Nicola Bigwood | Proofreader, Copyeditor, Translator

Hi, I'm Nicola Bigwood, a freelance proofreader, copyeditor and translator.

I proofread and copyedit fiction and non-fiction, and I translate into English from French and German, for publishers, authors, agencies, international organisations, NGOs and businesses.

How can I help you?

Proofreading ✍️ I help you ensure that your designed page proofs, written in English, are ready for publication, by checking grammar, spelling, layout and formatting.

In addition to working with designed page proofs in PDF format, I also proof-edit 'raw' text in Word documents – usually for audiobooks or for copy intended for online publication.

In both cases, think of me as the editorial equivalent of the 'Check your order' page you get before you hit the 'Confirm purchase' button when buying goods online: my role comes at the end of the process, after your text has been edited, to check your document over before you hit 'Publish'.

Copyediting ✍️ I help you ensure that the text you've written in English reads well, checking consistency, grammar, spelling, and marking up text ready for typesetting. This is a check of the writing once all the 'big picture' stuff (plot points, character arcs) and stylistic issues (pacing, voice, language style) have already been finalised: the tidy-up before typesetting.

If you need some help with the 'big picture' stuff, you'll need a developmental editor (also known as a substantive editor); if you need some help with getting the tension right in a scene, or avoiding using the same go-to phrase in every other paragraph, you'll need a line editor (also known as a stylistic editor). Once you're happy with the structure and pace of the text, that's when I can help! Think of me as the person who helps you iron the garment you've made, after you've already bought the cloth, cut it to shape and sewn it together.

Translating 🇫🇷🇩🇪🇬🇧 I help you share stories, experience and knowledge originally written in French and German with an English-reading audience. This, in turn, helps English readers lift the curtain on a world that might otherwise be closed off, restricted or incomprehensible to them.

Main subject areas ✍️ 📚 

I love writing that explores who we are as people, the places we come from and the ways we interact with the world around us. I focus particularly on:

• Literature (especially fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, mythology/folklore, dystopia, historical)
• History, culture and language learning
• International relations, human rights and humanitarian aid (including EU and UN)

I have 20 years' experience in proofreading, editing and translating in both the public and the private sectors, in the UK, France, Germany and Luxembourg, and I have many years of experience in website editing. I'm also a keen language learner (I'm currently learning Italian, Welsh and Irish… slowly!).

I've proofread and copyedited fiction and non-fiction titles by authors including Adrian Tchaikovsky, A. G. Riddle, Dana Stabenow, Jane Johnson, Simon Turney, Stefan Ahnhem and Ian Livingstone, published by Head of Zeus, Unbound, Audible Originals and UNICEF. I've also had fiction and non-fiction translations – from contemporary romance and children’s folk tales to international relations and policy analysis – published by Vitalis Verlag, Tektime, the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) and the Goethe Institut.

I donate a share of my profits to tree planting and climate projects via Ecologi and the Woodland Trust – so every invoice helps support a greener world.

Professional memberships 🏆

• Professional member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)
• Full member of the Society of Authors' Translators Association
• Member of the Professional Editors Network
• Affiliate member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI)

Media

Books, Illustrated books, Non-governmental (NGO) reports, Websites/blogs and Online materials.

Subjects 📚

Fiction (science fiction/fantasy, magical realism, historical, crime/mystery/thrillers, literary, children's, mythology/folklore, literature in translation)

Non-fiction (general, history, culture, children's educational/informative, political science, social science, language learning)

Language (English language, English as a foreign/second language (EFL/ESL), English language teaching (ELT), Language learning (MFL, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Welsh, Irish, Latin, Luxembourgish, Dutch, Russian)

Politics/government (British, current affairs, European, international development, international relations (aid), political science, United Nations)

Social sciences/studies (folklore/mythology, human rights)

History (culture, heritage)

Tourism/travel

Astronomy/space sciences (popular)

Theatre

Clients 📚

I have worked with publishers, authors, agencies, non-governmental organisations, small companies and sole traders.

Titles I have proofread* have been published by:

• Ad Astra (Head of Zeus)
  
• Apollo (Head of Zeus)
  
• Aria (Head of Zeus)
• Aries (Head of Zeus)
  
• Audible Originals
  
• Brabinger Publishing
• Central Bylines (Bylines Network)
• East Anglia Bylines (Bylines Network)
• Pearson
• Unbound
• UNICEF
• West England Bylines (Bylines Network)
• Whitefox
• Yorkshire Bylines (Bylines Network)
• Zephyr (Head of Zeus)

These include fiction titles (sci-fi, fantasy, crime/mystery/thriller, historical, children's) and non-fiction titles or articles (modern history, humanitarian aid, current affairs, politics, language learning) by authors including Adrian Tchaikovsky, A. G. Riddle, Dana Stabenow, Jane Johnson, Roland Chambers, Simon Turney, Tim Leach, Gordon Doherty, Stefan Ahnhem, Sebastian Fitzek, Michael Wood, Richard Moss, Ian Livingstone, China Miéville and Oliver Postgate.

