Refining and polishing stories by removing any hindrance between the author's intent and the reader's perception

services
I specialize in fiction, particularly the romance, speculative, historical, and suspense genres.
Proofreading
1–1.5¢ per word
Free your writing from distracting errors. This is the final check before publishing that looks for typos and errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, formatting, and word use.
I use The Chicago Manual of Style unless otherwise specified.
Copyediting and Line Editing
2–4¢ per word
Copyediting looks at the four Cs: clarity, coherency, consistency, and correctness. It includes everything covered by proofreading plus correcting syntax to improve readability, checking facts, and creating a style sheet to maintain consistency.
Copyediting looks for problems such as misplaced modifiers, words used out of context, contradictions, plot holes and missing information, potential libel and copyright issues, lack of parallelism, and awkward phrasing.
Line editing looks at the tone, flow, clarity, and language of content. It involves evaluating the writing line by line to ensure the author is making the most of every sentence. The goal is to improve the content so that it is effective and engaging for the target audience.
Line editing looks for problems such as redundancies, unnecessary modifiers, empty words or phrases that add no value, passive voice when active should be used, and ambiguity.
Since copyediting and line editing overlap and my clients usually need both, I offer these together as one service.
I can do a free sample edit so that I can more accurately estimate how much time your content will need and you can get a better idea of what to expect from my editing.
For more information about the different levels of editing and how this applies to fiction, see this post.
Fiction Manuscript Evaluation
$400+
This consists of reading the manuscript and writing an in-depth editorial report that analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of the fiction writing techniques. This is not a line-by-line edit, and nothing in the manuscript is changed. Instead, examples from your manuscript of what was done well and what needs improvement are used to show you how to improve the writing.
I take the opportunity to point out any big-picture issues that ought to be addressed before the copyediting stage but focus on line craft issues such as viewpoint slips, effective use of descriptions, overwriting or underwriting, use of filter words or tentative language that can be cut, showing versus telling, and dialogue techniques, as well as a general assessment of the grammar, punctuation, and word usage.
This service is included in line editing, so if you hire me to do a manuscript evaluation then a line edit, the cost of the evaluation will be credited toward the line edit.
How it works
first
Send me an email with information about your content (such as topic, genre, length, target audience, publishing goals, which level of editing it needs, etc.) and any questions you have for me, and I will respond with my availability.

Second
Send me your document, and I will give you a quote along with a free sample edit. I need to look over your entire manuscript to make sure we are a good fit and to give you an accurate quote. I can edit in MS Word with Track Changes and in Adobe Acrobat with Comments.

Third
Sign the letter of agreement and pay the deposit (50 percent of the quote) before editing begins. If you are booking my services more than a month in advance, a first payment of $100 will hold your spot on my calendar. I accept payment by credit card, bank payment, or Zelle.

fourth
I will send you an invoice for the final payment and email your document when payment is received.


about me
I am a freelance editor with a background in education and a love for effective communication (and for really good books). I correct the errors and improve the flow for writers so their stories are unimpeded.
I have a BA in communication (technical writing) and worked as a private tutor while editing academic papers on a volunteer basis, but my passion is the craft of editing fiction so it is clear, correct, consistent, and compelling for readers. When I switched to fiction editing, I completed the High-Level Proofreading and Copyediting Pro and the Art of Line Editing training courses taught by Edit Republic and Fiction Boot Camp taught by The PEN Institute.
My love of language has turned into a career that allows me to help writers communicate their stories clearly.
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