The Book Doctor offers editing and proof reading services at a professional level, and has edited and proof read works for government departments, university and popular presses, and professional journals. We have also edited and proof read many works for self-publishers.

We offer a highly efficient and thorough editing service. We engage with the content of the work as well as its spelling and punctuation, and offer suggestions that help authors clarify their ideas or develop lines of enquiry. We offer three forms of editing and proof reading.

 

which service do you need?

Editing

Editing is carried out when the manuscript is complete, but before it is sent to the printer for layout and printing.

Some editors offer different levels of editing, but really there is only thorough editing or bad editing. A good edit will do the following, and many other things depending on the manuscript:

• correct spelling, punctuation, and syntax. The Book Doctor imposes Australian spelling unless instructed otherwise
• impose an appropriate level of formality depending on the context of the work
• suggest changes that will support the tone of a work
• impose a 'house' style incorporating specific spellings and formats preferred by the author
• check for uniformity of headings, chapter layout, quotations, pagination, indexes and bibliographies
• spot-check references and web addresses
• check for consistency of spelling where alternatives exist (eg judgment or judgement)
• note places where phrasing is ambiguous or clumsy and suggest alternative phrases
• spot-check names and titles of people, places, books etc. for consistency
• note queries to the author where problems arise


 

Proof reading

Proofs are the sample book pages provided by your printer for checking just before the print run is begun. Proof reading is the final check of the work just before it is printed. It includes:

• correcting spelling
• amending erratic or absent punctuation
• fixing typographic errors
• checking paragraphing
• checking layout

Generally, only absolutely necessary changes are made to proofs, as altering them costs time and money. This means that proof reading is generally quicker than editing.

 

New service for short story writers and novelists
Editing with in-depth commentary

This new is service offered by The Book Doctor to writers who have a high standard of accuracy in expression and wish to receive a critique as well as basic editing. The critique will cover all the elements of a normal assessment, but the comments will be attached to the document instead of being presented as a formal written assessment.

Most writers know when they are able to make use of a combined editing and assessment service like this. It is not appropriate for writers in the early drafts of a manuscript. It is expected that short story writers in particular will find it useful.

We reserve the right to provide this service only to writers whose technical work is of a high standard. We recommend an assessment to writers in the early stages of a work.

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What we will do when editing or proof reading:

• We will edit or proofread your work on-line or on paper, noting all necessary changes and offering suggestions where problems arise.
• If we edit on-line, we will use Track Changes, part of the Word program
• If we edit a hard (paper) copy, we will provide a list of all editing marks used, with examples 

What we will not do when editing or proof reading:

• We will not make any editing changes to your manuscript without showing what we have done. We believe authors should have the final say on what editing changes are made to their work.
• However, if you prefer a 'clean' copy, we will edit in Track Changes and return the work with all editing alteration marks hidden, so you can clearly see what the final edited work may look like.

What we need:

• a copy of your manuscript or the printer's proofs (manuscripts sent electronically must be Word attachments to an e-mail)
• a covering note requesting the service required
• instructions concerning specific spellings or styles, if you have preferences
  

Where to send it:

email it here as a Word attachment

Or send it to the address below. Include a return postal bag and sufficient postage (red postal bags are pre-paid):

The Book Doctor
69 Sandville Place
Sandford
Tasmania 7020 

Got questions? Ask us.

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