Editing

Polish your words until they shine! Access professional editing and proofreading to ensure your message takes centre stage as the talking point of your book, not errors.

The writing is done! Breathe a sigh of relief and have a huge celebration!

Now is the time to review that content and engage a professional editor to make sure your book and message is the best it can possibly be.

Editing stages

There are four levels when it comes to editing:

1. Developmental edit

Your first draft is written and you would like feedback on how to improve it.

2. Structural edit

Your first draft is written and you would like someone to work on how to restructure it to improve flow and readability.

3. Copy/Line edit

Your second (or subsequent) draft is written, you are happy with the structure and now you need someone to get out the microscope and look at the finer details.

4. Proofreading

You are ready to publish and you need someone to catch those final errors that have slipped through the cracks.

Unsure what type of editing you need? Get in touch to send us a writing sample and your word count and we can guide you on the best way forward.

1. Developmental edit

Even the best in the biz don’t publish a first draft! So if you have placed the final full stop on your manuscript and are looking for professional feedback on how to improve it, this is the step for you.

A developmental edit is a big-picture look at the overall flow and structure of your book. We look at:

Whether themes are properly explored and developed
If ‘characters’ pop in without context or purpose
Identifying any gaps that may appear in timelines
The balance of lengthy versus short chapters and if they may need to be adjusted
The balance of lengthy versus short chapters and if they may need to be adjusted
The chapter hierarchy including parts, main chapters and the use of subheadings etc
Whether more clarity or context is needed to explain an event or educational point in your book
Highlighting areas that may be danger zones for copyright infringement or potential defamation (please note, we are not lawyers, but we can definitely identify red flags for you)
Whether there is relevance to and appropriate connection for your ideal reader or target market

All of these observations (and more) are compiled into a document along with suggestions on how you can make the improvements needed. You can then work on implementing those changes to create your second draft.

2. Structural edit

A structural edit is very similar to a developmental edit in that it examines the overall presentation your book.

But there is one key difference – we make the changes for you.

We look at:

Whether themes are properly explored and developed
If ‘characters’ pop in without context or purpose
Identifying any gaps that may appear in timelines
The balance of lengthy versus short chapters and if they may need to be adjusted
The balance of lengthy versus short chapters and if they may need to be adjusted
The chapter hierarchy including parts, main chapters and the use of subheadings etc
Whether more clarity or context is needed to explain an event or educational point in your book
Highlighting areas that may be danger zones for copyright infringement or potential defamation (please note, we are not lawyers, but we can definitely identify red flags for you)
Whether there is relevance to and appropriate connection for your ideal reader or target market

We will then connect with you to run through our suggested changes and with your approval, will go ahead and execute those changes, leaving you free to focus on other important things in your life.

3. Copy/Line edit

Once your manuscript is structurally sound, this is where we get down to the nitty gritty.

When the copy/line edit is complete, you will have a manuscript that is ready to be designed and transformed into a book! The editor will literally go through your manuscript line by line with a fine tooth comb to ensure that:

Style is consistent
Spelling suits your audience (AUS/UK/US English)
Spelling errors are corrected
Names of people and places are correct and consistent
Punctuation usage is correct
Grammar is tidied up
Typos or misused words are corrected
Fact boxes and pull quote style is uniform
Sentences are clear and concise
Tone of voice is consistent
Tenses are clear and utilised properly
Repetitive text is removed or reworded.

4. Proofread

This is the last stop in the editing phase.

Depending on your publisher, this step can be done either before or after the manuscript is typeset (designed).

It is an important step because it catches the things that may have been missed in the copy edit.

Believe me, it is very rare to find a book without a single error, but having a proofread as part of your manuscript preparation process means the book is as ‘clean’ as possible!

Client testimonials

"From the time Millie and I sat down with you for the article interview, I knew that we were in good hands and with a journalist who possessed empathy and professionalism. Eating disorders is a delicate topic at the best of times but you totally respected our boundaries and the finished article was a true reflection of our discussions. You also went the extra mile and turned up at our ‘Main Event’ fundraiser evening to capture our daughter’s first public ownership of her own bulimia journey. Again, your article handled the reporting on the evening with professionalism and respect. Your article also produced a very unexpected result when the very next day (after the article was published) I received an email from Alan Parry Attorneys saying how impressed they were with the endED story and presented us with a $10,000 cheque from Sunshine Coast Community Enterprises. Thank you Roxy for your interest and support for endED and we look forward to working with you in the near future."

"I was extremely impressed when Roxanne sent me a draft copy, it was well written and constructed in a way the reader could easily understand. It is not often that someone impresses me with their capabilities in explaining in simple terms, the technical side of my product. I have no problem recommending Roxanne, she is very good at what she does and has the skills for asking the right questions and really listening to the answers, her grasp at conveying this in words is outstanding."

"Roxanne has a special talent to really bring life to words on paper so much so that I invited her to work with me as my editor for my first book ever Stories of HOPE Australia Everyday People Extraordinary Stories. Not only is she an extremely talented writer with many years experience, she is one of the kindest and most patient ladies I have met. She went above and beyond to help me turn my dream of writing a book into reality. I would highly recommend her services to anyone looking to write a book."

"If you are considering engaging the services of a writer, make sure it is Roxanne McCarty-O'Kane, you will be so happy that you did. I have worked with Roxy on a few projects now, she is the upmost professional who understands her client’s needs and can work to impossible deadlines with true class. Roxy’s strength is making the authors job easy and seamless. Letting them tell the story in their way, she weaves their words into a professional and polished manuscript. Roxy is a truly wonderful wordsmith and I highly recommend her services."

"My story would never have seen the light of day had it not been for Roxanne's passion and commitment. The means by which she gained access to my deepest and most vulnerable beliefs and stories enhanced my story but also the power of my book's message. Totally professional and always looking for ways to better support me, Roxanne didn't stop with just the ghostwriting; Roxanne is so much more that even her website suggest - a mentor, innovator, visionary and business leader like few others."

Polish your words until they shine! Access professional editing and proofreading to ensure your message takes centre stage as the talking point of your book, not errors.

Editing stages

There are four levels when it comes to editing:

1. Developmental edit

2. Structural edit

3. Copy/Line edit

4. Proofreading

1. Developmental edit

2. Structural edit

3. Copy/Line edit

4. Proofread

Client testimonials

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