Editing Services
Why Edit?
A professional edit will save you time, help you improve your writing and maximize your chance of publication success. It is designed to make your writing flawless while maintaining your personal style and voice. It focuses in on every detail of your writing to make sure everything is consistent.
An edit digs deep to review plot, theme, character development, pacing, dialogue, point of view, action and tone. It addresses writing style and language use and will correct confusing action, loose dialogue, general word misuse and unclear narratives.
A thorough professional edit adds the perfect finishing touch to your writing. It ensures your plot, setting and characters have no discrepancies and your story is consistent.
The Right Editor for You
Every writer needs an editor. No, that’s not true. Every successful writer has an editor, and every writer who wants a consistent audience or any level of success needs an editor.
But not just any editor. You need an editor who elevates your writing, not criticizes how you write. No editor should hack away at your text and strangle your story; they should provide actionable suggestions on how to fix those trouble spots to make a more cohesive account. They should support and improve your work, not impose themselves.
You deserve an editor with not only amazing skills and experience but also the personality to match you and your book. You should interview potential editors as if they were applying for a position in your organization, as they are. Just as in any business, the right employee must be the right fit for the position or neither succeed.
To find the right editor for you, I encourage you to request and compare a dozen sample edits and quotes before making your decision. Then compare how each edited your sample.
You’ll be surprised at the difference in skill level and personality. One may only criticize and slash your words; one may use only rule tools to catch errors which may change your voice; one may suggest improvements but only mark errors; one may not catch errors the others marked. No two will be the same.
When your sample edits return, make a copy of each and accept all changes. With no distracting marks, read through each edit to determine what that edit did for your sample. Now choose which editor improved your story. If none of them do, start over. There are plenty of us out here!
So send those sample edits out. The perfect editor for you is waiting to make magic!
Developmental Edit
I will read your entire manuscript and provide feedback on plot, characterization, structure, consistency and style. I will provide comprehensive and actionable margin notes to help you turn gaps and excesses into something whole and compelling.
A Developmental Edit will provide a broad sense of your strengths and weaknesses, where you are in the writing process and how much work you need to do.
Usually performed during the beginning stages of your writing, it will allow you to see if imperative elements are in place before the detailed writing begins.
Among other things, it will point out: plot points that don’t lead anywhere; inconsistent characterization; missed opportunities to bring out your main themes; whether you are using the correct POV to best promote your story; where your conflicts are weak; and if your ending ties up all subplots.
Line Edit
Once your story is well-defined, I will examine all aspects of your writing, from structure to content, to provide feedback and line-level edits.
A Line Edit will point out all possible ways and means to improve your manuscript so it is publication ready, with emphasis on sharpening the focus and strengthening the content.
Is there a clear, logical development? Are all elements clear and consistent? Are we lead through the plot by a well-paced narrative? Is there repetition to eliminate or gaps to fill? Does it have its own rhythm and flow? Has reader expectation been satisfied?
Copy Edit
I will read your manuscript word by word, focusing on formatting, grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, word choice, style and consistency.
A Copy Edit is all about the rules. Have you used the proper word usage? Is there awkward phrasing? Are hyphenation and capitalization correct? Is it clear, readable, accurate and consistent? Is sentence structure correct and varied? Are the timing of events and scenes consistent? Is dialogue correctly punctuated?
Proofread
Proofreading is the last possible opportunity to revise a manuscript before publication. It will catch the tiny errors missed in editing.
Unless someone has carefully combed through your manuscript word by word, there are likely to be errors.
If you see tons of corrections, don't panic. That means I've dug deep and found every little thing.