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SERVICES

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A few words About Editing services

Like people, no two stories are the same. Consequently, good editing cannot be cookie-cutter-one-size-fits-all. My editing will always be tailored to your work, your needs, and designed to reach your goals. The most important thing is maintaining the voice of the writer—YOU! This is YOUR story. I'm thrilled to be a part of helping you tell it.

 

To get started, it would be helpful to know whether you’re seeking an analysis, substantive editing, or copyediting for your piece. Here’s what I mean by each of those terms:

 

Analysis consists of a general read-through of your entire piece, providing you with an overview, general feedback about what’s working and what might be challenging for your reader, and suggestions designed to help clarify or strengthen your work. This process dovetails well with the coaching services I offer. Whatever phase of your concept you’re in, if you need encouragement or an accountability coach, an analysis is a great place to start.

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Substantive editing consists of a thorough, in-depth reading of your entire piece. You’ll receive feedback on a line-by-line basis, including suggestions about shortening, clarifying, or deepening your piece. This may include word-change suggestions, suggestions about rearranging parts of the piece, and identifying any gaps in the story. This process also looks at technical aspects of the work, such as word tense and subject/verb agreement.

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Copyediting is the nitty-gritty. Although much of this work is done in substantive editing, copyediting is also available as a stand-alone service. In a copyedit, your piece is examined strictly for things like grammar, punctuation, and consistency of language. (For example, did you change a character’s name partway through, or start using a different pronoun—she/he/him/her/they?) This process is often the final polishing of a piece before some type of submission, after the other type(s) of editing have already been done.

 

If you're ready for the next step, please fill out the contact form to tell me about your project. Some details that would be helpful for me to know about your piece include: 

  • whether it is fiction or non-fiction

  • the topic or genre of the piece

  • approximate word count 

  • any deadline you might be facing

 

Once I hear from you, we'll set a time for an initial complimentary phone or zoom consultation to determine whether we're a good fit for working together. If we decide it’s a go, I'll provide you with an estimate of time/cost, and you’ll receive a copy of my Service Agreement, which details our working relationship. Once all that’s done and I receive your retainer, it’s off to the races!

 

Rate varies from $75 to $110/hour, depending upon project complexity and type of editing. Projects may alternatively be billed by the word—with rates from $.0125 to $.05 per word—depending on type of work and length.

 

Minimum Fee

$300

about the Amherst Writers & Artists Method

AWA Philosophy & Essential Practices​

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Amherst Writers & Artists Method beliefs:

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  • Everyone has a strong, unique voice.

  • Everyone is born with creative genius.

  • Writing as an art form belongs to all people, regardless of economic class or education level.

  • The teaching of craft can be done without damage to a writer’s original voice or artistic self-esteem.

  • A writer is someone who writes.​

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AWA practices establish a safe environment where everyone is free to explore their own writing and listen to each other with respect. We adhere to these practices in Write Through The Door writing groups:  

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  • Everyone’s writing—including the leader’s—is treated with equal respect and value.

  • Writing is kept confidential and treated as fiction.

  • Writers may refrain from reading their work aloud.

  • Responses to just-written work reflect what is strong and successful.

  • Responses and exercises support the development of literary craft.

  • When listening in an AWA workshop, we enter the universe that the writer has created and leave our assumptions behind. We are asked to leave behind our own expectations and experiences. In an AWA workshop we listen for and notice what works. We listen for and notice the choices a writer has made that help to create success in the writing. We listen without preconceived ideas about what the story should be about, how the poem should sound, or what we might do differently.

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For additional information, please visit the Amherst Writers & Artists website.

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