Find Out More About My
Proofreading and Editing Services
I am a proofreader and editor with six years’ experience in writing and self-publishing fantasy and horror novels and anthologies. I would be delighted to give the same care and attention to your novels and short fiction as I have myself been blessed to receive from my own editors. This is grounded in trust, confidence and absolute respect for your writing, your characters and the lived experience you share in your writing. I also offer critiques of your fiction and paid review opportunities on my blog John C Adams Reviews for your fantasy and horror novels.
Being a reviewer and an author means that I understand what works in narratives: how to engage your readers, how to ensure continuity of detail in your stories and novels, and how to meet the expectations of your reader within your genre.
Reviewing is a very analytical endeavour whereas writing involves opening yourself up to creativity. As a reviewer and an author, I understand how vulnerable that makes any author so my editing and proofreading is always grounded in respect and empowerment.
I reviewed genre fiction for Schlock! Webzine from 2017 to 2021. I also reviewed horror fiction for the Horror Tree and fantasy fiction for the British Fantasy Society from 2019 to 2021. I was a Contributing Editor for Albedo One Magazine from 2016 to 2019 and a Submissions Reader for the Aeon Award for 2015 to 2016.
I passed the Proofreading Academy exam at the end of their ‘Becoming a Proofreader’ course with Distinction, qualifying me to work for Proofed.
I did well enough with Proofed during my trial period to be offered the chance to try out for one of their editing teams using my background in the law. I didn’t do this because I particularly wanted to focus on editing horror and fantasy fiction instead. My original degree was in PPE from Somerville College, Oxford, and I am a non-practising solicitor. I also have a Postgraduate Certificate in Creative Writing from Newcastle University.
Good editing makes all the difference. No matter how much care you bring to producing a clean manuscript, it can be hard to see a typo or a stray comma when you are the author so some mistakes may remain. An editor comes fresh to the manuscript and will therefore identify errors. Editing also helps with polishing words or phrases, again bringing a fresh eye to something brand new. Even a few words changed here or there can make a big difference. This can be done sensitively and without interfering with your style, plot, characterisation or tone. An editor will also pick up any continuity errors that may have crept in and which are so easy to miss when you are in creative mode. Any bigger problems can also be flagged respectfully and supportively for you to address, knowing that you’ve done a great job with your writing and that your editor is the first person to praise you and empower your creativity.
For whole novels I offer a free sample edit of the first 2,500 words. This is undertaken after a quotation has been provided for the whole edit. The quotation and sample edit together will help you to decide whether you wish to proceed and have me edit your whole novel.
I charge from £20 per 4,000 words for a critique of your short fiction. I charge from £15 per 2,000 words to proofread and from £30 per 2,000 words to edit your short fiction. Quotations for nonfiction proofreading and editing and developmental fiction editing are available on request. If you have a longer project in mind, please contact me to discuss a quote. I can provide a quote for whole novels based on the amount of work involved in proofreading or editing your manuscript.
Please contact me at johncadams7872@gmail.com to discuss your editing and proofreading needs.
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