Editing Services
COPYEDITING
Copyediting is proofreading intensified. This includes checking a work for issues involving grammar, punctuation, spelling, and general clarity. It may also include fixing awkward sentence construction and basic fact checking.
Copyediting may be light or heavy, depending on the state of the manuscript and the needs of the author. (Heavy copyediting is sometimes referred to as "line editing" because the editor goes through the manuscript sentence by sentence, carefully weighing each word and punctuation mark.)
Please note that Bethany now offers this service only for short projects, not full-length books.
Content or Full Manuscript Editing
Content editing (sometimes known as "structural" or "full manuscript editing") looks at the work as a whole. In a novel, this might mean making sure the plot is well paced or that a secondary character's story arc isn't forgotten—anything that makes the book better as a complete work. In an informational text, this means making sure that each chapter has a clear focus and that the chapters are arranged so that they build on each other.
Many clients purchase content editing along with in-depth copyediting, but authors who plan to make major revisions may prefer content editing without copyediting.
Please note that Bethany now offers this service only for short projects, not full-length books.
MANUSCRIPT Evaluation
Unlike content editing, most manuscript evaluations do not include edits and comments within the text. Instead, I will write up a report on the overall manuscript: structure, characters, reader expectations for the genre, and marketability.
(Because marketability is a significant part of a manuscript evaluation and the market expectations for different genres are constantly changing, I may decline a manuscript evaluation job if I don't feel that I understand the current market for its genre well enough.)
Pricing
Prices vary depending on the manuscript, the needs of the author, and the deadline. Copyediting usually costs less than content editing. A manuscript might cost between $3 to $35 per page, depending on the needs of the author (and some will cost less, and some, more). Rush jobs generally cost a little extra.
So how do you figure out how much your manuscript will cost to edit?
Request a free sample edit and get a cost estimate.
Not sure what kind of editing you are looking for? With your sample edit, I can give you my recommendation for your manuscript, as well as cost estimates for different types of editing, so that you can choose what works best for you.
My goal is to give your work the best edit possible within your budget.
Types of Work Accepted
As a reader and an editor, I am familiar with multiple genres, in both fiction and nonfiction, as well as formal academic texts. The only genre I don't work in is erotica.
If, for some reason, I feel that I am not the best editor for your work, I will let you know and attempt to direct you to someone else.
(I may also decline a manuscript evaluation job if I don't feel that I understand the current market for a genre well enough.)
LANGUAGE & STYLE GUIDES
I edit mainly for a US readership, but I have also edited pieces for Australian publications and British academic programs. I am familiar with the differences (both overt and subtle) between British, Australian, and American English. I am particularly happy to work with British and Australian authors attempting prepare their work for American publishers and readers.
Need your manuscript formatted according to a specific style guide?
No problem. I am intimately acquainted with The Chicago Manual of Style and familiar with several other style guides, including MLA and APA.