Open the door to publication …

You’ve done the hard work of finding your topic, doing the research, constructing your argument. You’re ready to submit your work for review and publication.

But the world of academic publishing is competitive and English is not your first language. You risk losing even peer readers if your writing is difficult to follow. Idioms, prepositions, appropriate register and vocabulary can all be obstacles to comprehension.

I can help. My academic editing service will ensure you get your message across. I’ll show you how to smooth out, clarify and, if necessary, reduce the length of the article or paper you’ve worked so hard on. I’ll ensure it has logic, accuracy, economy and a coherent structure, as well as clear, appropriate language. You’ve invested time and effort marshalling your ideas and your argument – let’s work together to ensure it impresses the gatekeepers of publishing.

What I offer

• meticulous line-editing, checking spelling, punctuation and grammar

• checks for repetition, vagueness, inaccurate use of vocabulary and idiom

• suggested improvements for flow and clarity of the prose, including cutting/refining

• checks for typos and internal consistency of expression and punctuation

• advice on structural aspects such as overload, redundancy and sequence, ensuring the reader can follow the thread of your argument

• a summary style sheet listing usage choices so that you can remain consistent when writing future papers for the same institution or publication

This service is particularly relevant if you are close to your deadline. I’ll edit your manuscript using track changes in Word, with more detailed comments, queries and suggestions in the sidebar of your document. You’ll receive an accompanying style sheet and a bullet-point list of issues/suggestions.

Fee: chargeable at a day rate of £525. Minimum rate: 0.5 day. For guidance, a 10,000 word article is likely to take around 1.5 days.

This is a higher level service with some content/structural editing and cutting as well as the line-edit as described in Option 1. I will advise you if the argument is overloaded, unclear or repetitive and offer recommendations for reducing the word count to fit requirements, with the qualification, of course, that I am not the subject-matter expert.

Fee: chargeable at a day rate of £600. Minimum rate: 0.5 day. For guidance, a 10,000 word article is likely to take 2 days. Note: this depends on the complexity of content editing or cutting required.

Why choose me?

• I have 13 years’ experience as an editor of fiction, non-fiction and academic articles

• I have a First Class Master of Arts degree in English Language and Literature

• I have taught on various Oxford University creative writing programmes for 20 years

• I’m a published author, writing coach and speaker

• I’ll bring a fresh eye to your article which will help me spot the errors and issues you can no longer perceive because you’re too close to it

• I’ll bring a deep understanding of how the English language works when it comes to conveying information and persuading your readers

• I will treat your work with care and scrupulous attention to detail

How does the process work?

Contact me to tell me about the work, its length and any deadline by which you need the work done. When we have agreed the scope of the work and dates, I’ll ask you to send the article or paper as a Word document, which I will edit using track changes, as part of the Essential or Enhanced service described above. I will also send you summary notes of comments/observations/advice, along with an invoice for the time I have spent on the edit. Bank transfer fees will be included in the invoice, which is payable within 30 days.

How many passes through the work are included?

Normally two to three passes.

What is not included in the service?

• fact-checking and reference-checking: you are the expert authority on your own subject

• formatting of text such as citations, footnotes, endnotes, bibliographies. It is your responsibility to present the work in the form required by the institution or publication for which you are writing. It is my responsibility to ensure it is as readable as possible

• challenging or examining the argument further than whether it makes sense to the reader

How many days will an article or paper take to edit?

Each project is individual and the amount of input and time needed for the task will vary, but an article of 10,000 words is likely to take 1.5 – 2 days for the Essential service and 2 or more days for the Enhanced service.

Can we liaise during the process? Can I ask you questions when you’ve returned the work to me?

Certainly, within reason. I reserve the right to charge for extra time if a significant amount of discussion is needed.

What if I miss the date we agreed on for sending the manuscript?

When we agree on a date and sign the contract I will block off the time I need to do the work. If you then need to reschedule I will do my very best to fit you in quickly. Obviously, I will be more able to do so if you let me know about possible changes to the schedule as soon as you can, especially if you need to deliver the manuscript to a deadline.

If any problems arise at my end, such as illness, I will notify you immediately and we can agree on a convenient date for the work.

I’ve written a longer piece or a book. Can you help me?

Get in touch to discuss the project along with the scope and timing of any help I may be able to provide.