Editing Services

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 — Focuses on 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.

Aattach a file of your first chapter (approximately 5 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