Editorial Services

Introduction & Approach

As an author myself I understand the added value an editor can bring to your work. An editor is able to provide you with a number of different services, depending upon where you need assistance, in order to help your manuscript shine. In an era where more books are being published than ever before, an editor can ensure your work is the best it can possibly be and help it stand out from the crowd.

My objective is to make sure your individual voice as an author is clear and distinct in your work. The role of an editor is not to take over and dictate how a book should be written. I adopt a collaborative approach in order to enable writers to realise their individual vision and help readers find new and distinctive authors they will love to read.

It’s important to acknowledge that not every author and editor will be a good fit for each other. Before starting work with a new client I always recommend they send me a sample chapter of their work. This enables you to gauge how I approach the text and whether the feedback provided is useful to you as an author. This consultation is a free service and if you decide to walk away at that point, then that’s absolutely fine.

My preferred genres are fantasy and science fiction, although I also enjoy horror and literary fiction as well. If you’re unsure if your work would be a good fit for me, then please get in touch and we can discuss this further.

Editorial Services

Which editorial services to commission is a matter for you as the author to decide. Dependent upon whether you have an early or final draft and the level of assistance needed, I’ve summarised below the various services you might want to consider.

  • Developmental edits involve providing structural advice on the story and/or characters and their behaviour and motivations. This form of editing is most useful when you have an early draft of your story and are seeking feedback on whether the overall story works. 

    There is a huge degree of subjectivity when it comes to the best way to tell a particular story. Developmental edits provide useful feedback but it is for the author to decide how they choose to use those editorial comments.

  • Line editing looks at style and the readability of the manuscript, rather than focusing on grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors.

  • Copy editing is carried out after developmental and line edits but before proofreading. This stage focuses on polishing a manuscript to identify and correct the following issues:

    • Grammar

    • Spelling

    • Consistency of tone and style

    • Wordiness

    • Clunky transitions

    • Confusing sentence structure

    • Problematic, misused or overused words

    • Uneven flow

  • Proofreading involves reviewing the mechanical elements of the manuscript and acts as a final check on the following key areas:

    • Grammar

    • Spelling

    • Punctuation

    • Capitalisation

  • There is some overlap between copy editing and proofreading. Copy editing looks at the content and consistency of the concepts being expressed in each sentence and can be thought of as an in-depth line edit. Proofreading accepts each sentence at face value, rather than analysing the content. Instead, the focus during proofreading is on whether the words on the page are correct.

Some Important Things to Remember

No editor is able to guarantee that once they have worked on a book it will be perfect and completely error free. First of all, there is no such thing as a perfect novel. One person’s work of genius is the book someone else puts down after a couple of pages. Taking another example, if an editor only carries out a developmental edit then it is down to the author to proofread their final manuscript before publication.

The reality is that independently and traditionally published books can and do contain errors. Even more confusingly, if you put two editors in a room they will probably disagree about what those errors are and how they should be corrected. We are only human and mistakes can and do happen.

The extent to which the risk of errors can be reduced depends on your own eye for detail as an author and your budget for editorial services. The key point here is that fresh editorial perspective is very helpful in catching errors you might otherwise miss due to your familiarity with the text.

When it comes to developmental edits the lines are even more blurred. Only you as the author truly understand your characters and the story you are trying to tell. As a developmental editor, my role is to make suggestions and advise you based upon my personal opinion. How you choose to use such feedback is entirely a matter for you as the author.

Timescales 

Timescales for the delivery of an edited manuscript will be agreed between the author and editor before payment of the deposit and the work begins. The timescale will be dependent upon the services commissioned, the length of the work being edited and my pre-existing commitments.

In the unlikely event that I am unable to deliver your manuscript by the agreed deadline then I will notify you as soon as possible and work with you to agree an alternative date for delivery of the completed work.

Rates

If you decide you wish to commission me to work on your full manuscript, then my rates are as follows:

Individual Services

  • Developmental Edit = £4 per 1,000 words

  • Line Edit = £6 per 1,000 words

  • Copy Editing = £6 per 1,000 words

  • Proofreading = £6 per 1,000 words

Combined Services

  • Two of the following four services: Developmental Edit, Line Edit, Copy Edit or Proofreading = £8 per 1,000 words (two passes)

  • Three of the following four services: Developmental Edit, Line Edit, Copy Edit or Proofreading = £9 per 1,000 words (three passes)

  • Combined Developmental, Line Edit, Copy Edit and Proofreading (full service) = £10 per 1,000 words (four passes)‍

Deposit ‍

Please note a non-refundable 50% deposit is required before commencing work on a full manuscript. Payment is usually made via an invoice raised using SumUp but alternative payment methods can be discussed upon request.‍‍ ‍

Any Questions?‍‍ ‍

If you’re still unsure about anything then please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached at contact@timhardieauthor.co.uk.

Testimonials

“Tim has provided line edits, proofreading and beta reading for two books I've published. Every time the process was clear, communicative and speedy. Very happy to recommend!” - HL Tinsley, SPFBO Finalist & author of The Vanguard Chronicles and The Hallows