Ivey Editing Services

A copy editor looks for issues in these areas:

- Punctuation
- Spelling
- Grammar
- Syntax
- Consistency
- Research of facts, names, numbers, and dates

Your copy editor may make these changes directly in the document, or they may make suggestions through the comments feature.

While a copy editor brings expertise and a fresh set of eyes to your text, you are the author and get the final say. Whatever you end up deciding, these comments can help you see your words in a new light, picking up insights to apply to current and future projects.

If you’ve polished your text but haven’t quite ironed out every issue yet, a copy editor can help you bring your text to the next stage: proofreading.

You can read more about this service and others at IveyEditing.com!

I absolutely loved working with Melissa on her book, and I'm excited to see it hit the shelves. Here's what she had to say about working together!
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"Ivey Editing Services provided the editorial support for my second book and I have been wowed by the timeliness, expertise, and precision of Ms. Ivey's work. In addition to a keen eye for detail, she has a 'reader's mind,' helping the author to form a manuscript that communicates clearly and lyrically.

Her services provided not only attentive critique but also encouragement. I highly recommend Ms. Ivey for proofreading and editing book-length projects. She is a trustworthy companion in the writing journey."
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If you're working on a book manuscript and need a copy editor, developmental editor, or proofreader, get in touch today!

This is one of my favorite quotes about writing. Shannon Hale’s words serve as an important reminder that you don’t have to get everything right at first; you can start simply by getting your thoughts on the page.

Your words are your communication puzzle pieces. Sometimes, you have all the pieces there on the page, but they're just not fitting into the right slots. Other times, you may need to swap out some pieces for others.

How can you tell?

1. Try reading the text out loud. If you find yourself stumbling over the words, you might want to revisit your sentence construction.

2. Ask a friend to look over your work. Friends and family can act as your first audience, helping you identify areas where your message hasn't quite gotten through. Recently, I asked my partner to review one of my short stories (even an editor needs an editor!), and he drew my attention to sentences that didn't make sense, which helped me revise.

3. Ask an editor. Just like a friend, an editor is there to provide a valuable second opinion, but they have two advantages:
1). Expertise.
2). A bit more distance to firmly, but politely, point out problem areas in your work.

It can be hard slowing down long enough to ask for help, but doing so can help you improve your writing so that each word fits right into its place.