SERVICES
I provide a full range of editorial services for authors and publishers of fiction and nonfiction. Whether you are just getting started or are already in production, I can help you polish your book, from individual words to the finished page.
I also work with corporate clients to ensure that all marketing and publicity copy is effective, concise, and polished.
I provide all services myself, and will never sub your work out to another editor or employee.
Developmental editing
If you’ve started writing or even just plotting out your book and you’re not sure whether it’s working or where to go with it next, or if you’ve written a book but you aren’t certain that it’s working as a comprehensive whole, you may need a developmental edit. I can review your manuscript (or a few chapters, or even an outline), tell you what works and what doesn’t, and what you might want to do next. At this stage, we consider premise, plot, characters, story structure, story arc, organization, voice, audience, and your goals for the book or series. I will note your strengths and weaknesses, help you shape your writing, and work with you to create a plan for moving forward.
Content/line editing
If you’ve written a full manuscript and you feel like you’ve done everything with it that you can do without getting some outside feedback, you are probably ready for a content/line edit. If you have never worked with a professional editor before, but you feel confident about the big picture of your book, this may also be a good place to start.
This is the most comprehensive service I offer. It includes my thoughts on everything from individual word choice to full story arc.
In a line edit, I will read with an eye to answering all of these questions (and more):
Is the plot/premise intriguing? Does it make sense?
Does the storytelling progress at a pace that keeps the reader engaged?
Do all the plot points come together to tell a cohesive story?
Is your content well organized?
Will the ending satisfy the reader? (Do you want it to?)
Does the tone of your writing set the mood you want?
Are your characters interesting? Believable? Likeable? Are their motivations compelling?
Does dialogue sound the way real people talk to one another?
Does point of view stay consistent (or shift smoothly and clearly)?
Are your chapter breaks in the right places?
Do your paragraphs flow well? Are they too long, too short, or just right?
Is each word/phrase the best choice to express the image, idea, or emotion you’re trying to convey?
Do you have a tendency to repeat certain words or phrases?
Because I am also a copyeditor and proofreader, I will correct many smaller mistakes that I notice as I read at this stage, but you will still need a copyedit after the line edit and subsequent revisions are completed.
When you are satisfied that your writing flows well, your plot goes where you want it to go when you want it to go there, your characters are who you want them to be, and your ending is satisfying, then you are ready for a copyedit. My copyedit includes:
corrections of punctuation, spelling, grammar, and syntax
suggestions for correction of repetition (words, phrases, and sentence structure)
correct (per Chicago Manual of Style and/or house style) styling of titles, quotations, extracts, etc.
careful tracking of the story’s timeline and plot
confirmation of internal consistency (characters, setting, plot)
fact-checking (historical, geographical, logical, cultural, pop-cultural, etc.)
comments and suggestions regarding any big-picture issues that may be outstanding after earlier rounds of editing
Please note that books requiring heavy fact-checking (historical fiction, some nonfiction, quotes or citations that need confirmation, etc.) or that involve complex world-building (high fantasy, sci-fi) can be significantly more time-consuming at the copyediting stage than simpler fiction or memoir, for example.
I recommend a minimum of two rounds of copyediting. Both cover all the points listed above, but the second ensures smooth incorporation of revisions made after the first round. A second careful read also allows me to approach the content from a new perspective: that of a reader who knows what’s coming next. This helps immeasurably with maintaining consistency throughout the book.
Copyediting
After your manuscript has been copyedited (by a pro) and revised, and if you intend to self-publish your book, you will be ready for a proofread. If you have never worked with a professional editor on this manuscript—even if you are pretty sure it is perfect—you are probably not ready for proofreading yet; please see above descriptions of earlier stages of editing.
Proofreading includes:
corrections of punctuation, spelling, grammar, and syntax that the copyeditor may have missed
suggestions for correction of repetition (words, phrases, and sentence structure)
correct (per Chicago Manual of Style and/or house style) styling of titles, quotations, extracts, etc.
comments and suggestions regarding any issues of consistency that may be outstanding after earlier rounds of editing
If the proofread is on pages that have already been laid out for printing by a designer (whether in PDF or on hard copy), it will also include:
a review of front and back matter, page layouts, graphic elements, and the like
checking for consistency of formatting (chapter openers, running heads, extracts, folios, etc.)
checking for bad breaks (word, line, and page)
conformation to conventional (or house) publishing standards
for authors who are self-publishing, a review of all changes made to layout by designer, until all changes have been made satisfactorily (this often takes a few rounds of back-and-forth communication between proofreader and designer)
Please note that if I have already done several earlier rounds of editing on your book, I may not be the best proofreader for this project. I will certainly give it my all, but because I know what’s coming in the text, it’s easier for my brain to overlook small problems, which are just what the proofreader is on the lookout for. If you’d like to get another set of eyes on your book, which I recommend especially in self-published projects, I’ll gladly refer you to another professional proofreader I trust, and will review their work if you wish.
Proofreading
Includes a review of front and back matter, page layouts, graphic elements, and the like; checking for consistency; bad breaks (word, line, and page); and conformation to conventional publishing standards. While this should be included in any professional proofread, independent publishers or self-published authors may wish to have these elements reviewed separately.
Format review
I work with various corporate and nonprofit clients to copyedit and proofread marketing and publicity copy for websites, press releases, signage, printed matter, and the like. If we work together regularly, I can help to ensure brand consistency for your business or organization.