Associates: editing and literary agent/publisher search

... Your insights are brilliant.Your attention to detail is astonishing. I adore your dedication to perfection.Your sensitivity to my voice and style was exemplary. I consider you a diamond polisher of the highest caliber.

Thomas Steinbeck (son of John Steinbeck), Oxnard, CA, author of Down to a Soundless Sea, published by Ballantine Books

Manuscript Editing Services

You are working hard on your material, be it fiction or nonfiction. Perhaps you have written many drafts and believe there's not much more you can revise. It's finished. Or you've just begun to write and wonder if your ideas are logical and flow smoothly. Perhaps, you are somewhere in between and are not sure of the next steps to take with your manuscript. We help writers at all stages of development. Our specialty is readability--making sure your concepts are clear and your style is appropriate for your target audience. Our editorial services range from critiques, coaching, and extensive reworking of a manuscript to final polishing and proofreading.

Proofreading -- includes: correcting faulty spelling, grammar, punctuation, misplaced modifiers, changes in tense, problems in parallelisms, and use of sexist, racist, and other pejorative language.

Medium Copyediting -- includes all tasks for proofreading, plus: identifying inappropriate figures of speech, changing passive voice to active voice, and enforcing consistent style and tone. In fiction manuscripts, it entails tracking the continuity of plot, setting, and character traits.

Heavy Copyediting -- includes all tasks for medium copyediting, plus: attending to the structural flow, organization, concept or character development, and dialogue; ensuring an appropriate pace, uniform tone, and clear focus; eliminating wordiness, triteness, and inappropriate jargon; smoothing transitions; and moving sentences to improve readability.

Substantive Editing -- If you have a completed manuscript, we critique the manuscript as a whole for theme, style, character and plot development tone, structure, logic, and accuracy. Then we provide a plan to work with you on resolving the weaknesses in the manuscript. We can make the revisions for you or you can decide to do it yourself. More about manuscript reviews.

Developmental Editing If your material is not yet in manuscript form, we establish a collaborative relationship to help you shape your manuscript. As you write and rewrite, we provide feedback and guidance. In essence, we become your writing coach. More about coaching.

Here's what to expect from us:

prompt and courteous service

a firm fixed fee for service

an understanding of your goals for your work

a knowledge of your target audience and reader expectations

a focus on critical readability issues

a clearer and more compelling manuscript that retains your voice

personal attention to maintain the integrity of your work

Complimentary First Feedback

If you are considering our editing services, we'd love to get acquainted with you and your material. Please feel free to submit the first ten pages of your work and some basic information. We offer general feedback on your writing, along with the proposed fee and schedule. There is no cost to you for this first feedback.

Complete our convenient form or attach a file of your first chapter (approximately 10 pages) with your e-mail message. Be sure to tell us:

total number of words (Hint: open the document in MS Word, click TOOLS, WORD COUNT)
the number of drafts you've written
your goal for this material (traditional publishing, self-publishing, other)
any concerns you have about your work

Complimentary First Feedback

If you are considering our web editing services, we'd love to get acquainted with you and your web site. Please feel free to submit the url and some basic information--including your concerns. We offer general feedback on your web site. There is no cost to you for this first feedback.

Email your web site information to us e-mail message. Be sure to tell us:

your web site url
your concerns about your web site

Our Clients Say ...

I am impressed. You did a grand job of editing my manuscript, Down to a Soundless Sea. Your insights are brilliant. Your attention to detail is astonishing. I adore your dedication to perfection. Your sensitivity to my voice and style was exemplary. The manuscript is set for publication and you helped make it possible. I consider you a diamond polisher of the highest caliber.

Thomas Steinbeck (son of John Steinbeck), Oxnard, CA

Wow. I went over your edits to my story this weekend. I am extremely happy with the editing you have done. It does have much more punch and gusto now. Working with you has been like taking an intense class on story mechanics. I've really enjoyed the one-on-one working relationship -- especially the convenience of the Internet and e-mail. I honestly thank God I read about you in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

James Wray, San Diego, author of "Dark Toast", published in the West Wind Review.

I have authored ten books and for each book I have had a different editor. But none of the editors had your writing skills, speedy turnaround time, attention to detail, and creativity. Trish, you are a gifted professional and a joy to work with.

William Cormier, Ph.D., Annapolis, MD, author/co-author of more than 40 books, chapters, research articles, and theoretical papers

Trish, you take concepts, ideas, and disjointed thoughts and make them sing. Thank you for clarifying the complex psychological and emotional issues of retirement to ensure the readability of my book. I am deeply grateful for your support.

Douglas Fletcher, Laguna Beach, CA, author of Life After Work: Redefining Retirement

Wow! It's 6:00 AM and I've just finished rereading my manuscript.I'm blown away. It sounds so much more professional.Your streamlining and revision made it so much more emotional and heart-rending. When I read the final scene I was blithering like a baby. I can't say enough about it. Your help and insights are an invaluable commodity. I can't imagine trusting anyone else to edit the sequel.

PP, Marmora, Canada

Thank you for the fabulous job in helping me redraft my manuscript. I knew there were serious problems with some of the chapters, but I needed you to tell me. In this respect alone, you have more than earned your fee. I am so much happier with the manuscript now. I take great personal pleasure in being able to heap praise on you for doing such good work.

WW, New Brunswick, NJ

My manuscript is finished and I couldn't be happier. For the first time I feel the book has a roundness to it, a completeness that it hasn't had before. And it's much to do with your sensitive criticisms and editing.

KB, Ontario, Canada

The scenes you've re-written are GREAT! It amazes me that the information portrayed is essentially the same as my version, but it's so much better written. That makes all the difference! You can put the emotion and the drama into the writing that I can't do.

Gerry Budd, MD, Jacksonville, FL

I reviewed my book and it looks great! Your editing elevated the text to something easily readable and eloquent. Thank you so much for all your help!

Denise Coates, Los Angeles, CA, Author of Feel It Real, Executive Publishers International (in press).

I am very happy with the way you edited my story and I would like to thank you for that. I am especially pleased you found and helped me fix the logic holes and other inconsistencies. Once again, thank you for your expertise. I look forward to working with you on my next story.

Hans Arnold, London