What types of manuscripts do you edit?
I prefer to edit any genre within the realm of fiction, be it horror, suspense, thriller, romance, comedy, fantasy, science-fiction, western, fan-fiction, crime, young adult, etc. However, if you have a non-fiction project and you are interested in working with me, feel free to contact me and we can discuss your project.
Note that I prefer to work with a completed manuscript. However, based on your needs and your project timeline, I am willing to discuss and consider arrangements outside of these terms.
How does your editing process work? / What can I expect once I place my order?
Once you contact me, I will ask you to include a brief paragraph detailing your project. If your manuscript and its contents fall within my area of expertise, I may request to see the entire document (sometimes this is needed to determine the extent of the project’s scope,) otherwise, we will go straight into the next step.
After our initial contact, we will discuss what type of editing you are looking for, and based on this, we will determine both a price and the timeframe for the project. From there I will offer you a sample edit for the first 2 pages (Note that by industry standards, a page is considered to be 250 words – thereby my edit will be of the first 500 words,) if you are satisfied with my style of editing, and if you feel that you are comfortable working with me, we will then discuss the full terms of our agreement.
I will request the following details:
- The name you’d like me to use on the agreement (usually whatever name is on your PayPal account)
- The title of the book / working title
- The genre(s)
- The total word count of the manuscript
- A brief description of the manuscript (this can be your log line or your synopsis)
- The editing package you’ve selected
- The start and end date for the project (note that I would prefer at least 1-2 day’s notice before your start date so that we can go over the agreement and so that you will have sufficient time to make the payments and submit the completed manuscript to me)
Once these steps are done, you will be required to submit your completed manuscript to me, and from there, the process will begin.
Note that the package chosen dictates how many “passes” I will make with the document as well as the depth and extent of my edits.
Once I am finished, I will return the document to you with tracked changes, commentary and an overall report on your manuscript.
Once you go through the changes and commentary, you are more than welcome to liaise with me afterwards regarding any questions, concerns, or issues that you have with the edit or with the manuscript in general.
What does each package entail?
I will detail what each package entails, what it provides you with and what it is about:
Alpha / Beta Reading (Manuscript Critique):
With this package, your manuscript will be read from a reader’s perspective and with a critical eye. I will pay attention to issues such as; character development, plot line, plot holes, dialogue, believability of events, characters, and actions, continuity and flow of narration and prose, tone, use of language, impact upon the reader, descriptions and more.
An alpha read is used at the pre-editing stages of the book, whereas a beta read is used during the post editing stage. This aspect of editing allows the writer to get a sense and an understanding of how his/her book will be received, perceived and interpreted by readers before its initial release to the public. In most cases, an alpha / beta read is a holistic book reading experience, and the editor opts to focus on the story and its plot as opposed to the finer details such as grammatical, punctuation, or typographical errors.
Note that with this package, I will not make any changes to the content of your writing and I will not correct any errors (though I may point them out). Instead, I will make comments throughout the reading indicating areas of concern, areas requiring development, areas in need of editing and my general thoughts as a reader (in terms of impact, predictability, emotions experienced, character analysis etc.) and a report regarding my overall thoughts on the novel from both the perspective of a reader and an editor.
Copy Editing / Proofreading:
This package is inclusive of two aspects that many editors contend should be separate since they occur at various levels of the editorial process. I however, see them as going hand in hand. A proof read is a word level edit, whereas a copy edit is a sentence level edit. In many cases, a proofread is done at the final stage of editing, however, with the exponential growth of indie authors and self-publishing itself, I have noticed that in many cases, traditional stage edits do not always apply.
With this package issues relating to minor typographical errors, spelling, punctuation, syntax, language consistency, repetition, sentence flow, length and format are addressed. Note that this package does not include the restructuring of sentences or paragraphs.
It is a two pass process:
Round 1: I begin by correcting any errors I encounter. The document is returned to you for corrections.
Round 2: After your corrections have been made, you re-submit the edited manuscript and I will make a second pass of the material and polish off any initially overlooked details.
Once the document is returned to you for the second time, you are encouraged to make any other necessary corrections, and you are more than welcome to liaise with me regarding any other questions or issues you may be having.
