Proofreading and Copy Editing Services
Join forces with an editor who digs an easygoing collaboration but is serious about your writing
Why Hire A Copy Editor or Proofreader?
As someone who loves to read, I know how satisfying it is to be completely immersed in a great piece of writing, whether it’s fact or fiction.
Your readers want that too.
Errors, inconsistencies, and awkward wording can yank your reader right out of your story, turning them off altogether and potentially detracting from your credibility.
Let’s work together to make sure you deliver a narrative that’s clear, professional, and builds engagement, whether it’s an essay, novel, or blog.
A little about me…
I have glasses, so you know I’m serious.
My name is Ronane, pronounced “row-nan”. (It’s Irish. I am not.) I grew up with a deep love of reading and writing with an affinity for fiction and biographies, though I’ve developed somewhat of an obsession with true crime over recent years. I’ve even compiled a number of short stories in various stages of completion, though I haven’t been brave enough to pursue publishing any just yet!
What I edit: humor, crime, short stories, erotica, websites, eBooks, business writing, and blogs (fiction or nonfiction for all)
Bachelors in business and diverse professional background in IT, human resources, and resume / career coaching.
8 years of experience writing training documentation, policies, and internal corporate communications in my life as a senior HR professional.
5+ years as a resume coach has helped me fine-tune my ability to let candidates’ voices shine through their writing as they present not only their experience, but their personal brand to potential employers.
Ability to work to expectations and to deadline
Pro-LGBTQIA+ reader
ACES Certificate in Editing
Member of ACES
Secretary, Board of Governors, Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA)
She/her/hers
Why Red Apple?
In thinking about what I wanted my brand to look like, the words that came to mind were ‘clean, fresh, and easy’. ‘Apple Editing’ just popped into my head, and I really liked it. It’s easy to remember, would put me near the top of any alphabetical list, and despite the perils suffered by Snow White and Adam and Eve, apples are pretty positive all around! A very wise acquaintance did point out that I may be putting myself at risk of attracting the attention of Tim Cook’s deep-pocketed legal team, so to prevent a potential forced rebranding, I am now Red Apple Editing. Not the sexiest story, but it’s the truth!
So, what type of editing do you actually need?
It can be very confusing to try and figure out which services you need—especially if you’re new or working independently. There’s developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, line editing—what does it all mean?
Developmental Editing
If you need help structuring or organizing the draft of your manuscript or other written work, or with strengthening your plot/characters—or maybe you are not sure if your work is meeting its goal to inform or entertain your intended audience, you would benefit from working with a developmental editor. It’s a high-level, big-picture overview to help you make sure your work is doing what it’s supposed to do overall without any gaps.
Copy editing
This can be a fairly broad category and keep in mind that there can be overlap with the other types of editing. Copy editing is a detailed check on your work for grammar, adherence to relevant style guides, cohesiveness, and to remove any overused or misused words or phrasing—all while preserving your voice and style.
Line editing
As its name implies, this is sentence-level work that goes even deeper than the copy edit, enhancing word usage for clarity to benefit the reader, but again, taking great care to maintain your voice and style throughout.
Proofreading
This is the final polish! If you don’t do anything else, have your work proofread before publishing! A proofreader is your final gatekeeper, the one who will catch the extra space, the missing header, the typo in the first line—all those tiny mistakes are that can chip away at your credibility and lead to embarrassment. Did everyone else miss that you have black people on your new menu instead of black pepper? Your proofreader will catch that before it goes to print.
Authenticity / Sensitivity Reading
This service would come much earlier in the process, so don’t get thrown off that it’s listed down here. A sensitivity (or authenticity) reader is someone who will read a manuscript for an author who is writing outside of their own perspective and make sure that that character or culture is being represented authentically. It is not about censorship, but about better representation and a better quality book, essay, or short story overall.
Get in touch.
Photo by Artem Saranin from Pexels