Non-fiction Editing for Authors

Your manuscript perfectly polished before publication

Let’s get your words ready for the world

Writing a non-fiction book is no small feat. You’ve spent months (maybe years) shaping your ideas, pouring research onto the page and finding your voice.

Now it’s time to make sure your manuscript says exactly what you mean — clearly, confidently and without the distractions of typos or clunky sentences. That’s where I come in.

I’m a professional editor who helps non-fiction authors polish their work so it’s ready for readers, agents or publishers.

Whether you’ve written a business book, a memoir or something that sits between genres, I’ll bring a careful eye to your writing while respecting your unique style and message.

Why Editing Matters


Even the sharpest thinkers and best writers benefit from a second set of eyes. When you’re this close to your manuscript, it’s easy to miss small errors, repeated phrases or moments where your meaning gets lost.

An editor’s job isn’t just about fixing grammar; it’s about making sure your ideas shine without anything getting in the way.

A strong edit can:

  • Smooth out awkward sentences so your writing flows.

  • Catch distracting typos and inconsistencies.

  • Tighten sections that wander, so readers stay engaged.

  • Help you build trust with your audience through clear, professional prose.

In other words, good editing helps your book do its job: connect with readers.

“Excellent communication, fast response and speedy service. I will be coming back to Sarah for more services.”

— Justyna, Memoir Proofreading

Sarah Bones sits at a dining table with a laptop in front of her, a banana stand with bananas, and a window with a garden outside in the background.

Author Editing Services

  • Open laptop on a wooden desk with a document open on the screen, a black smartphone, a glass of water, a notebook with a blue pen, and a potted plant.

    Copy-editing

    With copy-editing (or line editing as it’s sometimes called), the focus is on readability, sentence structure and ensuring consistency and flow throughout your work.

    This includes going through the copy line by line, attending to:

    • Grammar, spelling, punctuation and syntax

    • Correct use of tenses

    • Consistency in layout and formatting, e.g. paragraph and line spacing, capitalisation and hyphenation, indentation and section breaks, numbering and sequencing

    • Pace and flow of the text, with attention to instances of repetition or excess wording

    • Correct expression of dialogue

    • Basic fact-checking

    This phase should ideally be followed by a final proofread before publication.

  • Overhead view of multiple open books with a pair of black glasses resting on one of them.

    Proofreading

    With this being the final stage before publication, it ideally takes place after copy-editing.

    The focus is on quality control and correcting any final mistakes or inconsistencies which have slipped through the copy-editing process.

    This includes ensuring:

    • Correct pagination and chapter sequencing

    • Removal of leftover repetitions or spelling/grammar/punctuation mistakes

    • A final check for consistency in layout and formatting of both text and any images, including paragraph, line and section breaks, and indentation

    • Consistent capitalisation and hyphenation

    • Consistent dialogue expression and formation

    Proofreading is for when a manuscript requires only gentle tweaks rather than significant rewriting or restructuring.

Copy-editing & Proofreading Bundle

I offer final proofreading at a 20% discount for authors who have previously booked my copy-editing services.

Pricing:

Proofreading

From £10 per 1, 000 words

Copy-editing

From £12 per 1, 000 words

A bespoke quotation will be provided once a sample of the work has been received. If the text is very complex the standard word rate may increase.

Turnaround time:

This depends on a few factors including the length and complexity of the manuscript, my other commitments and your own requirements. We’ll agree a deadline together as part of the editing process.

I may be able to offer an express service at an increased rate if needed. Please let me know if you have a tight deadline to meet and I’ll see what I can do!

Free sample

As part of the process I’ll offer a free sample edit of 1, 000 words of your manuscript so you can see what you’re getting before committing to my services.

You can find further guidance on what proofreaders and copy-editors do and average rates from the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) which promotes standards within the industry in the UK.

BOOK ME IN

The Editing Process

  • The first step is for you to get in touch via the contact page here and let me know a bit about your book and what editing support you need.

    After that I’ll send you a questionnaire to gather more information if needed. This questionnaire will ask questions about your manuscript, genre, word count, and your editing and publishing goals.

    If you prefer, we can have a free 30-minute call or chat online to go through it together. This is completely optional.

    You then send me back your completed questionnaire. I will also offer a free 1, 000 word sample edit at this point so you can get a feel for my editing style and make sure it’s right for you and meets your needs.

  • After I’ve received the questionnaire and completed the sample edit, I’ll provide you with a quote and my available start date and potential timings for completion of the editing.

    You then decide if you want to go ahead or not, after which I’ll send you my Terms of Service to read and sign.

    Once I’ve received that back, I’ll send you an initial invoice for a 50% deposit. Payment of this secures the work in my calendar.

  • Once I’ve got the signed Terms of Service back and received payment of 50%, you’ll send me your full manuscript in either Microsoft Word or Google Docs (I can also edit PDFs in Adobe).

    I’ll then begin editing on the agreed start date.

    You’ll receive periodic updates from me and you can contact me by email any time — I’ll respond within 24 hours.

    I’ll contact you if I need any additional information or clarification from you.

  • Once I’ve completed the editing, I’ll send you both a marked-up copy (using the suggested edits feature in Google Docs or track changes in Word), along with a clean copy of the manuscript with all the edits incorporated.

    You’ll also receive the final invoice for the remaining 50% payment, which is due within 7 days of receipt of the invoice.

    I’m always happy to clarify anything afterwards if you have any questions. Hopefully you’ll want to then book in your next project with me!

Let’s talk about your book

A printed page of text titled 'How Innovation Works' with a paragraph highlighted in yellow that reads: 'Innovation happens when people are free to think, experiment and speculate. It happens when people can trade with each other. It happens where people are relatively prosperous, not desperate. It is somewhat contagious. It needs investment. It generally happens in cities. And so on. But do we really understand it?'

Every manuscript is different, and so is every author. That’s why I’ll learn as much as I can about your goals before I start any editing. It all starts starts with you sending me an initial enquiry.

Editing is personal work. You’re trusting me with your words, and I take that seriously. My job is to make the editing process collaborative, transparent and even enjoyable!

Your words deserve to be read. Together, we’ll make sure they’re ready for the spotlight.

GET STARTED