I offer the following editing services to writers of novels, short stories, and non-fiction books. Click on the links below to learn more about each type.
Developmental Editing (includes information on a plot review)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How far in advance should I contact an editor?
For book length projects, I recommend you contact them at least a month or two in advance and ask them to reserve you a space in a given month. Although an editor may be able to work some magic and fit you in on short notice, you shouldn’t count on this. It’s a terrible thing to find an editor you want to work with and be turned away because they’re already overbooked.
Is the order of the edits really that important?
In an ideal world, you’d have a developmental edit, then a line edit, then a copy edit, then a proofread. Few of us have the time or money to do it that way.
The important part is that you keep things in order. It doesn’t make any sense to have a copy edit done before a developmental edit if the developmental edit turns up huge structural flaws that require rewriting multiple scenes.
Do you absolutely need to go through every level of editing?
Yes. Poorly edited books make us all look bad, and reviewers routinely rip writers apart for editing issues.
Do you have to hire someone to do every level of editing?
No.
If you have a solid grasp on grammar and punctuation and a great eye for details, you might be able to do your own copy edit and proofread. That said, I strongly recommend you have someone else (who isn’t your mom or your spouse) look over your book before you publish it. Even though I edit as part of my job, I still need a fresh set of eyes before my book goes out. If you can’t afford to pay for an edit, swap with a qualified friend. Do something to get your book looked at by eyes other than your own.