​​​​​Sample edits are more involved than most people realise. Here’s an overview of what's included:
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gathering information about your text's length, purpose and audience
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correcting grammar, punctuation and spelling errors
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removing repetition, redundancies and wordiness
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recasting sentences to improve flow and clarity
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applying a style guide (if required)
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ensuring US, UK or Australian usage and spelling
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correcting formatting issues (such as heading hierarchies, lists, etc.)
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using comments to explain corrections and request clarifications
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making suggestions to optimise your writing
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highlighting clichés, non-inclusive language or bias
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providing a quote on the full project.
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Pretty substantial, right? What's more, a sample edit is a great way of finding out if your book needs more work or whether it's ready for copyediting.
And even if you don't move forward, you'll have feedback that can guide further self-editing and help you find the right fit in the future.
