Developmental Edit (Step 1)
You could use a hand melding the body of work you’ve created into one fluid piece of writing. I will help organize your story to be engaging to readers, tightening up plot lines and making technical suggestions. I will research best practices for your specific micro-genre or topic, applying current usage to your work, while meticulously maintaining your unique voice.
Line Edit (Step 2)
A line edit focuses on creative content, language use, and writing style with regard to the overall delivery of your story. This is an edit which looks at each line and paragraph as it pertains to the big picture. Are your characters consistent in their behaviors and attitudes? Is your sense of place and time clear and easy to follow? Does your timeline flow smoothly, or are there gaps which may cause the reader to stumble—pulling their attention from the story?
Which type of edit does your manuscript need?
You have book-length content already written, but are unsure how to fit all the parts together to be fluid and engaging. (1)
You are confident that your story is as you want it to be, but want to be certain that it reads to others like you hear it in your heart. (2)
Your story has syntax and flow, but punctuation lacks professional consistency. (2)
Your story is all dressed up and ready to go out, but oh—wait, is that toothpaste on your tie? Detail catching. (3)
Here is a brief description of the basic stages of editing. Your book may need all of these, or maybe just a couple.
Copy Edit (Step 2)
This type of edit is looking thoroughly at the technical nuts and bolts on your pages, as defined by current industry standards. This is where we delve into fact checking and discrepancies in the working details of your story, as well as issues with spelling, punctuation, syntax, and grammar. When I return your manuscript, you can feel confident in passing it on to a publisher or final proofreader, if self-publishing.
Proofread (Step 3)
All you need is a final pair of eyes to snag those last sneaky errors before publishing. This type of edit does not include correction of word choice, syntax, fluidity, consistency, or fact checking, which should be addressed before this level.
Pricing
Developmental Edit: $60/hour. Creating a solid story from your rough draft. (1)
Combined Line/Copy Edit (my specialty): $.025/word (minimum $50). Fine-tuning the details of your story, AND the details on your pages. (2)
Proofread: $.015/word (minimum $50). Combing your final product in preparation for publishing. (3)