The Ultimate Guide to Preparing Your Manuscript for Professional Editing

Preparing your manuscript for professional editing is a vital step in the publishing journey. A well-prepared manuscript not only saves you time and money but also ensures a smoother and more effective collaboration with your editor. In this guide, we’ll cover essential steps to get your manuscript ready for editing so you can maximize the value of the editing process.

Why Preparing Your Manuscript Matters
Taking the time to prepare your manuscript before submitting it to an editor can significantly enhance the editing process. Here’s why preparation is so important:

• Save on editing costs: A clean manuscript allows editors to focus on deeper, more substantive issues rather than surface-level corrections.

• Speed up turnaround times: Organized and error-free content is quicker to review.

• Improve your manuscript’s quality: Editors can concentrate on refining structure, flow, and readability when basic issues are already addressed.

Steps to Prepare Your Manuscript

1. Self-Edit Your Work
Before sending your manuscript to a professional editor, conduct a thorough self-edit to address common issues:

• Fix spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

• Cut out unnecessary words or repetitive phrases.

• Ensure clarity, consistency, and a uniform tone throughout the manuscript.

2. Format Your Manuscript
Proper formatting makes your manuscript easier to navigate for both you and your editor:

• Use a standard font such as Times New Roman, size 12.

• Set 1-inch margins and double-space your text for readability.

• Include page numbers and a title page with relevant details.

3. Organize Your Content
A well-structured manuscript ensures that your editor can focus on enhancing its quality:

• Divide your content into clear sections or chapters.

• Include a table of contents for nonfiction manuscripts, if applicable.

• Attach supplementary materials like appendices, bibliographies, or notes.

4. Identify Your Editing Goals
Communicate your expectations and concerns with your editor:

• What are the main areas you’d like the editor to focus on?

• Are you looking for help with structure, tone, or grammar?

• Do you have a specific target audience or publishing goals?

What to Expect During Professional Editing
Understanding the stages of editing can help you prepare for what’s ahead:

• Developmental Editing: Focuses on overarching elements like structure, plot, and content organization.

• Copyediting: Polishes language, grammar, and style while ensuring consistency.

• Proofreading: Corrects minor errors such as typos and formatting inconsistencies.

Final Checklist
Before submitting your manuscript, double-check these key points:

• Have you reviewed and revised your work thoroughly?

• Is your document correctly formatted and easy to read?

• Have your goals and concerns been clearly communicated to the editor?

Preparing your manuscript for professional editing is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure its success. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll save time and money, streamline the editing process, and enhance the overall quality of your manuscript.

Ready to elevate your work with expert editing? Contact me today to take the next step in your publishing journey!

10 Common Writing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them: Tips From a Professional Nonfiction Editor

Good writing communicates ideas clearly, engages the reader, and achieves its purpose. However, even the best writers can fall prey to common mistakes that weaken their message. Professional editors play a crucial role in catching these errors and polishing a text to perfection. In this article, we explore 10 common writing mistakes and provide practical tips for avoiding them.

1. Comma Splices: A Common Punctuation Pitfall
A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined with just a comma. This error can disrupt the flow of a sentence and confuse readers.

Example: “I love writing, it’s my passion.”

How to avoid: Use a period, semicolon, or conjunction to separate the clauses:
“I love writing. It’s my passion.”
“I love writing; it’s my passion.”
“I love writing, and it’s my passion.”

2. Misplaced Modifiers: Avoiding Confusion
Modifiers must be placed next to the words they describe. Misplaced modifiers can lead to unintentionally humorous or confusing sentences.

Example: “Running down the street, the flowers were beautiful.”

How to avoid: Ensure modifiers clearly refer to the intended subject:
“Running down the street, I noticed the flowers were beautiful.”

3. Overuse of Passive Voice: Write With Impact
Passive voice makes sentences less direct and engaging. It can also obscure who is performing the action.

Example: “The cake was eaten.”

How to avoid: Use active voice for clarity and impact:
“The child ate the cake.”

