Lauryn Smith du Toit
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~ Services ~


Hire me to edit your English-language documents. I do developmental editing, copyediting, and proofreading, as well as line editing and manuscript evaluations. Not only will I help make your content shine, I will give you guidance that you can use in your future writing endeavors. Prices are determined per project.

Contact me so we can discuss project details (stuff like word count and subject matter). We will determine where you are in the writing process and the type of editing you require. I will return a quote within 24 hours of this discussion.

​After this consultation, you will make a deposit of 50 percent of the total cost. (Payment schedules can be discussed for larger projects.) You’ll then send your work as a Word document to [email protected] for review. I will return the document with Comments and Tracked Changes, as well as an editorial letter and/or style sheet, depending on the agreed upon service. You may schedule a phone call to discuss your edits, any questions, and the next steps in the editing cycle.
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Developmental Editing

Developmental editing (also known as content editing or substantive editing) is an early stage of the editing cycle. The focus is the content itself (but I will also remedy any major grammatical errors and typos). We really get into the meat of your work at this stage. I'll identify any contradictions, confusing structure, ambiguity, lack of focus, missing or redundant information, and so on, and I will offer suggestions for improvement. This is when we make sure that your content flows logically and that readers will understand your work as a whole. (During the consultation, we will discuss light, medium, and heavy developmental editing services.)
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Copyediting

Say goodbye to passive voice and lack of parallelism and hello to beautiful prose! Copyediting is the stage at which I will review your content, which is near finalization, for readability and run-of-the mill errors. I will focus on fixing grammar, spelling, punctuation, stylistic inconsistencies, and mechanical blunders. I will recast sentences for clarity and brevity (to the level determined beforehand), apply formatting preferences, and ensure proper use of terminology. I will also do fact-checking on request. Finally, I will ensure that your work adheres to your preferred style guide. 

You can choose between light, medium, and heavy copyediting. Copyediting may include aspects of developmental editing or line editing. We’ll talk to see what's right for you.
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Proofreading

Proofreading is the final stage of the editing cycle and is distinct from copyediting. During proofreading, I will scrutinize your "final product." I will not make substantial changes to the text while proofreading. Rather, I will correct any lingering flaws in grammar, spelling, and punctuation as well as any remaining mechanical or formatting errors. Proofreading is the stage at which your  content is perfected. After proofreading, your content will be polished, error-free, and ready to be shared with the world!  
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~ Still Working? ~


You may be interested in...

Line editing. Line editing is similar to copyediting, but the focus is not on finding and fixing all errors on a technical level. Rather, the purpose of line editing is to make you aware of trends in your writing and language use. Maybe you unknowingly use the same word over and over again. Maybe the tense changes throughout the document. Maybe some syntax feels unnatural or some passages seem awkward or superfluous. I will review your work, identify trends, and then give you an overview of how your writing can improve. Alternatively, if you are comfortable with lots of "red ink" on your manuscript, you may elect for me make such improvements directly. If so, some rewriting is to be expected. (Line editing should occur BEFORE copyediting.) 

Manuscript evaluation. ​A manuscript evaluation is less intensive than developmental editing and is best for authors looking for a high-level overview of what works and what doesn’t. I will provide first impressions, as well as a “big picture” analysis with suggested next steps (on request). I will focus on how the story advances, if your goals, voice, and perspective are clear and compelling, and if any trending aspects in your text could improve. If you are hoping to save time and money, you can submit a partial manuscript — many trends can be identified from a sample of text. 

~ Editing Rates ~


I am a proud member of the Editorial Freelancers Association, which shares data pertaining to typical editing rates. My rates are in line with industry standard. Please note that every project is different, so rates vary considerably from project to project. 
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  • Home
  • Services
    • Editing Sample
  • Portfolio
  • Contact
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