Greetings!
I’m a freelance fiction editor based in the Pacific Northwest. I specialize in fantasy, soft science fiction, and other speculative genres, and I'm particularly drawn to working with indie and self-publishing authors. While fiction is my primary interest, I have experience with non-fiction work and can be tempted with gaming-related material. I offer line editing, copy editing, and developmental services.
Developmental editing focuses on story fundamentals – plot and pacing, cast and characterization, setting, theme, and messaging. If your draft is complete and you're ready to revise, request developmental editing to gain clarity and direction.
Line editing focuses on passage-level craft – rhythm, coherency, atmosphere, and tone. If your story has received plot-focused revision and its structure is solid, request line editing to hone your prose.
Copy editing focuses on the mechanics of writing – grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style. If your book’s developmental and line editing are both complete, request a copy edit to catch errors that could trip your readers.
Developmental editing focuses on the foundational elements of a story – the structure of its plot, the dynamics of its characters, the nature of its setting, and how well each of these aligns with the story you want to be telling. Whether you're working with a fresh first draft or a story you've been trying to untangle for some time, professional developmental editing can provide clarity and insight to guide your revision process.I provide two levels of developmental editing – manuscript assessments and full developmental edits. During our pre-edit consultation, we'll discuss the differences to make sure you select the service that suits your needs best.
A full developmental edit comprises an intensive review of your manuscript, involving both broad and focused forms of feedback on your story's foundational elements. If you're looking for extensive analysis and highly targeted recommendations to guide you through your revision process, this type of edit may be the best choice for you.A full developmental edit includes the following:
A pre-edit consultation to discuss your story, your vision, and your editorial needs
Use of sidebar comments to provide targeted observations and recommendations regarding particular areas of your manuscript
An editorial letter providing comprehensive feedback on your story’s plot, pacing, characters, and worldbuilding, strengths and areas for improvement, the general state of the dialogue and narration, and recommended next steps for revision
A follow-up consultation (asynchronous or in real time) to allow you to ask questions and discuss possibilities
No direct changes will be made to your manuscript. While the letter and sidebar comments will include suggestions and prompts, the revisions and rewrites will be yours to make.
A manuscript assessment comprises a somewhat lighter level of editorial feedback, but it covers the same focus areas as a full developmental edit. If you're on a tighter timeline or a stricter budget, but still want comprehensive and professional editorial feedback, a manuscript assessment may be the service for you.A manuscript edit includes the following:
A pre-edit consultation to discuss your story, your vision, and your editorial needs
An editorial letter providing comprehensive feedback on your story’s plot, pacing, characters, and worldbuilding, strengths and areas for improvement, the general state of the dialogue and narration, and recommended next steps for revision
A follow-up consultation (asynchronous or in real time) to allow you to ask questions and discuss possibilities
No direct changes will be made to your manuscript. While the editorial letter will include some suggestions and prompts, the revisions and rewrites will be yours to make.
I charge project fees based on your manuscript's total wordcount and specific needs – please contact me to schedule a consultation for your project. As a rule, you can expect to pay between $0.03 and $0.04 per word for developmental editing or between $0.02 and $0.03 for a manuscript assessment, with minimum prices of $600 (for developmental editing) or $450 (for manuscript assessment) for manuscripts under 20,000 words.
Limitations
Neither a manuscript assessment nor a full developmental edit will target mechanical issues such as typos, grammatical errors, or inconsistent formatting. They also don't constitute line-by-line reviews of the prose, though a developmental edit will include some targeted feedback on specific passages. After your structural editing and revisions are complete, consider line editing for passage-level feedback and improvements and then copy editing for mechanical error correction.
When the structure of your story is set and solid, your manuscript is ready for line editing to ensure powerful and effective prose.Line editing focuses on passage-level craft – the rhythm of sentences and paragraphs, the coherency of action and narration, and the tone and atmosphere of dialog and description. Through a combination of direct changes and in-line comments, a line edit will hone your writing into a more effective version of itself – while preserving your voice and intent.A line edit includes:
An editorial letter summarizing the changes made and providing an overview of observations and recommendations
Direct changes to sentences and paragraphs with a focus on rhythm, flow, atmosphere, and consistency
Sidebar comments to explain certain changes, offer additional alternatives, and/or make recommendations for more extensive rewrites
A style sheet recording special terms and stylistic conventions relevant to your manuscript
A post-edit follow-up consultation
All changes will be marked using track changes mode so that you can review and approve – or reject – each one.I charge a project fee based on your manuscript's total wordcount and specific needs – please contact me to request a sample edit and receive a quote. As a rule, you can expect my line editing fees to fall between $0.02 and $0.03 per word, with a minimum price of $400 for manuscripts under 20,000 words.
Limitations
I will correct errors of grammar, spelling, and punctuation that I spot along the way. However, mechanical edits aren't the focus of line editing, and any rewrites made on the basis of my suggestions may introduce new errors. This should not be considered a copy edit or final proofread.My comments will touch on the coherency of action and dialogue, as well as how characters come across on the page. However, a line edit does not focus on the structural elements of plot, pacing, character dynamics, or overall worldbuilding. If your story is fresh out of drafting and you want comprehensive feedback on its structural fundamentals, I strongly recommend working with a developmental editor or multiple beta readers before purchasing later stages of editing.
