Editing Services
What they are and what is right for you
Before I get into specifics about the different services I provide, I would like to introduce my favorite analogy. Imagine you are building a house. First, you need a solid foundation where you have no fear of the finished product crashing down. Next comes the inspection. Checking that everything is up to code - studs, electrical, and plumbing - is an essential step in ensuring the final project is pristine. And finally, the finishing touches. Paint, floors, and artistic details that make the house truly come together into a home.
Developmental Editing
To use my analogy, this is the foundation of your building. I will take a big-picture view while doing a thorough reading of your manuscript and making notes. This means an overarching analysis of plot (is enough happening? Do the events move the story forward?), theme, characters (do they have depth? Will the reader root for them?), point of view, structure (is there a clear beginning, middle, and end?), and suggestions as to ways the story could be made stronger. Developmental editing won’t address mechanical errors, like syntax, spelling, or grammar.
Who it’s right for
Developmental editing is involved, in-depth editing that comes before copy editing and proofreading. It isn’t about ironing out the tiny details, like spelling and grammar, but improving the story as a whole. Whether or not you need this level of input depends on how you feel your story is working – if you have problems you aren’t sure how to fix, or something just isn’t working, developmental editing is a good first step to get the big picture in shape.
What you’ll get
I will go through your manuscript and create an in-depth editorial report, detailing the issues and areas for improvement I have found, as well as suggestions for how to address them. I will also leave comments throughout your manuscript, providing further detail on the points listed in the editorial report.
Two documents will be returned to you: the editorial report and your annotated manuscript.
Price: $0.039/word
Copy Editing
Copy editing takes place at the sentence level. It concerns itself with the mechanics of your writing – your tone, sentence structure, and word choice – and catches inconsistencies or inaccuracies in your text. Copy editing also involves correcting spelling and grammar where errors are found. It doesn’t involve addressing any big-picture issues, like characterization or plot.
In our construction analogy, I am the inspector. Is everything up to code? Is there an electrical outlet too close to the plumbing line? Are the studs accurately spaced?
Who it’s for
If you are happy with the structure of your novel, or have already undergone a developmental edit, copy editing might be the appropriate next step. Authors with a smaller budget will often choose a copy edit over a proofread (budget allowing) as it also addresses any spelling or grammatical errors.
What you’ll get
I will directly edit your manuscript, making changes where they are needed. I will do this using tracked changes so that you can see exactly what I have done and can make the final decision about which changes you accept and which you do not. I will also add comments throughout where I have queries or suggestions for improvement.
Two documents will be returned to you: your annotated and corrected manuscript as well as your manuscript-specific style-sheet.
Price: $0.029/word
Proofreading
If you’ll excuse me for mixing my analogies, a good proofread is like a sieve – it catches the smallest grammatical and spelling errors. It’s the least involved of all the stages of editing, with its focus being solely on creating as clean a final draft as possible. Despite your best efforts, as an author you are often so close to the manuscript that you don’t see errors – a proofread will pick these up.
In our original analogy, I am the designer. I make sure the wall paint is perfect, and the countertops and the floors are cohesive, and everything feels homey.
Who it’s for
Proofreading is often the final frontier between the author and the reader. If you are satisfied with your story (developmental editing) and your overall tone, voice, accuracy, and consistency (copy editing) a proofread is a great final step. It can be done standalone by authors on a budget – in fact, in most cases, a proofread is the bare minimum that any author with an editing budget should invest in.
What you’ll get
I will directly correct your manuscript, locating and amending any grammatical or spelling errors. As always, this will be done with tracked changes turned on, so you know exactly what I’ve changed and where.
One document will be returned to you: your corrected manuscript.
Price: $0.025/word
