"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug

used by mankind."

Rudyard Kipling

As a confirmed bookaholic, I am delighted that there is no cure. So many books, so little time.

My experience includes PR, journalism (trade journals, company journals and ghosting articles for in-house magazines), editing and proofreading for indie authors and traditional publishers, in a variety of genres which include fiction, travel, wildlife, health, biographies, other non-fiction, and theses. A selection of the many books is shown on the portfolio page.

Also, I have studied psychology, philosophy and communications (not IT!) and travelled widely.

My rates are reasonable - I have no desire to fleece anyone - and I offer a comprehensive and conscientious service. 

Proofreading: the final check before publication for typos, spelling, punctuation. grammar, consistency.

Light editing: mostly for small projects - leaflets, brochures, simple manuals, straightforward shorter works. Often an hourly rate is appropriate.

Copy editing: to identify and correct typos, spelling, grammar, syntax, language, punctuation,  after line or developmental editing is complete.

Line editing: more intensive editing for the flow of elements, ideas, tone, narrative, structure, vocabulary, characterisation, clarity and accuracy; may involve suggestions for re-organising lines, paragraphs and chapters.

Developmental editing: involves substantial input regarding concept, plot, structure, timeline, characterisation, pitch, presentation. Usually part of the initial rewriting process.

Editing Hours

Copy editing 70,000 words can take 30-90 hours

Line editing 70,000 words can take 35-300+ hours 

Substantive editing 70,000 words can take 60-350+ hours

My Rates

Editing                     £6-£17 per 1,000 words, or part thereof, depending on the                                                    type of editing required and complexity of the manuscript

Proofreading           from £5.00 per 1,000 words or part thereof

*Some comparative rates:

                   UK                    USA               South Africa         NZ                            Ireland             

 Copy editing

                from £26.20      $30-40 per    R350-550 p.h.       from $20 per         €25-35 per   

                 per hour              hour             R200-400 per        1,000 words           hour                                            from £16 per                            1,000 words

                  1,000 words

Line editing

                from £20.00      $40-50 per      R350-550 p.h.      $700-1750 up        €40 per                                      per 1,000            hour                R200-600 per       to 50,000 words    hour 

                 words                                          1,000 words         $1600-3000 up

                                                                                                    to 100,000 words

Developmental editing                                                                                                                                                £30 per               $45-60 per      R400-600 ph        $2500+ over            €40+ per hour

                1,000 words        hour                 R600-800 per       100,000 words

                                                                     1,000 words                              

Fact  checking                           

                  -                          $35-60 per       R300-400 p.h.                  -                          -

                                                  hour             R300-900 per

                                                                       1,000 words

Proofreading

               from £10 per       $30-35 p.h.                    -                            -                          -

               1,000 words

*Rates are from The Editorial Freelancers Association USA, SAFREA South Africa,  New Zealand online freelance rates, Society for Freelance Editors UK and Irish online freelance rates.