Split An Atom provides professional proofreading and editing services for books and manuscripts. We use only the best methods to proofread and edit, and involve the writer in the process. We also use a project management system to better organise the editing and proofreading process. Prices and the turnover for the review will be dependent on the length and word count of the manuscript.
Editing Services
Developmental and Substantive Editing
- Character Development
- Plot and structure
- Dialogue
- Line edits
- Structure
- Narrative voice
- Editorial comments and detailed feedback
- Insertions and deletions
Copy Editing and Proofreading
- Spelling check
- Grammar check
- Punctuation check
- Content consistency check
- Research
- Fact checking
Formatting for Print and eBooks
- Adhering to industry standards
- Layout and presentation of content
- Help with choosing fonts
- Book cover designing
- Organising front matter
- Blurb writing
What We Edit
Take a look at some of the things we edit:
- Novels
- Novellas
- Biographies and autobiographies
- Collections and anthologies
- Web copy
- Articles
- Blog posts
- Press releases
- Short stories and flash fiction
- Children’s books
- Scripts
- Poetry
Fiction & Non-fiction Book Editing
STARS BLEED
A dark fantasy novel
Stars Bleed is a dark fantasy novel which follows the story of Yukush and her apparitional companion, Shugokrur, while they are on an adventure as their world comes crumbling down around them and their fates are manipulated by the gods.
After Stars Bleed was left unfinished by a freelance editor, the author contacted Split An Atom and enlisted the help of our editor, Mary Ann Mahoney.
“After I had a poor experience with a different editor, Split An Atom went out of their way to help me.”
— Angus Nicneven, author of Stars Bleed
Mary edited and proofread Stars Bleed, sharing the document with Angus so that he could respond to the comments she left about what edits needed to be made and how he could improve his work. To avoid editing over each other, Mary locked the document while she edited.
Angus included some stylistic formatting in the book so that the text could be read diagonally across the page. Mary and Angus both agreed that it would look great in print but would not translate well to eBook, because people have different eReader sizes and would choose the font size themselves.
“I am elated that the book turned out so well.”
— Angus Nicneven
Once the changes had been made to the stylistic formatting, Mary formatted Stars Bleed so that Angus could have print and digital copies. Mary and Angus used Split An Atom’s project management system to communicate and to keep track of what needed to be done during the project.
NEON DISTRICT: ALPHA
A cyberpunk thriller novel
Neon District: Alpha is a cyberpunk thriller novel that was written by indie self-publishing author, Chad Campbell. The novel is about Caiden Nyx, a hacker living in the corrupt city-state of Neon District, who exposes a government secret, while uncovering the mysteries of his forgotten past and discovering new abilities that he didn’t know he had.
Mary approached Chad Campbell about editing his debut novel, and they agreed that he would use our proofreading and copy editing services.
Throughout the process, Chad had full access to the document to view and track Mary’s edits, and reply to and leave comments. They also utilized Split An Atom’s project management system to keep track of the book’s progress, and to discuss the editing process.
Hammy Havoc and Stuart Routledge were also brought in as technical consultants.
Once the editing was finished, Chad agreed to use our book formatting service, where Mary made sure that the chapter layout and the typography were consistent, and that the book was formatted to the industry standard. She formatted Neon District: Alpha for both print and eBooks as Chad wanted to deliver his book to as large an audience as possible.
ARLINGTON
A science fiction and political thriller novel
Mary provided full editing services for Arlington, a novel published by Collective of Misfits, and written by Winston, an anonymous American author. The novel centers around a female assassin, known as the Arlington Anomaly who rains terror and justice on political and public figures in a modern day, alternate America.
When Winston and Mary discussed initial editing, it was decided that he wanted to use our spell checking services. During the first edit she checked grammar, spelling, and punctuation, making sure it was to the highest standard expected.
After a second discussion with the author, Mary and Winston both agreed that the novel was not yet finished, so she did a second edit. For this edit, Mary organized the novel’s content; reviewed the structure, plot and pacing; provided detailed comments for the author to consider; did extensive research to make sure times, dates, names, and places were accurate; restructured a chapter; and made many insertions and deletions. She made over 5000 edits in one day alone.
She also formatted the book for print and digital copies, and provided self-publishing advice. We utilized Split An Atom’s project management system throughout the project to easily keep track of the editing and other work that needed to be done.
Children's Book Editing
About the Editor
Mary Ann Mahoney
Mary Ann Mahoney has a B.A. (Hons) Creative Writing and Film Studies degree from Edge Hill University. She has an impressive collection of books at home and enjoys writing flash fiction. She appreciates all genres and styles of writing, and her favourite author is L. M. Montgomery. As well as being the Head of PR for Split An Atom, she is also a writer for Previous Magazine and is a former Huff Post contributor.
