DUSABLON
EDITING
Professional copyediting and proofreading services for writers with stories to tell
Editing is a conversation
Working with an editor should feel like a straightforward and collaborative process that helps your words—your story—make the kind of impact you intended.
As many copyeditors will tell you, editing is not a “which hunt.” The rules of grammar and style are there to help readers understand your writing and get immersed in your story; knowing how to break rules with finesse can make your voice unique. Your project deserves the full attention of an experienced editor that will bring it to polished perfection.
Services
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Proofreading
Correcting mechanical and formatting errors -
Copyediting
Editing text for clarity, consistency, and correctness
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Line Editing
Polishing syntax line by line for readability, voice, and style
Proofreading, copyediting, and line editing services are available for nonfiction and fiction book manuscripts, cookbooks, short stories, business communications, technical reports, websites, and more.
Meet Alexandra DuSablon
Freelance Copyeditor
From the Editor’s Blog
Testimonials
“Alexandra’s editorial insight into the manuscript has been invaluable. She has an eye for word use, grammar, and structure; however, her copyediting skills go well beyond these concepts. Her constructive criticism regarding ‘head hopping’ or shifting limited third-person perspective really made the work pop off the page, as well as her other suggestions regarding the reordering of information. Aside from these talents, Alexandra showed her ability to communicate well throughout the process.”
Joe Thomas, writer
“Alexandra is such a delight to work with! She is warm and personable. She ensured that I kept my voice in my writing. The best aspects of working with her are how she is relatable, she shares what she has enjoyed in your work, and she elevates your writing. Her flexibility, quick turnaround, and precise work ethic are additional reasons why everyone should work with her.”
Elexus Liggins, writer
Process
Submit an inquiry with a description of your project, a sample of your text, and your timeline. We can have a conversation about what you are looking for in terms of editing services.
You will receive a free 1,000-word sample edit, a customized cost estimate based on the scale of your project, and a detailed editorial proposal and statement of work.
You will receive updates as the editing takes place. If any questions about manuscript-wide style or usage choices come up, I will reach out to you right away to make sure we’re always on the same page.
You will receive the Word document with Track Changes edits, a cover letter, and a style sheet that outlines the kinds of changes that were made. You will be able to accept or reject each change and reach out if you have questions about any of the edits.
Optionally, you can send back the document after reviewing it in full, and I will produce a final clean copy formatted according to industry standards. Let me know if you need help with specific formatting requirements for a certain e-book platform or printer.
FAQs
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Professional copyeditors and proofreaders are trained to spot errors, improve the readability of a text, comply with style guides, and ensure linguistic consistency across a manuscript. Editors catch errors that are routinely missed by Grammarly, spellcheck, even your eagle-eyed great aunt who taught English for decades. Editors will also help enhance and maintain your unique voice as a writer. Lastly, your editor will provide you with a customized style sheet for your project that ensures your style is consistent and aligns with the appropriate conventions. Working with a professional editor will help ensure your readers stay immersed in your story.
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While I focus on helping clients with proofreading, copyediting, and line editing, there are several more types of editing. For example, developmental editors help writers strengthen the structure, content, and voice of their manuscript while they’re still working on it. Learn more about the different types of editing on the editor’s blog.
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Every writer is different! Some writers want to get their manuscript edited by a developmental editor and/or a copyeditor before submitting to a literary agent or publisher, lest clunky wording or plot inconsistencies distract from your work. Once you begin working with a publisher, you’ll follow their in-house editing process. If you are looking to self-publish, you can hire a developmental editor to help bring manuscript to life. You’ll hire a copyeditor after your manuscript is complete, and often after you’ve gotten feedback from beta readers on the content and story arc. Proofreaders usually come in after the text has been formatted for print so that they can look for errors and formatting issues. Learn more about working with editors on my blog.
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It depends on availability and the complexity of the project, but most manuscripts take two weeks. I will go over the timeline (along with the budget and scope) up front, and any deadline I provide will always be met. Let me know if you need a quick turnaround and I’ll see if I can prioritize your project.
A quick grammar run-down on the most common errors that appear in holiday cards and letters. Learn about pluralizing last names, tricky possessives, and capitalization rules.