Belinda Holmes

Beta Reading

 

Sometimes an author doesn’t know what they’ve got till someone else tells them. Having your work beta read provides an independent viewpoint designed to support and strengthen your work with an aim to developing a commercially viable product.

 

Structural Editing

 

It’s not easy to write a novel. A structural edit supports ambitious storytelling by helping to finesse the plot, refine character development and ensure issues like pace, language, point of view and story structure are working together to create a great read.

 

Copy Editing

 

Copy editing is also called line editing and that’s a good description for it. It means moving through an author’s text line by line to make sure each sentence is clear and concise, of optimal length and well connected to the sentences that precede and follow it.

 

Manuscript Assessment

 

Manuscript Assessment is the big brother of the beta read. A manuscript assessment and report provides an author with valuable intelligence on the nature of their story and its fit for publication in a chosen media.

 

Proofing

 

The proof of an author’s work is in the final read. Errors in spelling, syntax and grammar obscure good work by throwing a spotlight on the mistakes. Good proofing eliminates annoying errors and ensures readers don’t gnash their teeth instead of going with the flow.

 

Formatting

 

Formatting in word for digital or self publication can be tricky. Basic formatting services assist both publishing houses and independent authors.

 

Author Mentoring

 

It can be very lonely being an author. Authors habitually spend long days at a keyboard, deep in thought. Family and friends can help but sometimes it’s beneficial to have someone independent who understands the industry to talk to.