Services
“There is a pact between editors and writers. The editor never sells out the writer, never goes public about bad jokes that were cut or stories that went on too long. A great writer saves an editor from her excesses.” —Mary Norris, copy editor for New Yorker Magazine
My Philosophy of Editing
I view the writer-editor relationship as largely collaborative. Editors work with writers to transform rough drafts into polished, well-written documents or manuscripts that readers enjoy. It’s essential, therefore, that we editors understand a writer’s goals and expectations before we begin our work. Similarly, writers should let their editors know which aspects of their writing they want to revise and which aspects they’d like to retain. Communication becomes all-important.
Want to know more about me and my background? Meet the Editor here.
Testimonials are here.
Every Writer Needs An Editor
Beta groups are great, and AI can be useful for finding grammar errors and fixing wordiness, but so far, nothing has been invented to replace editors. Editors are a special breed. They write well and read widely. They also have an ear for the rhythms of language. They can solve problems that elude everyone else, even the writer. Most importantly, editors help connect writers to their readers.
So now that I’ve reminded you why you’re here, please take a look at Seattle Editing’s services. Ranging from coaching (or consulting) to proofreading, they’re designed to fit every budget and almost every writing task. You’ll likely find exactly what you need in the list below. If not, we’ll custom-tailor the edit to your specific needs.
Coaching
My coaching services, offered at a reasonable cost, provide invaluable support for writers who need help planning and developing their first draft. When you sign up for coaching, I’ll craft a plan tailored to your specific needs, ensuring it aligns with your goals.
Manuscript Assessment for Fiction and Nonfiction
The manuscript assessment is a comprehensive process designed to give clients a clear understanding of their manuscript's potential. When I assess a work of fiction, I examine theme, genre, plot structure, subplots, pacing, settings, character development, dialogue, narrative style, voice, point of view, diction, and style.
The criteria for nonfiction include thesis, genre/readers, development, organization, logical flow, clarity, voice, style, diction, and pacing. After reading your manuscript twice, taking notes as I go, I write a detailed letter that assesses the manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses and includes specific suggestions (including examples) for revision.
Developmental editing assesses the entire manuscript and includes two hours of coaching, plus a detailed critique letter. The critique letter for a developmental edit is much longer and more in-depth than the one for the manuscript assessment.
Copyediting requires two or three passes, including a final proofread. Typically, copyediting will identify any of the following:
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- redundancies & inconsistencies
- inaccuracies (such as wrong dates)
- weak sentence style
- inappropriate or inconsistent tone
- lack of transitions and signposts
- problematic word choice
- confusing tense shifts or wrong use of tense
- grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation errors
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Line editing focuses on the sound and style of your writing, aiming to enhance overall consistency. While I also correct errors and point out inconsistencies or ambiguities, my primary objective is to elevate the stylistic quality of your work. I do this by pinpointing areas where the writing may be unclear, wordy, or lacking in transitions or signposts. I also point out any variations in tone or register. This process ensures that your edited document attains the highest caliber.
Proofreading
Proofreading, the last step of the editing process, checks for consistency in spelling, punctuation, fonts, and capitalization. For a book-length manuscript, proofreading includes ensuring proper sequencing, accurate cross-references, and documentation.
If your manuscript has already been edited by someone else, I would be glad to proofread it. On the other hand, if you hire me as your editor, it’s best to hire someone else for the final proofreading.