"I am . . . joined with eleven others in reporting the debates in Parliament for a Morning Newspaper. Night after night,
I record predictions that never come to pass, professions that are never fulfilled, explanations that are only meant
to mystify. I wallow in words."

Charles Dickens, David Copperfield


Wallowing in words has been one of my favorite occupations for as far back as I can remember, which is probably why I love copy editing.

Copy editing occupies a midpoint between editing and proofreading, encompassing aspects of each. The copy editor's main task is to ensure the author ends up with copy that is clear, correct, concise, comprehensible, and consistent.


When I copy edit I address the following factors (not a complete list):
  • grammar, punctuation, syntax , terminology, semantics & spelling
  • style & voice
  • clarity & flow
  • elements that could/should be explored more deeply (this applies particularly to book manuscripts)
  • accuracy of content & context
  • formatting & stylistic elements

Because editing is not a one-size-fits-all task, I usually recommend that I perform a sample edit (at no charge) of 3-5 pages from your manuscript or one web page. This allows me to gauge the complexity of the job and, more importantly, gives you a fairly good idea of whether my editing style is right for you and your project.


I work with:
  • book-length manuscripts (fiction, non-fiction, memoir)
  • corporate communications (letters to shareholders, internal and external documents)
  • web site copy
  • academic papers (theses, graduate assignments)
Note: I don't perform deep edits of fiction, nor do I handle scripts or plays, but my partner at Medusa's Muse Press, Terena Scott, is an excellent editor with a particular predilection for fiction, and a playwright herself.
Her e-mail address is:
tredart@gmail.com


Method:

You e-mail me your document (either in whole or in parts) in one of: Microsoft Word (.doc),  Rich Text (.rtf) or Plain Text (.txt) format.

I mark up your document with corrections, comments, questions and suggestions and return it to you via e-mail. (Hard copy services also available, upon request.)


For more information or to discuss your project, e-mail me at: JM.Editing@gmail.com


References available.