Editorial Services
Developmental Edit
A developmental edit is a full content edit, providing analysis of every element of your story. At the end of it, my goal is to provide you with a roadmap for revisions to make your story the best it can be.
This service includes:
editorial letter
chapter-by-chapter breakdown
in-line comments
This service does not include:
copy/line editing
proofreading
Cost: starting at $0.03 per word
Manuscript Evaluation
A manuscript evaluation is a popular choice for authors who want suggestions to strengthen their story without the intensity (or high cost) associated with developmental editing. It can be an excellent value if you want to elevate your story but don’t need extensive guidance when it comes to the details of implementation.
This service includes:
editorial letter
chapter-by-chapter breakdown
This service does not include:
in-line comments
copy/line editing
proofreading
Cost: starting at $0.015 per word
Outline Critique
If you’re a planner and an experienced writer, this option may afford you the best value when it comes to story editing. Send me a detailed outline or synopsis and I’ll critique your story before you begin writing it, casting light on potential problems before they arise. I’ll focus on cause and effect, plot structure, and character arcs to ensure you have a solid skeleton that will help you tell an engaging and impactful story.
Cost: starting at $300
Blurb Makeover
A blurb (a.k.a. “book description”) is one of the most important things to get right if you want your book to sell. A great blurb will hook readers immediately while also giving them an accurate sense for the experience they’ll have reading your full story.
Wanna know a secret?
Many authors hate writing blurbs, but I adore them. Seriously. Let me help you with yours, and I’ll obsess over it for much longer than I probably should.
Cost: $100 for blurbs under 300 words
Copy/Line Edit
Once the content of your story is set, it’s time to ensure your writing is polished and effective on the sentence level. My goal with copy/line editing is not only to correct any errors and inconsistencies I see in your work, but also to smooth out your words and make them shine. This sometimes involves restructuring, rewording, and reordering sentences to improve clarity, readability, style, and flow.
I use Microsoft Word’s Track Changes feature to make all revisions, so you’ll always have the final say in any changes made to your work.
This service includes:
line edits made with Tracked Changes in Microsoft Word
style sheet
This service does not include:
story/content critique
Please note: Unless you specify otherwise, I edit based on the guidelines in the Chicago Manual of Style and the conventions of American English.
Cost: starting at $0.015 per word
Proofread
No editor can guarantee that they’ll find every single error in your manuscript. I aim to get as close to perfect as possible with every copy/line editing project I take on, and most authors I work with find that this is all they need. However, if you want to check all the boxes (and/or if you want someone to check another editor’s work), a proofread is the final step in the editing process.
Traditionally, proofreading is done on manuscripts that have already been formatted for print. Nowadays in the world of indie publishing, it’s more commonly done in Microsoft Word before formatting. I’m happy to do it whichever way you choose.
Please note: I will not proofread any manuscript that has not already undergone copy/line editing.
Cost: $0.005 per word