What’s the point of proofreading? How essential is an editor?
You already have an inkling that I may be of use to you, or else you wouldn’t be checking my site out, but you’re also probably trying to figure out if you really need to pay somebody to check your work. I mean…you’re careful, right? Or at least you could be more careful if you put your mind to it. Right?
Well, maybe.
The best tightrope walkers and trapeze artists work without a safety net – pulling off amazing feats, wowing their audiences, and doing it all on their own. You might be that good. If you do slip, though, if you publish something that has fundamental plot-holes; inconsistencies of character or world-building; poor spelling or grammar; awkward dialogue – the list of possibilities goes on – you will start to suffer reputational damage and your career could come crashing down before it has properly begun.
I can be your safety net. I can catch your slip-ups before the paying public settles down to enjoy your ‘act’. Everybody gets snow-blind about their work after a while. I can be a fresh pair of eyes for you. I can spot your gaps, eliminate your errors, and react to your story as a first reader. My style of editing is both supportive and collaborative. We’ll work together in close partnership to hone the project to your vision, then polish it up to the finest shine. My services are flexible, wide-ranging, and reasonably priced.
For comfort and clarity, I have laid out my business principles, promises and values.
Want to see what other clients think of my work? Check out my Testimonials page.
I wanted to improve, and kept coming back for more!
You went into a level of detail that I hadn’t experienced before, which was difficult for me as my confidence is paper thin, but you dealt with it in such a way that I wanted to improve, and kept coming back for more! You were also far less dictatorial than it seems a lot of… Read more “I wanted to improve, and kept coming back for more!”
Strengthened the story.
It was fun. Glad to say, it wasn’t too traumatic. I knew there were likely to be a few tweaks to help continuity (since I was submitting to a shared world book that was evolving all the time) but you also made suggestions that strengthened the story on its own merits.
A consummate professional.
He brings the open mind and patience to see what the creator is trying to convey, and work with them to deliver that vision – never losing sight of the fact that it’s the author’s story to tell. A consummate professional. I have no qualms in recommending his services to anyone looking to tighten and… Read more “A consummate professional.”
English is not my first language, so I was rather anxious
English is not my first language, so I was rather anxious about releasing a story for the English-speaking market at first. An excellent editor like Dion will give any non-native English speaker enough confidence to take a chance.
Very impressed
Professional, with a great eye for detail. I was very impressed and will be using Dion for future projects.
Loving grasp of the narrative whole.
As an editor, Dion is possessed of a keen eye for detail tempered with a loving grasp of the narrative whole. His passionate editorial approach is driven by the uncompromising desire to facilitate a finished work that is both as accomplished and complete as possible. Unlike other perspicacious and gifted editors of my experience, his… Read more “Loving grasp of the narrative whole.”
Insightful, comprehensive and assured.
The Fine-toothed Comb isn’t just Dion’s business name, it’s his mission statement too. The editing work he undertook on our behalf was insightful, comprehensive and assured. Turnaround times were fantastic and the whole process worked like a dream.
My first call for future projects
Dion is a dedicated editor who works with the writer to make their story sing. His respect for both the work and the authorial style, combined with his skill and professionalism, have made him my first call for future projects.
A diligent and important contributor.
Dion was a diligent and important contributor in the development of my novel from draft to draft. Aside from picking up a few crucial mistakes, he also asked important and challenging questions, always with a view to strengthening the story and how it was being delivered.
Exactly what a person would pay for.
There was never a change without a valid justification and you were open to dialogue which ended in a mutually approved draft. You were quite insightful and enthusiastic. The enthusiasm counted for a lot and eased the sting of any criticisms or change requests. All your changes seemed well-informed and came from a place with… Read more “Exactly what a person would pay for.”
Deeply responsive to a writer’s vision.
Courteous, professional, thorough – Dion seems to instinctively grasp that the role of a good editor is to help shape and hone the text into the best it can possibly be. Unafraid to make bold suggestions, he’s also deeply responsive to a writer’s vision and voice. Working with him on my frankly bloody awkward collection… Read more “Deeply responsive to a writer’s vision.”
Easily the most comprehensive and forensic feedback I’ve ever received.
