You love your story. You know it’s strong and you’re excited to share it with readers. But you also know it needs a little ... tweaking. Don’t risk losing readers over typos, repetition, or confusing passages. A copyedit will correct and smooth your prose for an enjoyable and distraction-free reading experience.
At this stage, your story should be well-developed. It’s not time to delve into character motivations and plot points, but to focus on mechanics and get ready to move on to formatting and proofreading. However, you may also know there are a few lingering big-picture issues that may require slight revisions…
That’s why I offer two packages: a Basic Copyedit and a Full Copyedit, each tailored to best suit your needs and budget. Don’t forget to reach out if you need help deciding!
BASIC COPYEDIT
How It Works.
Congratulations! You have a finished manuscript. The story is polished, and characters' motivations are clear. You simply need an edit for grammar, mechanics, and consistency.
Once we've worked out the project details, you’ll send your manuscript as a Word file. I’ll then use track changes to make my edits, as well as the comments feature for queries—and in-the-moment reactions! I'm here to be your cheerleader, and to make you proud of what you’ve accomplished.
What’s Included?
ONE REALLY THOROUGH ROUND OF EDITING
A line at a time, considering each word and phrase, I will focus on the clarity of your prose. This means addressing specific mechanical concerns, including:
errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and usage;
correcting or querying general facts and information for accuracy;
flagging principles of conscious language, such as problematic representation, stereotyping, or othering; and
identifying any material that may require permission to reproduce.
AN EDITORIAL LETTER & A STYLE SHEET
I’ll return your edited manuscript along with a short editorial letter that celebrates your strengths and offers thoughtful and clear advice on any mechanical aspects that require attention. I will provide examples from the manuscript itself, and will also highlight resources for further reading.
To help keep spelling and styling consistent through the editorial process, you will also receive a style sheet. This document lists spelling and styling preferences, as well as aids in keeping track of character details.After-editing support
Included with a Basic Copyedit is one free hour of my time. This follow-up can either be done via call (online or by phone) or email (in which I answer your specific questions in-depth). For up to six months after the completion of the project, clients may contact me with simple editorial questions.
INVESTMENT: $30 CAD per 1,000 words ($0.030 CAD per word)
FULL COPYEDIT
How It Works.
Congratulations! You have a finished manuscript. You've gone through numerous revisions and incorporated the feedback from beta readers and/or your editor. You're ready to move on to cleaning up the mechanics, but you also know there may still be an odd rough patch in terms of characterization or story.Once we've worked out the project details, you’ll send your manuscript as a Word file. I’ll then use track changes to make my edits, as well as the comments feature for queries—and in-the-moment reactions! I'm here to be your cheerleader, and to make you proud of what you’ve accomplished.
What’s Included?
TWO ROUNDS OF EDITING
In my first pass through your book, I will leave mechanical considerations behind and consider how the novel is working on a paragraph level. This means
improving paragraph and sentence construction to improve flow and readability, or to better convey meaning;
suggesting any word changes that would aid in clarity, eliminating repetition or wordiness, avoiding stereotyping or othering; and
strengthening transitions so they are logical and support the development of the story/characters.
I will then return the manuscript so you can consider my suggestions and make any final revisions as needed or desired. We will work out an appropriate timeline for this review at the start, so I can save room in my schedule and avoid any last-minute disappointment for us both!
The second, final round of editing will then address mechanical considerations like spelling, grammar, and clarity. I will also ensure punctuation, capitalization, and other style concerns are consistent.
AN EDITORIAL LETTER & A STYLE SHEET
I’ll return your edited manuscript along with an editorial letter that celebrates your strengths and offers thoughtful and clear advice on any big-picture aspects that still need to be addressed, as well as mechanical aspects that require attention. I will provide examples from the manuscript itself, and will also highlight resources for further reading.
To help keep spelling and styling consistent through the editorial process, you will also receive a style sheet. This document lists spelling and styling preferences, as well as aids in keeping track of character details.AFTER-EDITING SUPPORT
While you revise, you may contact me to schedule one free hour of my time. This follow-up can either be done via call (online or by phone) or email (in which I answer your specific questions in-depth). For up to six months after the completion of the project, clients may contact me with simple editorial questions.
INVESTMENT: $40 CAD per 1,000 words ($0.040 CAD per word)
“I did not expect having to rely upon an editor for grammar, syntax, clarity, or logic, but Jennifer did this for me in great fashion. She is very methodical, and the changes, notes, and explanations provided were easy to understand and essential to improving the story.”