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Do you plan to self-publish your book? Then you want your book to be as perfect as it can be before it gets into the hands of your future fans. There’s nothing like a couple of reviews that mention grammar errors, typos, or a slow-moving plot to turn off potential readers.

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Do you plan to submit your manuscript to an agent or publisher? If so, you need your book to stand out from the pile of hopefuls that comes across their desks every day. While publishers do typically provide editing for manuscripts they've accepted, numerous typos and grammar errors give them one more reason to set your manuscript aside before they've decided to take a chance on it. And if your story doesn't grab them in the first few pages, you won't have a second chance. A good book editor helps you put your best foot forward in this competitive field.

Why Pay for a Professional Edit?

 

Many authors try to edit their own work or give it to a friend or relative to look over. Having friends or fellow authors read your book and give you feedback is a great idea. They can let you know if your story hooks them, and if they feel drawn to your characters. But they don't have experience in plot pacing, dialogue, and point of view. They haven't been trained to find those little errors that are so easy to miss. And they probably aren’t grammar and punctuation experts. (I don’t understand it, but apparently not everyone gets a thrill out of reading a new grammar book.) And because they know and like you, they may not be completely objective in their critique of your work.

 

Editing your manuscript is even harder for you than for your friends. You are so close to the work that your mind just fills in the gaps and slides over the errors. While it is very important for you to make your manuscript the best you can before giving it to an editor, there comes a point when you need an objective, fresh set of eyes to take your book to the next level.

 

That’s where I come in! I will go through your manuscript line by line, word by word. Depending on the type of edit you hire me for, I will guide you through big-picture story issues (such as plot pacing, character development, and point of view), help you craft smooth and clear sentences, or find the grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors that could pull your future readers out of your story. I will always point out areas where a reader might get confused or where a transition might be awkward and work with you to find the best way to get your message across.

 

Many people think of book editors as cranky people with red pens ready to jump all over that misplaced comma. Nothing could be further from the truth! As your editor, I am not here to scold you but rather to support and assist you. A good book editor doesn’t take over a manuscript; they help the author to say exactly what they wanted to say, as clearly as possible. I became an editor because I love books and the people who write them. I would love to be your partner as you bring your stories to the world.

 

Use the Contact page to get in touch with me, and let's talk about how I can help you with your next project.