Professional editorial services for women indie authors – specialising in romance.

Hello! I’m Lizzie, an approachable and professionally trained proofreader and copyeditor, based in Ayrshire in Scotland.

I specialise in supporting women indie and romance authors to refine their voice and polish their stories.

I have up-to-date training with the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) and the Publishing Training Centre (PTC), both highly regarded organisations in publishing.

As a human proofreader and copyeditor I understand the importance of nuance and emotion in your writing. I can catch the vital errors that only a human eye will notice.

Things to consider when choosing your professional editor.

Some things to consider when seeking your ideal editor:

• your budget (it might be tempting to go for the cheapest quote but please make sure you are securing the services of a professionally trained editor)

• your timescale (professional editors get booked up far in advance so factor that in when planning your timeline)

• the editor’s qualifications and experience

• their communication style and personality

• their specialisms and interests

Get a sense of compatibility by looking at an editor’s social media and website.

Many professional editors will offer you a sample edit — free or for a small fee. (I offer a free sample edit of around 1000 words.) The editor can then assess the work involved. And you will see their feedback style, including the style and quality of their comments. This helps you find out if you are well suited.

Do you perhaps wonder if you really need a professional editor or proofreader?

You might think you could have a friend or relative to do the job for you.

Yes, it might be tempting to use that friend who is good with words. But do think carefully before proceeding. With the effort, passion and time you put into your writing doesn’t it make sense to use the services of someone who is professionally trained?

It is vital that your writing is appropriate for its readership. An editor can help make sure your message conveys the desired tone and that it’s clear and accurate.

First impressions matter - if your reader finds annoying errors they could be distracted. Consistency is essential and without it your audience could be confused and lose interest.

You will demonstrate credibility by having your words professionally copyedited, with a final proofread too.

What about using an AI tool for proofreading?

If you prefer using an AI tool, you can. But be aware that the human proofreader can watch out for nuance, tone, and common sense in context, in a way that a robot can’t.

A human editor will check your project for sense and consistency as well as errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation.

With the right human editor your message will be as transparent, readable and relatable as possible.

If you choose me as your editor, I will treat your words as I would wish my own to be treated - with respect, kindness, honesty, and professionalism. I will support you with your writing goals – acting as a guide, not an inspector!