For proofreading and copy-editing, I always provide a 500 word sample of my work. I use this also to prepare the quotation, which may vary depending on how much editing is required.

For the manuscript assessment and developmental editing services, I'll provide illustrative comments on the first page of your work.

I have an industry-standard proofreading certificate from the Publishing Training Centre, UK, and my entire career has revolved around the written word.

I’ve worked as a professional freelance editor since 2015 and taught English as a Foreign Language for 15+ years, developing a strong understanding of grammar and syntax as a result. My PhD Studies on the historical novel taught me high-level analytical skills and how to write clearly, logically and unambiguously.

In addition, I'm an indie fantasy author with two highly rated, published books. I have a broad knowledge of the indie publishing landscape, and subscribe to professional reports on the indie book market. I also maintain regular with writers, editors and literary agents, so I'm aware of what is selling well in my genres of expertise - fantasy and romance.

Copy-editing focuses on making your writing as readable and error free as possible, dealing with issues of clarity, consistency, grammar, flow, punctuation and style, among others.

The aim is absolutely NOT to alter your narrative voice or authorial style but rather to enhance it. It ensures readers aren’t jarred out of your story by inconsistencies, awkward phrasing or grammatical problems.

Choose copy-editing if you're planning to self-publish your work and are completely satisfied with the structure and content. If you plan to submit to agents, it's an optional step. You probably only need it if you have dyslexia or English as a second language.

There's no clearcut answer to this. Some people consider them to be essentially the same thing. Others distinguish line-editing as a more intensive form of copy-editing, where quite a lot of changes need to be made at the sentence level. This is sometimes also referred to as 'substantive editing'. It's most commonly needed when the author is not a trained writer or has English as a second language.

I provide copy-editing services but only rarely will I take on a text that requires substantive/line-editing. If you're unsure about what you need, I'm always happy to assess a sample of your work.

Copy-editing focuses on issues of clarity, consistency, grammar, flow, punctuation and style, among others.

It ensures readers aren’t jarred out of your story by inconsistencies, awkward phrasing or grammatical problems.

Proofreading is the final quality-check stage before publication. It comes after the copy-editing stage and is conducted on the printed proofs or final digital format. When conducted on printed proofs, special proofreading symbols are used.

In addition to eliminating typos and small errors and inconsistencies, this service checks that the formatting, layout and design of the printed or digital proofs are as they should be.

Proofreading isn't suitable for texts that haven't already been carefully edited at the sentence and word level, whether by a trained copy-editor or by the writer themselves if they possess the skills. 

It's specifically designed to catch small errors and inconsistencies that have slipped through earlier stages of editing. It doesn't address bigger issues of sentence structure, grammar, and flow. For that, you need copy-editing.