Michelle Higgs | Non-fiction Copyeditor & Proofreader Specialising in History

Looking for a skilled copyeditor or proofreader who is friendly, honest and approachable? Bingo! I genuinely care about every project I undertake and I would love to hear from you.

My passion for history and words led me to a career as a copyeditor and proofreader specialising in non-fiction history, genealogy and heritage. I have a history degree and I'm fascinated by history in all its forms, especially social history, local history and family history. I am also a freelance writer and author so I understand the editing process from both perspectives.

Editing and proofreading for independent non-fiction authors

As an independent author, you will have put your heart and soul into creating your book. In order to stand out from the crowd for the right reasons, it's vital that you have your manuscript edited and proofread before publication, just as a traditional publishing house would. No matter how good your book is, if it's not checked for clarity, consistency and errors, it won't be the professional-looking title it deserves to be and all your hard work will be wasted.

You might be worried or nervous about showing your work to a professional editor or proofreader like me, perhaps fearing that your book will be tampered with and will no longer feel like your creation. In fact, the opposite is true. I will always respect and retain your authorial voice and writing style, and changes will only ever be suggested to make the text clear and consistent.

I'm a published non-fiction author myself, which I believe is a positive attribute for an editor and proofreader. Having been through the publishing process many times before, I can empathise with the writers I work with and build good relationships with them. Although I specialise in history, I will consider any genre of non-fiction. Let me help you polish your book to be the best it can be.

Editing and proofreading for publishers

Are you looking for a reliable, accurate copyeditor or proofreader to join your pool of freelancers? I am experienced in copyediting and proofreading non-fiction, and accustomed to working to specific house styles and tight deadlines. I'm a history specialist but I'm happy to consider any genre of non-fiction.

Editing and proofreading for businesses

All forms of written communication need some form of quality control to avoid costly mistakes. While you and your team will have spent countless hours working on a product launch, new brochure or the content for your website, it's often the case that you're too close to the project to spot what needs changing or improving. That's why it pays to have an extra pair of eyes to look at the copy from an independent point of view. I can help you by copyediting or proofreading your text, making it as clear, consistent and reader-friendly as it can be.

Media

Books, multi-author books, illustrated books, educational materials.

Experience

Freelance since 2019

Training

Non-fiction Developmental Editing (CIEP) 2023

Efficient Editing: Strategies & Tactics (CIEP) 2022

Word for Practical Editing (CIEP) 2021

Copyediting 2: Headway (CIEP) 2021

Copyediting 1: Introduction (SfEP) 2019

Proofreading 1: Introduction (SfEP) 2018

Clients

Pen & Sword Books (UK)

Prepare to Publish (UK)

Ensemble Media (USA)

Daredevil Books (UK)

Semioscreation (USA)

Subjects

History, social history, British history, local history, genealogy, family history

Historical biography, historical autobiography, memoir

Heritage 

Self-help (popular psychology)

Business

English language teaching

Qualifications

BA Historical Studies

Testimonials

Michelle has been an excellent asset to our editorial team for the past five years, building a rapport with authors and editing their work to a very high standard. She is always a pleasure to deal with and has proven herself to be thorough in her approach to proofreading and copyediting. She is to be recommended to anyone looking for an editor with a discerning eye and an exceptionally professional attitude towards their work.

Laura Hirst, Production & Commissioning Editor, Pen and Sword History

Michelle has proven an excellent proofreader, helpful, reliable and expert at spotting errors in copy, and I would certainly recommend her.

I hired Michelle to proofread an 85,000-word book of genealogical research containing numerous images, maps and family trees. As a fellow editorial professional, I was looking for high standards when I hired Michelle, and I was not disappointed. I have nothing but praise for her care and sound judgement. She saved me from several embarrassing errors and sensitively suggested helpful improvements. Her queries and corrections were clear and easy to take forward. The work involved meticulously checking around a thousand years' worth of genealogical data against the narrative and the family trees, and Michelle handled this part of the job with great competence. Her communications were professional and timely throughout, and I always felt fully appraised of progress in the work and against the budget. I would wholeheartedly recommend Michelle's proofreading service.

Hazel Bird

Michelle is a gem. She guided me with care, patience and expertise through the entire proofing process. She went beyond just proofreading to provide invaluable advice and comments that gave my manuscript added sparkle. Hiring her was the best decision I made. Highly recommended.

Andy Williamson, author and historian

I could not have chosen a better editor than Michelle. As well as tidying up the text of my book, she identified several areas in the narrative that needed improvement and suggested much better alternatives. Her extensive knowledge of Victorian society was invaluable in making sure that I had correctly understood social factors that were an important part of the book.

I asked Michelle if she would write the blurb for me, and she has done an excellent job on that too – concise, punchy, yet still incorporating the main points of the book. Michelle promptly answered my questions with friendly and helpful replies. I am about to start a new project, and I hope Michelle will agree to being my editor when it’s finished.

David Smith, author of Agnes Marshall: From Scullery Maid to Victorian Celebrity Cook

For my debut book, I needed someone to do some lightweight copyediting and proofreading, and I found Michelle's details on the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading website. As a new indie writer, I had never used the services of an editor before and wasn't sure what to expect, but Michelle's communication was excellent throughout. She was professional, helpful, reassuring and kept me up to date so I knew exactly what was happening, and when.

Her suggested edits were really helpful and she spotted things that I’d missed, such as the overuse of particular words. And she provided really useful feedback too.

Michelle was very honest and only charged me for the time that it took her to complete the work, which ended up being less than the initial quote. And it was done in a very timely manner. I would definitely use Michelle again if I needed this type of service in the future.

Hanh Tat, author of Life as a Jigsaw Puzzle: A Little Book About Love

• Editor
• Proofreader

• History