Copy Editor for Inspirational / Personal Growth Books (Ongoing Work)

COPY EDITOR FOR INSPIRATIONAL / PERSONAL GROWTH BOOKS (Ongoing Work) We’re looking for a high-level copy editor who takes pride in clean, precise work — and knows how to preserve the heart of an author’s message. We’ve published over 300 books in the personal growth, spirituality, health, leadership, and transformation space. Some are memoirs, some are expert-based how-to books. Many of our authors are first-time writers sharing deeply personal stories and insights — so your ability to edit with both precision and care matters. THE OUTCOME WE ARE AIMING FOR: Your role is to help transform a well-developed manuscript into a clean, compelling, publish-ready book — while preserving and enhancing the author’s natural voice. Just as importantly, the author should feel supported, respected, and proud of their work after your edit. WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU: - Precise, clean, accurate copy editing - Strong attention to detail (spelling, grammar, punctuation, tense consistency) - Ability to preserve and enhance the author’s natural voice (very important) - Flag content that doesn’t make sense or is missing context - Break up overly long sentences or paragraphs (white space is your friend) - Light standardisation of headings and structure (for formatting stage) - Deliver feedback in a supportive, respectful, and uplifting way (very important) - On-time or early delivery (non-negotiable) - Comfortable working with both US and UK spelling - We also ask for a short, supportive note on what the author has done well — we pass this directly on to them. PROJECT SCOPE - Typical manuscript: ~30,000 words (range of 10k—100k words) - Standard turnaround: ~2 weeks - Larger manuscripts will have extended timelines - All manuscripts have already gone through a structural Read Review (developmental layer), so structure, flow, and positioning are already in place. Your role is to refine and elevate the manuscript — not rewrite or restructure it. THE TYPE OF EDITOR WHO THRIVES HERE: - You genuinely enjoy personal growth / spiritual / transformational content - You can balance technical precision with emotional intelligence - You know how to give feedback that is clear, supportive, and respectful - You take ownership of your work and communicate well - You like the idea of ongoing, consistent work rather than one-off projects THIS IS NOT FOR YOU IF: - You heavily rewrite or impose your voice on the author - You miss deadlines or require follow-up to complete work - You prefer rigid, academic, or overly corporate editing styles - You don’t resonate with personal growth or human transformation content WORK VOLUME: - Currently: ~6–10 manuscripts per year - Growing as we expand We’ll start with one project to ensure it’s a strong fit both ways. If aligned, we’ll continue with consistent work. WHY EDITORS STAY WITH US - Consistent, meaningful work (no chasing clients) - High-quality authors who care about their message - A respectful, long-term working relationship - Prompt communication and timely payments - Clear briefs and a structured process, managed by our experienced publishing manager. ABOUT US: We’re an Australian-based publisher working with authors across Australia, the USA, and Canada. We’re a relationship-driven company and take pride in delivering a high-quality, human experience for our authors. Our editors tend to stay with us long term — we’re looking for someone who wants to become part of that. HOW TO APPLY: Please include: - The word “ORANGE” at the top of your application - Your experience with book editing (not just blogs/articles) - Why this type of work interests you - Your approach to preserving an author’s voice - Your standard rate, (per word or per project). As a guide, our projects typically sit within a mid-range professional editing budget, and we value long-term working relationships. - Your typical turnaround time for a ~30,000 word manuscript - (Optional but valued): a brief example of your editing work or approach. IMPORTANT: We’re not looking for generic applications. We’re looking for someone who takes pride in their craft and genuinely cares about the work. If selected, this first project will act as a trial for ongoing collaboration.