My name is Corey McCullough. I’m a writer, copy editor, and proofreader with nearly 5,000 writing and editorial projects under my belt. I offer writing, editing, and proofreading services to elevate your content to the next level.
As a full-time freelancer and a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association, my entire day is devoted to perfect words. My running totals include:
Editing: 571 articles and blog posts, 642 news articles, 36 nonfiction books, 22 fiction novels, 24 academic abstracts, 6 children’s books, 6 short stories, 1,050 web-novel chapters
Proofreading: 791 pieces of marketing copy, 2 nonfiction books
Ghostwriting: 52 articles and blog posts, 10 nonfiction books, 3 fiction novels, 2 mobile video game scripts, 30 resumes
Editorial Services Offered
- Ghostwriting
- Developmental Editing
- Copyediting
- Proofreading
- Publishing
The Ghostwriter/Editor’s Tool Chest
The word “editor” suffers from rampant ambiguity. In the project management sense, it applies to someone who commissions and curates material for publication (think Editor-in-Chief) and manages projects through coordination and supervision. In the revision sense, the word applies to someone who corrects material to prepare it for publication. To help you save time and money, here’s a quick lesson on the tools of the editor.
Ghostwriting: Building the Foundation
Ghostwriting is the process of writing something for another individual. Essentially, the person who will be credited as the author of a given project hires a ghostwriter to produce a professional piece of writing based on notes, outlines, interviews, videos, etc. A ghostwriter is usually uncredited for their work (hence, “ghost”).
Developmental Editing: Blueprints and Permits
This category chiefly applies to books. A developmental edit, sometimes known as structural editing, involves big-picture planning, organization, and flow. It may include the creation of outlines, chapters, and drafts, developing a narrative for the presentation of ideas, and suggesting new material.
Copyediting: Renovation
“Copy” is any text that’s written for publication. Copyediting is the process of editing copy for accuracy, clarity, style, consistency, and formatting, and correcting errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, word choice, subject/verb agreement, etc. Copyediting also may include fact-checking, checking references, and alterations to adhere to the preferred style guide.
Proofreading: Sandpaper and Paint
Most people think proofreading means fixing spelling, grammar, and punctuation—one step below copyediting. In the traditional sense, a “proof” is a preliminary draft of a piece of copy, and proofreading is the final quality check before copy goes out to the world. A true proofreader makes no changes but identifies and marks any errors or discrepancies in copy that have been missed. The writer or copy editor then consults the proofreader’s marks and makes the necessary corrections. (In reality, proofreading is usually a final polish before a piece of writing goes to the reader.)
Substantive Editing (Optional): Interior Decorating
This is an optional step that can be utilized as needed, usually between the developmental editing and copyediting stages. If you have material that needs to be rewritten, expanded upon, or reorganized in general, then substantive editing is the name of the game. This process hones in on revisions at the paragraph level to aid in narrative and flow. Sometimes, rewriting is involved.
Admittedly, when it comes down to practical application, these categories tend to overlap. You might need a combination of multiple services. For example, in addition to the individual services listed above, I also offer a Full-Service Book Creation Package: a combination of ghostwriting, editorial, and publication services to take your book all the way from concept to bookshelf.
Bottom line: A good writer/editor will be flexible based on your needs. As stated in the Editorial Freelancers Association’s Code of Fair Practice:
“Editorial freelancers perform a variety of tasks that often defy common descriptions of editorial jobs. For example, an editorial freelancer who takes on a copyediting project might also correct logical flaws in narration or make other changes that entail substantive editing. A freelancer doing a proofreading project might impose a consistent style, even though editing for style is generally viewed as the copyeditor’s job.”
My Specialties
Small business content
Health/fitness
Personal development
Science fiction & fantasy fiction
Articles, blog posts, sales copy, e-books, fiction novels, and nonfiction books
Subject experience: anthropology, archaeology, Christian content, comics/graphic novels, entrepreneurship, family history, personal finance, science, world history
My Availability
I usually accept work Monday through Friday from 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but I have been known to work all night to make a tight deadline or wake up at 3:00 a.m. to meet the surprise needs of a client. If you would like to discuss working together or have any questions, contact me.
Corey (C.B.) McCullough
C.B. McCullough Editing & Proofreading 