Hoping to self-publish or to submit to a publisher or agent? Fiction, non-fiction, scientific, technical?
I can help you get your work into the best possible shape, to give it the best possible chance.
See my new website here:
http://srg521.wix.com/writing-help
I can help you get your work into the best possible shape, to give it the best possible chance.
See my new website here:
http://srg521.wix.com/writing-help
Hello! My name is Sheila Glasbey and I offer a professional editing service, which includes proofreading* and copy-editing* (see below for definitions of these), at very reasonable prices and with the flexibility to meet your needs.
Are you a novelist, a short story writer or an author of children's books? Or do you write factual articles or longer works of non fiction, such as scientific, technical or instruction manuals, perhaps?
Are you hoping to publish an e-book or submit your work to a publisher or an agent soon?
Or are you a student writing up your dissertation?
I can't do your writing for you, although I am an experienced writer myself. What I can offer is to help you get your work into the best shape possible before submitting it or publishing it yourself. In other words, to help you tidy up (if necessary) your grammar and your style, and to remove those annoying typos that creep in when you're not looking.
I am a fully qualified proofreader, having obtained a Merit in the course Basic Proofreading by Distance Learning. This is run by the Publishing Training Centre and is highly regarded by the publishing industry. My other qualifications include a first degree in Natural Sciences (from Cambridge University), a teaching qualification, an MSc in Artificial Intelligence and a PhD in Cognitive Science (both from Edinburgh University). I spent many years working as a lecturer and researcher, which included writing and submitting technical articles and grant proposals and correcting my students' work. Since turning to creative writing a few years ago, I have had two novels published for adults and one for children, under my pen-name of Rosalie Warren. I have published two e-books and am working on a series for 7-9 year-olds and a new novel for adults. I have also ghost-written a true story for 11-13 year-olds.
So, whether your work is a children's fairytale or a treatise on solar energy, I can enable you to present it at its very best, and help you along the road towards publishing success.
I prefer to take a look at a sample of your book before offering a quote, so that I can set a price that's fair to us both. If you wish to discuss how I can help you, please contact me using the form below. I will get back to you as quickly as I can.
Hoping we can work together soon,
Sheila
(Dr Sheila Glasbey)
Some definitions
Before you pay for something, you should know what it is. That may sound obvious, but there's a lot of confusion about the meaning of terms like 'editing', 'copy-editing' and proofreading. So here are the definitions I will use, and what exactly you can expect to get from me.
Copy-editing - what is it?
Copy-editing means correcting matters of grammar, style, punctuation, presentation, etc. For example, the copy-editor might suggest improvements to your paragraphing, your sentence structure, the length of your sentences and how often you refer to a character by name (as opposed to 'he' or 'she'). The copy-editor will tell you if you constantly use an expression like 'would of' instead of 'would have'. You may consider yourself the kind of writer who never makes such mistakes, but believe me, everyone makes mistakes, no matter how experienced we may be. Even beautifully written work can benefit from having a copy-editor suggest some changes and improvements, however minor. Writers are often surprised by the number of changes we recommend, though a good copy-editor will always be tactful and diplomatic about this. And remember - the changes we suggest are only suggestions. The final decision is up to you - unless your copy-editor has been hired by your publisher, in which case you might have some arguments on your hands. As a copy-editor, I am always willing to explain and discuss any changes I have suggested.
Proofreading - what is it?
Proofreading and copy-editing are two separate processes. Once the copy-editing is done, the proofreader will check very carefully to make sure that every letter, every word, every punctuation mark (and every space!) is correct. This is a laborious process and it takes time. It's easy to spot some of the mistakes - as readers we often notice them when we read a poorly proofread book. Spotting all the mistakes and putting them right is a different matter. Anyone who thinks proofreading is expensive should bear this in mind, though most of us do our best to keep the costs down.
Traditionally, copy-editing and proofreading were done separately. If your work was being professionally published, a copy-editor would make changes to the typescript. Once the final version had been 'agreed on' by everyone concerned, and the changes made, the typescript would be sent to the typesetters. Typesetting (before the days of computers) involved a lot of fiddly placing of pieces of moveable type. New mistakes could easily creep in. The typeset piece would then be proofread to remove any new errors (and any old ones that no one had noticed). The changes would be made, and the book sent to the printers.
Now that we have computers, the distinction between copy-editing and proofreading has become hazier. Many self-publishing authors ask to have both things done 'at once' and this is entirely possible, as long as the quality of the writing is good enough in the first place. If the writing is very poor, it is often best to do the editing first and then the proofreading. With most work I receive, I am happy to do both copy-editing and proofreading as a single package, though the work may involve at least two 'runs' on my behalf through the text. That's one reason I like to see a sample before I give you a quote - it can make a big difference ot the overall cost.
Editing - what is it?
Finally, what is 'editing'? You may well ask. It's a vague term that I prefer not to use. Often it refers to a higher-level process than copy-editing. It might involve an editor pointing out that the overall structure of your book is wrong... or that you need to get a better build-up of tension towards the end... that you have two many characters, or you spend too long setting the scene. If you have a book accepted by a publisher, you will probably be assigned an 'editor', who will suggest such changes. If you submit your book for an online 'appraisal', you will get this kind of feedback too. If you are looking for this kind of advice, you should obtain it before thinking about copy-editing or proofreading. There's no point getting your grammar and punctuation right if your characters and overall sturcture are wrong.
If you need such editing, feel free to discuss it with me. Depending on the type of book, I might be able to offer this myself or to recommend someone who can. But please don't expect me to do this kind of editing alongside copy-editing and proofreading. I'm not a literary acrobat - and the results would be a mess. And if anyone else offers you the whole package in one, beware.
