BOOK EDITING SERVICES

Professional feedback on the strengths and needs of your fiction manuscript, poetry collection, or children's picture book.

Editing services, prices, and turnaround times are subject to change.

Note: I charge less than most professional editors because my turnaround time is longer due to health reasons.

For a look at what most professional editors charge, see https://www.the-efa.org/rates/ .

FOR NOVELS AND LONG FICTION:

Free Sample Edits and Consultation

Try out my editing services to decide if we're a good fit!

Get a free half-hour consultation via your choice of phone call, FaceTime, text message, email, or Zoom.
For all editing services except line editing, poetry, and picture books:
- First 1,000 words of your manuscript free. (Sensitivity/Accuracy reads may use 1000 words from elsewhere in their manuscript.)
For line editing: First 500 words of your manuscript free.
For poetry: 100 words free.
For children’s picture book: an additional free half-hour consultation (2 max) following a free read through of your manuscript.

Complimentary Book Services (optional)

With purchase of any editing or book service:

Free email consultations for four weeks after the author receives deliverables.

With purchase of a Full Developmental Edit or Line Edit:

Free email consultations for three months after the author receives deliverables.
Two free one-hour consultations via your choice of phone call, FaceTime, text message, email, or Zoom. (It is advised that one be used prior to the start of editing and one be used after.)

Discounts

Second or subsequent passes on a manuscript for full developmental editing or line editing, after changes are implemented from the first pass: 25% off.
Second or additional service for the same manuscript: 25% off.
Donors to the Hands Off Uhuru campaign (HandsOffUhuru.Org): 25% off.
Members of Uhuru Solidarity Movement: 25% off.
Donors to Palestinian fundraisers: 25% off.

Manuscript Critique

Includes feedback on:

"Big picture" aspects of your manuscript, such as: story structure, plot cohesion, story clarity, character voice, character arcs, themes, and narrative voice.

What you'll receive, after one careful read through:

Sidebar comments with specific feedback and reactions.
An editorial letter of about 5 pages, double spaced, with feedback on the overall manuscript and suggested next steps.

PRICE: $0.007 USD per word (Ex. 80,000 word novel = $560 USD).

TURNAROUND TIME: One week per 20,000 words (Ex. 80,0000 word novel = 4 weeks).

PAYMENT PLAN: (unless otherwise negotiated) 10% to book, 40% on editor’s start date, 50% at author’s receipt of deliverables.

Full Developmental Edit

Includes in-depth feedback on:

Plot & Story Structure
Pacing
Voice & Style
Characterization and Character Voice
Character Arcs
Themes, Imagery, and Symbolism
Sensitivity and Accuracy: any big picture recommendations and concerns
Content or Trigger Warnings: any big picture recommendations and concerns
Age-Appropriateness (mainly for YA and MG)
Any major issues regarding historical accuracy and setting (for some historical or historically-inspired fiction)
and more!

What you'll receive, after about two read throughs:

Detailed sidebar comments with narrative and character feedback.
An in-depth editorial letter, double spaced, with feedback on the overall manuscript, along with suggested next steps.

COST: $0.014 USD per word (Ex. 80,000 word novel = $1120 USD).

TURNAROUND TIME: One week per 10,000 words (Ex. 80,000 word novel = 8 weeks).

PAYMENT PLAN: (unless otherwise negotiated) 10% to book, 40% on editor’s start date, 50% at author’s receipt of deliverables.

Line Edit (includes a light copy edit)

Only manuscripts that have received developmental editing by myself or another editor will be accepted.

Includes feedback on:

Sentence clarity
Word choice
Readability
Artistic and narrative impact
Emotional impact
Narrative and description continuity
Consistency and distinction of character voices and mannerisms
Pointing out any major issues regarding potentially offensive or inadvertently harmful word choices
Age-appropriate word choice (mainly for YA and MG)
Some minor feedback regarding major spelling and grammatical errors (i.e. a light copyedit)
Any major issues regarding period-appropriate language or logistics (for some historical or historically-inspired fiction)

What you'll receive:

Sidebar comments with narrative and artistic feedback on the sentence-by-sentence level.
An editorial letter, double spaced, with feedback on the overall prose and dialogue, with suggested next steps.
Mini style sheet for your copyeditor or proofreader.

Note: this service does NOT include:

Thorough copyediting or proofreading, aka comprehensive feedback on spelling, grammar, or sentence structure.
Historical consulting or accuracy reading.
Ghostwriting or in-text changes.

COST: $0.014 USD per word (Ex. 80,000 word novel = $1120 USD).

TURNAROUND TIME: One week per 5,000 words (Ex. 80,000 word novel = 16 weeks).

PAYMENT PLAN: (unless otherwise negotiated) 10% to book, 40% on editor’s start date, 50% at author’s receipt of deliverables.

Accuracy / Sensitivity Reading

Includes sensitivity feedback on any or all of the following representation:

queer and trans identities, ADHD, Autistic, walker use, cane use, chronic illness, and various representations of abuse, trauma, and mental health. Inquire for more info about specific representation and your manuscript's needs.

What you'll receive after one careful read through:

Sidebar comments.
An editorial letter of 1-2 pages minimum, double spaced, with feedback on the representation, what it got right, how to improve it, and suggested next steps.
A list of any relevant resources, such as books, websites, interviews, videos, etc.
Recommended content/trigger warnings.

COST: $0.0035 USD per word (Ex. 80,000 word novel = $280 USD).

TURNAROUND TIME: One week per 20,000 words (Ex. 80,0000 word novel = 4 weeks).

PAYMENT PLAN: (unless otherwise negotiated) $25 USD to book, the remaining amount at author’s receipt of deliverables.

Professional Beta Read or Alpha Read

For books in the pre-developmental editing stage that need basic feedback from a reader’s point-of-view. Attention will be given to entertainment value, catching any glaring issues regarding plot, pacing, and character arcs, and any unintentional problematic content.

What you'll receive after one read through:

Sidebar comments with live reactions.
A short letter of final thoughts on the manuscript.

COST: $0.0025 USD (Ex. 80,000 word novel = $200 USD).

TURNAROUND TIME: One week per 20,000 words (Ex. 80,000 word novel = four weeks).

PAYMENT PLAN: (unless otherwise negotiated) $25 USD to book, the remaining amount at author’s receipt of deliverables.

FOR SHORT FICTION AND POETRY:

Edit for a Poetry Collection (approx. 5000-7000 words)

Two rounds of edits.
Developmental edits, including poem order.
Line edits, including a light copy edit.

COST: $0.05 USD per word (Ex. 5000 poetry collection = $250 USD).

TURNAROUND TIME: approx. 4 weeks per editing round.

PAYMENT PLAN: (unless otherwise negotiated) $25 USD to book, the remaining amount at author’s receipt of deliverables.

Edit for Individual Poems, Short Stories, or Short Fiction

Two rounds of edits.
Developmental and line edits, including a light copy edit.

COST: $0.06 USD per word ($5 USD minimum) (ex. 250 word poem = $15 USD)

TURNAROUND TIME: approx. 1-3 days per 250 words, per editing round.

PAYMENT PLAN: (unless otherwise negotiated) Total amount upfront.

Edit for a Children's Picture Book (approx. 1000 words)

Two rounds of edits.
Developmental and line edit, including a light copy edit.

COST: $100 USD flat rate.

TURNAROUND TIME: approx. one week per editing round.

PAYMENT PLAN: (unless otherwise negotiated) $50 USD upfront, $50 USD at author’s receipt of deliverables.