Editing

Depending on your needs, we can combine any of the editing services below. Many clients have requested a Critique and Evaluation, revised the manuscript, and then requested a copyedit. Making any substantial revisions in advance really helps you get value for your copyediting fee! And stylistic editing often includes copyediting and proofreading, for example.
  •  Proofreading
    Although proofreading once meant to check the first printing of a typeset manuscript—the proof—against the original to make sure the typesetter didn’t introduce errors, the definition has changed. I compare proofreading to going through a raked yard, looking for a stray leaf here or there. At this level, we work on a character-by-character letter, looking for typos, for example.
  • Copyediting
    In a copyedit, we tackle the mechanics of style, working on a word-by-word level. This includes correcting errors in spelling punctuation, and grammar, addressing usage issues, and making sure that the book is consistent throughout (if the main character is Bill in the first chapter, he probably wouldn’t be Will in the second).
  • Stylistic Editing
    Also known as line editing, stylistic editing addresses issues on a sentence-by-sentence level. I commonly help authors with eliminating passive voice, reducing adverbs, distilling descriptions, and eliminating excess words in general. Stylistic editing really polishes your prose!
  • Substantive or Developmental Editing
    The most intensive level of editing I offer, a substantive edit often includes suggested changes that may involve rewriting or rearranging sections of your manuscript. This can really help if you feel something in your book just doesn’t work and you’d like to see potential solutions worked out on paper.
  • Critique and Evaluation
    This is a great service if you’re confident about your prose but want an educated opinion on your story—or certain issues in your book. You might also need an Evaluation if you’re just not sure what step to take next. I will read your book thoroughly, making comments in the margins, then write several pages of notes on items that may include plot, pacing, character development, world building, style issues, habitual phrasings, grammar, usage, and continuity. I will note the strengths and weaknesses I see, provide examples from the book, and offer suggestions for fixing the issues now and in the future. Depending on the word count, I can usually do a “C&E” in a week, for a flat fee.
 *I use the Chicago Manual of Style and Microsoft Word Track Changes.