Services
Line editing
Once I send everything back to you, we can schedule a one hour chat to talk about the edits, your goals, and potential next steps over phone, video, or chat.
If you decide to do some rewriting, we can also talk about doing a second, focused round of edits. This is billed in addition to the main edit, but only for the sections you want me to look at, so we can make sure that everything fits together seamlessly at an affordable price.
A detailed, line by line look at the sound of your writing, the way it moves and flows.
This edit is ideal once you are satisfied with the structure of your story and all major rewrites have been completed. You've probably tweaked the same paragraphs a thousand times and are sick of looking at them.
What I'll do
I'll focus on the readability of your story, which includes things like engaging imagery, dialogue that rings true, your personal style, narrative voice, scene pacing, maintaining point of view, and lots more!
Most of the magic happens though in-line edits. I use a tracking feature that lets you see exactly what edits I've made and choose to accept each change or leave your work as-is. You'll also see lots of comments in the margins. Some are my reader reactions—something that made me laugh, or panic for a favorite character's life—but most are explanations of more complex edits, questions about the text, or quick notes to help you notice patterns.
Once I'm finished, I write a detailed letter to help you digest everything. As part of my focus on building your skills, I identify the three or so points of craft that I think will be the most beneficial for you to focus on for growth. I'll teach you how to find them on your own, how they affect your writing, and how to make them stronger. The goal here is that you'll not only leave with a better manuscript, but with the tools in your pocket to reach that higher level in your next story too!
What happens next
Copyediting
A careful comb-through to correct grammar, punctuation, and small-detail inconsistencies.
This edit is ideal once you are satisfied with your draft and ready for a clean polish. The words on the page are just about how you want them. Now you want this thing to look top-notch for readers and publishers.
What I'll do
I'll focus on the tiny, gritty details that spellcheck won't catch, including alternative spellings, consistent punctuation choices, character and world detail inconsistencies, and any major slips in clarity or flow.
I edit using a tracking feature that lets you see exactly what edits I've made and choose to accept each change or leave your work as-is. I'll also leave comments in the margins to ask questions, explain more complex edits, and highlight certain patterns for you to be aware of.
Once I'm finished, I send you two things along with the edited manuscript: a style sheet, which tracks all the changes I made for consistency (for example, using therefore, Oxford comma, main character has green eyes), and a digestible letter sharing my observations on any habitual errors, plus guidance on how to find, fix, and avoid them in the future. This way, you have the tools on hand to write cleaner drafts in the future, before ever paying someone to run that specialized check.
I offer two levels of copyediting
to fit your goals and budget
Light copyedit
This covers all the essentials: correct and consistent spelling, grammar, and punctuation, a close check of character and world details, and flagging any distracting slips in clarity or flow.
I ask myself things like, Are you using therefor or therefore? Rolling with the Oxford comma or without it? What color are your character's eyes? Because unless there's some fun magic or science going on, your protagonist shouldn't have hazel eyes on page seven and green on page ninety-three.
Something else spellcheck can't do that I will—bring your text in line with the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style, a hefty volume that most fiction publishers follow to agree on usage. It's what makes a fiction text look like fiction, rather than, say, a newspaper article.
Heavy copyedit
This covers everything that a light copyedit does, plus I'll smooth out the most distracting slips in voice and style, those instances where your writing falls flat or loses its shine.
This isn't as thorough as a line edit, but can help clean up your narration if you're opting out of a professional line edit, giving you an option to help balance cost and quality.
If you're confident in your craft skills, or prioritizing getting your work out there and looking clean over shooting for sales, this could be the way to go.
If you've already gotten a professional line edit, then a light copyedit should do the trick!
Aro/ace authenticity reads
A full read of your story with feedback on asexual and/or aromantic representation.
If your story has explicitly asexual or aromantic characters, or characters who don't engage in romantic or sexual relationships where that might be expected, an authenticity read is an important way to make sure that you portray this group of people true-to-life, without inadvertently causing any harm.
What I'll do
I'll read you entire story with a specific focus on aromantic and/or asexual coded material. I'll make notes in the margins to highlight what you've got spot on and what you may want to revise for accurate representation or to avoid accidental stereotyping. The goal here is to help you connect with readers who will see themselves in your work, and to help you show the world who aro- and ace-spec people (like me!) really are amidst so much media inaccuracy.
Signs you may want an aroace authenticity read
Characters who are explicitly aromantic and/or asexual
Characters who don't engage in romantic and/or sexual relationships because of lack of interest, fear, trauma, or social oblivion
"Cold-hearted" villains or geniuses
Non-human characters, like robots, aliens, spirits, etc who engage in interpersonal relationships outside of sex and romance
"Late bloomers" or characters who don't show romantic or sexual interest in anyone until late in the story
Characters who "discover" their romantic or sexual desires after engaging in sex or romance with another person
Persistent suitors who "just want a chance" to make an uninterested character fall for them
Characters in queerplatonic relationships, or relationships that don't quite fit into platonic or romantic boxes
Villain redemption arcs fueled by romantic love
Note that I'm open to read a far wider field of genres for authenticity reads than listed for line and copy editing.
Rates
I factor most of my billing using a weighted blend of per-word and hourly rates, adhering to industry standards.
Every project is different, and getting a sample edit is the best way to get an idea of how much yours might cost, plus to see how we mesh.
That being said, here are some general estimates to get you started:
Line Editing
Light Copyedit
Heavy copyedit
Authenticity Read
around $150 per 10,000 words
around $115 per 10,000 words
varies by project
$0.005 per word
Genres
Literary and speculative fiction are my specialties, especially real-world adjacent stories. I love variety, but magical realism has got to be my favorite. Give me the real world with a unique twist any day! Also dying for some aro-ace spec stories.
Low fantasy
Soft sci-fi
Magical realism
Steampunk
Urban fantasy
Heist stories
Genres outside my zone include horror, erotica, romance/romantasy, and religious, although I will do aro/ace authenticity reads for most of these.
I'm a low spice kind of editor. On-page sex and romance-heavy plots are a no-go for me, although a little in small doses is okay.
Get in touch through my Contact page to see if we're a good fit!