I hope all this has helped. Any queries, please get in touch via the form below. I do hope to be able to help you make your work the very best it can be – ready for you to self-publish or to submit it to the agent or publisher of your choice.
Good luck and best wishes,
Sheila
(Dr Sheila Glasbey)
Are you a novelist, a short story writer or an author of children's books? Or do you write factual articles or longer works of non fiction, such as scientific, technical or instruction manuals, perhaps?
Are you hoping to publish an e-book or submit your work to a publisher or an agent soon?
Or are you a student writing up your dissertation?
I can't do your writing for you, although I am an experienced writer myself. What I can offer is to help you get your work into the best shape possible before submitting it or publishing it yourself. In other words, to help you tidy up (if necessary) your grammar and your style, and to remove those annoying typos that creep in when you're not looking.
I am a fully qualified proofreader, having obtained a Merit in the course Basic Proofreading by Distance Learning. This is run by the Publishing Training Centre and is highly regarded by the publishing industry. My other qualifications include a first degree in Natural Sciences (from Cambridge University), a teaching qualification, an MSc in Artificial Intelligence and a PhD in Cognitive Science (both from Edinburgh University). I spent many years working as a lecturer and researcher, which included writing and submitting technical articles and grant proposals and correcting my students' work. Since turning to creative writing a few years ago, I have had two novels published for adults and one for children, under my pen-name of Rosalie Warren. I have published two e-books and am working on a series for 7-9 year-olds and a new novel for adults. I have also ghost-written a true story for 11-13 year-olds.
So, whether your work is a children's fairytale or a treatise on solar energy, I can enable you to present it at its very best, and help you along the road towards publishing success.
I prefer to take a look at a sample of your book before offering a quote, so that I can set a price that's fair to us both. If you wish to discuss how I can help you, please contact me using the form below. I will get back to you as quickly as I can.
Hoping we can work together soon,
Sheila
(Dr Sheila Glasbey)
Some definitions
Before you pay for something, you should know what it is. That may sound obvious, but there's a lot of confusion about the meaning of terms like 'editing', 'copy-editing' and proofreading. So here are the definitions I will use, and what exactly you can expect to get from me.
Copy-editing - what is it?
Copy-editing means correcting matters of grammar, style, punctuation, presentation, etc. For example, the copy-editor might suggest improvements to your paragraphing, your sentence structure, the length of your sentences and how often you refer to a character by name (as opposed to 'he' or 'she'). The copy-editor will tell you if you constantly use an expression like 'would of' instead of 'would have'. You may consider yourself the kind of writer who never makes such mistakes, but believe me, everyone makes mistakes, no matter how experienced we may be. Even beautifully written work can benefit from having a copy-editor suggest some changes and improvements, however minor. Writers are often surprised by the number of changes we recommend, though a good copy-editor will always be tactful and diplomatic about this. And remember - the changes we suggest are only suggestions. The final decision is up to you - unless your copy-editor has been hired by your publisher, in which case you might have some arguments on your hands. As a copy-editor, I am always willing to explain and discuss any changes I have suggested.
Proofreading - what is it?
Proofreading and copy-editing are two separate processes. Once the copy-editing is done, the proofreader will check very carefully to make sure that every letter, every word, every punctuation mark (and every space!) is correct. This is a laborious process and it takes time. It's easy to spot some of the mistakes - as readers we often notice them when we read a poorly proofread book. Spotting all the mistakes and putting them right is a different matter. Anyone who thinks proofreading is expensive should bear this in mind, though most of us do our best to keep the costs down.
Traditionally, copy-editing and proofreading were done separately. If your work was being professionally published, a copy-editor would make changes to the typescript. Once the final version had been 'agreed on' by everyone concerned, and the changes made, the typescript would be sent to the typesetters. Typesetting (before the days of computers) involved a lot of fiddly placing of pieces of moveable type. New mistakes could easily creep in. The typeset piece would then be proofread to remove any new errors (and any old ones that no one had noticed). The changes would be made, and the book sent to the printers.
Now that we have computers, the distinction between copy-editing and proofreading has become hazier. Many self-publishing authors ask to have both things done 'at once' and this is entirely possible, as long as the quality of the writing is good enough in the first place. If the writing is very poor, it is often best to do the editing first and then the proofreading. With most work I receive, I am happy to do both copy-editing and proofreading as a single package, though the work may involve at least two 'runs' on my behalf through the text. That's one reason I like to see a sample before I give you a quote - it can make a big difference ot the overall cost.
Editing - what is it?
Finally, what is 'editing'? You may well ask. It's a vague term that I prefer not to use. Often it refers to a higher-level process than copy-editing. It might involve an editor pointing out that the overall structure of your book is wrong... or that you need to get a better build-up of tension towards the end... that you have two many characters, or you spend too long setting the scene. If you have a book accepted by a publisher, you will probably be assigned an 'editor', who will suggest such changes. If you submit your book for an online 'appraisal', you will get this kind of feedback too. If you are looking for this kind of advice, you should obtain it before thinking about copy-editing or proofreading. There's no point getting your grammar and punctuation right if your characters and overall sturcture are wrong.
If you need such editing, feel free to discuss it with me. Depending on the type of book, I might be able to offer this myself or to recommend someone who can. But please don't expect me to do this kind of editing alongside copy-editing and proofreading. I'm not a literary acrobat - and the results would be a mess. And if anyone else offers you the whole package in one, beware.
I hope all this has helped. Any queries, please get in touch via the form below. I do hope to be able to help you make your work the very best it can be – ready for you to self-publish or to submit it to the agent or publisher of your choice.
Good luck and best wishes,
Sheila
(Dr Sheila Glasbey)