Manuscript appraisal
A written assessment of structure, argument, pacing, language and readership, with recommendations on the level of editorial work required.
Editing
Clear editorial support at the stage your manuscript actually needs, with changes explained and returned for your review.
A manuscript may require different levels of editorial work. Structural editing addresses the organisation and development of the content. Copy editing improves language, consistency and accuracy. Proofreading is the final check after the text has been typeset.
Our editors work carefully to preserve the author's voice. Significant changes are shown clearly, explained where necessary and returned to the author for review before the manuscript moves to the next stage.
Editorial services available
Structural editing
Review of chapter order, narrative logic, repetition, gaps and balance across the manuscript as a whole.
Copy editing
A detailed review of grammar, tense, consistency, house style, names, dates, figures and references, with changes clearly tracked for the author's review.
Proofreading
A final review of the typeset pages for line breaks, spacing, running heads, page numbers and other layout or text errors.
Fact and reference checking
For non-fiction, academic and institutional titles, sources and citations are reviewed for consistency and alignment with the agreed referencing style.
Translation review
Passages in Zambian languages can be reviewed for spelling, consistency and appropriate orthography where the required language expertise is available.
How the editorial process works
Sample and quote
Send us the manuscript for an initial review. We assess a short sample, identify the level of editing required and prepare a quotation based on the word count and scope.
Appraisal
We provide a written appraisal outlining the main editorial issues and recommended next steps, whether or not you proceed with the full edit through Sotrane.
The edit itself
The manuscript is edited using tracked changes and clear editorial queries. Significant changes are presented for the author's review rather than made without explanation.
Your review
The author reviews the proposed changes and may accept, reject or discuss them with the editor before the manuscript is finalised.
Proofread pages
After typesetting, the laid-out pages are proofread again to identify text and layout errors that may only become visible in the final page design.
Common questions about this service
Which stage does my manuscript need?
Send us the manuscript for an initial review. We will advise whether it requires structural editing, copy editing or proofreading before preparing the quotation.
Will you change my voice?
No. Our role is to improve clarity, consistency and structure while preserving the author's voice. Substantive changes are shown as tracked suggestions and explained where necessary.
Do I have to publish with Sotrane to be edited by Sotrane?
No. Editing is available as a stand-alone service. We also edit manuscripts that are later published elsewhere or independently by the author.
How is editing priced?
Editing is priced according to the word count and the level of editorial work required. The quotation is provided in writing before work begins, and any additional work is discussed before it is undertaken.