Copy Editor for Health & Wellness Books

Copy Editor Needed for Health & Wellness Book Manuscript Editing I am looking for an experienced copy editor to help edit a health and wellness book manuscript. The ideal candidate should have strong experience with nonfiction, health and wellness, medical, clinical, coaching, nutrition, psychology, or evidence-based nonfiction content and be comfortable checking references, citations, and source accuracy. This project will involve copyediting for grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity, flow, consistency, tone, readability, and overall polish. The editor should preserve the author’s voice while improving the professionalism, organization, and readability of the manuscript. In addition to traditional copyediting, the project may also require assistance with chapter inserts, sidebars, callout boxes, pull quotes, tables, figures, reference-based inserts, and other supplemental material within chapters as needed. I need someone who can help ensure these elements are placed logically, clearly labeled, consistently formatted, and integrated smoothly into the manuscript. Experience with health, wellness, medical, clinical, coaching, nutrition, psychology, or evidence-based nonfiction content is strongly preferred. Responsibilities The copy editor may be responsible for: Editing the manuscript for grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntax, clarity, and flow Improving sentence structure, readability, consistency, organization, and overall polish Preserving the author’s voice while improving professionalism and reader engagement Reviewing chapter structure and identifying areas where inserts, sidebars, callout boxes, explanatory notes, summaries, or key-point sections may improve the reader experience Inserting or editing sidebars, callout boxes, chapter inserts, pull quotes, summaries, or other supplemental material when needed Ensuring supplemental material is clearly labeled, consistently formatted, and properly placed within chapters Checking citations and references for accuracy, completeness, and consistency Ensuring in-text citations match the reference list Formatting references according to the required style guide, such as usually APA, (AMA, Chicago, MLA, or publisher-specific guidelines) Identifying missing, incomplete, outdated, duplicate, or inconsistent references Flagging factual claims that may need source support Reviewing tables, figures, captions, appendices, footnotes, or endnotes if included and if needed Providing edits using Microsoft Word Track Changes, Google Docs Suggesting Mode, or another agreed-upon format Leaving comments or queries where clarification is needed Reference Checking Requirement (if needed) Please specify whether your reference checking includes only formatting and citation matching, or whether you also verify source accuracy and quoted/paraphrased content against the original source. Strong reference-checking skills are important for this project. I am looking for someone who can identify whether references are complete, properly formatted, and appropriately connected to the manuscript text. Additional experience verifying that a cited source actually supports the statement being made is strongly preferred. Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate should have: Proven experience editing book manuscripts, nonfiction manuscripts, health and wellness content, medical content, coaching content, psychology content, nutrition content, or evidence-based nonfiction Strong command of English grammar, syntax, style, tone, and readability Experience checking references, citations, and source formatting Familiarity with APA ( AMA, Chicago Manual of Style, MLA), or publisher-specific style guides Experience working with sidebars, callout boxes, chapter inserts, pull quotes, tables, figures, captions, or other book-manuscript elements Ability to improve manuscript clarity without over-editing or changing the author’s intended voice Excellent attention to detail Ability to create or follow a manuscript style sheet Experience working with authors, clinicians, health coaches, wellness professionals, researchers, consultants, or subject-matter experts is a plus Project Details Please include in your proposal: Your experience editing books or long-form manuscripts Your experience with health, wellness, medical, clinical, coaching, nutrition, psychology, or evidence-based nonfiction content Your experience checking references and citations Whether your reference checking includes only formatting and citation matching, or whether you also verify source accuracy against the original source The citation styles you are familiar with Whether you have experience with sidebars, callout boxes, chapter inserts, tables, figures, captions, or other manuscript inserts Whether you use Microsoft Word Track Changes, Google Docs Suggesting Mode, or another editing platform Your estimated turnaround time for a manuscript of approximately [insert word count] words Your rate per word, per hour, or per project Whether you are willing to complete a short paid sample edit Deliverables The final deliverable should include: A fully edited manuscript with Track Changes or suggested edits Editor comments or author queries where clarification is needed A reviewed and corrected reference list Notes on missing, incomplete, questionable, outdated, duplicate, or unsupported citations Consistent formatting of sidebars, chapter inserts, callout boxes, tables, figures, captions, or other supplemental material A brief editorial summary noting major issues, recurring concerns, and recommendations A manuscript style sheet, if applicable I am looking for someone detail-oriented, reliable, and experienced with manuscript-level editing for health and wellness nonfiction. Strong reference-checking skills are important, and experience with book structure, sidebars, chapter inserts, and supplemental manuscript elements is strongly preferred.