Have you ever written something, thought it looked good, and then found embarrassing errors later on? Or worse, had someone else find them? We all have. I have, and I’m an editor! How does that work?
When we’re writing, we have a thought in our mind, an idea that we’re trying to communicate. What we want to say is perfectly clear in our minds. So, many times as we review what we’ve written, our brain recites our ideas, glosses over our words, and autofills our sentences instead of truly reading them. Having a friend look over your work or proofreading it yourself after setting it aside for a few days helps a lot, but sometimes you want someone editorially skilled, trained, and experienced to really examine your work, eliminate errors, and polish your prose. That’s where I come in!
When we’re writing, we have a thought in our mind, an idea that we’re trying to communicate. What we want to say is perfectly clear in our minds. So, many times as we review what we’ve written, our brain recites our ideas, glosses over our words, and autofills our sentences instead of truly reading them. Having a friend look over your work or proofreading it yourself after setting it aside for a few days helps a lot, but sometimes you want someone editorially skilled, trained, and experienced to really examine your work, eliminate errors, and polish your prose. That’s where I come in!
I can proofread or copyedit
If you'd like to see an example of my proofreading skills, check out the essay in the file below.
- blog posts,
- websites,
- resumes,
- essays,
- books,
- newsletters,
- emails,
- social media posts,
- menus,
- flyers,
- worksheets/workbooks/curriculum,
- product/service descriptions and listings,
- products with word graphics or labels on them (e.g. clothing, food, etc.),
If you'd like to see an example of my proofreading skills, check out the essay in the file below.
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"Alyssa worked with me to help develop my children's book. I had already spent countless hours poring over the content of my story and did not think I had many mistakes left to catch. Not only did Alyssa catch many errors in content and grammar, she made my book sing. She was efficient, precise, and available. My book would not be the beautiful work that it is today without Alyssa as my proofreader. Anyone would be blessed to have her on their team!" |
Proofreading
This is the last editorial stage where all those sneaky, lingering errors get weeded out before you publish your project. Your document should have already been copyedited so that it flows with style and remains consistent throughout. Proofreading focuses on the word level, whereas copyediting works at the sentence level, so you want to be sure your sentences and paragraphs run smoothly (are copyedited) before performing your final check (proofreading).
What I'll do as your proofreader:
I will read your document and ensure it has proper
Base Rate: $0.01 per word
(Each project is unique, requiring different levels of technicality, turn-around times, and editing, so once I get to evaluate yours, I can give you a personalized quote.)
Sound like what you need? Then scroll down, take a look at How the Process Works, and let's get proofreading!
What I'll do as your proofreader:
I will read your document and ensure it has proper
- punctuation,
- capitalization,
- grammar,
- word choice,
- spelling,
- formatting,
- chapter/page numbers, and
- American English.
Base Rate: $0.01 per word
(Each project is unique, requiring different levels of technicality, turn-around times, and editing, so once I get to evaluate yours, I can give you a personalized quote.)
Sound like what you need? Then scroll down, take a look at How the Process Works, and let's get proofreading!
Copyediting
Copyediting is the third editing stage and operates at the sentence level. It’s the stage right before the final editorial pass, proofreading, so the document should be solid as a whole and just need its sentences tweaked to flow easily and without error. (Of course, editing and proofreading, just like writing and editing, cannot be done perfectly at the same time. So while copyediting does sweep for errors like proofreading does, it’s recommended to have someone proofread your document after the copy editor to catch any remaining errors. Errors can disqualify the author’s credibility in the audience’s eyes, so it’s worth it.)
What I'll do as your copy editor:
Just like for proofreading, I will read your document and ensure it has proper
But, in addition, I will edit your work to make it clear, consistent, and concise so it is readable, enjoyable, and understandable. That means I'll be looking for and flagging
What I'll do as your copy editor:
Just like for proofreading, I will read your document and ensure it has proper
- punctuation,
- capitalization,
- grammar,
- word choice,
- spelling,
- formatting,
- chapter/page numbers, and
- American English.
But, in addition, I will edit your work to make it clear, consistent, and concise so it is readable, enjoyable, and understandable. That means I'll be looking for and flagging
- wordy sentences,
- repetitive phrases,
- inconsistencies/contradictions,
- rough transitions, etc.,
Base Rate: $0.015 per word
(Each project is unique, requiring different levels of technicality, turn-around times, and editing, so once I get to evaluate yours, I can give you a personalized quote.)
If you like what you've heard, take a look at the next section: How the Process Works, and let's copyedit!
(Each project is unique, requiring different levels of technicality, turn-around times, and editing, so once I get to evaluate yours, I can give you a personalized quote.)
If you like what you've heard, take a look at the next section: How the Process Works, and let's copyedit!
How the Process Works
1. Click the "Let's get started" button below (or go to the Contact page) and fill out the contact form (or email me). There you can tell me a little about your content, word count, and deadline and which service you would like to use. No worries if you're still unsure what kind of editing you need. Just let me know you're uncertain in the contact form, and we'll determine it together. I will review your message and email you to let you know if I can process your request.
2. Once we know I can take on your project, you can send it to me as a Microsoft Word document. Upon examining it, I will send you a personalized quote for you to decide on. Half the rate will be paid up front and the remainder will be paid at the project's completion.
3. If the quote works for you, I'll send the first invoice, and once it's paid, I'll set to work on your document. I will use Microsoft Word Track Changes to go in and fix whatever I find. As needed, I'll also leave comments to explain or suggest alterations. (If you're interested in learning, the comments is where you'll find some great tidbits to increase your knowledge!)
4. After proofreading or copyediting, I will send you the second invoice for the remaining balance and two versions of your document: one with all the Track Changes showing and the other with all the edits incorporated. That way you can see all the alterations, ask me questions, and accept or reject the changes.
The resources I'll use:
My go-to resources are Merriam-Webster's online dictionary and the latest version of The Chicago Manual of Style, but if you have a different style guide or dictionary you would like me to use, just let me know. I am more than happy to use them! I am also open to learning word processing programs other than Microsoft Word.
2. Once we know I can take on your project, you can send it to me as a Microsoft Word document. Upon examining it, I will send you a personalized quote for you to decide on. Half the rate will be paid up front and the remainder will be paid at the project's completion.
3. If the quote works for you, I'll send the first invoice, and once it's paid, I'll set to work on your document. I will use Microsoft Word Track Changes to go in and fix whatever I find. As needed, I'll also leave comments to explain or suggest alterations. (If you're interested in learning, the comments is where you'll find some great tidbits to increase your knowledge!)
4. After proofreading or copyediting, I will send you the second invoice for the remaining balance and two versions of your document: one with all the Track Changes showing and the other with all the edits incorporated. That way you can see all the alterations, ask me questions, and accept or reject the changes.
The resources I'll use:
My go-to resources are Merriam-Webster's online dictionary and the latest version of The Chicago Manual of Style, but if you have a different style guide or dictionary you would like me to use, just let me know. I am more than happy to use them! I am also open to learning word processing programs other than Microsoft Word.
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Thank you for visiting! I look forward to serving you.
Let's connect!
Email Address: [email protected]
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