Writing ebooks

Would you like to give away an ebook to promote your business or attract new customers? Or perhaps you would like to write an ebook and sell it on Amazon?

If you are looking for someone to ghostwrite the ebook for you, we can help. We'd also be happy to collaborate with you to turn an outline and notes or your first draft into the final draft.

Our rates are reasonable and affordable, starting at £350 for writing a short ebook based on your first draft.

Optional extras for ebooks include:

ebook cover design by a professional graphic designer
Writing an About the Author page for inclusion in your ebook
Writing or editing a description of your ebook
Writing your Amazon Author Page

Whatever stage you are at, request a quote or contact us to discuss writing your ebook today.

What stage are you at?

Stage 1

Are you writing a book? Or thinking of writing a book?

Join our friendly Book Writing and Editing Facebook Group for help and encouragement.

Read our articles on writing in The Writing Cooperative:

5 Easy Steps to Becoming a Better Writer

How to Combat Self-Doubt as a Writer

How to be More Consistent as a Writer

Or ask us a specific question – we’ll be happy to help if we can.

Stage 2

Have you written a book? Are you wondering where to go from here?

Before publishing your book, it’s important to have it edited to ensure that it is as readable and engaging as it possibly can be.

Contact us now for a free edit of a sample of your book (usually the first 500-1,000 words) – this is free of charge and with any obligation. It helps you to find out about our friendly, collaborative and constructive approach to editing and to see if you would like to work with us.

We’ll also provide our recommendations for editing your book, as well as an estimate of the cost.

Stage 3

Has your book already been professionally edited? Do you need it to be proofread before publication?

If your book has already been professionally edited but you need a final proofread to catch any last-minute errors, we’d be happy to proofread your book, polishing it to perfection prior to publication.

Stage 4

Is your book ready to be published? If it has already been professionally edited and proofread, it should be ready for publication!

There are two main options: traditional publishing and self-publishing. Find out more about these options below.

If you choose to self-publish your book, RA Book Editing can guide you through the maze and make the whole process of self-publishing on Amazon KDP easy and hassle-free. Find out more about our self-publishing services and contact us for a proposal and quote.

What is the difference between editing and proofreading?

Editing is when an editor reads through your book and makes suggestions and recommendations for improving it. These can cover many different areas, including the structure, language and characterisation. An editor will also point out anything that is unclear or inconsistent, aiming to make the book as engaging and readable as possible. When editing a non-fiction book, a historical novel or a memoir, the editor will check facts, dates and details, and mention anything that is incorrect or could be misinterpreted or misleading. Most books undergo two rounds of editing before proofreading. Proofreading is carried out after the final round of editing has taken place and the author has updated the manuscript. This produces a final draft, which needs to be checked during the proofreading stage. Usually, only minor errors, such as missed commas or full stops, will be picked up during the proofreading stage.
How do I know if my book need editing or proofreading or both?

All traditionally published books are edited prior to publication. Therefore, all self-published books also need to be edited. As writers, we often don’t see the errors and inconsistencies we make, and it is therefore very helpful to work with an editor who will point those out in a respectful way. Since you are so close to your book, it’s sometimes hard to look at it objectively. That’s why it’s important to gain an objective, outside view of your book, so that you can make changes that will make it a more engaging and readable book when it is published.
How much editing will my book need?

It is impossible to say. Some books need only one round of editing, while other books require two or more rounds of editing before a final draft is produced. RA Book Editing will give you an assessment of how many rounds of editing you will need based on your first chapter. We’ll then provide you with a sample edit of the first 500 to 1,000 words and a personalised proposal, which will state the type(s) of editing your book needs and the estimated cost.
Do I have to accept all the changes the editor suggests?

No, as the author of the book, the decision to accept or reject each suggestion or amendment is entirely yours. Of course, it would be a good idea to accept amendments of spelling and grammar errors but, if you disagree with any suggestions for changes, you are free to reject them. If you’d like to discuss any of the suggested amendments, we’re happy to do that too. We want to collaborate with you to produce a book you’re proud to publish, so please don’t think you have to accept all the suggested amendments. At the end of the day, the book is your own work, and we want you to create a final draft that you are 100% happy with.
What is it like to work with an editor?

Pauline Thompson, an independent author and one of our clients said, “I did wonder if I may find the editing process slightly tedious when I had to amend each chapter, but I am actually enjoying it. You are extremely thorough, which is making everything in the book flow much better. Also, I appreciate how responsive you are to emails. You've given me a lot of helpful advice and I feel that I am learning a lot from you.” The sample edit will give you an idea of what it is like to work with us. This is provided free of charge and without obligation, so if you don’t think that working with RA Book Editing would be a good fit, you have nothing to lose.
Do you edit books written by first-time authors or authors whose native language is not English?

Absolutely! We’re happy to work with you whether this is your first or 100th book or whatever your native language is (although we only edit and proofread books written in English). Previous clients have included first-time authors, authors with English as a second language, and authors who have been diagnosed with dyslexia. We firmly believe that everyone has a story to tell and our job is to help you tell yours and help you produce the best book possible.
What is a copyright violation and how can I avoid it?

Copyright violation is when you copy words directly from another book, newspaper, magazine, website or any other source, put them into your book, and use them as if they were your own. Although copyright law allows for ‘reasonable use,’ this is open to interpretation, and it is best to err on the side of caution and ensure you don’t use anyone else’s words at all. This also applies to graphics, illustrations, trademarks and other intellectual property – you are not allowed to copy any of these and use them in your book without the written permission of the legal owner. To avoid copyright violation, ensure that all work is your own. If you use sources, be sure to blend them with your own analysis and make sure that you don’t use the same words. In a non-fiction book, you may include footnotes and references to refer to the sources you used but you must still ensure that you haven’t copied from them directly. To verify that you haven’t committed copyright violation, you can run your work through an online plagiarism checker.
Can I pay for book editing in instalments?

Yes, that is possible. Many of our clients find that paying in instalments is a convenient way of spreading the cost over several months. Full terms and conditions for paying in instalments are included in your proposal under the heading, ‘Payment by Instalments.’ If you choose to pay in instalments, we will divide the editing work into a number of equal sections. Payment of each instalment will be required before work can start on each section.
If RA Book Editing edits and/or proofreads my book, do I have to use your self-publishing service?

No, of course not. You’re free to self-publish the final manuscript yourself or, if you prefer, we can help you self-publish your book on Amazon KDP. Many of our editing and proofreading clients go on to use our self-publishing service but the choice is 100% yours. We’re happy to provide a proposal and quote for self-publishing and answer any questions you may have. You can also read our frequently asked questions about self-publishing. As an alternative to self-publishing, you may wish to approach publishing companies to see if they would be interested in publishing your book under a traditional publishing contract (see What’s the difference between traditional publishing and self-publishing?). If you’ve written a fiction book, you may also wish to approach agents to see if they would like to represent your book.