A copyedit involves sentence-level edits with a focus on improving clarity, readability, and addressing errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and repetition. The aim is more technical versus stylistic. I generally follow Chicago Manual of Style guidelines.
A proofread should be the final step before publication. The process is quicker and involves looking for formatting errors (if already designed), catching spelling issues, and correcting punctuation according to style guide.
Genres: I am available for all fiction and poetry genres for copyediting and proofreading. In nonfiction I only work with creative nonfiction including memoir and essays.
A developmental edit is a very thorough start-to-finish editorial process that combines big-picture feedback with the detailed in-doc line edits. This is ideal for anyone who is struggling with the structure of their project, or for authors in the early stages of their manuscript.
The only genres I do not offer developmental editing on are strictly historical and strictly science fiction. I’m open to manuscripts with elements of the both, however.
I specialize in poetry, young adult, fantasy, and romance.
A line edit involves a detailed review of the manuscript with a focus on the line-level writing. This process aims to add more imagery, style, and variety at the sentence level while improving characterization, setting, and tone. This is ideal for authors who have a strong grasp on the organization and/or plot of their project, but who want to “take it to the next level.”
I am available for line editing on most genres. I may be limited should it be an academic title.
I specialize in poetry, fantasy, young adult, and romance.
An editorial assessment, also known as a manuscript review, involves me reading the manuscript in full and providing a detailed editorial letter covering the strengths, areas that can be improved, and suggestions for how to tackle those improvements.
This is a great “first step” and/or a good suggestion for someone who wants an affordable editorial review. No in-doc comments are provided in this; it’s strictly a multi-page letter.
Genres: I am available for all (all ages) fiction and some nonfiction (memoir, essays, culture topics, cooking) for editorial assessment. Poetry can be done for some projects, but not all.
With nearly ten years of editing experience across literary and commercial genres, and experience as a ghostwriter and author, they bring a varied and collaborative approach to editing. Recently, they worked as an acquisitions editor and project manager with Row House Publishing (distributed by Simon and Schuster) for over three years. While at RH, they also oversaw production, project schedules, contributed to design, and marketing. You can rest assured that they have a deep understanding of the publishing process. They have worked on over 25 titles as an editor. Aside from editing, they have previously ghostwritten nonfiction and fiction titles (over 15) in topics ranging from finance to small town romance. They also hold an MFA and BA in English and Creative Writing.
I absolutely love working with authors as an editor, but it's best not to hire me if you intend to query me soon on the same project. I do my best to maintain ethical boundaries and to follow the guidelines of the Association of Literary Agents. If I do see potential in a work and have an interest in representing it, I will let you know prior to you hiring me as an editor.
This includes me reading the manuscript in full, giving you suggestions on how to improve plot, setting, characterization, etc (big picture stuff) but involves summary comments only in the form of a multipage editorial letter. I would basically go over all of the strengths, the areas that can be improved, give ideas for your characters and plots, and similar comments, but again it would be summary comments only, with no notes in your document. Rate will vary based on genre and final word count. Final rate will be provided after a sample review.
This takes a complete story and brings it to the next level by amping up the stylistic qualities of the writing. On a technical level, the line edit adjusts passive writing into a more active form, ensures paragraph breaks are following focus, clears up repetition, breaks up or cuts down verbose sentences, and helps improve the overall style while maintaining voice. I also focus on syntax, dialogue mechanics, character voice, and imagery. Rate will vary based on genre and final word count. Final rate will be provided after a sample review.
This involves us working through the manuscript anywhere from 2-4 times. On the initial round, we'll focus on big picture edits and structure. There will be a lot of in-doc notes and an editorial letter. Final rate will be provided after a sample is reviewed. Rate will vary based on genre and final word count. The whole process of multiple passes can take anywhere from 2-6 months depending on the speed the author wishes to work at and the number of passes.
This is done via track changes in Word. For copyediting, I check grammar, capitalization, word usage and repetition, dialogue tags, usage of numbers and numerals, POV and tense, descriptive inconsistencies, and I provide basic fact checking. I use MW for spelling and follow CMoS for guidelines. A style sheet is provided for future editors as well. With proofreading, this involves checking for minor final errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.