Welcome, Writer!

Editorial support for writers and storytellers

Finishing a manuscript is one thing. Preparing it for readers is another. Having fresh eyes on your manuscript can bring clarity, reassurance, and valuable insight as you prepare for your next stage, from editing and revision to publication.

At The Abundant Word, I offer editorial support designed to help writers feel encouraged, informed, and confident in their next steps. With experience working on over 1,100 manuscripts across multiple genres and age categories, I understand how personal the writing process can feel and how valuable the right support can be.

My approach combines careful attention to detail with genuine respect for your voice, style, and creative vision. Whether you need technical polishing through proofreading or deeper reader insight through beta reading, my goal is always the same: to help your manuscript become the strongest version of itself while still feeling unmistakably yours.

Proofreading

If you’ve reached the exciting stage where your manuscript is almost ready for publication, congratulations!

After spending months (or years) immersed in a story, it can become incredibly difficult to spot small errors, repeated words, missing punctuation, formatting inconsistencies, or tiny details that readers may notice immediately. That’s where proofreading comes in.

Whether you’re preparing to self-publish, submit to literary agents, or send your manuscript to print, proofreading helps ensure your work feels polished, professional, and ready for readers.

At The Abundant Word, my goal is to carefully review your manuscript while preserving your unique voice and writing style. Rather than heavily rewriting your work, I focus on refining the details that help your story shine without distraction.

What proofreading includes

Your manuscript will be carefully checked for:

• Grammar and punctuation
• Spelling (UK English unless otherwise requested)
• Typographical errors
• Missing or repeated words
• Capitalisation consistency
• Dialogue punctuation
• Formatting inconsistencies
• Continuity issues
• Repeated phrasing or accidental duplication
• Basic clarity queries where needed

I also work with Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) conventions and house style guidance where provided.

My proofreading approach

Proofreading is one of the final stages before publication, so I take a careful and considered approach to every manuscript.

My role is not to dramatically rewrite your work or remove your voice from the page. Instead, I focus on identifying errors and inconsistencies while preserving the tone, rhythm, and personality of your writing.

Because proofreading happens so close to publication, I also believe in avoiding unnecessary intervention or changes that could unintentionally create new errors.

The goal is simple: a polished manuscript that still feels unmistakably like you.

Ideal manuscripts for proofreading

Proofreading is best suited to manuscripts that have already gone through earlier editing stages, such as:

• Self-editing
• Beta reading
• Developmental editing
• Copyediting (where applicable)

This service is ideal for writers preparing for:

• Self-publication
• ARC distribution
• Literary agent submissions
• Small press publication
• Final manuscript formatting

Investment

Proofreading projects start from £0.004 per word.

Pricing may vary depending on manuscript complexity, formatting, turnaround time, and project requirements.

What you receive

• A fully proofread manuscript with tracked changes
• Queries and comments where clarification may be needed
• Careful attention to consistency and readability
• A polished manuscript ready for the next stage of your publishing journey

How the service works

Contact me with details about your manuscript, including genre, word count, and your ideal timeline. I will get back to you as soon as possible, usually within 2 working days.
If you decide to book a proofreading slot, I will send over a Proofreading Agreement outlining the scope of the service, payment terms, and confidentiality agreement.
Once the agreement has been signed and returned, I will generate an invoice to secure your booking.
You can then send over your manuscript by email. Proofreading will begin once payment has been received (or on the agreed start date, whichever comes first).
Your manuscript will be carefully proofread using tracked changes and returned by the agreed deadline, along with any relevant notes or queries where needed.
Take a deep breath and celebrate — you’re one step closer to sharing your work with readers.

Beta Reading

Thoughtful reader feedback for your manuscript

Reaching the stage where you’re ready to share your manuscript with fresh eyes can feel both exciting and vulnerable, no matter how many drafts you’ve written before.

Before moving on to editing, querying, or publication, beta reading can offer valuable insight into how your story is landing with readers. After spending so much time immersed in a manuscript, it’s often difficult to judge what is working clearly and what may need further development.

As a beta reader, my role is to experience your manuscript as a reader while also providing thoughtful, constructive feedback that helps you strengthen your story with clarity and confidence.

Why work with me?

With experience working on over 1,100 manuscripts across multiple genres and age categories, I bring both editorial insight and a deeply engaged reader perspective to every project.

Alongside beta reading and proofreading, sensitivity reading forms a significant part of my work. I have extensive experience supporting writers who are creating diverse casts, exploring identities or lived experiences outside their own, or navigating emotionally and culturally sensitive subject matter with greater nuance and care.

As a lifelong reader, book blogger, and somebody closely engaged with contemporary publishing conversations, I also bring strong awareness of the wider literary landscape, particularly within Black literary fiction, fantasy, speculative fiction, and stories centring underrepresented voices and communities.

My feedback balances honesty with thoughtfulness. I pay close attention to character dynamics, emotional resonance, pacing, clarity, immersion, and the way a story may be experienced by different readers. I’m especially interested in helping writers create stories that feel believable, emotionally grounded, and intentional.

Writing can feel deeply personal, especially when you’re sharing unfinished work. My aim is always to create an experience that feels collaborative, insightful, and genuinely useful to your growth as a writer.

What you receive

In-depth inline comments

Experience real-time insights and reactions through inline comments that capture thoughts, emotional responses, and areas that may need clarification or strengthening.

A comprehensive reader report

Receive a detailed report covering key areas such as:

• Opening and hook
• Character development
• Plot and pacing
• Emotional impact
• Dialogue and readability
• Worldbuilding and immersion
• Themes and consistency
• Overall reader experience

The report is designed to provide actionable feedback while also celebrating the strengths of your story.

Investment

Beta reading projects start from £0.0018 per word.

Pricing may vary depending on manuscript complexity, turnaround time, and the level of feedback requested.

How the service works

Contact me with your manuscript details, including genre, word count, and timeline.
If we decide to move forward, I will send over a Beta Reading Agreement outlining the scope of the service, payment terms, and confidentiality agreement.
Once the agreement has been signed and returned, I will generate an invoice to secure your booking.
You can then send over your manuscript by email. Work will begin once payment has been received (or on the agreed start date, whichever comes first).
You will receive your completed manuscript with inline comments, along with your reader report, by the agreed deadline.

Why writers choose The Abundant Word

• Over 1,100 manuscripts reviewed
• 700+ writers supported worldwide
• CIEP member
• Somerset House Black Business Residency 2025
• Experience across multiple genres and age categories
• Warm, thoughtful, and communicative support throughout the process

A final note

Stories matter. Your voice matters.

Whether you’re looking for careful final polishing through proofreading or deeper reader insight through beta reading, I would be honoured to support you and your manuscript during this stage of the journey.