Professional Editing Services

Proofreading

A proofread focuses on fixing spelling and grammar errors and does not look for deeper or content issues. It involves two passes. A proofread results in a Word docx with Track Changes changes plus comments. Rate for fiction and memoir: $0.02–0.025/word

Copyediting

The heart of any copyedit is finding and fixing spelling and grammar errors, but it will look more at content, structure, language usage, and concision than a proofread. Any provided style guide or a standard like APA, MLA, or CMoS is used to check for formatting and other requirements. There are different levels of copyediting, which require different amounts of time. Copyediting is available for any type of writing. A copyedit results in a Word docx with Track Changes changes plus comments.

Light Copyediting

A light copyedit is like a proofread that goes deeper, including looking more at language, but it still focuses on fixing genuine errors and spots that are clearly problematic in some way. There is some consideration of structure, but it is minimal. There is light fact-checking. In manuscripts with charts, tables, or images, captions and references are validated and they are lightly checked for accuracy. A reference list is also checked for accuracy and against citations. A light copyedit includes a cold read and two passes through the manuscript. Rate for fiction and memoir: $0.0275–0.0325/word

Medium Copyediting

A medium copyedit includes everything in a light copyedit but will also look at improving language that isn’t necessarily wrong or unclear, but could still be made better with some rewriting. Structure is also scrutinized more than in a light copyedit. Charts, tables, and images will be checked more closely for accuracy and clarity and fact-checking is a bit deeper. A medium copyedit includes a cold read and two passes through the manuscript. Rate for fiction and memoir: $0.0325–0.0375/word

Blue Plate Special Copyediting

I offer an unusual service intended for cash-strapped indie authors. I know what it’s like to be an indie author and wanting to be professional, but not necessarily having $2000 or more to spend on an edit. I can do a single-pass very light copyedit for a lower cost. For a 70,000-word manuscript, this would normally be well under $1000. This does require a manuscript that is in decent shape without too many errors, and I need to see sample chapters in order to decide if it is a good candidate. If you struggle to get the manuscript there yourself, you can likely attain this with an AI editing tool (I can provide you with info on how to do this without it rewriting any of your work). I will give you a quote that’s a cap—the max amount you’ll pay—but if it takes me less time to finish it than I expected, I just charge for the hours I spent on it. Rate: $60/hour

Line Editing

A line edit is similar to a copyedit except the focus is more on style, tone, and overall flow of the manuscript. It involves looking at the manuscript at a sentence level and higher, rather than focusing on words like copyediting does. However, my line edit also includes copyediting (as described in the previous section). A line edit might include reworking sentences or making recommendations for structural changes like moving a paragraph or cutting a section. For a quote on this one, I will need to see a sample from the manuscript. I can also do a second read through at a significantly discounted rate after you have made changes based on the first. Rate for fiction and memoir: $0.035–0.045/word

Developmental Editing

A developmental edit involves looking at the manuscript at a high level to identify issues with characterization, structure, plot/subplots, theme, flow and pacing, voice, and more. I also look for continuity, clarity, consistency, and cohesiveness. The final product is a report along with the manuscript with comments in it. This involves multiple full or partial passes. Usually this is done only on a book that is a complete draft (even a rough first draft), and I can focus on specific areas if you want. For a quote on this one, I will need to see the entire manuscript. I can also do a second read through at a significantly discounted rate after you have made changes based on the first. Rate: $60/hour

Manuscript Evaluation

A manuscript evaluation is like a light developmental edit that focuses only on high-level issues and provides guidance to fix them. It’s a single-pass service and results in a short report usually 1–2 pages in length, with few or no inline comments. If you are considering a developmental edit but aren’t sure, doing this first will save you some money on the dev edit because of the work already done. The charges for these are a flat rate unless you want a more thorough report, which we can discuss

• < 30,000 words: $300
• 30,000 – 49,999 words: $350
• 50,000 – 74,999 words: $400
• 75,000 – 99,999 words: $450
• 100,000 or more: send me a message

Beta, Sensitivity, and Authenticity Reading

Beta and sensitivity/authenticity reads are done on a fiction, memoir, or popular nonfiction manuscript that is nearly ready to publish, usually before a copyedit or proofread. I basically ask myself if this book is ready to go out into the world. It involves a single pass and includes a separate report with minimal comments in the manuscript. Flat rates for fiction, memoir, and popular nonfiction:

• < 30,000 words: $250
• 30,000 – 49,999 words: $300
• 50,000 – 74,999 words: $375
• 75,000 – 99,999 words: $450
• 100,000 or more: send me a message

A beta read and sensitivity/authenticity read can be combined for an additional $100 for the second service.

Beta Reading

A beta read looks at the book with the big picture in mind. This reading focuses on making sure the book is ready to be out in the world. I put my reader hat on (instead of my editor hat) and check to make sure the manuscript works as a cohesive, complete, and satisfying story. This involves looking at character, pacing, continuity, subplot and theme resolution, but less at plot and structure because a manuscript at this stage should not need a lot of changes. I basically ask myself if this book is ready to go out into the world. It involves a single pass and includes a report with minimal comments in the manuscript.

Sensitivity and Authenticity Reading

Sensitivity and authenticity reads are sometimes done separately, but I do them together because I think they share the same goal of representing marginalized groups in a fair and realistic light. A sensitivity read involves a single pass through a manuscript where I look for anything problematic related to my special areas of knowledge related to marginalized groups. For me, these include representation of LGBTQ+ themes (especially related to trans and nonbinary identities), larger bodies, and mental illness. The authenticity part also looks for writing that doesn’t make members of any of these disadvantaged groups some real and authentic. It involves a single pass through the manuscript. Like a beta read, it includes a report with some comments in the manuscript.

Off Limits

There are a few things I generally won’t edit: pedophilia in any nonnegative way (even if it’s “consensual”), erotica and erotic romance (steamy romance is fine), gratuitous violence, gratuitous animal death/violence, horror, hard sci-fi, self-help, strong conservative views, and religious topics. These labels are pretty vague, so if you have something that you’re not sure about, just mention it when you message me and I can decide on each project individually.