Types of projects I’m seeking
Line editing and copy editing: Fiction or creative nonfiction. Ideally, you’re self-publishing or working with a small press. You (and your publisher) feel like your work is almost ready to meet the world.
Developmental editing: Fiction or creative nonfiction. I would especially love to help you with creative nonfiction incorporating animals and the natural world, whether memoir or a scientific study written for the trade market (such as Soul of an Octopus). For fiction, I don’t specialize in any particular genre. All good stories are good for the same reasons: compelling characters and settings and a solid authorial voice (which comes down to creative, consistent style).
Academic texts: Line editing, copy editing, text and references / citations—sorry, I don’t do indexing. I have experience copy-editing academic books for the trade on American history, especially Black American history; on world events; and on American popular culture. I would love to work on Asian American history and culture. I would prefer to take manuscripts for which a proposal has already been accepted for publication.
Yes, I edit poetry! For poetry, too, I would strictly do line editing and copy editing.
Rates
I adhere to the Editorial Freelancers Association’s rate chart, on the low to median scale.
Contact me
Use this form on my About page. Please introduce yourself and tell me about your project: a synopsis, a description of where you are in your journey to completion, and your editorial needs.
Thoughts on developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading for fiction and creative nonfiction
Not sure what service you need? Here’s an excellent breakdown of different levels of copy editing versus proofreading: “The Differences Between Line Editing, Copy Editing, and Proofreading,” by Sandra Wendel. Invest in a copy-edit when you’re pretty sure you’re ready to submit to a press or to self-publish.
And here’s an in-depth peek into the minds of three developmental editors: “Before You Hire a Developmental Editor: What You Need to Know,” by Jane Friedman.
And I’ll throw out some scenarios, in case it’s helpful.
- If: You’ve completed a first draft of a short or long-form work of prose.
- Then: You need a full editorial assessment and you will very likely need developmental editing that might involve some line editing, although you might want to leave the latter to a later phase. This seems the right time to say that I prefer to work with a manuscript after the first draft at the very earliest. Prior to that, I think you’re better off hiring a writing coach or investing in a program or workshop.
- If: You have done multiple drafts of your work and feel ready to self-publish or to approach publishers or agents, and you would like to make sure you submit a polished, consistently styled, and properly formatted file.
- Then: You might need copy editing (which might involve some line editing), depending on an assessment of your work.
- If: You feel that you’re almost ready to submit or publish, but your writing group has pointed out inconsistencies or issues with elements of your work (character development, structure, for example) that, you agree, would benefit from editorial guidance.
- Then: You might need line editing or developmental editing, depending on an assessment of your work.
- If: Either I’ve copy-edited your book or you’ve had it copy-edited by someone else and they are unavailable for proofreading, you have a file from a designer that’s formatted for print, and you want to send it to press.
- Then: You need a proofreader to review the text and layout before you publish. (You really, really do, even if it isn’t me.)