Editing

Editing Services

Runaway Publishing follows the book industry standard references, The Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, while editing books; the The Associated Press Stylebook 2019 for articles; and the AMA Manual of Style for medical-legal writing.

What kind of editing do you need?

There is a lot of confusion about the different types of editing services available, with multiple terms used to describe the same types of services. Here is an explanation of the editing services I offer.

Developmental Editing

Developmental editing, also known as structural editing, looks at:

  • Structure
  • Content
  • Plot
  • Pacing
  • Characterization

This is where inconsistent tone or audience identification issues are addressed. In other words, the big picture stuff.

Copy Editing

Once the big picture issues have been addressed and you have a developed manuscript, I can provide the fine-tuning help you need. Copy editing is performed before typesetting a text for publication and before proofreading. There may be different levels of copy editing required, such as light, moderate, and heavy. Copy editing includes a style sheet that guides consistency and accuracy throughout the manuscript. Copy editing can include line editing, which improves the language and style of the text.

Copy editing includes:

  • Spelling
  • Grammar
  • Punctuation
  • Language
  • Inconsistencies
  • Incorrect facts

Proofreading

Proofreading is the final step in the editing process and is an essential stage of the publication process to make your work look professional. It is a last check to make sure all tiny errors are found and no new errors have been introduced from changes made during the copy editing process. Proofreading catches errors in:

  • Verb tense
  • Punctuation
  • Capitalization
  • Spelling
  • Design elements (headings, numerals, etc.)

Medical-Legal Editing

Medical-legal editing checks opinion reports and other documents to ensure they:

  • Have a logical flow
  • Present a foundation for opinions
  • Are written in plain language with definitions for technical terms
  • Provide accurate facts and details
  • Maintain consistent style
  • Contain correct spelling and grammar
  • Demonstrate proper formatting

Rates

Rates vary by project depending on the type of editing services required, the size of the document(s), and the urgency of the project. A free sample edit is provided for copy editing and proofreading.

For rates, availability, and other information please contact me.