Your stop for book editing and publishing success.
Nonfiction and Fiction:
The Book Editing Service
This manuscript service is available to fiction and nonfiction authors who may need part or all of their manuscript edited before working on a proposal. Please understand that not every manuscript may be suitable for the editing process with us, such as material that can't be significantly improved by the editorial process or has inappropriate content.
Although the lines between the different types of book editing can blur a little bit, there are basically three levels of editing: proofreading, copyediting, and developmental editing.
- Proofreading: includes typographical errors, spelling or punctuation mistakes, and formatting issues.
- Copyediting (may also be referred to as line editing): includes the same components as the proofreading level, but also encompasses elements that affect the flow of the prose, such as grammar, word choice, adherence to Chicago Manual of Style, paragraph and sentence structure, or the author's writing style.
- Developmental editing (may also be referred to as stylistic, content, substantive, or structural editing): includes issues covered at the proofreading and copyediting level, but also examines substantive/structural editing issues, such as improving or reorganizing the manuscript's content and structure; chapter structure; plot, characterization, or dialogue (if fiction); pacing of manuscript; etc.
The Book Editing Process
- All edits are performed on hard copy at 30- to 50-page intervals. For references on how to read proofreading or copyediting marks, please refer to Merriam-Webster's List or The Chicago Manual of Style Online. (They are actually pretty simple once you see them.)
- Each interval is faxed to the author for his or her review and for preparation of the phone consultation regarding those edits.
- The author and I set up a phone appointment to review the pages faxed. This step helps to insure clarity of the editing suggestions and gives the author an opportunity to ask questions as we go along. Since it is also more interactive, we are able to address "big picture" issues, such as marketing or publicity concerns about the manuscript as the book is edited.
- The process is repeated until the entire book as been edited.
Cassette tape recordings of the consultations may be provided for an additional charge of $5 per tape.
Cost:
- Proofreading typically ranges from $0.02 to $0.025 per word.
- Copyediting usually ranges from $0.025 to $0.035 per word.
- Developmental editing normally ranges from $0.035 and $0.045 per word.
- If the manuscript needs a level of editing that is beyond these estimates, I recommend a book critique so that the author can work on the initial revisions in a more cost-effective manner.
For an assessment of the editing level that may be needed, request a free sample edit via our Contact Form.
Free Proposal Consultation or Sample Edit
After reading the articles (or even before, if you'd like), I'd be happy to provide you with a free initial consultation or provide a sample edit for a manuscript. To set up either, simply:
- Fill out the Contact Form to request a phone appointment (from Lori Lisi).
- Include the status of your manuscript and any submission materials.
- Include several possible time frames to set up a phone appointment.
- If you have a draft of your proposal and/or the first two chapters of your manuscript, please upload that into the form as well.
You will be contacted within 24 to 72 hours. This will allow me the time to review the materials and information you might send before we set up the phone appointment. Please be sure to include times you might be available to set up the appointment.
I'll look forward to speaking with you!
Other Manuscript Services
If you would like general feedback regarding your manuscript, please check out the Book Critique service.
If you are uncertain as to the type of assistance your manuscript might need, simply request a Free Sample Edit for an initial assessment of the editing level that might be needed.
Book Proposal Services
If you prefer that I write the book proposal for you, please review the Writing service.
If you would like to write the book proposal yourself and primarily want guidance for doing so, please review the Coaching service.
If you already have a book proposal and would like a critique of it, please review the Critiquing service.
Literary Agents and Query Letters Services
Do you have your manuscript and/or book proposal ready and need to know what to do next? We research literary agents and write query letters specific to your project. See our Literary Agents Research and Query Letters services.
Find Literary Agents and Book Publishers at BookExpo America
Have you written a novel and want to appeal directly to a publisher? Or do you have a nonfiction book or proposal that you want a publisher to see?
Or do you have the book already published and are looking for media contacts? Ask us about BookExpo America Representation. It's the largest trade show for the publishing industry in the United States.
Over 2000 publishers are typically present. Next date is May 29 in Los Angeles.
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