Thank the Cat Editing
Nestled in a small cottage in Devon, Thank the Cat Editing grew out of quiet afternoons spent reading by the fireside, often with a cat purring nearby. My love of books developed into a way of life.
Here, editing is as much about care as it is about clarity. Every manuscript that arrives is welcomed as a treasured guest and given my closest attention. My work is guided by the belief that every author deserves to feel listened to and involved as their story takes shape.
I can help your words find their best form — one careful, cosy edit at a time.
About me
I’m Sarah Dawes, the human behind Thank the Cat Editing.
I specialise in fiction and narrative non-fiction, offering thoughtful edits that preserve your style while bringing clarity and polish. Each project is approached with kindness, attention to detail, and a deep respect for the work entrusted to me. At Thank the Cat Editing, every story is nurtured and every author supported.
In addition to my editing experience and qualifications, I have a degree in archaeology and a lifelong involvement with horses, dogs, and gardening. I also have experience of pagan lifeways, motorcycling culture, alcohol and drug use, and access to a ‘tame’ police officer to check procedure. If your text covers any of the above, my expertise in these areas will ensure your portrayal is as authentic as possible.
My desk is at the very heart of my home, near my cosy woodburner and looking out over the garden to the hills beyond. It’s a calm, creative environment that allows me to focus on each author’s voice with care. I only ever work on one text at a time, with cyber security and confidentiality taken very seriously. As a member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading I am committed to my professional development and fully insured, so your manuscript is in safe hands with me.
Services and Pricing
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Important - please read!
I like to be fully transparent with my fees, although this is notoriously difficult for editors as we can never be sure how much work a manuscript might need until we get right into the nitty-gritty of it. Over the years I have devised a system that gives authors the peace of mind of an upper limit but with the potential for a large reduction dependent on how much work the text needs. For texts over 10,000 words, I charge a rate per 1000 words, as listed below, and I log all hours worked, calculated at £25 per hour. At the end of the job, whichever is the cheaper of the two options is the price you pay.
For example: I agree to copy-edit your text of 50,000 words @ £18 per 1000 words, giving an upper limit of £900. No matter how much work I do, you will not pay a penny more than this. However, if your manuscript is in fantastic shape and I only spend 15 hours working on it, you will be invoiced for 15 hours @ £25, a total of £375.
This method was trialled over several years with many long-standing clients and I have only once invoiced for the maximum amount. This is a very popular pricing structure, particularly for self-publishing authors and small presses. It enables me to earn a living wage whilst also giving clients the reassurance of a known maximum cost.
If you are not sure whether your work needs a copy-edit or proofreading, please contact me to discuss. Please do not just book a proofread, hoping it will be sufficient, as there is a world of difference between the two services.
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Copy-editing rates
Texts over 10k words charged at £18 per 1000 words or £25 per hour, whichever is cheaper. Deposit £6 per 1000 words payable in advance, balance on completion. Texts under 10k words charged at £25 per hour, minimum flat fee £100. Payment on completion.
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Proofreading rates
Texts over 10k words charged at £12 per 1000 words (reduced to £8 per 1000 words if I am also undertaking the copy-edit). Deposit of £4 per 1000 words payable in advance, balance on completion. Texts under 10k words charged at £25 per hour, minimum flat fee £100. Payment on completion.
