I am a freelance copyeditor and proofreader. I have in-house experience and a formal qualification with distinction in copyediting from the Publishing Training Centre (PTC).I offer copyediting and proofreading services for publishers, authors (fiction and non-fiction) and academics.I predominantly work on-screen. I use comments and track changes for Word documents and annotation tools and sticky notes for PDF documents.Find out more about me, my services and specialisms. You can also get in touch with me here.

ServicesI offer copyediting and proofreading services. These two terms are just tricky, really. People who don’t work in publishing often use ‘proofreading’ as an umbrella term for having someone go through their text ‘fixing stuff’, and ‘copyediting’ is a word many people might not be familiar with. Within publishing, these terms describe two related but distinct processes. The CIEP has some great information on this topic in the FAQs page, and you can also take a look at this fact sheet for the short version.Instead of offering line editing as a separate service, I prefer thinking in terms of different levels of copyediting: light, medium and heavy. A heavy copyedit includes a full line edit – you can think of it as line editing and copyediting combined, which is really what most independent authors are after. I find it more straightforward and less jargony to think of it that way, and hope you do too!If you are unsure about what you need (I don’t blame you!), please get in touch with some details about your project. If you include a sample, I will be able to explain what level of work your manuscript requires.Find out more about my specialisms and past work.

SpecialismsFictionI am especially interested in literary fiction, LGBTQ+ fiction and horror. I offer free sample edits (1000 words) for independent fiction authors to check whether we are a good match. Recent clients: Penguin Random House (Dutton), Orbit, Abrams (Amulet Books).Non-fictionMy academic background is in languages, linguistics and literature, and I have experience editing academic texts and manuscripts in the humanities and social sciences (especially literature, linguistics, art and art history), both for books and journals. Some recent academic editing clients are Duke University Press, Cambridge University Press, Newgen, Taylor & Francis (Routledge) and the Spanish Journal of Applied Linguistics. I have also done work for the Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology and Anthropology and Education Quarterly (for Ideas on Fire).I have copyedited conference subtitles and exhibition catalogues for Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, so I have experience working on highly illustrated titles.I have also worked on self-help books.I have proofread ELT textbooks for Compass Publishing.I have substantial experience copyediting and proofreading a magazine in-house (The Vegan), where I also worked on recipes extensively.I have in-house experience at a large charity copyediting and proofreading all sorts of communications, both print and digital (e.g. websites, articles, report, blogs, campaigns and fundraising material, AGM documentation, infographics and fact sheets).SpanishI am fluent in Spanish and have experience editing English translations of Spanish books as well as English books about Spanish. I can also copyedit and proofread Spanish texts and manuscripts.

AboutThe short versionExperience• Full-time freelance copyeditor and proofreader since early 2021• Over two years of experience across different editorial roles in-houseEducation and courses• Introduction to Fiction Editing, CIEP (2022)• Adobe Tools for Editors, PTC (2021)• Essential Copy-Editing: Editorial Skills Two, Distinction, PTC (2021)• MA (Honours) Classics and English, First Class, University of St Andrews (2018)The long versionEducational and professional backgroundI have an MA (Honours) in Classics and English, First Class, from the University of St Andrews.In 2015 I did an editing internship in the publications department of Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid. I’ve always loved art and art history, so it was a wonderful context in which to develop my editorial skills. I got to learn about the entire editorial process in practice, not just theory, and helped to proofread the exhibition catalogue Munch: Archetypes. I have also done editorial work for Fernando Villaverde Ediciones as a result of contacts I made at the museum.After graduation I worked for Birmingham-based charity The Vegan Society as Communications Assistant. After some months I also became Assistant Editor of the charity magazine, The Vegan. I was the in-house copyeditor and proofreader for all sorts of publications, both print and digital. I wrote the style guide that the entire organisation continues to use, and I was frequently asked to review documents and provide advice on matters of style beyond grammar.Even though I already had significant professional experience and a relevant academic background, I wanted to consolidate my knowledge and make sure that there weren’t any gaps in my editorial skills, so I got in touch with the Publishing Training Centre (PTC). The PTC offers thorough, assessed distance-learning courses with the support of a tutor who is an established editorial professional. Based on my background and experience, I was advised to jump straight into ‘Essential Copy-Editing: Editorial Skills Two’. I completed this course in 2021 with a distinction (apparently one of two people to get one since the course started!), as well as the ‘Adobe Tools for Editors’ course. In 2022 I completed the CIEP’s ‘Introduction to Fiction Editing’ course.I have now been freelancing full-time for three years, and I would love to help you make your words the best they can be.About meOver the past few years I’ve lived in Spain, Scotland and England, and I am now based in Oslo, Norway. When I’m not reading for work (or for fun), I like listening to music, cooking, birdwatching (not just sanderlings) and hiking.

About the nameHow did I end up with a slightly unusual name for my copyediting and proofreading business? I didn’t want to tie my personal name to my professional brand, and yet another play on words about writing and books seemed a bit unoriginal at this point.So, why Sanderling Editorial? Sanderlings (Calidris alba) are tiny and absurdly cute wading birds found all over the world’s coasts. Their name possibly comes from the Old English for ‘sand ploughman’. But more importantly, editorial work reminds me of the way sanderlings behave. Sanderlings feed by running up and down sandy beaches with the ebb and flow of waves, picking at seemingly empty spots in the sand that actually contain a wealth of small invertebrates buried in there. Likewise, copyeditors and proofreaders spend their time combing through texts, often picking at tiny things that you might not even realise are there, like extra spacing, inconsistent spellings and unnecessary punctuation. Although we aren’t able to feed on misplaced commas, ultimately this is what allows us to eat in a way, so maybe it’s an even more apt metaphor than I originally realised!Like any metaphor, the similarities stop at some point – the way copyeditors and proofreaders work is a lot more logical and organised than just running up and down your text all day long picking at small things. We also add things when necessary and look at the big picture, structure, organisation and many other important features of your text, which sanderlings aren’t known for. (Most copyeditors and proofreaders also don’t need to go to the Arctic circle to have copyeditor and proofreader babies, don’t change plumage colours depending on the season and can’t do rhynchokinesis, just to name a few other differences.)Finally, look at how cute my logo and illustrations are – an upper-case letter in a fancy-looking serif font or some red proofreading marks simply couldn’t compete. All illustrations by Adam Duncan.