4. Wordiness and Redundancy: Keep it Concise
Wordy sentences tire readers and dilute your message. Redundancy, such as saying “12 noon,” is another common issue.

Example: “The reason why is because he was late.”

How to avoid: Be concise:
“He was late.”

5. Subject-Verb Agreement Errors: Stay Grammatically Correct
The subject and verb of a sentence must agree in number.

Example: “The list of items are on the table.”

How to avoid: Identify the true subject:
“The list of items is on the table.”

6. Lack of Parallelism: Maintain Consistency
Parallelism ensures consistency in lists and comparisons.

Example: “She likes reading, to write, and painting.”

How to avoid: Use the same structure for all items:
“She likes reading, writing, and painting.”

7. Incorrect Word Usage: Choose Words Wisely
Using the wrong word, such as “effect” instead of “affect,” can confuse readers.

Example: “The new policy will effect change.”

How to avoid: Understand the meanings of commonly confused words:
“The new policy will affect change.”

8. Inconsistent Tone and Style: Stay Cohesive
Switching between formal and informal tones disrupts the reader’s experience.

Example: “This study examines important data. Anyway, let’s move on.”

How to avoid: Define your tone at the outset and maintain it throughout.

9. Overuse of Adverbs: Strengthen Your Verbs
Adverbs like “very” and “really” weaken writing when overused.

Example: “She ran very quickly.”

How to avoid: Use stronger verbs instead:
“She sprinted.”

10. Unclear Antecedents: Ensure Clarity
An antecedent is the noun a pronoun refers to. If unclear, the sentence becomes confusing.

Example: “When Jane met Sarah, she said hello.”

How to avoid: Rewrite for clarity:
“When Jane met Sarah, Jane said hello.”

Writing is an art, and even the most skilled writers make mistakes. Professional editors bring a fresh perspective and a trained eye to catch and correct errors that might escape the writer’s notice. But by looking out for these things in your manuscript before sending it off to an editor, you can save on editing costs. Ready to perfect your work? Let’s get started!

The Importance of Proofreading for Independent Authors

As an independent author, you are ultimately responsible for and in control of every aspect of your book, from the writing itself to the final formatting and layout. While this can be liberating in many ways, it also means that you need to be extra diligent when it comes to ensuring that your work is polished, professional, and error-free. One of the most important steps to ensuring this is proofreading.

Proofreading is the process of reviewing a manuscript or document for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting. It is the final step of the editing process, and it is essential for creating a finished product that is polished and error-free. Here are a few reasons why proofreading is so important for independent authors.

When you've been working on a piece of writing for a long time, it can be hard to see it with fresh eyes. A proofreader can help you to catch errors that you may have overlooked, such as typos, spelling mistakes, and grammatical errors. It’s harder for the author to catch these types of errors because they know what they are meaning to say, so that is what their eyes see. So getting fresh eyes on the manuscript is very important.

A proofreader isn’t a menacing villain out to gain pleasure in catching mistakes. They are on your team and really want to improve your book. This comes in the form of objective feedback on your writing, which can be invaluable. They can offer non-judgemental constructive criticism, which can help you to improve your writing and grow as an author.

Proofreading can be a time-consuming and tedious process. As an independent author, your time and energy are better spent on writing new material rather than pouring over your old work looking for mistakes. By working with a proofreader, you can save time and energy, allowing you to focus on the creative aspects of writing or your next project.

When you publish a book or other piece of writing, you are putting your name and reputation on the line. Even one or two mistakes can damage your reputation as an author. Professional proofreading can help ensure that your writing is polished and error-free, improving your reputation and making it more likely that readers will recommend your work to others.

Also, an error-free book is more appealing to readers than one that is riddled with mistakes. When you get your book professionally proofread, you can help ensure that it is well-written and professional, making it more appealing to potential readers.

Hopefully you can see why professional proofreading is an essential step for independent authors who want to create the best possible work. A proofreader can provide fresh eyes, objective feedback, save you time and energy, improve your reputation, and increase your book's appeal. Don't let mistakes detract from the impact of your writing!

