Finding the right editor

Hello! I’m Lizzie Gowans. I’m a native British English speaker, from Scotland.

I am a proofreader and copyeditor. I support businesses, indie authors, and creators of educational content to present their words in the best possible way.

I’m based in Ayrshire and 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 the publishing industry.

How do I find the right editor.

It’s important to find the right editor to match your needs.

You should consider things such as your budget, your timescale (editors can get booked up far in advance), the editor’s qualifications and experience, their communication style and personality.

You should be able to get an idea of whether you and an editor will be emotionally compatible by looking at their social media presence and website.

A professional editor should offer a sample edit - whether free or for a small charge. This will help both you and the editor find out if you are well suited.

Do I really need an editor or proofreader?

With the effort and passion that goes into your work, doesn’t it make sense that it is tip top before it is published? Wouldn’t you prefer your message to convey the desired tone and be clear and accurate?

It is vital that your writing is appropriate for your readership.

First impressions do count and if your reader finds annoying errors in your work they could be distracted from the intended message. Consistency is essential and without it your writing will be confusing to your audience. 

A professional editor will treat your piece with the care and attention it deserves so it is ready to be seen out there in public.

If you want to demonstrate credibility, it is a great idea to have your document professionally copyedited as well as a final proofread.

It just makes sense!

But it’s so hard to know what kind of edit is needed.

You might be a small business, a charity, or an indie author, wondering how an editor or proofreader might improve your document. There are different levels of editing and it can be confusing to work out what you really need, especially if you are working with a tight budget.

Some editors are trained to offer developmental editing, some tend to focus on proofreading and some (like myself) are trained to copyedit and proofread.

Put very simply, proofreading is the final stage your writing will go through - the final polish to catch any little but important errors that might stick out to your reader.

Copyediting is more involved as at this stage the editor is looking for consistency and sense. For example, this is where an editor might pick up on such things as a character wearing a jacket at the start of a chapter to mysteriously wearing a jumper by the end.

Why can’t I just use an AI tool for proofreading?

If you prefer to use an AI tool, of course 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 just can’t.

It is important that your message is clear, easily understood, and appropriate for the readership it is aimed at. This is where an editor can help.

An editor will check your project for errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation.

By having the right editor work with your writing you can be reassured that your message will be as transparent, readable and relatable as possible.

What kind of texts need an editor?

A range of writing can benefit from a professional proofread.

For example: an academic essay, a business or charity report, a newsletter or leaflet, web content, a blog, a brochure, an educational resource, children’s books, a creative piece, CVs and cover letters, and all kinds of fiction and non-fiction.

What kind of editing services can Lizzie Gowans offer?

I edit and proofread a variety of fiction and non fiction. I am not equipped to work on horror, science fiction or fantasy.

Do you think I might be the editor for you? Please get in touch and we can find out!