If your manuscript isn’t quite ready for editing, I often can supply a manuscript evaluation to help focus your rewrite. Or we can explore book coaching services, depending on my availability. (I’m an “all-in” partner once we get started, so I don’t overbook my schedule.)

Book coaching

Book coaching services can be added to any of the following editorial services. We will conduct a viability analysis of your book’s topic and identify its potential audience. We’ll work together to identify marketing hooks (the “why to buy”) and product positioning (how your book is distinguished from what’s already available). From here, I’ll help you create a content overview that will surpass your primary audience’s expectations.

What I need from you: Your book proposal (rough is fine), and phone and email availability.

Developmental editing

Developmental editing addresses “big picture” content and structural issues. We’ll review the organization and accessibility of your table of contents, and I’ll suggest ways to improve your chapters’ interior organization. We may also brainstorm about design and graphic elements that may enhance the clarity and appeal of your presentation. If needed, we will also tackle how to get the most “bang” from the least number of pages.

What I need from you: Your book proposal and table of contents (chapters headings and a summary of what each chapter will cover). Note: You will need to know your budget for the production cost and marketing investment that follows our editorial work.

Line editing

Line editing addresses clarity and structural issues at the section and paragraph level. We’ll establish and implement style conventions. I will confirm that any terminology is defined per the audience level. We’ll discuss how best to handle jargon (extraneous terminology). I also like to incorporate an “accessibility check” during the line edit. For example, I suggest edits that will help the text be clear when consumed across multiple formats (such as audio, ebook, and print).

What I need from you: A table of contents and your full manuscript. A phone call to discuss your anticipated audience and content vision. Indication of your intended distribution. Plan on approving a paid sample chapter to be sure we are aligned on your needs and expectations.

Copy editing

Copy editing addresses grammar, spelling, and style choices (such as capitalization styles for headings and special elements). For most books, I recommend following The Chicago Manual of Style with exceptions noted to accommodate author voice. I also will prompt you as needed to improve the clarity of sentences.

What I need from you: A table of contents and your full manuscript. Your preferred style guide (such as CMOS) and author-style conventions. Plan on approving a paid sample chapter to be sure we are aligned on your needs and expectations.

 

What I Do NOT Do

I do not edit free samples. For paid sample edits, I require complete manuscripts so that I can choose a sample that is representative of the whole work. I begin editing only after we’ve signed a contract and I’ve received a deposit for my time.

I do not use AI technology for editorial work. If you choose to use AI to create your manuscript, that’s your decision. But I will need you to sign a form releasing me from any liability related to copyright infringement caused by AI borrowing text from published sources. If I become aware of a pervasive plagiarism issue, I will likely terminate work and bill a project “kill fee” for work completed, which you can either discard or keep without crediting me.

I work in Microsoft Word. At this time, I’m not able to accommodate live-collaboration programs such as Google Docs or Microsoft SharePoint (mostly due to technical restraints on my end).