Lost Wizard Enterprises Incorporated

Have you written a novel and need someone to edit it? Or do you have some technical documentation that needs another set of eyes? If so, get in contact to see if our team of native English speakers with some skill at writing can help you out.

How does it work?

The process is relatively straight forward, but as with anything, the devil is in the details. Generally, an editing project will start out with a consultation during which we determine the specific requirements for the end product, ranging from the target audience to the specific content requirements. Once that is done, we will provide you with an estimate. If you approve the estimate and provide the source material, we will do the work and return the resulting product to you.

But how much will it cost?

Every project is different. Without the initial consultation, it's not possible to give a sensible price list. However, generally speaking, more complex or more technical documents take more time to edit. Also, documents with more text in them will necessarily take longer. In addition to that, the type of editing you need us to do will affect the cost, too. As with so much else, in editing, time is money.

How long will it take?

Again, this depends greatly on the specific project. Specific timelines will be discussed during the initial project consultation. Basically, the more complex or the longer the document is, the longer it will take.

Do I have to accept your edits?

Definitely not. It's your project. However, be aware that we make our editing suggestions for a reason. But also be aware that we may also have misunderstood some aspect of your text and our edits may well be wrong. Editing is a collaborative process so if you think we made an error, question it.

We should, however, be aware that once you accept the quote for a project and we begin working, you are still expected to pay the agreed price, whether you accept the edits or not.

Types of editing?

There are, indeed, different types of editing. These correspond to stages in text development. These are, in order of decreasing average effort, and therefore cost:

Substantive or structurual

This is the most invasive editing type. It involves reorganizing parts of the text, rewording text, and other changes for the purpose of improving clarity or correcting other structural deficiencies. The editor is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in the text, however. That requires an expert in the content of the text, which the editor almost certainly isn't.

Stylistic

Like substantive or structural editing, this can result in invasive changes in unusual circumstances, but is usually concered with removing jargon, correcting unclear structure, improving janky language, and other line-by-line type editing.

Copy editing

This is where editing gets more detailed. Here, we look at grammar, word usage, punctuation, stylistic requirements for the target, heading levels, tables, art, lists, and so on. This is basically the last major step before typesetting, and, indeed, some aspects of this stage can be considered typesetting.

Proofreading

This is exactly what you think it is. At this stage, the editor is looking for errors in proofs looking for spelling errors, style deviations (both writing and graphical). Basically, at this stage, it's the final check before the final publication and is the last chance to find problems. However, by this stage, major structural or stylistic deficiencies should all have been rooted out earlier on in the process.

That's really complicated. Do I need all of it?

Not necessarily. It depends what your text is. You may only need someone to do proofreading. Or to do some level of copy editing combined with proofreading. Or maybe you've just completed a first draft of a novel and you need someone to a full on substantive editing job. It's your project. You decided what level of editing is appropriate and communicate that to us. If we disagree, we will tell you our reasons.

Please send any inquries about our sevices by email to info@l-w.ca.