"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." —Scott Adams, Dilbert
Not everyone wants or needs the same level of editing. And while anyone with a good eye, impeccable spelling, and an excellent grasp of grammar and punctuation rules can copyedit a fiction manuscript, it takes an artist to polish a novel from a rough stone into a fine gem. I am that artist. Through years of practice and a natural talent, I have mastered the art of line editing, and I have a special flair for fiction. Whether your novel needs just a few minor adjustments or a major overhaul, I can help—without changing YOUR unique voice.
Fees (Priced according to the number of words you send me):
surface editing—Sometimes mistakenly called proofreading, this means correcting simple grammatical and spelling errors, plus adding the occasional comment or query for clarification.
• Up to 100,000 words = 1¢ per word
• 100,001 and over = 1.5¢ per word
copyediting—This process includes the above, plus minor sentence revision, vocabulary/tone adjustments, simple sentence or paragraph reorganization.
• Up to 100,000 words = 1.5¢ per word
• 100,001 and over = 2¢ per word
line/substantive editing—This includes all the above, plus major enhancements in tone, organization, and content. Warning: Prima donnas should NOT request this level of editing. These fees are estimates only until I can evaluate the actual manuscript.
• Up to 100,000 words = 2¢–3¢ per word
• 100,001 and over = 3¢–5¢ per word
You finally started working on that novel* you've always wanted to write. Now you're reading through your manuscript and wondering if it's any good—or as good as it can be. Now what?If you just want someone who will tell you what a wonderful job you've done, you can show it to your mom or your best friend from high school.
But if you're serious about your writing, you don't need opinions, you need a critique—an expert evaluation that tells you what works and what doesn't, and some pointers on ways you can improve your book.
If you have a finished book (or a half-finished manuscript and a complete outline or synopsis), I can provide a thorough critique with expert commentary on the elements of style: point of view, voice, plot, character development, pace, tone, diction…and more. Price includes a sample edit of any 5 pages (your choice).
Fee: Priced according to the number of words you send me:
• Up to 50,000 words = 1¢ per word
• 50,001 to 75,000 words = 1.5¢ per word
• 75,001 to 100,000 = 2¢ per word
• 100,001 and over = 2.5¢ per word
*I critique non-fiction manuscripts, too. Email for a quote.
COMING SOON: Expected Release Date February 2012
When New Hampshire-based freelance travel writer Katherine “Kit” McCormick reviews her own life, she gives it just three stars out of five. A freak car accident catapults Kit out of her complacency straight into the middle of a grisly murder case. Real estate mogul Robert Shawn winds up dead in her office, and as his wife’s former lover, Kit makes the shortlist of suspects—and becomes the next target. Kit finds herself drawn deeper into the intrigue, and into the arms of rookie Detective Kasey Chakarian. Together they try to unravel the complicated knot of corruption, illicit liaisons, and shameful secrets, where every clue leads to further entanglements, and Kit is trapped in the killer’s deadly web.