Editing

Editorial Services

I am a freelance editor. My goal is to help you polish your book, article, or short story into the best, professional work it can be.

Editing Experience

Types of Editorial Services & Rates

  • Content Editing ($.01/word, or $2.50 per 250 words) — looking at the big picture: plot, pacing, characterization, tension; non-fiction: Is your work well-structured/organized? Are there any non-essential arguments or sections that are distracting from the main point? Are your arguments and conclusion well-supported?
  • Line Editing ($.008/word, or $2 per 250 words) — refining and polishing the author’s voice and style by sharpening descriptions and explanations; controlling proportion; eliminating strained literary effect; giving dialogue more snap and bite; trimming, condensing, and cutting to improve pace, avoid repetition, and eliminate unhelpful digressions.
  • Copyediting ($.006/word, or $1.50 per 250 words) — proofreading, plus editing for clarity, format, syntax, obvious factual errors, continuity, adherence to specific style guides such as the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS).
  • Proofreading ($.004/word, or $1 per 250 words) — a final check of the pure mechanics: correcting spelling, grammar, word usage, punctuation, typographical errors, etc.
$10 minimum, regardless of word count/page length. Particularly difficult projects that require more editorial work than normal may necessitate a higher rate than listed above; I will let you know in advance and we can negotiate something to our mutual agreement.

Genres

  • Fiction
    • Science Fiction
    • Fantasy
      • Epic Fantasy
      • Sword & Sorcery
  • Non-Fiction (Academic and Popular)
    • Libertarian Politics
    • Philosophy
    • Austrian Economics

Other Things You Ought to Know

  • I generally work in Microsoft Office 2010, using Track Changes. I can also work in Google Docs/Drive. And I can share files via Dropbox or Google Drive.
  • I expect payment upfront, and am always willing to perform a sample edit for longer works.
  • I prefer to be paid via Dwolla (better transaction fees), but PayPal is acceptable.
  • I use Merriam-Webster‘s dictionary (online) as my primary source for spelling and word usage. For style, if you don’t provide your own style sheet, I’ll default to the formality of the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS). When editing fiction, of course, I will not attempt to apply CMS too rigorously and will do my best to distinguish the author’s personal style from unintended errors; and the author always has the prerogative to decline suggested changes.
  • Per publishing industry standards, a page refers to a double-spaced sheet of paper with one-inch margins all around — and an average of 250 words per page.

Contact me for further details, to ask questions, and to book a spot on my calendar.