Real-time Document Sharing
We share the document so that our client can see their book transform in real-time. We also track every change through versioning, so that they can see every change that’s been made to their manuscript.
Project Management System
Split An Atom utilizes a project management system called Active Collab, which the likes of Penguin Random House, NASA, Harvard University, and Apple use. It makes handling projects far more manageable, and our clients are involved every step of the way. They can check how things are going around the clock, and can provide feedback or change direction at a moment’s notice.
Consultations
Not sure what type of editing your manuscript needs? Want partial or sample editing? Contact us and arrange a consultation with our editor.
We charge £25 for a 1-hour consultation. If you would like a longer consultation or several more consultations, let us know via the contact form, and we will discuss further pricing. This is a great opportunity to speak to our editor about your book and to get to know her. This way, you can see if she’s the right editor for you.
Having a consultation does not mean you are obligated to use our editing service.
You may also arrange a consultation for advice on marketing your book.
Editing
Do editors accept all materials submitted?
Unfortunately, not all editors do. Whether a manuscript is accepted is up to the editor. If they don’t accept it, they will usually give you an explanation.
Do I need an agent to have my book edited?
No. It’s not necessary to have an agent. Anyone can contact us.
Do you do sample editing?
Yes, we do. Contact us and we can discuss your editing options.
Does Split An Atom work with self-publishing authors as well as authors attached to a big publishing house?
How do I contact my editor?
Once the editing process begins, you will be able to contact to your editor via email, Skype or phone. We use a project management system so you can add tasks for your editor and see what your editor needs you to do. You will also be able to reply to any comments they make on your manuscript.
How do I keep track of the changes my editor makes to my manuscript?
It depends on how you send your manuscript to us. If you are using Word, you can track any changes by clicking on the ‘Review’ button. Our editors also use a project management system.
How do I know I have a good editor?
A good editor is well organized and will give you an estimated turnaround time for editing your manuscript, keeping close to the date they give you. Another sign of a good editor is that they are honest- they won’t say nice things just to keep you happy. A good editor will read your manuscript thoroughly before making changes. They will let you know what changes they’ve made to help you improve your own writing. While editing, they will respect the author’s voice. A good editor will also take your comments and suggestions seriously.
How long does the editing process take?
Depending on the amount of work needed, it can take anything from a few days to a few weeks to edit.
How many times does a manuscript need to be edited?
This is a difficult question, as the answer is different for everyone. Always make the effort to look through your work before you hand it to an editor- there may be simple things that you could fix yourself. You can consult with your editor if you think that you need more editing.
How much will it cost me?
The cost depends on the type of editing, number of edits, and the length of the manuscript. Please feel free to contact us and ask about pricing.
I’m not sure what sort of editing my book needs. What should I do?
We offer consultation meetings, so we can discuss any issues or queries you may have, and advise you on the best options for editing your book. Contact us to arrange a consultation via Skype, email or phone. Our consultations cost £25 per hour.
I’ve already had one person edit my book. Is it okay for me to have someone else edit it as well?
It’s perfectly acceptable for your manuscript to be edited by more than one person. We would be happy to go through your manuscript as long as you don’t have a contract with another editor. We advise clients not to have two people editing concurrently as they may have conflicting views and this may cause problems for you, fragmentation in particular.
I’ve just finished writing my book. What now?
When you finish your manuscript, try going through it yourself. Make sure that you are happy with what you’ve written. Instead of going with the first editor you find, look around and find one that’s right for you.
You can choose to accept or reject any additions, deletions or comments your editor makes.
Should I edit my book before or after I send it to a publisher?
Always make sure you book has been properly edited before you send it to a publisher. Publishers are only interested in the finished books- no one will publish a book if it is filled with errors and mistakes.
What does an editor expect from a writer?
Editors really appreciate when you are patient. Although they will give you an approximate deadline for when they will be finished editing your work, it may take them a bit longer than expected depending on the amount of work. The editor may leave you notes or comments, and put things for you to do on the project management system. Your editor will expect you to put in the same amount of effort as they do.
What if I don’t like the changes my editor has made?
Your editor will give you their professional opinion. At the end of the day it’s your book, so it’s up to you to decide whether or not you choose to accept the changes your editor makes.
What if my editor tells me that my manuscript needs more editing?
Some people may think that their book or manuscript doesn’t need any more editing, and their editor may disagree. Ask your editor why they think it may need more editing. It is your choice to accept their offer.
Why should I hire an editor and not just do it myself using a spell checker?
It’s true- any spell checker on your computer will sort out most of your spelling mistakes. And although you are perfectly capable of going through your work on your own, there may be some things you might miss. An editor doesn’t just check spelling, they sort out formatting, plot, and anything else that needs working on.
Will my book be ready to send to a publisher after just one edit?
Sometimes, this may be the case. However, you might want to consult with your editor and you may want to consider more than one edit, even if it is basic proofreading.