Easily the most comprehensive and forensic feedback I’ve ever received. Proximity sometimes breeds blindness and you’ve pointed out many issues that I was oblivious to. It was a lot to swallow, but I immediately saw the truth in it. You’ve done more for me with a simple essay on my manuscript’s strengths and faults than… Read more “Easily the most comprehensive and forensic feedback I’ve ever received.”
I would heartily recommend him
Dion was very thorough, and his attention to detail was excellent. I would heartily recommend him to those seeking an editor.
I felt secure
Dion is a passionate and professional editor with a keen eye for detail. His enthusiasm and approachability made all the difference. I felt secure in the knowledge that any changes he suggested would ensure that my novella was the best it could be.
Thorough and accurate.
Dion proves himself very thorough and accurate in his work with us and has shown a particular sensitivity to and respect for the author’s work. His enthusiasm for the project is coupled with his professional manner and reliability with deadlines.
His passion and enthusiasm shows through.
The thing with Dion is that his passion and enthusiasm shows through in every project he works on. From conception to final proof, his level of dedication is second to none.
Easily one of the best editors I’ve worked with.
Dion kicked my arse, editing-wise, but in a polite and really helpful way. Easily one of the best editors I’ve worked with. He’s so thorough he’ll probably edit this testimonial for me.
You need Dion. He’s there for you.
You need your writing to be as good as it can possibly be, while still being yours, in your voice. You need a suggestion on how to make that difficult and vital paragraph a lot clearer than it is now. You need to know that you’ve got the psychology of your characters straight – or… Read more “You need Dion. He’s there for you.”
A lot less stressful than I thought.
This was my first experience with an editor (outside of academia), and you made it a pleasant one. I was worried that things would be changed without my permission, I wouldn’t get a final say in things etc. and you took those fears away. I procrastinate and am anxious by nature, but the process was… Read more “A lot less stressful than I thought.”
A fantastic collaborative experience
My story was all the better for his input. Any challenging advice or questions were always tempered with kindness, patience and humour. It was a fantastic collaborative experience, and I would use him again in a heartbeat.
He never forgets that this is your book.
Dion promises to help an author make their work the best that it can be. He achieves this through an excellent understanding of the writing process, plot, characterisation, and pace. Dion has an eye for details, picking up on small facts and inconsistencies to make it all the more believable. He balances the need to… Read more “He never forgets that this is your book.”
A damned fine editor
Working with Dion was a pleasure. From the initial overview via Zoom to the final pass, he was dedicated to bringing out the best in my work. He was challenging when he needed to be, knowledgeable about the genre, personable and professional to work with. I found myself bouncing ideas off Dion during our discussions… Read more “A damned fine editor”
Impressed by the speed and precision of your responses.
I’m amazed this is your first go as an editor. I’ve been impressed by the speed and precision of your responses, the organizational abilities displayed thus far and the excitement for the project you convey to all participants. I can honestly not think of a single interaction which could’ve been improved upon.
Valuable, comprehensive and thorough structural insights.
Dion gave me valuable, comprehensive and thorough structural insights on a project I’m working on. It was a worthy investment, and I would certainly recommend him.
Such a collaborative process.
I hate editing – I tend to put it off for ages. I’ve had other edits done on short stories I’ve published but they have largely been cosmetic changes and have certainly not been such a collaborative process. I was worried that I’d feel a bit ‘precious’ about making changes but your comments were so… Read more “Such a collaborative process.”
I’d definitely recommend him.
I found Dion professional to work with and the book was all the better for his edits. I’d definitely recommend him.
A tireless work ethic.
Dion is my go-to editor for UK novels. He has a great eye for detail and a tireless work ethic. He’s a joy to work with.
A very pleasant experience.
This is my first time working with an editor and you made it a very pleasant experience. I thought the editing process would be a bit overwhelming, but you made it manageable and relatively stress-free.
Excellent attention to detail.
Dion is a fine editor. Excellent attention to detail. I feel very lucky to have had him on my side.
Personable and approachable.
I must say that the biggest thing for me has been how personable and approachable you are (both via email and social networking) which is really important. You feel like a real person, rather than a red pen! I found your editing both sympathetic and strict, which is exactly the balance it needs to be.… Read more “Personable and approachable.”
Clear, concise, and extremely helpful.
Dion’s feedback was clear, concise, and extremely helpful. I wouldn’t think twice about using him again!