Is your book ready for proofreading? Reach out and let me know. I’d love to help make your book the best it can be!

The Importance of Copy Editing for Independent Authors

Copy editing is a crucial part of the writing process, and is important for independent authors who are self-publishing their work or who are planning to look for publishers after the editing process. Copy editing involves checking and correcting errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, formatting, and style, and it helps ensure that the final product is polished, professional, and error-free. Here are some reasons why copy editing is not a step to be skipped.

One of the primary reasons that copy editing is important for independent authors is that it helps to ensure professionalism. When readers encounter errors in a book or manuscript, it can detract from the overall reading experience and make the author appear less professional. By investing in copy editing, independent authors can help ensure that their work is polished and free of errors, making it more likely that readers will view them as credible and professional.

Copy editing also helps to improve the clarity of the writing. By correcting errors in grammar, syntax, and punctuation, a copy editor can help ensure that the writing is clear and easy to understand. This is especially important for indie authors who may not have a traditional publishing team to provide feedback on their work. A copy editor can help to identify areas where the writing may be unclear or confusing to future readers and suggest revisions to improve readability.

Copy editing also helps to ensure consistency in the writing and storyline. A copy editor can help ensure that the writing adheres to a consistent style guide and that all formatting and layout are consistent throughout the manuscript. They will also identify inconsistencies in the story, such as a character having blue eyes in one chapter and brown in another. Catching these things helps to create a more professional and polished final product.

Ultimately, the goal of copy editing is to improve the reader experience. By helping to ensure that the writing is polished, error-free, clear, and consistent, indie authors can create a more enjoyable and engaging reading experience for their audience. This can help to build a loyal following of readers who will be more likely to recommend the author's work to others and buy their subsequent books.

Hopefully you can see why copy editing is an essential part of the writing process for independent authors. By investing in copy editing, indie authors can help ensure that their work is polished, professional, and error-free, improving their credibility and the overall reading experience for their audience. And that’s what all authors (and readers) want!

If your book is ready for copy editing, reach out and let me know. I’d love to help polish your hard work!

Essential Self-Editing Tips for Authors: How to Polish Your Manuscript Before Hiring an Editor

Self-editing is a crucial step in the writing process, helping you refine your manuscript before handing it over to a professional editor. While hiring an editor is still essential, strong self-editing can improve your work and even reduce editing costs. However, after months of working on your book, spotting errors can be challenging. Here are key self-editing strategies to help you polish your manuscript before professional editing.

1. Take a Break Before Editing

One of the most effective ways to improve your self-editing process is to step away from your manuscript after finishing your draft. Taking a break—whether it’s a few days, a week, or longer—allows you to return with fresh eyes and a more objective perspective. When you revisit your work, you’ll spot inconsistencies, awkward phrasing, and weak areas more easily.

2. Read Your Work Out Loud

Reading your manuscript out loud helps you identify:

• Awkward phrasing

• Clunky sentence structure

• Repetitive words

• Issues with rhythm and flow

You can also use text-to-speech software (like Microsoft Word’s "Read Aloud" feature) to hear your writing in a different voice. This technique can help catch errors your eyes might skip over when reading silently.

3. Focus on One Editing Task at a Time

Self-editing can feel overwhelming, especially when tackling grammar, sentence structure, and clarity all at once. Instead of trying to fix everything in one pass, break it down into smaller tasks:

• First pass: Remove passive voice and improve sentence clarity

• Second pass: Ensure consistency in tone, tense, and style

• Third pass: Cut unnecessary words and tighten your prose

• Final pass: Check for grammar, punctuation, and typos

By focusing on one aspect at a time, you’ll be more effective in refining your manuscript.

4. Use Editing Tools—But Don’t Rely on Them

Online tools like Grammarly, Hemingway, and ProWritingAid can help identify:

• Spelling and grammar errors

• Readability issues

• Overuse of adverbs and passive voice

However, these tools are not a substitute for a professional editor. Automated programs often miss context, tone, and subtle nuances that only a human editor can catch. Use them as a guide, but don’t depend on them entirely.

