How do I know if I need a copyeditor?

If you haven’t yet had your work edited by a copyeditor, you need a copyeditor.

• Copy editors polish a finished manuscript for writers before they reach out to literary agents or for self-publication. I cannot stress enough: Do not submit your manuscript without having it copyedited first!

• Aligning a manuscript to Chicago style includes myriad details and specifics, and it’s a copyeditor’s job to put everything in place for you so you can move forward to the next step of the publishing process.

• I am professionally qualified to edit your book, so literary agents take you seriously, and readers understand your voice and your story.

• If you are looking for a friendly, encouraging editor, I would love to work with you and explain how the editing process works.

How do I know if I need a copy edit or line edit?

Some writers just need some tweaks and corrections to grammar and are good to go! However, I would say most manuscripts fall into the line editing zone, unless you have already had your book edited or have been working with the text for a very long time. (And I mean edited by a professional; friends and family mean well, and their input is beneficial, but they are most likely not trained editors and may even innocently introduce errors into the book.)

Having a line edit done is good news—you’ll want to catch all major issues before you submit your work to a professional publisher.

Some manuscripts may need a line edit and then a copy edit after large changes are made. It just depends on your preferences, budget, and timeline. We can discuss your needs and what works best for you!

How long does copy editing take? When can I expect my document to be returned?

It depends on the document: its length, and level of editing needed. Generally, it takes two to three weeks for a project to be returned to you with edits, but it also depends on my calendar and how many projects I’m currently working on.

Please reach out to me as soon as possible to secure a spot within the month and get you in my schedule. The earlier you can approach me about your work, the better.

That being said, we will agree on a specific return date once we touch base about your project.

What is the general cost of one full edit?

A general ballpark:

4-6 pages per hour for a copy edit
2-3 pages per hour for a line, or substantive, edit

The cost of a copy edit depends on several factors, including the length of your document and what changes need to be made. This could include checking grammar, punctuation, usage, capitalization, reformatting, basic fact-checking, and consistent details (e.g., you had blue eyes on page 5, but brown eyes on page 50), etc.

I will need to look at your project in full prior to giving you an estimate, but it is roughly $40 an hour for a basic copy edit. After surveying your manuscript, I will send you an estimate for how many hours I believe it will take me to edit it thoroughly.

I have finished my manuscript and I’ve never had anything edited before. I am wondering how overwhelming the edits may be when I see them? Can I disagree with you?

How exciting! Congratulations on all of the work you have put into your project. You have reached a huge milestone.

Editing should not equal overwhelming. My job is not to turn your writing red with corrections; my job is to come alongside you and be useful to you.

Editing is simply you and I working together to mold your writing, making it say what you want it to say, without error. I can answer questions you may have about your work, and help you solve some of the typical writer-issues that can happen during the writing process. We’ve all been there!

All of us need editors. I am here to make your work look its best and will do so with respect and professionalism. I use Track Changes in Microsoft Word for all edits. When I have returned your document to you, you will ultimately decide which items to correct or ignore.

How does payment work?

I can receive payments via Venmo or Zelle. Payments are as follows:

(1) Half of your payment is required as I begin editing (this secures your deadlines on my calendar).
(2) The final amount remaining is due when your document has been returned to you.

We will agree on the final amount before any work is begun. I look forward to hearing from you! Please message me with any questions you have here.