Editing for copywriters - Krista Nelson

Save time … and your sanity

Copyediting for copywriters

Hey, copywriter. You’ve either here because you know you need an editor/proofreader or you were checking out my site (we ALL do it) and this is something you hadn’t even considered.

Whichever the case, I won’t go all PAS on you—you’d see right through that.

If you’re in the first group, you already know the value of working with a copyeditor (you can skip down).

But if you’re in the second, here are a few scenarios where working with a copyeditor can save you from that I’ll-just-read-it-one-more-time cycle that adds hours to your projects.

You’ve put hours into crafting the perfect email series. But now you know every line by heart and have lost the ability to view it with a fresh perspective to check for typos or omissions.
You know the best thing to do in this case is to put it aside for 48 hours and come back to it, but your deadline doesn’t allow for that—and you’d still be left wondering if you caught everything.

You’ve just finished the wireframe of a sales page, but the last time you wrote for your client, they found 2 spelling mistakes and—although they understood these things sometimes happen—this time you want to make sure you send something ready to go.
But . . . you know proofreading isn’t your strongest skill (or favorite activity), and you’d love to hand it off to someone else.

You are writing for an enterprise-level client with a 63-page style guide. You want to focus on the copy, not whether the em dashes are spaced or not.
Plus the style of writing is very different from how you normally write, and you’re having trouble seeing where you are slipping into your voice rather than the brand’s voice.

I can give your copy the once-over it needs to make sure all those I’s are dotted and T’s crossed. (Metaphorically speaking, of course. I realize Google Docs is pretty efficient at crossing all the T’s these days.😉) I’ll check if there is anything that is going to distract your client from seeing the brilliance of your copy or prevent the reader from responding to the CTA.

Besides being a copywriter, I am a trained copyeditor. I have met the experience and training requirements for professional membership of the UK’s Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading and have extensive experience editing for publishers and businesses.

Before I edit your copy, we will discuss just how much intervention you want. For example, just a proofread for typos or grammar slip-ups or more of a copyedit where I also point out possible clarity or tone issues.

But as a general guideline, here’s what I can do when reviewing your copy:

Check the spelling, punctuation, and grammar are correct and conform to your client’s style guide (if they have one).

Check that the copy conforms to the specified English dialect (US, Canadian, Australian or British English only) or is suitable for a global audience (e.g., not heavily reliant on understanding US idioms).

Check that the writing stays true to the brand’s voice and is consistent across the copy.

Advise where sentences might need to be rewritten for clarity or conciseness, and make helpful suggestions.

Check for inconsistencies (e.g., email 1 says webinar at 2 pm, but email 5 says 3 pm).

Check for language that is biased or inappropriate for the audience and make suggestions for alternatives.

Check that the offer and CTA are likely to be clear for the reader. (e.g., Were there questions that came to mind while reading that haven’t been addressed?)

And the best part? It kind of doesn’t cost you anything. . . as you can bake the cost into your proposals. (You can even add it as a selling point that you have all your copy checked by a professional editor.)

Not a fan of style guides?

If your client has provided you with a style or brand voice guide, I’ll read through those to make sure the copy doesn’t deviate from them. Or if they use AP or Chicago style, that’s no problem. I have those manuals at hand.

So, if digging into style guides isn’t your thing, I can do that work for you.

Got some Q’s for me?

Standard punctuation and grammar aren’t always used in marketing copy. Are you going to edit my copy and make it “correct”?

Nope. Not to worry. I know copy can bend standard rules and is usually all the better for doing so. I keep that in mind while copyediting and proofreading.

However, there is always a fine line to walk between bending the rules so the copy comes off as conversational and making punctuation choices that will just lead too many people to think the copy just hasn’t been properly proofread. (This is especially true when dealing with an older audience, one that expects a more formal tone, or a client who likes the copy to be “proper English.”)

Will you catch every error?

This is a question that every copyeditor and proofreader would love to answer yes to, but we just can’t.
I am human. And so, while I have a much better chance of catching errors because I’m reading the text for the first time (and I know all the tips and tricks for catching mistakes), I still can’t guarantee 100% that I will spot everything—the human brain is just far too efficient at reading what should be on the page rather than what is.

And when you make changes after I’ve gone through the copy (for example, to change an area I flagged as not being clear) you might introduce new errors. (Just something to be mindful of. I’m always happy to have a quick look through again after changes have been made.)

How long will it take?

I can’t say without knowing the length of the copy. Just a few emails? Probably less than an hour. A long-form sales page? Maybe just under two hours. Just message me about what kind of project you are working on, and I’ll give you a better idea.
I will usually be able to return the copy to you within two business days. But often this can be sooner if needed. If you let me know in advance when you will be sending copy my way, I can block out the time and be able to offer a faster turnaround.

How much does it cost?

It’s $65 per hour with a one-hour minimum fee.

Sound like what you need?

Or not quite sure yet and have some questions? Either way, let’s hop on a quick call.

Book a call