Proofreader for Book 2 of a Supernatural Trilogy (Structure, Clarity & Continuity Only)

We are preparing Book 2 of our supernatural fiction trilogy for publication. Book 1 is already published; Book 2 is in final revisions and entering pre-production. Before moving into final formatting, we need a seasoned proofreader who can provide a polished, publication-ready pass focused on structure, clarity, continuity, and non-creative corrections only. This is not a developmental edit and not a rewrite. The story, characters, plot, lore, and creative style are locked. Your mandate is to strengthen the professional readability of the manuscript while preserving the authorial voice and creative intent. The book's structural outline is already well-defined, including act structure and chapter progression. A published Book 1, a series style sheet, and our plot summary and scene flow will be provided for reference. Scope of Work: Structural proofreading: Identify repetition, pacing issues, or organizational inconsistencies at the line/copy level (not rewriting scenes). Continuity & logic checks: Ensure internal consistency across names, terminology, timeline references, factions, and character actions — and consistency with Book 1 as published. Cross-book continuity is the single most important element of this engagement. Series continuity flags: Note anything that contradicts established canon from Book 1, and flag it for author review rather than correcting it yourself. Clarity improvements: Flag confusing sentences, awkward transitions, redundant phrasing, tense issues, or unclear references. Grammar, punctuation, spelling: Standard proofreading corrections. Voice preservation: All edits must respect the tone, style, and narrative voice established in Book 1. No creative alteration: No changing plot, lore, or canon. No rewriting character motivations. No adjusting worldbuilding rules. No re-architecting scenes or inventing new content. No "resolving" open threads. This is the middle book of a trilogy. Certain questions, setups, and withheld information are intentional and pay off in Book 3. Ambiguity is not an error unless we say it is — flag, don't fix. No AI Editing — Human Work Only: This is a hard requirement and a condition of the contract, not a preference. The manuscript may not be uploaded to, pasted into, processed by, or submitted to any generative AI or large language model tool. This includes ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, Sudowrite, and any similar service, as well as AI-driven rewriting or "enhancement" features in third-party editing platforms. Grammar and spellcheck built into Microsoft Word is acceptable. Anything that generates, rewrites, or rephrases text is not. We spent eight months writing this book. We are hiring a human editor's judgment, ear, and eye — that is the entire value of this engagement. Any evidence of AI-generated or AI-rewritten text will result in immediate termination of the contract without payment of remaining milestones. Please do not apply if this is a constraint you cannot work within. Workflow & Tools: All editing is performed in Word Online through our SharePoint site, using tracked changes. You will be granted access to the manuscript file directly. The manuscript is not to be downloaded, copied, forwarded, or stored locally or in any personal cloud account. All work stays in the shared environment. You will need a Microsoft account (personal or work) to be granted guest access. Comfort working in Word Online with tracked changes and comments is required. Manuscript Details: Genre: Dark urban fantasy / modern supernatural drama Length: Full-length novel (approx. 146K words) Target audience: YA/Adult urban fantasy readers Tone: Intense, character-driven, modern supernatural Series placement: Book 2 of a completed three-book arc Timeline: Full engagement completed by October 15th to hold our publication window Milestones & Payment: This contract is structured in three funded milestones: First Draft Pass — Complete tracked-changes pass through the full manuscript. Second Draft Pass — Review and reconciliation following author responses to first-pass edits. Final Draft — Final proof, accepted-changes version, and delivery of summary documents. Each milestone is funded and released on delivery and review. Please include your proposed rate per milestone or total project rate in your application. Ideal Candidate Profile: Proven experience proofreading fiction manuscripts for publication Experience with series or multi-book continuity strongly preferred Deep attention to structural clarity, flow, and repetition removal Ability to elevate readability without imposing stylistic changes Comfortable working under rigid creative constraints Strong communication skills and ability to document reasoning for flagged items Responsive and consistent communication throughout the engagement — we value clear, regular check-ins Willingness to read Book 1 for continuity purposes (a copy will be provided) Experience in supernatural, fantasy, or speculative fiction is a plus but not required Confidentiality: This is an unpublished manuscript in an active franchise with a film adaptation in development. A signed NDA is required before access is granted. Contents may not be discussed, excerpted, or shared publicly, and the manuscript may not be used as a portfolio sample without written permission. Deliverables: Fully tracked-changes manuscript in SharePoint A clean "final" version with changes accepted An updated series style sheet reflecting terminology and formatting decisions A brief summary identifying any significant structural or continuity issues the authors should review, including any conflicts with Book 1 To Apply: Please briefly describe your experience with series continuity work and confirm you can work within the no-AI and SharePoint-only requirements. Applications that do not address these will not be considered.