Editing Services

I provide thoughtful line editing, copyediting, and proofreading to indie authors, publishers, and organizations. But what do these terms mean? What does each stage of editing entail? Read on to learn more about the kinds of editing I do, and if you’re still not sure which service is right for your project, please reach out.

Other Types of Editing to Consider

The services I offer are best suited to manuscripts that have already been refined through several drafts and some kind of developmental work. Many writers make early revisions based on feedback they receive from a critique group or beta readers. You might also consider having developmental editor review your manuscript in a full-blown dev edit or in a manuscript evaluation. These are steps you’ll want to pursue before contacting me.

Developmental editing

Developmental editors can review a manuscript at any stage in the writing process, and they often work collaboratively with an author over several drafts. A good developmental editor facilitates and supports the writing process, offering feedback and specific suggestions for the author’s consideration that are in keeping with the author’s style and voice and may help shape the manuscript. The author, of course, retains autonomy throughout the project and may accept or reject any of the editor’s changes and suggestions. This phase of editing does not address errors in grammar and mechanics; these are checked later in the editing process.

In the landscaping analogy I use above, working with a the developmental editor is like hiring a landscape architect to help develop your vision for your yard.

Manuscript evaluation

A much lighter version of the developmental edit is the manuscript evaluation: a thorough review of a near-complete manuscript that results in written feedback addressing organization, clarity, consistency, character development, voice, and so on. When you feel stuck in the writing process, or you cannot see your text clearly anymore, this is a great way to get some objective feedback to help you move forward.

Specialties

literary fiction

Experimental fiction

Novels in translation

Historical Fiction

cookbooks and how-to books

Select nonfiction

How to Find the Right Editor

There are an astonishing number of talented editors available to work with you on your project. How will you find the right one? Perhaps the most critical element is the rapport you have with the editor. Reach out to discuss your project, and trust your instincts. Ensure you find someone who is communicative, responsive to your inquiries, and demonstrates enthusiasm and curiosity. It’s also common for editors to provide a brief sample edit (free or for a small fee) after reviewing a portion of your manuscript, which can help both of you decide whether the match is a good one. And of course you’ll want to evaluate their skills and experience. Have they completed any formal training or courses? (Formal training for copyeditors tends to be a certificate program from a reputable organization.) What books have they worked on? Are any of the titles aligned with your own project?

To sum up, editors can work with writers at any stage of the writing process, and different editors tend to specialize in different stages. Developmental or content editing is designed to occur early on, while the fine-tuning processes of line editing and copyediting take place when the content has been ironed out and the manuscript is nearing completion. The final check, prior to publication, is proofreading. Though these many stages can seem time consuming, working through each phase in turn will ensure the most streamlined transition from manuscript to publication.

Learn more about the different kinds of editing services and tasks from editing associations such as the Northwest Editors Guild. Get a sense of industry-standard pricing for these services from the Editorial Freelancers Association. You can also search for editors on any of these sites, or search for editors groups that may exist in your area.