Laura offers editing services based on her experience as a novelist and journalist. She has written 25 novels for adults, teens and young children. Prior to her fiction writing career, she wrote newspaper and magazine articles, corporate and government documents, and web and advertising copy. She also wrote and produced radio documentaries for national and international audiences. Laura recognizes the value and importance of editorial input, on a broad scale as well as a small one. The rates quoted below apply to novel-length fiction. Laura does not normally edit picture books or short chapter books, though occasionally exceptions are made. In those cases, a minimum charge of $100 will apply.
SERVICES & RATES
Developmental or Substantive Editing
This is big-picture editing designed to give you a detailed evaluation of your novel. The overall story arc is assessed. Areas addressed include story structure, character development, conflict, plot and pacing. You’ll receive an editorial report on the manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses as well as suggestions for improvements. Developmental editing does not include feedback on grammar, punctuation, spelling or typos. However, Laura may sometimes make notes on those issues.
Rate: .007 per word, using computer word count before editing begins ($7.00 for 1,000 words or roughly $1.75 per page).
Copyediting
This is a review and refinement of what you’ve written. Continuity and logic are checked; grammar, spelling and punctuation issues are addressed; and rhythm, word repetition and sentence structure are reviewed. Though significant content issues are not addressed during a copy edit, Laura will sometimes comment on plot holes or inconsistencies.
Rate: .008 per word, using computer word count before editing begins ($8.00 for 1,000 words or roughly $2.00 per page).
Proofreading
The final step before publishing your novel, proofreading includes one last check to correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar and typos. Duplicate words are flagged, as are minor formatting issues. Content issues such as plot holes or story inconsistencies are not addressed.
Rate: .006 per word, using computer word count before editing begins ($6.00 for 1,000 words or roughly $1.50 per page).
How it Works
Contact Laura and let her know what you’re looking for, the genre of your novel and the approximate word count. She’ll ask for three pages of your manuscript in order to provide you with a sample edit and quote. Once you agree to work together, Laura will give you an estimated time for completion. At that time, a 50% deposit is required to hold your date. The balance of the payment is due upon receipt of the edited manuscript.
Editing is based on the Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. Comments are made in Microsoft Word using the Track Changes and Comments feature.