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Proofreading, editing and beta reading services for independent authors

You want people to enjoy reading your books, but typos, grammatical errors or a plot inconsistency can be

off-putting to your readers. They could lose interest and put your book down unfinished, or they may leave a less-than-favourable review. Wherever you are on your novel-writing journey, a beta read (early manuscript review), edit or proofread will improve your work.

Early manuscript review (beta reading) service

I will work with you to ensure there are no plot or character inconsistencies in your book. I will also tell you if I found your story compelling, if I liked the characters or if I figured out the plot twist before chapter three.

Proofreading and editing services

I will correct typos, misspellings and grammatical errors. Your text will also be aligned to your preferred style sheet (available as part of my copy-editing or proof-editing services).

I use the Track Changes tool in Word so that you can review each of my edits and decide if you wish to accept or reject them. I can also use the Adobe commenting tools on PDF if you prefer (proofreading service only).

Sample evaluations and sample edits

Every project is unique and it’s difficult to give an accurate idea of cost without seeing a representative sample of the text. I will provide an estimated quote once I have evaluated the sample. The price will depend on the level and extent of the service required.

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Alternatively, if you would like to see an example of my editing technique, please request a sample edit. By editing a short sample of your work, I can figure out exactly how long it will take me to edit your entire text (and therefore the fee) and you can assess my services with a real example (and decide if we are a good fit). I'll provide a quote when I return the edited sample. The price will depend on the level and extent of the service required.

 

I charge a nominal fee for sample edits, which would be deducted from the final invoice if you were to proceed with the full edit.

How it works

The first step is to send me (tori@seymourproofreading.co.uk) the following:

  • a description of your book and exact word count

  • your schedule/deadline and budget

  • the service you require (proofread or copy-edit)

  • the format of your file (Word or PDF)

  • a representative 500–1,000 word sample of your text

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I can then let you know if the work can be fitted into my schedule.

 

If you would prefer not to send a sample until I can confirm availability, then please send details of your work, word count, deadline and budget.

My experience

I have experience proofreading and editing YA (young adult), fantasy, sci-fi, romance and women​’s fiction. I have proofread and edited in UK and US English, and I’ve worked with dyslexic people and people whose first language is not English.

 

I also have experience working with different style sheets. I​’m willing to work with your publisher’s style guide, or I can help you develop your own style sheet if you don​’t have one.

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For a list of my training and CPD, please visit my qualifications page.

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Her work was equal to that of my large publisher ...

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“Working with Victoria was a dream. She was professional and considerate the entire time, and she made the whole experience very pain free.

I​’m a hybrid author, and finding a copy-editor for my first self-published manuscript was quite daunting, but her work was equal to that of my

large publisher. Thank you Tori.”​

 

—Carlotta Page, author of Claimed by the Alien Outlaw

 

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