Line Editing:
This package is a bit more complex than the first two. A line edit is also known as a paragraph level edit or a stylistic edit, and it essentially involves the recasting of sentences for clarity and flow. Despite this, the true art of line editing is the editor’s ability to preserve the author’s voice, while adjusting the text itself. Elements your editor will focus on during a line edit include: paragraph structure, sentence flow, word choice, and language-related techniques such as; voice, style, readability, and forward movement.
A line edit typically follows self-editing or a re-write. Oftentime a re-write causes discrepancies relating to left behind text, and details of the story that can often contradict themselves. For example, I once had a client who stated in their early chapters that the main character was a fourteen year old ninth grade student. Yet a few chapters later, he was taking his father’s sports car out for a joyride, got himself pulled over for speeding and had his license suspended. Sometimes these minor details get overlooked once a writer restructures their prose, (and trust me it happens very often!) and if these details are not acknowledged, the quality of the reader’s experience becomes compromised.
It, like the copy edit, is a two pass process.
Round 1: I make both changes and recommendations throughout the manuscript and return it to you for correction or a possible re-write. Once you have finished, you return the manuscript to me.
Round 2: I go over it once more paying attention to the finer details of the story as well as its flow. Once I am satisfied that I have detected any potential discrepancies or issues (even text that needs to be removed if it adds nothing to the story or even slows down the plot) I will return the manuscript to you for the final changes to be approved.
In the event that changes are still required, I will continue to work with you, however I it is rare for me to have any manuscript require more than 3 rounds of edits.
After this process, you are free to liaise with me regarding any other issues or questions you may have.
Developmental Editing:
This is perhaps the most complex level of editing and many editors shirk at the thought of developmental editing.
Developmental editing is also referred to as structural or substantive editing and it involves the process of restructuring your entire manuscript. Sometimes writers have great ideas, but the way in which the ideas are detailed on paper can be confusing or conflicting with the intended plotline. A developmental editor gives their focus to issues involving character development and motivation, theme, premise, symbolism, tension, pacing, and the novel’s plot structure.
While this may sound simple enough, a developmental edit involves the removal, re-writing, rearranging, and sometimes, the insertion of new material in an effort to ensure the story is cohesive, consistent, and well developed. The last time I completed a developmental edit I received a 600 page manuscript. As I began reading I found that the plotline became lost in a sea of character information and unnecessary background details. By the 100th page I had almost lost sight of what the story was meant to be about, and the reading itself felt heavy and bogged down. With no choice, I printed out the manuscript and sat down on my living room floor, then, taking up my sharpest pair of scissors, I began cutting.
I removed whole paragraphs, made notes for corrections, rearranged the story line, indicated points that required further development, and in the end, stitched back the novel together in a long, almost grotesque looking scroll. Once I made the edits to the electronic document, I sent it back to the client and after a few rounds of changes, the end result was something beautiful. The story spoke for itself and the flow was almost flawless. All in all, it took us nearly three months and many back and forth emails but in the end it was worth it. We had created something spectacular.
However, after this stage, your manuscript will still require both line and copy editing to polish off any overlooked issues on a smaller, more intricate level. A developmental edit, like a beta read, is focused on the holistic or “big picture” aspect of your story.
What if I’d like to combine various editing aspects?
If you’d like to combine various levels of editing feel free to contact me for a price quote. Let me know what you’d like to have done (example a proofreading, copy edit, and line reading) and I will create a package catered specifically to your needs (chances are the pricing of a combo package will also be cheaper than a standalone, really it depends on what you’re looking for, after all, I am merely a tool in your writer’s arsenal!)
How do I format my manuscript to send it to you?
Preferably, your manuscript should be a .doc, .docx or .odt document, formatted to be double spaced with a 12 point font (either Times New Roman or Arial). If your document is formatted with a functional TOC, as well as assigned headings, you are free to leave those as is.
What is the point of your 2 page (500 word) sample? I’ve heard that only inexperienced editors offer samples.
The truth of the matter is that many established editors believe that the provision of a sample is sort of an insult. How dare the client ask for proof of my skills and abilities?! However, I disagree with this ideology.
I believe that a sample of my work is essential for you to decide whether or not you are comfortable with my style of editing, and commentary, or if there is something within my style that you find lacking and would like to see / see more of. It also ensures that we are compatible and able to work together seamlessly, and this is something many editors overlook.
In reality, this is a service related process, and both editor and writer alike are people. Sometimes the chemistry may not be right, and in providing you with a sample it allows you to decide if my work meets your needs on every level.
