Proofreading & Editing

And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.
Habakkuk 2:2 ESV

“I just finished writing my piece!
What do I do now?”

Your words come from your heart, so before you send your message to minister to others, give it the extra love it deserves. That’s where I come in. I’m not here to critique your voice or change your story. I’m your Habakkuk, here to make sure it’s plain, so your reader can run with it.

I live in the objective world of copyediting and proofreading. If I can prove or explain why it’s wrong, I’ll fix it. You’ll know my suggestions are correct because I’ll note the source and page number in the comments. If the style guides give several options for a particular scenario (as they often do), my comments will include mention of the options, my recommendation, and my reasoning. Ultimately, it’s your piece, so you decide. The most important thing is consistency throughout your work.

Copyediting

• Grammatical or punctuation errors
• Check Scripture references
• Suggest related Scripture references
• Anomalies
• Inconsistencies and glaring typos
• Restructuring sentences for improved clarity
• Stylistic suggestions

My Tools

• I rely first on Christian Writer’s Manual of Style (CWMS) as the standard of style in the Christian publishing industry.
• Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) as the authoritative reference work for authors, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers. 
• Proofreading Secrets From Best-Selling Authors by Kathy Ide, founder of The Christian Pen. This book is a “Cliff Notes” version of sorts of both the CWMS and CMOS.
• Editing Secrets From Best-Selling Authors by Kathy Ide, founder of The Christian Pen
• The Grammar Book by Jane Strauss
• ProWritingAid
• PerfectIt

Proofreading

• Spelling mistakes
• Grammatical errors
• Punctuation errors and inconsistencies
• Typographical and layout issues
  • Consistency in typeface and headings
  • Spacing
  • Table of Contents
• Formatting of Biblical references

Am I the right proofreader for you?

There’s a million different editors and proofreaders out there. I’m the right person for you if:

• You’re comfortable with the overall construction and style of your piece;
• Every time you try to read it over, you find yourself skimming because you’ve looked at it so many times for so long;
• You want to make sure there are no errors or inconsistencies;
• You want to make sure everything is clear and concise;
• You need an editor that understands the nuances of writing a Biblically-based message;
• You want a sister in Christ who appreciates that this is so much more than just a story;
• You need a professional who understands and respects your budget.

Levels of Editing

There are many stages of editing. It can get confusing because the labels are interchangeable, you may not need every level, and the different tasks can overlap, causing some gray area. I think of editing as artistic vs mechanical. I hang out in the more subjective area of mechanics.

Art

• Developmental Edit (aka structural or substantive edit)
  A developmental editor zooms out to review the big picture of your story, such as the theme, structure, and plot.
• Line Edit (aka Style Edit)
  A line editor reviews artistic elements of your writing, such as voice and tone, word choice, inconsistencies, and clichés. They will suggest re-writes intended to make your prose more effective.

Mechanics

• Copy Editing
  A copy editor corrects errors in grammar and sentence structure. They also rely on style guides to give your manuscript a professional look and to ensure consistency.
• Proofreading
  A proofreader corrects spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and other issues that could spoil a reader’s enjoyment of your writing. Proofreaders also look for typographical and layout issues, such as the wrong typeface in one of your chapter headings or awkwardly spaced lines within the text.

Want to Learn More About Editing?

I recommend the following articles from Reedsy to learn more about the different types of editing.

• 6 Types of Editing: Which One Do You Need Right Now?
• Line Editing: What Is It and How Can It Help Your Book?
• Copy Editing: 100+ Copy Editors for Hire in 2021
• Proofreader: Find A Professional to Proofread Your Work