Book Editing Services
You may know exactly what you’re looking for, or you may have only a vague idea. Don’t worry–I’m here to guide you through the often-mystifying process of publishing your work!
The book publishing industry has changed dramatically over the last twenty years. Writers now have more options for distributing their work than they’ve ever had before. On one hand, this means that you have more opportunities for publishing than at any other time in history! On the other hand, the classic steps set by traditional publishing may not be available to you, or even relevant to your needs.
I have education and experience in book publishing, and I’d like to help you take the next step towards meeting your publishing goals. Have a look at the services listed below and reach out to schedule a consultation.
A note to new writers: It’s likely that you’re overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information available online. Maybe you’ve been told that you need an editor, but you’re not sure what that means. Or maybe you’re torn between spending your money on a developmental edit or a copy edit. Use the contact form below to send me a note, and I’ll be in touch! Together we’ll figure out what you need.
Book Editing Services I Provide:
Copyediting
When someone says that a book hasn’t been edited, they often mean that it hasn’t been copyedited. The goal of copyediting is to produce clean copy that is ready for publication. Whether you are getting ready to query agents or preparing your novel for self-publishing, you need to hire a copy editor.
As your copy editor, I will check the grammar, style, and syntax of your manuscript to make sure that it is free of typos, inconsistencies in style, and leaps in logic. In addition to cleaning up mechanical errors, I will also check for internal consistency across the pages of your work and flag areas of ambiguity.
Deliverables: A copyedited manuscript; a detailed style sheet; and two hours of follow up consultation by email or phone. I use track changes to indicate all of the changes I’ve made to your work, and marginal comments to explain grammatical rules and ask questions in places where your meaning may be unclear.
Rate: $0.02 - $0.03/word
Proofreading
Proofreading is the very last step before publication. When your ebook files have been laid out and your PDFs are ready to go to the printer, you might want to hire a proofreader. A proofreader is the final pair of eyes on your work before publication.
As your proofreader, I will make sure that no typos have been introduced during the editing process and no glaring mistakes remain in your work. I will double-check the formatting of page numbers, captions, and any visual elements in your manuscript to make sure that everything is accurate and ready to be published.
A proofread is intended to be the final step in the publication process. Ideally, at this point there will be very, very few errors left to correct.
Deliverables: A proofread copy of your manuscript (Word document or PDF) and one hour of follow up consultation by email or phone.
Rate: $0.015/word
Developmental Editing
Has your word count gotten out of control? Are you having a hard time untangling plot lines? Are beta readers failing to connect with your main character? Are you so deep in the weeds that you’re no longer certain what story you’re trying to tell? A developmental editor can save you from endless rounds of scene-level revisions by evaluating your manuscript from the top down and offering a roadmap for the next steps in your journey toward publication.
As your developmental editor, I will carefully read your manuscript with an eye to big-picture issues such as plot, characterization, tension, and pacing. Then I will evaluate it on a scene-by-scene level, making notes of what is and isn’t working, and offer suggestions for revision.
Deliverables: A detailed ten-to-twenty page editorial letter providing scene-level analysis of your manuscript and identifying its strengths and weaknesses; a marked up copy of your manuscript with in-document comments that build on the editorial letter, pointing out smaller issues and offering specific suggestions for revision; and two hours of follow up consultation by email or phone.
Rate: $0.03 - $0.04/word
Book Coaching, Manuscript Evaluations, and Other Bespoke Editing Services
Not ready to commit to a full edit? I also offer manuscript evaluations, first chapter/first-fifty-page reviews, and book coaching for brainstorming and accountability. Rates available upon request.