Editing

Rates start at $40/hour for pieces under 10,000 words; pieces over 10,000 words are charged by the word.

Rates start at $40/hour for journalistic articles.

There are differences between “copy editing” and “line editing,” but for the sake of simplicity, I use them interchangeably. In this package, I will edit your manuscript to improve readability. Turnaround time depends on word count and my current workload, but book-length projects (~50,000-110,000 words) are generally completed within 10-15 business days. A copy edit entails the following:

• Removal of typos; missing or incorrect punctuation, words, or phrases; and spell checking. At this most basic level, I will make sure that your manuscript is comprehensible and cohesive on a technical level and that no reader will be drawn out of the narrative because something doesn’t “sound/look right.”
• Flow. Typos are one thing, but do sentences flow easily into the next? Are there run-on sentences or fragments that make the reader stumble? In this step, I focus on feedback that will make the writing clear and concise. If you’ve used a word three times in one sentence, I’ll suggest a synonym. If a paragraph is too long, I’ll help divide it into more reasonable chunks.
• Rewrites. If I notice any minor issues with flow, grammar, or comprehension, I may change the sentence accordingly. Note that this is only on a sentence level, meaning I will not introduce any new information, just tweak what’s already there.
  These are always suggestions, of course. If my rewrite would require anything more than tweaking the order or the wording, then I will put my suggested edits in the comments section rather than change the manuscript itself.
• Basic fact-checking. Any statistics or descriptions of real-life information will be verified through reputable online channels. If you mention a specific street or neighborhood in Los Angeles, for example, I will look up those places to make sure, a) that the names are spelled correctly, and b) that you describe their appearance/position accurately. Do you describe a drive from Los Angeles to San Diego taking place in less than an hour, even though it should take 3–4? I’ll let you know.
• Consistency. I make sure that the spelling of words and the usage of industry-specific jargon are consistent throughout. A style sheet will be provided to the client for no extra charge.
• Style. Chicago Manual of Style is the standard for most books, so I make sure that all said projects I work on adhere to its guidelines, along with Merriam Webster’s Dictionary spellings, unless the client explicitly requests otherwise.

Base rate: $0.01/word

Although I also use Track Changes to perform developmental edits and may correct any glaring typos I see as I go along, I will focus on the big picture, not surface-level grammar or spelling mistakes. If you are equally interested in both developmental and copy editing, please make this clear in your inquiry, as the rate may increase accordingly. Turnaround time is about one month for a book-length project.

For a content edit, I will give impressions on your craft (plot, characters, voice, etc.) as I read. If there are any areas you think I should pay special attention to, I will make sure to give more detailed commentary on those. Some additional questions I like to answer: How does this content fit within the parameters of its industry and genre? Will it meet a reader’s expectations? Are there any passages that may be construed as offensive?

As an editor, I believe that any content that is harmful to marginalized people is also harmful to a writer’s craft and the quality of a piece of work; therefore, if I encounter something that I feel may be culturally insensitive, I will bring attention to it and advise that you seek out feedback from an expert.

After I finish reading the manuscript, I’ll compose an edit letter where I’ll go further in-depth regarding my comments and suggestions and offer additional resources to help guide you during revisions. After you receive the letter and edited document, I’m available by email to answer questions and clarify for up to two weeks.

Base rate: $0.03/word

I offer cultural consultation on a case-by-case basis related to the following areas: Black American identity and culture, particularly in the Midwest; bisexuality, pansexuality, and queerness; nonbinary and genderqueer identity; mental illness (especially bipolar disorder, anxiety, major depression, suicidal ideation, and self-harm); chronic illness. Please contact me for pricing.

Base rates and turnaround times are given as a guide, only — I reserve the right to increase rates based on my assessment of your project and goals. By hiring me, you are acknowledging that professional editing services cannot guarantee sales or positive reception of the content of a published piece and you will not use either outcome to judge my performance in public forums.

Content restrictions. I have very few hard limits when it comes to the types of content I edit, but I require a content warning if your work contains graphic depictions of any of the following: gore/mutilation, sexual or domestic violence, child abuse, dubious/non-consensual sex, or violence against marginalized groups. I will not reject a project simply because it contains any of these elements, but I will be able to serve you better (and safeguard my own well-being!) if I know what to expect. Please note, however, that I reserve the right to refuse any project (or issue a full refund on a previously accepted project), that I find objectionable for any reason.