We’ve all read or written something where it happens. Halfway through the book, a character is mentioned and described for the second time. Some bright reader (maybe you, maybe a fan of yours) thinks, Wait. I thought his name was Justen, not Joseph. That reader pages back and confirms that yes, the name changed.
The reader may shrug and keep reading, may stop reading in disgust, may privately contact the writer, or may leave a scathing review asking why the writer couldn’t be bothered to hire a proofreader.
Yes, yes. I know. Finding those things isn’t a proofreader’s job—it’s a copyeditor‘s job. And nobody’s perfect; something can go through a team of nineteen people and still have typos, either added by the editorial process or missed because we’re all imperfect.
But, yanno. Another set of eyes can help.
And that’s what my “Oops” service is: another set of eyes that actually knows how writing’s supposed to work. Your favorite beta may offer fantastic plot advice, but does she know things like when to put a semicolon before a conjunction?
I’m a fan of writers learning to fix their own problems insofar as they are able, so if you know know (or if you submit something to me with consistent issues), I recommend starting out hiring me as a tutor.
If you have consistent grammar issues, that turns the “Oops” check into a full edit + the “Oops” check. That costs more. (See below for other pro editorial services I recommend in those situations.)
- “Oops” Proofreading
- Checking for typographical errors.
- This means I’m keeping a sharp eye on the punctuation, spelling, and formatting—and whatever details I notice while checking those things. For example, did your formerly blond doctor suddenly become a redhead for no apparent reason? I recently caught that type of error for a proofreading client.
- Rate: $2.50* per 1,000 words of the submitted draft, minimum charge of $40.
- *Please Note: “Oops” proofreading is intended to catch accidents. If you consistently have problems with a specific area of formatting or punctuation like commas, quotation marks, or italics, that will add a 10% surcharge per problem area, cap of $8 per 1k words. (Commas have multiple uses, so each type of comma abuse counts separately.)
- “Oops” Copyediting
- Checking for continuity and sentence structure—and doing everything I do while proofreading.
- This means I’m specifically watching the details, making sure your descriptions match up. I also watch for gaffes like “Waiting for her brother, the table felt cold beneath her hands,” because that table wasn’t the one waiting for her brother.
- Rate: $5* per 1,000 words of the submitted draft, minimum charge of $40.
- *Please Note: “Oops” copyediting is intended to catch accidents. If you consistently have problems with a specific area like modifier placement, word choice, or detail continuity, that will add a 10% surcharge per problem area, cap of $16 per 1k words.
- Rates are subject to change. Please bear that in mind if there’s a delay between you browsing for an idea of fees and you hiring someone.
Feel free to request an edit of a 1k-word sample to verify that you like my work and what my rate would be for your project.
My default grammar handbook is The Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition), and my default dictionary is Merriam-Webster. I am able to use a different grammar handbook and/or dictionary upon request.
I’ve edited everything from technical brochures through to novels, for individuals and companies alike. (I perform “Oops” checks of websites, too, which includes checking all links and commenting on possible causes for any formatting errors I find. I’m more fluent in HTML and CSS than many other freelance writers and editors.)
Do you need what I offer? Contact me to discuss it. My contact details are below.
-Misti Wolanski
Other Recommended Editors:
-
RedAdept
–
offers alpha reading, editing, and proofreading for fiction; standard package includes an edit and a proofread by two different people - Know someone else who should be on this list? Let me know.
Oops Check
We’ve all read or written something where it happens. Halfway through the book, a character is mentioned and described for the second time. Some bright reader (maybe you, maybe a fan of yours) thinks, Wait. I thought his name was Justen, not Joseph. That reader pages back and confirms that yes, the name changed.
The reader may shrug and keep reading, may stop reading in disgust, may privately contact the writer, or may leave a scathing review asking why the writer couldn’t be bothered to hire a proofreader.
Yes, yes. I know. Finding those things isn’t a proofreader’s job—it’s a copyeditor‘s job. And nobody’s perfect; something can go through a team of nineteen people and still have typos, either added by the editorial process or missed because we’re all imperfect.
But, yanno. Another set of eyes can help.
And that’s what my “Oops” service is: another set of eyes that actually knows how writing’s supposed to work. Your favorite beta may offer fantastic plot advice, but does she know things like when to put a semicolon before a conjunction?
I’m a fan of writers learning to fix their own problems insofar as they are able, so if you know know (or if you submit something to me with consistent issues), I recommend starting out hiring me as a tutor.
If you have consistent grammar issues, that turns the “Oops” check into a full edit + the “Oops” check. That costs more. (See below for other pro editorial services I recommend in those situations.)
- “Oops” Proofreading
- Checking for typographical errors.
- This means I’m keeping a sharp eye on the punctuation, spelling, and formatting—and whatever details I notice while checking those things. For example, did your formerly blond doctor suddenly become a redhead for no apparent reason? I recently caught that type of error for a proofreading client.
- Rate: $2.50* per 1,000 words of the submitted draft, minimum charge of $40.
- *Please Note: “Oops” proofreading is intended to catch accidents. If you consistently have problems with a specific area of formatting or punctuation like commas, quotation marks, or italics, that will add a 10% surcharge per problem area, cap of $8 per 1k words. (Commas have multiple uses, so each type of comma abuse counts separately.)
- “Oops” Copyediting
- Checking for continuity and sentence structure—and doing everything I do while proofreading.
- This means I’m specifically watching the details, making sure your descriptions match up. I also watch for gaffes like “Waiting for her brother, the table felt cold beneath her hands,” because that table wasn’t the one waiting for her brother.
- Rate: $5* per 1,000 words of the submitted draft, minimum charge of $40.
- *Please Note: “Oops” copyediting is intended to catch accidents. If you consistently have problems with a specific area like modifier placement, word choice, or detail continuity, that will add a 10% surcharge per problem area, cap of $16 per 1k words.
- Rates are subject to change. Please bear that in mind if there’s a delay between you browsing for an idea of fees and you hiring someone.
Feel free to request an edit of a 1k-word sample to verify that you like my work and what my rate would be for your project.
My default grammar handbook is The Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition), and my default dictionary is Merriam-Webster. I am able to use a different grammar handbook and/or dictionary upon request.
I’ve edited everything from technical brochures through to novels, for individuals and companies alike. (I perform “Oops” checks of websites, too, which includes checking all links and commenting on possible causes for any formatting errors I find. I’m more fluent in HTML and CSS than many other freelance writers and editors.)
Do you need what I offer? Contact me to discuss it.
-Misti Wolanski
Other Recommended Editors:
- RedAdept –
offers alpha reading, editing, and proofreading for fiction; standard package includes an edit and a proofread by two different people - Know someone else who should be on this list? Let me know.
