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The blue pencil

Hi, I'm Deborah.

Helping Independent Authors Perfect Their Manuscripts • Friendly Freelance Proofreader and Copy Editing Expert • Enhancing Authenticity in Print for Non-Native English Speakers

02/06/2026

About to send your manuscript to an editor? Do these things first.

Finish the manuscript completely — every chapter, every scene, your ending on the page.

Self-edit thoroughly — spell-check, obvious typos, repeated words. Get it as clean as you can yourself.

Once it's with your editor — leave it alone. Changes mid-edit create more problems than they solve.

Keep formatting simple — standard font, double spacing, 1-inch margins. Save the beautiful design for later.

Use Heading Styles for your chapter titles in Word — it makes navigation and numbering checks so much easier.

Send a Word document — it's the professional standard and supports Track Changes.

Run one final spell-check before you hit send.

A well-prepared manuscript means your editor can focus on what really matters — and you get it back sooner. Full guide on the blog.

14/05/2026

Track Changes, those red lines on your manuscript in Microsoft Word, can look intimidating the first time you see it, but once you know what you're looking at, it's actually a really straightforward tool that puts you the author completely in control of your document.

As an editor, when I return a completed project, I send three files:

1. The Original—so you can see where you started

2. The Tracked version—showing every suggested change ready to accept or reject

3. The Accepted version—a 'clean' copy for you to work with

Because every decision is yours. I make suggestions. You decide what stays.

I've written a step-by-step guide on The Blue Pencil blog walking you through exactly how to navigate, accept, reject, and respond to changes—whether you're a first-time client or just need a refresher.

30/04/2026

Looking for a romance editor you'll actually love working with? Here's what to look for. 💕

🦋 Someone who reads romance—not just edits it. Genre knowledge makes a real difference.
🦋 Someone who knows your subgenre. Contemporary, dark romance, romantic suspense—each has its own rules and reader expectations.
🦋 Someone whose sample edit feels right. Most editors offer one. Always take them up on it.
🦋Someone with a proper contract—covering confidentiality, timelines, and their position on AI.

The right editor won't just improve your manuscript. They'll make the whole process feel like a collaboration rather than a correction.

Get in touch if you'd like to chat about your romance project.

28/04/2026

Hiring a book editor? Ask these questions first.

◾️ What type of editing do you offer? Developmental editing, copy editing and proofreading are not the same thing—make sure you know which one your manuscript needs right now.
◾️ What genres do you specialise in? Genre knowledge makes a real difference to the quality of editorial feedback you'll receive.
◾️ Do you offer a sample edit? Always ask. It tells you more than any testimonial.
◾️ What does your contract cover? Confidentiality, timelines, fees—and their position on AI—should all be in there.
◾️ What will I actually receive? Tracked changes, an editorial report, a follow-up call—know exactly what's included before you commit.

Take your time, ask the right questions, and find the editor who's right for your book. Full guide on the blog — link in bio.

23/04/2026

How do I know when my manuscript is ready?

It's a great question—and the answer matters more than many authors realise. Proofreading is the final stage of the editorial process, not the first. It works best on a manuscript that is complete, settled, and has already been through the earlier stages of editing.

Here are five signs you're genuinely ready:

1. Your story-level edits are done—plot, structure, and characters are all where you want them.

2. You've done a thorough read-through yourself and caught the obvious things.

3. Your beta readers and copy editor have fed back and those changes have been made.

4. Your manuscript is in its final or near-final formatted state.

5. You can read it without wanting to rewrite it.

That last one is perhaps the most telling. When you feel settled in your story and your instinct is to refine rather than rework—that's the moment a proofreader adds the most value. I will work with you to achieve your publishing goals with confidence while maintaining your unique voice. I have availability in May and July if you're approaching that final stage. Full post on the blog; link in bio.

16/04/2026

Really proud to share this one.

Shared Humanity by Robert A. Gillespie is a book I had the privilege of proofreading—and it's one that has genuinely stayed with me.

Robert is a former federal field agent who, following a near-death experience, trades his badge for the therapist's chair. What follows is a forensic and deeply human exploration of schizophrenia, PTSD, depression, addiction, and the layered complexity of the mind.

It's the kind of book that changes how you see people—and yourself.
Now available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. If you're looking for your next thought-provoking read, this is it.

09/04/2026

Writing contemporary fiction?
Here's how to handle text message dialogue on the page.

• Format consistently—pick one style for texts and stick to it throughout. Italics, indented blocks, name headers. Whatever works, just keep it uniform.
• You can lose the dialogue tags. Texts don't have to have 'he typed' or 'she messaged'. The format itself can tell the reader what's happening.
• Be intentionally imperfect—real texts are casual. No capitals, abbreviations, the odd missing punctuation mark. But every choice should be deliberate, not accidental.
• Make it clear who's speaking. Readers shouldn't have to count back through the thread to work out whose message is whose.
• Use it sparingly—a sharp, well-placed text exchange reveals character and builds tension. A long thread of messages slows everything down.

The difference between e-dialogue that works and e-dialogue that doesn't often comes down to intention. Every formatting choice on the page should be a choice—not a habit.

Not sure if your text exchanges are landing? That's exactly what copy editing is for. Contact me via the link in my bio.

02/04/2026

One of the things I care most about as an editor is that authors feel informed and confident from the very first conversation—not just about the editing itself, but about pricing, timelines, and exactly what to expect when their manuscript comes back to them.

So when a client takes the time to put that into words, it genuinely means a great deal. ♥️

"Deborah at The Blue Pencil was a pleasure to work with. From the start of our working relationship, she was completely transparent in the pricing, timelines and what I could expect from the returned manuscript, and even suggested beta readers for me to approach before going ahead with her editing services to be sure I was happy with the story as a whole. Her changes and suggestions were instrumental in improving the readability of my novel. I would not hesitate to use her services again for my next project, and would urge anyone else to do the same."

If you're working on a manuscript and wondering whether now is the right time to bring in an editor, I'm always happy to have an honest, no-obligation conversation first.
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I'm a skilled, friendly copy editor and proofreader. I work with fiction authors and publishers to ensure that their content is as clear and correct as possible. If you need help making sure your content is error-free, feel free to DM me.
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20/03/2026

My March newsletter is out, and this one felt particularly worth sharing.

Alongside the usual editing tip of the month, I've been thinking about what beta readers can and can't do for your manuscript, and why so many indie romance authors reach publication day with more still to catch than they realise. It's something I see regularly in my work, and I wanted to talk about it honestly.

This month's editing tip is all about the comma splice. That much-maligned punctuation habit that is sometimes an error, and sometimes exactly the right creative choice. If you write crime, thriller, or romance, this one is for you.

And I've shared my latest romance read—because what's a newsletter without a book recommendation?

If you're not already on my mailing list and would like to receive future newsletters, the link to sign up is on my home page of my website, just scroll to the bottom. Easy!

12/03/2026

Just published a new post on The Blue Pencil blog — and it's one for every indie romance author who thinks beta readers are enough.

Spoiler: they're wonderful. But they're not a substitute for copy editing.

In my latest post, I'm breaking down exactly what copy editors catch that beta readers don't — from POV drift and repetitive vocabulary to continuity errors your readers will notice, even if they can't name why.

If you're writing romance (sweet, steamy, or anywhere in between), this one's for you. 👇
Link in bio

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