Testimonials

‘Pedro is an exceptionally diligent and encouraging editor. He went above and beyond to respond to the specific concerns and questions I had for this project. As an independent author working in a new genre, his advice was especially invaluable. I can’t recommend his services highly enough.’— Max, independent non-fiction author

‘As associate editor of an international journal in the area of linguistics, I have been working with Pedro for a year now. He has done line editing and copyediting for several manuscripts both in English and in Spanish, paying great attention to every detail with the highest quality editing. He is committed to his work and can be trusted to meet deadlines in a quick and efficient manner. All authors whose work he has edited have expressed their gratitude for his excellent and thorough editing. I would certainly recommend him.’— Associate Editor, international linguistics journal

‘I’d like to extend my sincere gratitude to you for all the painstaking work you’ve done with my manuscript. You have an impeccable eye for detail. I’m impressed! The book is immensely improved thanks to all your efforts. Having worked with copyeditors on numerous occasions before, I must say that you are a truly phenomenal reader and editor. I’m so glad that my manuscript ended up in your hands!’— Dr Andrew Lynch, author of Spanish in Miami

‘Pedro’s proofreading and copyediting skills are exemplary, and his attention to detail is outstanding. Pedro’s input always brings out the best in every piece of writing, improving consistency, accuracy and clarity. During our time working together Pedro copyedited and proofread our quarterly magazine, The Vegan, along with numerous reports, blogs, articles, recipes, infographics and more. Pedro also created a thorough and professional style guide which still proves invaluable to our work.’— Elena Orde, Editor of The Vegan

‘Pedro was an exceptional student on the Publishing Training Centre’s course, Essential Copy-Editing, gaining the highest level of Pass with Distinction. He has phenomenal knowledge of linguistics and eagle-eyed attention to detail – the hallmarks of an outstanding copy-editor. He is diligent in every undertaking, producing editorial work of an exceptionally high calibre. He is also an incredibly nice person, with gentle and considerate interpersonal skills that are well suited to working with authors and clients.’— Heather Cushing, Tutor at the Publishing Training Centre

PricingWhen working with publishers, I’m happy to discuss your usual rates for freelancers.When working directly with authors, I assess each project individually, taking into account deadlines, the type and amount of work the text needs, and the type of client. If you send me details about the work you would like me to copyedit or proofread (e.g. word count, figures and illustrations, schedule, type of text, audience, formats), I will be able to give you more detailed information, including a quote. Samples are always very helpful, but please make sure the sample is representative of the overall quality of your work.I take into account the Editorial Freelancers Association’s median rates to ensure that my rates are fair and reasonable.I accept payments in USD, GBP and EUR. Other currencies can be discussed.I do not advertise flat rates because no two projects are the same. I realise this can be frustrating, so below are some approximate figures to give you a better idea of my rates when working directly with authors:Non-fiction and academic copyeditingUsually from £0.02 to £0.04 ($0.025 – $0.05) per word.Please note that references are not included in this calculation. I charge for those separately, using a flat rate of £2 ($2.50) per reference.Fiction copyeditingUsually from £0.015 to £0.035 ($0.02 – $0.04) per word.ProofreadingUsually from £0.008 to £0.02 ($0.01 – $0.25) per word.Please note that this refers to ‘proofreading’ in the traditional sense of the word in publishing.

ContactUse the contact form below for general queries or if you want to discuss how I can help you with your work. You can email me directly at [email protected] if you prefer. I am also available for phone consultations, but please send me an email first so we can arrange a suitable time for a call. You can also find me on Twitter (I’m still not calling it that other thing).Please provide as many details as possible on your project (type of project, schedule, word count, figures and illustrations, any other relevant information and concerns you might have). This will allow me to give you a more specific and accurate answer, especially if you would like a quote. Samples are always very helpful, but please make sure the sample is representative of the overall quality of your work.I offer free sample edits (1000 words) for independent fiction authors – it’s a great way to determine if we’ll be a good fit.Privacy and confidentiality are fundamental, and I am happy to accommodate any special requests you might have.

Privacy policyI am a sole trader offering proofreading and copyediting services to international clients as Sanderling Editorial. You can contact me at [email protected].This privacy policy was last updated in April 2024.What information do I collect and why?If you contact me using the form on my website or get in touch via email, I request the following information:• your name (so I know who I’m talking to)• your email address (so I know where to reach you)• information about your project.If you end up using my professional services, I will need further information such as your postal address (for billing purposes) and phone number.Do I share your information?No, I will not share your information with anyone, with one exception required by law: tax audits.How do I obtain your information?The information I receive through the website is provided by you through the contact form. If you email me directly without including all the information I need, I will ask you to provide it.How do I store your information?Your information is securely stored on password-protected physical devices and cloud storage.How long do I keep your information for?I am legally required to keep some personal data, such as name and billing address, for six years for tax purposes. I will normally delete all your information in one go after that period.If you want me to delete information that I am not required to keep for tax purposes before then, please get in touch and I will do so.CookiesI use essential cookies for my site to function.Please contact me at [email protected] if you wish ask questions about your data, make changes or request erasure.