Welcome to Perfect Prose: editing and proofreading services for authors, organisations and anyone who cares about getting their words exactly right.
I’m Malcolm Drummond: an independent publishing professional with more than four decades of experience in writing, editing and producing books. I work with people whose words matter to them, and I stay with a project until every objective is met and my client is satisfied.
Sharpening your writing without losing your voice.
Meticulous, final-stage review for language and word usage, punctuation, grammar and consistency.
Making complex content comprehensible to a general reader.
I work with first-time authors and experienced writers, with corporations and NGOs, and with people who simply need their documents to perform. If your work matters to you, it will matter to me.
Get in touch to discuss your project →I have been in love with the English language for as long as I can remember.
I was born in England and educated at Wellington College, where a rigorous classical education gave me standards I have never lowered. I notice a misplaced comma the way some people notice a wrong note: immediately, and with a small degree of pain.
After a spell with the Metropolitan Police in London, I emigrated to South Africa in 1968. A 35-year career in the computer industry followed, with IBM and beyond, Throughout those years, colleagues consistently sought me out to help with their proposals and documents. The editing instinct, it turned out, doesn’t wait for a job title.
At 58, I left the corporate world to pursue my love of the English language and its usage. A collaboration with a fellow Englishman in South Africa became my entry point into publishing: our first project was a 120th anniversary book for Gold Fields, which took me to their mines in South Africa, Ghana and Australia. Two more books followed: one for BirdLife South Africa, where I served as Chairman for five years, and then Of Watts and Wetlands The Story of Ingula, which I consider my finest work. A new print run was requested just this year.
In parallel, I built a broad practice across corporate South Africa: annual reports, magazines, board papers and communications for organisations including Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), the Council for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), the South African Reserve Bank, Sappi, MTN and others.
Perfect Prose brings all of that together: a life built on language in pursuit of what you are genuinely trying to say.
Based in South Africa | Working with clients internationally
“The written word is an incredibly powerful tool.”
— Malcolm DrummondCommissioned by the Ingula Partnership, one between Eskom, BirdLife South Africa and Middelpunt Wetland Trust, the book celebrates a twenty-five-year conservation partnership that created a 20 000-acre nature reserve, now a designated Ramsar site. It is still in active use as an Eskom heritage resource and a new print run is currently under way.
Researched, written and published as a fundraising resource for one of South Africa’s leading conservation bodies. Malcolm served as BirdLife South Africa’s Chairman for five years.
Research, writing and publication of a commemorative book covering Gold Fields’ mines across South Africa, Ghana, Australia and Peru. Print run of 5 000 copies.
ACSA
CCMA
Further clients
Editing is not a mechanical process. It is a relationship and a commitment to making sure every objective is met to the client’s satisfaction.
Before I touch a word of your manuscript, I want to understand you: what you’re trying to say, who you’re saying it to, and what success looks like for you. I then bring four decades of extensive reading, rigorous standards and a finely calibrated eye to the task — working methodically through the text, reading first to understand, then editing with precision, and always reviewing the full document a second time before it leaves my hands.
I believe every piece of writing deserves to be brought into the world with pride. Not perfection for its own sake, but precision in service of meaning. That is what Perfect Prose stands for.
Commissioning an editor should feel like a relief, not a risk. Here is how I work.
by video call or phone, to understand your project, timeline and goals.
I review a section of your document and return a sample edit, at no charge. An introduction for both of us.
once I have seen the full document, a written quote within one working day. Honest about the time required; no hidden costs.
a simple contract covering scope, timeline, confidentiality through a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and payment terms. 50% on agreement, 50% on completion.
methodical, using Track Changes in Microsoft Word. Every suggested change is visible and yours to accept or reject.
you accept the changes you agree with and return the document. I carry out a final read before sign-off.
If your manuscript is going to be typeset or designed for print, I strongly recommend a final proofread of the laid-out document. Layout frequently introduces errors. I offer this as an additional stage.
Every project is quoted individually based on length and the nature of the work. The initial sample evaluation is always free. Get in touch and we’ll take it from there.
What kinds of documents do you work on?
Primarily books — memoirs, biographies, self-help, business books and corporate histories. Also, professional documents, annual reports, proposals and internal communications. If you’re not sure whether your project is a good fit, just ask.
What’s the difference between editing and proofreading?
Editing is the broader, earlier stage — addressing structure, clarity, flow and wording so your content communicates as effectively as possible. Proofreading is the final-stage check: punctuation, spelling, grammar and consistency. Both matter, and ideally happen in that order.
Do you work with first-time authors?
Absolutely, and I enjoy it. Writing a first book is a significant undertaking. Having an experienced editor who understands what you’re trying to achieve, and can help you get there, makes a real difference.
Will you change my voice?
No. A good editor serves the author’s voice, not their own. My job is to make your writing clearer, more precise and more effective: not to make it sound like me.
How long will my edit take?
It depends on the length of your manuscript and how much work it requires. Once I have seen the full document, I will give you a clear timeline as part of your quote. I don’t take on more work than I can complete to my satisfaction.
What do you need from me to get started?
A conversation and, eventually, a completed manuscript. I work best with a full document — it lets me see the scope and understand what the piece is trying to achieve. Before we formally agree anything, I’ll do a sample edit of a section so we both know what we’re getting into.
How should I brief you?
Tell me what you’re trying to achieve, who your reader is, and what a finished, polished piece looks like to you. The clearer your sense of the destination, the better I can serve you on the journey. We’ll work through the detail together in our first conversation.
Can you edit American English?
Yes. British English is my natural idiom, but I am experienced in both.
Is my manuscript kept confidential?
Entirely. We sign an NDA before work begins, and your manuscript and the nature of our engagement remain confidential throughout.
What software do you use?
Microsoft Word, with Track Changes: so every edit is visible and entirely within your control.
I’m not based in South Africa — can we still work together?
Yes. I work with clients internationally by video call, phone and email. Wherever you are in the world is not an obstacle.
What does it cost?
Every project is quoted individually based on length and complexity. The initial sample evaluation is always free. Get in touch to discuss your project and I’ll come back to you promptly with a quote.
What if I only need a quick proofread?
That’s fine — not every project requires deep editorial work. Tell me what you have and what you need, and I’ll tailor the engagement accordingly.
Do you offer repeat-client arrangements?
If we work well together (and in my experience, we generally do) I’m very happy to discuss an ongoing arrangement for clients with a regular need for editorial support.
If you have a manuscript, a document or a project you’d like to discuss, I would be glad to hear from you.
The initial sample evaluation is always free.