Book Editing

Fiction Editing Services

A writer, having completed a manuscript, will be in want of an editor. 

I’m here to help! I will tighten story, polish prose, clean up errors, conform style, heighten the author’s unique voice, and prepare your manuscript for publication! I offer a complimentary 2,000-word test edit for new customers.

Rates Per Word for 1 Round of Editing

Manuscript Evaluation — 1.0 cent

Developmental Edit — 1.5 cents

Line Edit — 1.5 cents

Copyedit — 1.0 Cent

Please see the detailed descriptions of the different forms of editing and deliverable below. Or you may request a test edit and I will provide a recommendation with my estimate.

Developmental Editing

The Developmental Edit is the first edit after you’ve completed your manuscript. It analyzes story structure, characters, world, theme, tone, and style. It aims to provide a summary of the global strengths and weaknesses and to highlight specific issues and successes in the manuscript. It also makes suggestions for your next revision. 

Deliverables: Editorial Letter (10 or more pages), extensive in-document notes and margin queries, and a book map.

The Pieces

The editorial letter addresses the manuscript globally and provides a longline, summary, and suggestions for revision.

The in-document notes and queries will look at specific issues and successes within the document and point out potential improvements and clarifications. 

The book map is an Excel document that breaks the manuscript down by scene and tracks relevant information. It can be a useful tool for keeping track of all of the moving parts of the manuscript during a revision. 

Manuscript Evaluation

A manuscript evaluation is the perfect way to get a general overview of your manuscript and to help you decide what your next steps should be. 

Deliverables: Logline, brief summary, and a five-page editorial letter that covers the general strengths and weaknesses of your project. 

Line Editing

The line edit follows completion of developmental editing but comes before language and sentence structure are set in stone. I will clean up phrasing, word choice, eliminate extra words, conform shifts in point of view and tense, and clarify sentences. I will note inconsistencies and confusion in content, if I find any, but will not change them for purposes beyond sentence and paragraph clarity, grammatical correctness, and flow. I will copyedit as well. Note: line edits change sentence and paragraph structure, sometimes significantly. If changes are numerous, the manuscript may need a copyedit pass after you implement and finalize changes. 

Deliverables: Editorial Letter (10 or more pages), extensive in-document line notes and edits, margin queries, and a style sheet.

Copyediting

The copyedit is the last line of revision before a manuscript is sent to publishers or formatted for digital publication. Following developmental and line edits, this edit dives deep into the details. It cleans up grammar, punctuation, and technical errors, checks for and revises consistency, and conforms the manuscript to your style guide and dictionary. Inconsistencies in content will be noted, but the edit will aim not to alter the language or sentence structure of the manuscript. This revision is not meant to change or clarify content, but to polish it at the level of language. 

Deliverables: Editorial Letter (5 or more pages), in-document technical edits, margin queries as needed, and a style sheet.

 The Process

Step 1: Manuscript Consultation 

I will assess the manuscript and provide a quote based on the recommend level of editing. I will provide a 2,000-word test edit of the requested type. 

Step 2: Contract

I will provide a contract with the details we’ve agreed upon for you to sign (word count, rate, deadline). After I receive the paperwork, I will begin the edit.  

I require a $100 non-refundable payment to reserve a time slot. This payment will go toward the cost of the edit.

Step 3: Completed Edit

You will receive the completed edit and all deliverables described in the contract. 

Step 4: Additional Editing

You may request a follow-up edit. See rates above. You will send me your revised manuscripts with your changes tracked in Word. I will provide a new contract and the process will repeat.