Titles I have copyedited* have been published by:

• Audible Originals
  
• Whitefox
• Yorkshire Bylines (Bylines Network)
• Zephyr (Head of Zeus)

These include fiction titles (children's, historical, romantic fantasy) and non-fiction titles or articles (current affairs), and a privately published memoir.

I have also copy-edited/language-checked texts pre-submission for authors writing in English as a second language. These titles have subsequently been published by:

• International Journal of Historical Archaeology (Springer)
• Journal of African Archaeology (Brill)
• The Journal of African History (Cambridge University Press)
• Rassegna di Studi Etiopici
• Routledge (Taylor & Francis)

Titles I have translated* have been published by:

• French Institute of International Relations (IFRI)
  
• Goethe Institut
  
• Tektime
  
• Vitalis Verlag

These include fiction titles (children's, contemporary romance) and non-fiction titles (international relations, modern history and policy analysis).

I'm currently seeking a publisher for my translation of the first two books in a young adult, steampunk fantasy trilogy; you can hear me read an excerpt from my translation of 'The Water Mage' by Aidan Fox , book one in the trilogy (recorded specially for the Translators Aloud YouTube channel).

*Disclaimer: affiliate link.

In-house and freelance experience 👩🏻‍💻

I've been working freelance as a proofreader and translator since 2018, and as a copy-editor since 2022.

I previously worked in-house at:

• Historic England (as a product owner and a digital content editor)
• English Heritage (as a digital content editor)
• European Parliament (as a translator)
• Amazon EU Sàrl (as a translator and a Kindle digital editor–localiser)
• Financial Times Ltd. (as a translator and reviser)
• Language Technology Centre (as a translator and reviser)

I also previously worked freelance as a translator, proof-editor and interpreter. I have also taught English as a foreign language and helped students prepare for the Cambridge English exam.

Recent training

Tea and Commas: The Foundations of Line and Copy-Editing Fiction (Liminal Pages) – Year: 2023

CIEP annual conference – Year: 2024, 2023, 2022

Copyediting 1: Introduction (CIEP) – Year: 2022

Word for Practical Editing (CIEP) – Year: 2022

A Comprehensive Guide to Copy-Editing (The Publishing Training Centre) – Year: 2022

Introduction to Humanitarian Translation (Translators Without Borders) – Year: 2021

Qualifications 🏆

BA (Hons) Modern Languages (French and German)

MA Interpreting and Translating

Essential Proofreading (Publishing Training Centre), with Merit

Certified Agile Scrum Product Owner

Testimonials 💬

Our publisher client has specifically requested to work with you on this next project. – K.P., editorial project manager at a publishing agency

Thanks so much for your excellent notes and markup – the author was very complimentary about your proofread and would love you to work on his next book too! – A.C., editorial project manager at a publishing agency

Thank you very much for all your hard work and the care you have taken. I cannot tell you how grateful I am! Your very nuanced command of English stopped my translation from jarring what I was trying to say. I particularly liked your comments and explanations – and especially for your calming words and guidance when I was in a panic about missing footnotes…! It was a pleasure working with you! – D.M., author writing in English as a second language

You've done an amazing job. I loved your comments explaining what you were doing or adding suggestions – you made it all so clear. I certainly couldn't find a better proof-editor. – M.T., Italian translator, writing in English as a second language

Many thanks for all your work on this multi-author project, including your explanations about alt text. I have a couple of other projects of my own in mind for this year and will definitely be in contact to see if you're available to work on them. – J.T.M, author writing in English as a second language

Thanks so much, Nicola. You really are the best! Excellent as always! – LH, editor-in-chief of a regional newspaper

It's been a pleasure for me to work with such a professional translator and to be able to trust you entirely with my book. I really enjoyed your collaborative approach and I liked discussing linguistic choices with you, especially for place names and character names. Truly, your work is as polished as a diamond. Thank you! I will definitely be recommending you! – A.F., French fiction author

On proofing, with the sharpest of eyes, was Nicola Bigwood – thank you! – L.T., author, in book acknowledgements

Nicola Bigwood is one of the hardest working, conscientious and thoughtful colleagues I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Editorially, Nicola is a laser! Her attention to detail is flawless and her efficiency is peerless. Her long-range planning is admirable whilst her daily approach to work is tirelessly calm and good natured. (A rare find in high-pressured editorial situations!) I have no hesitation in recommending Nicola: she has a broad and highly tuned skill set. Simply put – you would be lucky to have her on board! – A.S., writer and editor

• Editor
• Proofreader

• Non-fiction
• Fiction
• Action & adventure
• Children & young adult
• Crime, mystery & thriller
• Dystopian fiction
• Education & training
• Historical fiction
• History
• International relations
• Languages
• Literary fiction
• Narrative non-fiction
• Political science
• Science fiction & fantasy
• Speculative fiction
• Travel & tourism

• Translating