Editing Services
Research Guide: You’re preparing to write your book, but need to find certain information to resolve a plot point, or prove an argument in your nonfiction work. If you don’t know where to start – or where to go next – I can work with you to create a tailored research guide specifying which materials are most likely to yield the answers you’re looking for and where to find them. You will also receive my best practices for researching a subject, and a worksheet to help focus your attention so that you can get the most out of your research. I won’t be doing your research for you, but by pointing you in the right direction and showing you what to do, you’ll be a top-notch researcher and subject expert in no time.
Rate: to be negotiated upon explanation of the project in question
Brainstorms and Outlines: You have an idea for that perfect novel or work of nonfiction, but you’re struggling to nail down the finer points. Maybe your characters aren’t cooperating. Your plot keeps flying off the rails or falling into plot-shaped holes. Your research isn’t as firmly tethered to your thesis as you’d like. Your outline – if you have one – is a jumbled mess. This is where I come in. Through a series of three consults via text or voice chat, we can brainstorm your work in real time, figure out where the problems are, and troubleshoot solutions to help you create a cohesive plan to follow as you complete your first draft.
Rate: $90 per set of three consults
Beta Read: Have you finished the first draft of a novel, but don’t know what to do next? You could – and should – send your completed manuscript around to family and friends. But you should also consider bringing in more experienced readers at this stage. As a beta reader, you’ll receive a basic summary of suggested revisions, followed by a more comprehensive analysis by chapter to guide you in the right direction as you begin to prepare your book for publication.
Rate: $6/1000 words
Developmental/Content Edit: You’ve finished the first draft of your novel, polished it with the help of your trusted beta readers, and are ready to really dive into the editing process. As your content editor, I can help you navigate the nuances of your draft. From fine-tuning your plot to sharpening your characters, I’ll help you learn how to dodge plot holes, create the right pacing, keep your world-building consistent, and focus the narrative to really make your story shine.
This will include a revision summary, a chapter-by-chapter analysis, character guide, a guide to your plot, pacing, and themes, and two audio/visual conferences with me (one hour each) to brainstorm targeted solutions for your work and troubleshoot issues that may arise during the revision process. We can also go over anything that falls outside the range of the edit, such as blurbs, taglines, book metadata, or query letters.
Rate: $12/1000 words
Copy Edit: After you’ve fixed all of the macro-level issues with your work, you’ll want to tighten up your sentence structure to make your prose flow easily. At this stage, I will go line-by-line through your text, making suggestions to help improve phrasing, readability, and tone. This will also include a check to make sure that your point-of-view characters remain consistent and distinct, and that your dialogue matches the story and characters. I’ll also point out passive sentences, instances of showing vs. telling, and clunky, unclear, or poorly structured text.
Rate: $3/1000 words
Proofread: A proofread is a final chance to check spelling, grammar, and punctuation to make the best first impression you can on a potential agent, publisher, or – if you are an indie author – your audience. I will provide a line-by-line edit of your text to spot any typos or other errors that made it through previous revisions and changes to the text.
Rate: $1/1000 words
Coaching: An ongoing process for writers who are working on multiple projects, or need further help tackling issues in their current draft. As your coach, I will provide monthly feedback via a beta read of your most recent work, e-mails for check-ins, encouragement, and cheering on, and a monthly phone session for brainstorming. I will also offer targeted feedback to help you improve month over month as a writer. In focusing on issues you’re struggling to succeed at, we can turn your weaknesses into your greatest strengths, and help you gain confidence in your skills, both new and old.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How long will it take? A content edit of a novel-length work will take approximately 1 month, a beta read or copy edit 2-3 weeks, and a research guide or proofread should take 1 week. It is best for you to plan ahead so that I can get you on my calendar in a timely manner.
Format: Work should be sent as an e-mail attachment in .doc or .docx form. Times New Roman, size 12, double-spaced is preferred. Your manuscript will be edited using the Microsoft Word Track Changes feature, with auxiliary edit notes in separate Word documents.
Payment: Before agreeing to work with you, I require a first chapter sample and basic summary of the work you would like me to edit. I offer a free edit of your first ten pages. This will give you an opportunity to see the way I work, so we can see if we are a good fit. Payment can be made via Paypal, with 50% due at the start of the edit, the balance due upon completion.