5. Get Feedback from Others

No matter how thoroughly you self-edit, outside feedback is invaluable. Seek input from:

• Beta readers who provide insight from a reader’s perspective

• Writing groups where fellow writers offer constructive criticism

• Critique partners who can highlight weak spots in your story or writing style

If hiring a beta reader, they are typically affordable and can provide valuable insights before you send your manuscript to an editor.

Self-Editing: A Crucial Step Before Professional Editing

Self-editing is an important step in the publishing process, but it doesn’t replace the need for a professional copy editor or proofreader. By taking a break, reading aloud, focusing on one task at a time, using online tools wisely, and gathering feedback, you can strengthen your manuscript before it reaches an editor’s hands.

Do you have a self-editing tip that has worked for you? Let’s chat! I’d love to hear what’s helped you refine your writing.

Hyphens, En Dashes, and Em Dashes. What's the difference?

At first glance, hyphens, en dashes, and em dashes might all look like simple straight lines, but they each serve different purposes in writing. Knowing when and how to use them correctly can improve the clarity and professionalism of your work. Let’s break down the differences and when to use each one.

Hyphens (-): The Connector

Hyphens are the shortest of the three and are used primarily to join words or break words at the end of a line.

Common uses of hyphens:

Compound adjectives before a noun:

• Her eight-year-old daughter wanted a chocolate birthday cake.

• That’s a well-written novel.

Compound nouns (in some cases):

• We need to schedule a follow-up appointment.

• She’s a big fan of self-care.

Clarifying meaning:

• The small-business owner (a person who owns a small business) vs. the small business-owner (a short business owner).

En Dashes (–): The Spacer

An en dash is slightly longer than a hyphen and is named because it’s about the width of a lowercase “n.” It is primarily used to indicate a range of values or relationships.

Common Uses of En Dashes:

To indicate a range:

• You can find the subject covered in chapters 3–6.

• The meeting will take place from 1:00–3:00 PM.

To replace “to” in expressions of time and distance:

• The New York–Los Angeles flight was delayed.

• The show runs September–December.

For clarity in complex compound adjectives:
According to Grammarly, en dashes should be used when one of the elements in a compound adjective is an open compound (contains a space) or already includes a hyphen.

• Amanda only decorates with Ming Dynasty–style furniture.

• I’m wearing my great-grandmother’s World War I–era dress.

Helpful Hint: To insert an en dash:

• Windows: Type Alt + 0150

• Mac: Type Option + Minus (-)

Em Dashes (—): The Emphasizer

An em dash is the longest of the three and is named because it’s roughly the width of a lowercase “m.” It is incredibly versatile and can replace commas, parentheses, colons, and even semicolons to add emphasis or clarity.

Common Uses of Em Dashes:

To replace commas for emphasis:

• When they were finally able to go on vacation—after saving up for several years—they made sure to visit their dream destinations.

To replace parentheses for a stronger effect:

• After trying samples of ice cream—all 32 of them—she finally chose a flavor.

To replace a colon for emphasis:

• The tinted windows, the great gas mileage, and the heated seats—that’s why he chose that car.

To replace a semicolon for a smoother transition:

• She asked him to go to the store—he went without hesitation.

To show an interruption or sudden change in thought:

• Can you please bring me my glasses—no, wait, they’re right here on my head.

Helpful Hint: To insert an em dash:

• Windows: Type Alt + 0151

• Mac: Type Option + Shift + Minus (-)

Mastering Dashes for Clearer Writing

Understanding the difference between hyphens, en dashes, and em dashes can elevate your writing by improving clarity and readability. When used correctly, these punctuation marks help prevent confusion and make your text more polished and professional.

Have questions about punctuation or need an expert copy editor for your manuscript? Let’s chat! I’d love to help you refine your work. Contact me today!

What Type of Editing Does Your Book Need? A Guide for Writers

Congratulations! You’ve reached the editing stage of your book. That’s a major milestone! But now you might be wondering—what’s next? What type of editing does your manuscript need? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

Understanding the Four Main Types of Editing

If this is your first time working with an editor, you may not know which level of editing your manuscript requires. Here’s a breakdown of the four primary types of editing and when you need each one.

