HuetchenouEditorial proofreading & consulting · since 2010
The last line of defence before the printer.
Manuscript proofreading, personalised editorial consulting and editorial file review, for authors and publishing houses. Novels, essays, children's literature — at every stage of the project.
- 450–600
- manuscripts edited
- 2 passes
- systematic
- 24 h
- response time
She clossed the manuscript, her hands was trembling, and she understand that nothing would ever be the same again : "It's too late", she whispered.
01 — About
A slow read, in a fast-moving trade.
“A text is never corrected once and for all: it is stabilised. My work is knowing where to stop, and documenting every decision.”
Having become an editorial consultant out of a passion for books, I analyse every manuscript to identify its strengths and weaknesses, then propose the corrections needed to make it publishable. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to proofread between 450 and 600 works before their final publication. For bespoke support or to have a writing project proofread, our specialised practice is at your disposal.
Training
Master's in modern literature · copy-editing & proofreading certificate (Asfored)
Style references
Imprimerie nationale style guide · Grevisse · publisher's house style
Areas
Fiction, children's & YA literature, essays, humanities, illustrated books
Tools
Word (track changes), InDesign (PDF annotation), Antidote as support — never as judge
02 — Services
Three ways to support your manuscript.
Each service can be ordered on its own or combined with the others, depending on the state of your project and your needs.
Manuscript proofreading
A complete analysis of the manuscript: the text's strengths and weaknesses identified point by point, with the corrections needed to make it publishable.
- Full read-through and critical assessment of the text
- Spelling, grammar and style corrections
- Flagging passages to rework before submission to a publisher
Deliverable · reasoned reading report + corrections
Personalised editorial consulting
Bespoke support to refine a writing project, structure a manuscript, or prepare an editorial submission.
- Direct discussion on the project's direction
- Advice tailored to the genre and ambition of the text
- Concrete leads for the next stage of writing
Deliverable · consultation + written recommendations
Editorial file review
Review of a file or book project to assess its editorial solidity before presenting it to a publisher.
- Coherence of the project, positioning and target readership
- Strengths and weaknesses of the file
- Recommendations to strengthen it
Deliverable · analysis report
Subjects covered
Novel · Essay — humanities · Children's literature — YA · Illustrated book · Science and life · History and geology · Culinary writing · Sports writing · Cultural writing · Automotive writing · Geopolitics and economics · Industrial writing · Renewable energy writing
A first conversation, on your schedule.
Book a 20-minute discovery call to talk through your project — before any quote.
03 — Method
From received file to signed proof.
- 01
Receipt & scoping
File received under NDA, exact character count, a ten-page sample proofread free of charge. Quote and schedule slot in return.
within 24 business hours - 02
Two-pass proofread
First pass reading straight through for language, second pass focused on coherence and consistency, done separately from the first.
approx. 20 pages / day - 03
Annotations & report
Corrections in track changes, queries as comments, and a separate reading report: decisions made, points to settle, proposed arbitrations.
single delivery - 04
Reporting & sign-off
Liaison with the editorial team, checking corrections carried through to proofs, final read before sign-off for print.
through to final proof
04 — Proof of trust
Before / after, on an anonymised excerpt.
Drag the slider: on the left, the copy as received; on the right, the prepared, annotated copy. Anonymised excerpt — no author or publisher name is ever disclosed.
The train pulled into the station at 7:05 and the platform was already thick with people. Sarah searched the crowd for her brother's face, who she hadn't seen in fourteen years - not since the funeral - and wondered if he would recognise her.
The train pulled into the station at 7:05 and, and the platform was already thick with people. Sarah searched the crowd for her brother's face, whowhom she hadn't seen in fourteen years -— not since the funeral -— and wondered if he would recogniserecognize her.
Confidentiality by default.
Non-disclosure agreement signed before the file is received. No excerpt, title, author name or client reference is ever shared; manuscripts are kept on an encrypted device and deleted thirty days after sign-off for print.
05 — Quote
Every project is priced on its own terms.
The rate depends on the genre, the state of the text and the desired turnaround. A quote is drawn up after a first exchange, with no obligation.
06 — Contact
Let's talk about your next title.
Tell us the genre, the character count and the target date: I'll reply within 24 business hours with a quote and a schedule slot.