For writers navigating the often tricky terrain of revisions, a manuscript review can provide clear direction and feedback on how to...

It’s a wide world of freelance editors out there, and not every editor provides the same types, or levels, of editing. Start your search by determining what you think your manuscript needs. Levels of editing Traditional phases of editing come in four flavors: Developmental, story, or structural edits look at the “big picture”: character arcs, plot, pacing, creating action sequences, dialogue, narrative tense, and point of view. Line editing is editing at the sentence level, f

One of the first things I learned about that was new to me as a freelance proofreader and editor was style sheet creation. Yet, it’s probably the least heard of aspect of the editing and proofreading process for my clients. What is a style sheet? A style sheet is like the Wikipedia page for your book. While the name is usually singular (style sheet), a style sheet is typically much more than one page. Style sheets come in many different formats and … styles. They are as uniqu

In an unregulated industry that primarily takes place over the Internet, scammers abound. Indie authors often save for professional editing, and it can be a costly mistake to hire the “wrong one.” How do you know you’re hiring a reputable professional editor? More important, how do you know you’re hiring the right kind of editor for your manuscript? From an editor’s perspective, there are a few standard cues to look for when vetting your editor. Do they have a professional bu

There’s no beating around the bush here. Of course, I’m going to tell you that you can’t rely on grammar checking and proofreading software alone for editing your novel. If I didn’t, I’d be out of business! And I’m not going to discuss what I have talked about numerous times before about the importance of having another set of eyes on your manuscript. That’s a given at this point. Finding the “best” software, however, is a perennial favorite topic in writing groups across the

Independent authors are faced with many decisions during the self-publishing process, not least of which is determining what type of editing their manuscript needs. The decision to hire a professional editor, in itself, introduces a whole host of choices that can lead very quickly to decision fatigue. The editing trend There is a temptation, especially if one frequents writer Facebook groups and other corners of the Internet, to skimp on editing and instead rely on the help o

There are quite a few articles and blogs circulating around amongst indie author and editor Facebook groups on what goes into the cost of professional editing. I don’t know if it’s fueled by frustration from indie editors, a simple desire to educate, or both. Regardless, it’s a relevant topic and one that every editor with a blog should probably write about at some point. I can imagine the situation for indie authors searching for an editor. It’s probably bewildering to put f

When you hire a professional editor, the obvious benefit is a polished work as free of typos and mistakes as it possibly can be, but there are a few less obvious benefits as well. I am all about upholding industry standards in the self-publishing biz. I catch mistakes in my own writing all the time. In fact, I guarantee you'll find one in this blog post. I proofread my own work, and just like the authors I work with, my eye will likely skate over whatever is missing or out of