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Trusted Editor for History Buffs, Writers, and Publishers

Manuscript Critique

  • A manuscript critique is a budget-friendly general assessment of what is and isn’t working in the manuscript, with concrete suggestions for improvement included.
  • In a manuscript critique, I focus on big-picture elements. For nonfiction, I look at the organization, clarity, coherence, and effectiveness of the text. For fiction projects, I look at the plot, characters, and themes.
  • This should occur early in the editorial process and does not focus on grammar.
  • You’ll receive an editorial letter (a minimum of 3 pages but can be substantially longer) with recommendations for revisions.
  • I charge $0.01 per word for manuscripts of 50,000 words or more and an hourly rate for shorter manuscripts. 

Developmental Editing

  • A developmental edit is a comprehensive big-picture look at what is working and what isn’t, as well as concrete suggestions for improvement.
  • Just like I do in a manuscript critique, I focus on big-picture elements in a developmental edit. The difference is just the amount of feedback you’ll receive. In a developmental edit, I do a much deeper dive into the manuscript than I do in a critique.
  • This should occur early in the editorial process and does not focus on grammar.
  • You’ll receive an editorial letter (a minimum of 6 pages but can be substantially longer) with recommendations for revisions. You’ll also receive your manuscript back with extensive comments (usually hundreds) in Word.
  • I charge $0.03 per word for manuscripts of 50,000 words or more and an hourly rate for shorter manuscripts.

Copyediting

  • A copyedit is a thorough sentence-level examination of the manuscript.
  • Copyediting focuses on a wide range of concerns:
    • correcting grammar, punctuation, spelling, and syntax
    • properly formatting the manuscript
    • noting factual errors and inconsistent details
    • enforcing consistency in spelling, hyphenation, and capitalization
  • I am guided by The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition, and Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the standard style guides for American publishing.
  • I combine copyediting with line editing (stylistic polishing of the text, especially regarding syntax, clarity, and concision) unless specifically asked not to do so. Some editors do them in separate rounds instead. 
  • This stage of editing should occur after content is set and developmental editing or manuscript critiquing has been performed.
  • I can conduct either one-pass copyediting or two-pass copyediting.
    • In one-pass copyediting, I return the manuscript after copyediting, with all changes then handled by the author.
    • In two-pass copyediting, I conduct a quick additional clean-up round after the author has addressed the revisions to ensure no new errors were introduced when changes were accepted/rejected by the author. 
  • You’ll receive a Word document with all changes displayed, a separate Word document with all changes accepted, and a stylesheet that lists all editorial decisions made. Suggested revisions will usually number in the thousands. 
  • I charge $0.02 per word for one-pass copyediting for manuscripts of 50,000 words or more and $0.025 per word for two-pass copyediting for 50,000 words or more, with an hourly rate for shorter manuscripts.

Developmental Editing + Copyediting Package

  • This is a discounted package featuring multiple rounds of editing (approximately 20% off).
  • I will provide one round of developmental editing and then a separate round of copyediting for the manuscript once the content issues have been addressed.
  • I charge $0.04 per word for developmental editing + one-pass copyediting on manuscripts of 50,000 words or more and $0.045 per word for two-pass copyediting for 50,000 words or more, with an hourly rate for shorter manuscripts. 

Author Coaching

  • This service provides assistance with the writing, revision, submission, and/or marketing process for both nonfiction and fiction authors, especially those pursuing self-publishing or traditional publishing through small/medium-sized publishers.
  • Author coaching is a great option for those who are new to the writing/publishing process and need guidance or those who benefit from a more structured routine and regular feedback.
  • Author coaching is not editing, though I can also provide editing assistance to my author coaching clients as a separate service. I’ve often provided author coaching to former editing clients as they begin the process of submitting their manuscript to publishers or preparing to self-publish.
  • You’ll receive an initial manuscript evaluation, followed by regular coaching sessions by phone and email support.
  • I charge $50 an hour for this service. 

Citation Editing

  • This service provides assistance with all things citation.
  • Properly formatting citations is important for nonfiction writers, but it can be a frustrating and tedious process, especially if you’re new to it. I am happy to provide my expertise to write, format, and edit citations.
  • I’ll read your manuscript to check that all sources are cited, write or edit proper Chicago Manual of Style endnotes or footnotes for each citation, and then create a properly formatted bibliography of all works cited.
  • I do handle some citation-related issues in regular copyediting passes, but citation-specific editing is specifically for the end of the editing process, when all other content is set and edits have been accepted.
  • You will still need to seek permissions for content cited.
  • You’ll receive a manuscript with all citations added and a separate bibliography.
  • I charge $50 an hour for this service. 
Still unsure what service is best for you? Please check out my “What Is Editing?” series to learn more about the different types of editing.