When you receive a track changes document from an editor or proofreader, it is normal to see what seems like a sea of red crossings out and changes which might bring back memories of having our work marked at school, but:

• Please, don’t panic.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the number of changes, but they’re likely to be minor and easily corrected errors such as:

• missing prepositions
• missing punctuation marks
• tense changes within a sentence

• The changes are made for consistency.

If you’re using a style guide, such as the Chicago Manual of Style, an editor or proofreader will make changes so your manuscript conforms to the rules set in the style guide. If you’re creating your own style sheet, an editor or proofreader will make sure it is applied consistently.

• As the author, you don’t have to accept all the suggested changes.

Editors and proofreaders are incredibly mindful of the amount of work, time and passion you have poured into your book. If you feel the changes don’t fit the world building or characterisation, you don’t have to accept them. An editor or proofreader isn’t going to make your pirate king sound like a 1940s news reporter, unless you’ve specifically stated that’s what you’d like, but they will make sure the dialogue is punctuated correctly.