Have you ever read a book that really pulled you into the flow of the story, only to come to a screeching halt as you spot a typo? Or worse, a character starts talking who wasn’t even in the scene? Do you wonder if the author was really paying attention, or if they care about their work? If you’re an author yourself, you probably know the truth: the author does care. It’s just far too easy to miss mistakes in your own writing. Let me help you with that.

Before you put your writing in front of an audience, you want to polish it until it shines in its best light. This can mean cleaning up all the typos, grammar mistakes, and stray punctuation that crept in while you were busy telling a story. It can also mean taking an in-depth look at your plot structure, word choice, and other story elements to make sure they’re everything you want them to be.

You want your writing to pull your reader into the story and keep them coming back for more. I want the same thing for you, and I can help you fine-tune your manuscript until it’s what you always dreamed it would be.
Some editors offer a lot and give back a little. They run your manuscript through a grammar program, maybe notate a few changes you can make, and call it good. If you want a thorough proofread and edit, you need someone who knows the ins and outs of English and can spot areas in your plot and characterization that can be improved.

I’d like to be that person for you. If you have a manuscript that needs proofreading, editing, or both, let’s connect and see if we’re a good fit to work together.

Samples And Rates

Not every editor is a good fit for every author. In order to see if we will work well together, I do a sample edit of 1,000 free of charge.

Copyediting

I look for problems with spelling, grammar, punctuation, usage, and style inconsistency. I note overused words and phrases. I give suggestions to improve the readability and flow of sentences and paragraphs. This service is a “first pass” over a manuscript that’s newly written and needs to be cleaned up before any major editing or formatting. I typically follow The Chicago Manual of Style, but I can use other style manuals as needed. I use Track Changes (Microsoft Word) or Suggest Edits (Google Docs) to note any errors or suggested changes. My goal is to find and eliminate the errors that sneak in during your writing process so that you can focus on substantial edits that need your full attention.

Cost: $6 per 1,000 words ($.006/word)

Proofreading

I look for problems with spelling, grammar, punctuation, usage, and style inconsistency in the final manuscript. This service is for a “last pass” over a manuscript that has already been edited and just needs one more set of eyes before publication. I typically follow The Chicago Manual of Style, but I can use other style manuals as needed. I use Track Changes (Microsoft Word) or Suggest Edits (Google Docs) to note any errors or suggested changes. My goal is to send back a polished manuscript that presents a professional image and satisfies even the nit-pickiest of readers.

Cost: $4 per 1,000 words ($.004/word)

Editing

I focus on the story itself. When editing fiction, I look for issues with the plot, characterization, pacing, and internal consistency. When editing non-fiction, I look for organizational issues, logical and tone consistency, clarity of information, and problems with readability. My suggestions are made using Track Changes (Microsoft Word) or Suggest Edits (Google Docs). My goal is to make your writing a better experience for your audience without changing your unique style and tone.

Cost: $7 per 1,000 words ($.007/word)

If you’d like to try a sample edit to see how I can help, connect with me and we’ll talk.