Do you do book/ e-book formatting?
Unfortunately at this point in time I am unable to offer such services, however I hope that in the future I will be able to do so.
How long does the process take?
The time frame for each project is dependent on various factors such as the length of your manuscript, the level of editing required, the package chosen, whether fact checking is required or not, etc. Once we are in our initial stages of communication, we will discuss the time frame required. However, if you are on a tight schedule, I will work with you as best as I can to meet your deadline.
What if I have questions afterwards?
If you have any questions regarding your manuscript, my comments, or my changes, feel free to contact me to discuss your issues. In the past, I have had clients contact me months after our stipulated contract has ended to liaise with me regarding some aspect of a comment I made. I have never ignored or turned them down for any reason, and chances are you will not be an exception to this. Regardless of the time frame, I will reply to your question (so long as it is within reason and the scope of work I have done for you).
Why do you require total payment in advance?
In the past I required that half of the total payment be paid upfront and the other half is collected upon completion, however I have encountered a few problems with this system. There have been a few clients who opted to graciously receive their edited manuscript and that was the last I ever heard of them, whilst others would refrain from making their final payments simply because they were unprepared to receive any form of critique.
As such, I have decided the best way for all parties involved is to have the total cost paid upfront since it eliminates non-payments and guarantees the quality of my work. I’ve found that if I am fearful of receiving a harsh rebuke from a client, who has the potential to withhold payments from me, I am more likely to overlook key issues within the manuscript and sugar coat my criticism.
In reality, the last thing any serious writer really needs from their editor is a pat on the back and a declaration that their manuscript is perfect without any edits. No one gains from this experience. Not you, me, and especially not your readers.
What if I’m not satisfied or I want a refund?
I strive to do the very best that I can with all my clients. For me this is more than a job or a project. This is something bigger, something more, and I pride myself on my ability to work seamlessly with others. That being said, sometimes discrepancies occur and things just don’t work out as you plan.
In the event that you are unsatisfied with my work, I ask that you contact me so that we can discuss what can be done to enhance your experience, and ensure that you are fully satisfied with my work. I am always looking for the opportunity to improve myself, so if this is the situation, please do let me know where it is that you feel I have fallen short. If the situation is such that nothing can be done to resolve your dissatisfaction, I will work together with you and the payment center to issue you a refund.
What payment methods do you accept?
I accept payments via PayPal.
Do your low prices mean a low quality of work?
Absolutely not! I pride myself on the fact that I always go above and beyond for my clients. I enjoy building relationships and creating a positive, lasting impact.
The main reason my prices are set as low as they are in relation to the “industry standard” is because I, as an author, was personally appalled by the exorbitant prices being charged to indie authors. While editing does take a certain degree of skill, knowledge, attention to detail, and time, I cannot justify charging my clients 5 cents per word as other publishing houses do!
Do you work with a team? Do you outsource?
I do not. All work and editing is personally done by me. I do not outsource or subcontract, simply because it is an unethical practice and it removes me from having 100% quality control over my work. I have established a good reputation for myself and it is one I intend to personally uphold.
Can you guarantee my manuscript will be 100% error free?
While I wish I can boast of a 100% guarantee regarding errors, the truth of the matter is that I am only a single pair of eyes. However, as Adrienne Montgomerie—a renowned editor—explains, the industry standard per editor is a 95% rate or error removal. This is a number that I strive to go beyond, but understand that when it comes to editing a full length novel, there is always the off chance that one or two errors may slip past me (they’re sneaky like that!) despite my going through your manuscript with a fine-toothed comb.
What do you look for in a client?
I am looking to establish a working relationship with my clients, particularly new or first time authors, who are serious about bettering their manuscript, as well as willing to learn from the overall experience regarding how to make their work better.
My only real quality that I seek in a client is an open-mindedness to receiving critique and feedback. If you are going through this process in the hopes of receiving only positive feedback, I ask that you reconsider hiring me.
This journey that we will take together is geared towards improving your work, and making it as close to perfect as possible. While I am tactful, I do not believe in sugar coating my criticism since that does not benefit you in any way. I believe in highlighting the negatives (that is not to say that I will not point out the good in your work) as it serves to your benefit. As I’ve said before, I am merely a tool in your writer’s arsenal, it is your job to make use of me.