When your plot is set, your prose is honed, and no further rewrites are planned, your manuscript is ready for copy editing to catch lingering errors and inconsistencies that could pull readers out of your story.Copy editing focuses on the mechanics of your writing – grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style – and the clarity and coherency of paragraphs and sentences. In a copy edit, I will comb through your manuscript to find and correct typos and errors while preserving your original wording as closely as possible.A copy edit includes:
An editorial letter summarizing the changes made in broad strokes
Direct changes to sentences and paragraphs with a focus on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and stylistic consistency
Limited sidebar comments to explain certain changes, offer additional alternatives, and/or flag areas where your attention is needed
A style sheet recording special terms and stylistic conventions relevant to your manuscript
All changes will be marked using track changes mode so that you can review and approve – or reject – each one.I charge a project fee based on your manuscript's total word count and specific needs – please contact me to request a sample edit and receive a quote. As a rule, you can expect my copy editing fees to fall between $0.015 and $0.025 per word, with a minimum price of $375 for manuscripts under 20,000 words.
Limitations
While my comments may include some notes on the craft of a given passage, a copy edit does not focus on the artistic side of prose or the structural elements of story and characterization. If you're looking for a professional review of your writing's tone, flow, and atmosphere, consider line editing.If your story is fresh out of drafting and you want to ensure its plot and characters are at their best, I strongly recommend working with a developmental editor or multiple beta readers before purchasing later stages of editing.
Do you offer free samples?
Yes! Before any and every potential editing project, you'll send me a sample of the manuscript and receive a preview of my work.If you're ordering line or copy editing, I will return an edited version of the sample featuring direct changes and sidebar comments so that you can evaluate my editing style. These samples are pretty representative, but the sample edit process for developmental services is a little trickier. While I will send a sample form of my editorial letter based on your excerpt, it's impossible to accurately represent full-manuscript feedback in preview form. Our pre-edit consultation will include more discussion on what to expect.
Do you offer free consultations?
Yes! In addition to communicating through email, you can schedule a free pre-edit consultation to discuss your project and my services, and my line editing and developmental services include post-edit consultations as well.Pre-edit consultations are optional when you're ordering line or copy editing, but for developmental services, they're a necessary part of the process. I conduct real-time consultations over Microsoft Teams.
What if voice/video chat doesn't work for me?
If needed, real-time consultations can be replaced by text-based questionnaires. We can discuss what works best for you via email.
How much do you charge?
I charge project fees based on your manuscript's total word count and editorial needs. You'll receive a quote for the total price of your edit after I've worked through your manuscript sample, along with adjustment terms if applicable (such as if you don't yet know what your precise word count will be).I offer same-manuscript discounts when you return for subsequent rounds or levels of editing on a manuscript I've edited before.
What is your turnaround time?
This depends on the manuscript, the type of editing you've chosen, and my workload. When I've reviewed and edited your sample, I will give you an estimated turnaround time alongside your quote. The completion date will be determined when we schedule a start date for your project.
How do I schedule editing with you?
If you think we might be a good match, please contact me with some details about your project, what type of editing you’re interested in, and any questions or particular needs you have. I’ll get back to you shortly with info, questions, and my upcoming availability.If I think I’ll be able to take on the project, we’ll set up a sample edit, which will come back to you with a price quote and an estimated turn-around time. Once everything is settled to our mutual satisfaction, we’ll sign a contract and schedule a start date, and you’ll pay a deposit to hold the spot on my schedule.
Do you guarantee an error-free manuscript?
No – and neither will any other experienced editor who’s being truthful with you. I aim to achieve the industry standard of 95% error correction; there is always something that slips through.Please note that I correct errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. I do not offer fact-checking as part of my editing services.
What is your payment policy?
I accept payment through PayPal in two 50% payments. The first payment functions as a deposit to hold your place on my schedule and is due when when we sign our contract. The second payment is due on project completion. I will send your deliverables after the second payment is made.Returning clients with good payment history can elect to pay in 33% installments – one due as a deposit when we sign the contract, one due on project completion prior to delivery, and one due within 15 days after delivery.
What if I need to cancel?
If you cancel the project 30 days or more before the scheduled start date, I will refund your deposit in full. If you cancel less than 30 days before the scheduled start date, your deposit will not be refunded – however, you can instead reschedule the project (once) for a later date within 30 days at no extra charge.
What is your AI policy?
I do not use AI tools such as Grammarly, ProWritingAid, or ChatGPT in my editing work. I also do not accept AI-generated manuscripts.
What genres do you edit?
I specialize in fantasy, soft sci-fi, and superhero fiction (in no particular order) and am open to a number of sub-genres; I am also interested in mysteries, whether they include speculative elements or not. I tend to prefer stories that emphasize themes of hope, altruism, redemption, or enemies-to-friends narratives, and I’m partial to social intrigue and ancient mysteries, ruins, and artifacts.
Do you edit non-fiction?
While I have experience with non-fiction work, I focus on fiction these days. I can be tempted with gaming-related articles and tutorials and/or TTRPG materials.
Are there genres you won't edit?
I don’t accept erotica or high-heat romance, grimdark fiction, or horror.
Is there content you won't work with?
I avoid direct depictions of abuse (including of animals), torture, and sexual violence. As a rule, I also avoid graphic sex scenes. If your story contains such content, I recommend seeking another editor. If such content is more obliquely referred to in your story, or if you aren’t sure whether any of your content qualifies, please raise this when you make your inquiry so that we can discuss it.
To inquire about my services and availability, set up a sample edit or consultation, or ask any general questions you have, please use the contact form below. If you’re interested in editing services, please be sure to include the following information:
The type of editing in which you’re interested
Your manuscript’s title, genre, and total wordcount
A short plot summary
Any known deadlines, such as a fixed publishing date, if applicable
Any potential content concerns
I look forward to hearing from you!