Editing Philosophy
I apologize to all who know this well-worn quote from Groucho Marx, but here it is anyway:
"Ouside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
The journey of writing a book can be just as dark as the inside of a dog, but then, I have never journeyed to the innards of such a creature. Maybe, upon arriving there I would find a bright light to guide my way. That would sure be nice, especially navigating those miles of intestines!
So it is with the writing journey. OK, I am a little more crass than Anne Lamott at describing the writer's journey (See "Bird By Bird"), but the struggles of mastering the craft of writing takes not just time but assistance. At least in my opinion. Some writers do just fine without any feedback or critiquing at all. Or so I'm told. Haven't met one yet. So, the wonderful part of being an editor for another writer is in holding up that lamp along those slippery paths so the writer can get a better footing. And if you happen to chance on the "exit" sign that leads out of that dark, convoluted place and into some fresh air and sunlight, then woohoo! You both get to dance on the tickly grass with your bare feet.
I will admit right now, proof-reading is not my favorite thing. I can do it, but there are many, many editors "out there" that excel at proof-reading those troublesome commas, semi-colons, and misspelled words. They may not be writers and may not have a clue what to tell you about the strengths and weaknesses of your story. If all you want is a perfect proof-read, click on www.thechristianpen.com and post a request for that kind of editor.
However, if you are more concerned with how you are telling your story, concerned about elements such as pacing, character development, structuring chapters, scenes, building tension, epiphanies, and denouements (OK, I used to not know what those words meant, too!) and want someone to delve deep into the heart of your story and come back out with encouraging, constructive feedback, then let me help you. I love great characters and feel they are what drives your story. If you are writing non-fiction, you'll need to still have a unique voice that stands out, that reflects the passion you feel for your subject without boring your audience to tears.
So, now I'll rewrite Groucho: "Outside of a book, a dog is man's best friend. Inside of a book, well, it looks a whole lot better than the inside of a dog."
Services Overview
CRITIQUE INCLUDES:
My overall assessment of your manuscript will address plot and character development strengths and weaknesses. I will point out areas where improvement is needed and offer general suggestions. No changes are made to your manuscript.
BASIC PROOFREAD INCLUDES:
- End-of-line breaks
- Grammatical errors
- Letter, sentence, and paragraph spacing
- Misspelled words
- Punctuation
- Typographical errors
CONTENT EDIT** INCLUDES:
- Characterizations
- Conflict/Tension
- Description
- Inconsistencies
- Pacing
- Passive writing
- Plot
- Point of view
- Scene point of view choice
- Showing/Telling
COPYEDIT* INCLUDES:
- Dialogue
- Redundancies
- Sentence clarity/structure
- Word choice/repetition
*Copyedit includes a Basic Proofread
**I recommend that manuscripts undergo a Content Edit before a Copyedit is performed.
Format and Payment
FORMAT
I accept hard copy and electronic submissions. Please ensure that all work is formatted in Times New Roman or Courier 12-point font and double-spaced. Manuscripts submitted in other fonts/formats will not be accepted. For hard-copy manuscripts, single or double-sided pages are accepted. Clients are responsible for the payment of all postage costs. For electronic submissions, work can be sent as an e-mail attachment in Microsoft Word® format. Electronic submissions are edited with the Microsoft Word® Track Changes feature. All changes or suggestions within the document are marked in red for easy recognition. Track Changes allows you to accept or reject any suggested changes. If you do not have access to Microsoft Word, please inform me at the beginning of our working relationship so we can discuss other arrangements.
PAYMENT CRITERIA
Once services are contracted, an estimated 50% of payment is due at the start of the editing work. The balance will be due at completion. Please contact me directly for rates and for information on a free sample edit.