1. Developmental Editing (Big-Picture Editing)

If you’ve never had an editor review your work, developmental editing is a great place to start. This phase focuses on:

• Story structure and organization: Is everything in a logical order?

• Plot holes: Are there gaps or inconsistencies in the storyline?

• Character development: Are the characters believable and well-developed?

• Scene effectiveness: Could any scenes be improved, expanded, or cut?

Expect to make big revisions at this stage. This is the first time someone is reading your book the way your audience will, and their feedback will be invaluable.

2. Line Editing (Refining Your Language)

Once your manuscript is structurally sound, line editing focuses on how you use language. A line editor will:

• Improve clarity and readability

• Identify overused words and redundancies

• Tighten up paragraphs and sentences

• Address pacing issues

• Ensure consistency in tone and style

Not every manuscript needs a line edit, but if your developmental editor suggests it, they’re probably right.

3. Copy Editing (Technical Precision)

This is where I come in! Copy editing ensures consistency and correctness by checking for:

• Grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors

• Inconsistent details (e.g., if a character’s car changes from red to blue with no explanation)

• Formatting consistency (spelling variations, numerals, hyphenations, etc.)

• Basic fact-checking to prevent inaccuracies

Copy editing is always necessary after a developmental or line edit to ensure your manuscript is polished and professional.

4. Proofreading (Final Quality Check)

The last step before publishing is proofreading. A proofreader serves as the final set of eyes to catch any remaining errors, including:

• Spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes

• Inconsistent formatting and numbering

• Any overlooked typos or minor inconsistencies

Proofreading is always needed after a copy edit to ensure your book is error-free before publication.

Why You Shouldn’t Combine Copy Editing and Proofreading

I offer copy editing and proofreading, but I don’t do both for the same manuscript. Why? Because after spending time on a manuscript, I become too familiar with it—just like authors do with their own writing. A fresh set of eyes is essential for catching lingering errors. However, if you need a proofreader after a copy edit, I’ll be happy to help you find one.

Editing: The Secret to a Seamless Reading Experience

Remember, editors aren’t here to tear apart your work—we’re here to help your book shine! The editing process can be long and sometimes frustrating, but it’s absolutely necessary for a smooth and enjoyable reading experience.

Ironically, when a book is well-edited, readers don’t even think about the editing process. But when a book is full of errors, they definitely notice—and not in a good way. Don’t let that happen to your book!

Ready to elevate your manuscript? If your book is ready for a professional copy edit or proofread, I’d love to help! Contact me today to discuss your project.

Why Even Good Writers Need Editors

You’re a talented writer. You have a strong grasp of grammar and punctuation. You’ve revised your work multiple times. So, do you really need an editor?

The Importance of Fresh Eyes

The simple truth is that you are too close to your writing to see it objectively. No matter how many times you review your work, your brain fills in gaps, skips over small errors, and assumes clarity where confusion may exist. An editor brings a fresh perspective, spotting mistakes and inconsistencies that you may have overlooked—even after countless revisions.

A professional editor does more than correct typos. They refine sentence structure, improve readability, and ensure your writing is clear and engaging. You’ve already put in the hard work—now it’s time to let an expert fine-tune your manuscript and prepare it for your readers.

Editors Are on Your Side

Some writers hesitate to hire an editor because they worry about judgment or losing their voice in the process. But editors aren’t here to criticize—we’re here to help! A good editor respects your unique style and enhances your writing while keeping your voice intact. Our goal is the same as yours: to create the best possible version of your work and ensure an enjoyable reading experience for your audience.

Hiring an editor isn’t just about fixing mistakes—it’s about making your writing the strongest it can be. Whether you need a final polish or in-depth refinement, an experienced editor can be the key to a professional, publication-ready manuscript.

Ready to elevate your writing? Let’s work together to make it the best it can be. Contact me today to get started!