How It Works

Pricing

I charge by total word count, with fees ranging from .014 cents per word to .03 cents per word, depending on your needs and the complexity of the edit. I do accept installment payments. I’ll be glad to discuss all options with you.

I accept checks, cashier’s checks, and money orders. You may also make a payment through PayPal, Zelle, or Venmo.

Turnaround Times

Turnaround times vary, depending on what stage your draft is in, its length and complexity, and my current schedule, but they average four to eight weeks. I emphasize a quality edit over a speedy edit, so I don’t do rush projects. I want to give your work the time and attention it deserves.

Figuring out what services
you need

Ask yourself what your goals are regarding the piece you’re submitting for a sample edit. Is this a one-time project for you, such as a memoir meant for friends and family members? Or are you interested in a deeper analysis that will take your writing, both current and future, to the next level?

Consider also what stage your manuscript is in. If you’re still working through the story and need advice about how to bring it all together, you might want a developmental edit, meaning a written critique that looks at overall plot, characterization, structure, etc. rather than at the details of the manuscript.

If you feel that you’re ready to submit your manuscript to agents or publishers but need a final polish, you’ll probably want a line edit, meaning corrections to sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, etc.

Or maybe your work is somewhere in between—a fully developed story that still needs some tweaking. In that case, a copy edit, which looks for things like minor plot gaps, inconsistencies, and repetitions in the manuscript, might be most appropriate. Oftentimes, a copy edit and a line edit are combined.

Or you can combine all three types of edits for a comprehensive edit that includes line-by-line corrections and suggestions, generous comments in the margins, and an accompanying overall critique.

Not sure? Your sample pages will help me help you decide what you need. Let me know what your goals are, and together we’ll tailor an edit that meets your individual expectations.

Here’s a link to an article about the different levels of editing and how to choose an editor. https://www.janefriedman.com/comprehensive-guide-to-finding-working-with-editors/

How to submit a manuscript     

Please format your manuscript or sample as follows:

• Double-spaced copy

• Numbered pages

• Saved as a Word document

If you have a plot synopsis of your work, send that along too, as it’s often helpful in the editing process. If you would prefer that I edit on hard copy rather than digitally, let me know. I can print out your manuscript on my end for a small fee ($15) in order to save postage one way. I do ask that you pay postage for the return of the edited manuscript.