Make your writing the best it can be.

You’ve invested a lot of time in your manuscript. Deciding to have it professionally edited is the finishing touch that will take it from great to amazing! You’ll end up with a high-quality, professional book that will get noticed, you’ll strengthen your credibility as a writer, and your readers will be touched by your story and will want to share it with others.

My clients see me as a partner, guiding them through the entire editing process. I can see what your eyes skip over and help you avoid common pitfalls. Through it all, I’m careful to preserve your voice while making improvements and offer feedback in a constructive, informative, and respectful manner.

Books last a lifetime in print. Take the extra step to make it shine!

Manuscript Overview

This is a birds-eye review to make sure the foundation is solid before getting into a detailed edit. Taking care of the overarching issues first saves time (and money) in the long run.

  • Addresses structure and organization
  • Points out gaps or confusing areas
  • Looks for inconsistencies
  • Checks for believable theme/plot

When You Need It

Your manuscript is complete but you’ve been staring at it for so long you can no longer see the forest through the trees. You’re ready for another set of eyes to make sure it flows well and your message is clear for the reader.

What You Will Get

  • Single read through manuscript
  • Editorial letter highlighting main observations
  • Manuscript with comments in the margins suggesting how to improve

Interested in working together? Contact me to see how editing will enhance your work.

Editorial Review

This is the meat and potatoes of the edit, where the most intensive work is done. The goal is to improve upon what is already there without tampering with the basic structure. All edits are visible and approved by you, the writer. This is your work.

Comprehensive Line Edit:

  • Addresses sentence and paragraph structure, word usage, phrasing
  • Suggests reorganization to improve flow
  • Rephrases difficult passages for clarity and readability
  • Streamlines wordy passages and removes redundancies
  • For fiction, flags inconsistent characterization or where timeline doesn’t match story

Detailed Copyedit:

  • Fixes grammar, spelling, and punctuation
  • Resolves inconsistent capitalization, hyphenation, numerals, and font
  • Checks captions, tables, or footnotes against the text
  • Addresses citation requirements
  • Aligns to The Chicago Manual of Style

When You Need It

Your content is set and you’re happy with the structure. You’ve incorporated feedback from your peers or writing group and have taken it as far as you can. It’s time for some help getting it to the finish line.

What You Will Get

  • Edited manuscript with feedback via Word Track Changes and comments
  • Style sheet to ensure consistency
  • At least two follow-up rounds to review content changed after initial review

Interested in working together? Contact me to see how editing will enhance your work.

Ready to Print

This is where self-publishing authors can differentiate themselves. When you format according to professional book-publishing standards, your book immediately has leg up over obvious do-it-yourself books.

  • Checks consistent heading hierarchy, bulleted lists, and citations
  • Prepress preparation:
    • Sets up front and back matter and page numbering (title and copyright pages, introduction, acknowledgments, table of contents, appendix, etc.)
    • Reviews final components (cover text, backsplash, index, captions, etc.)
    • Compares table of content to chapter titles and page numbers
  • Proofread after book design*:
    • Ensures formatting transferred properly (correct heading hierarchy, tables inside margins, no single lines on page, text not cut off, etc.)
    • Looks for omissions from editing rounds
    • Coordination with book designer to resolve edits

*Cover and book design are not included services

When You Need It

When your manuscript has been through a full editing review and the text is final, it is time to add the front matter and work with a designer for typesetting and cover design. Proofreading is the last step, the final review before the book goes to print.

What You Will Get

  • Consultation on front and back matter structure and cover text
  • Manuscript with front and back matter set up and edited
  • Review of final components (cover text, backsplash, index, captions, etc.)
  • Coordination with book and cover designers

Interested in working together? Contact me to see how editing will enhance your work.