EDITORIAL SERVICES
WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOUR BOOK?
I can't structure your novel for you, but I can tell you what parts need work and why.
I am a mean word-slasher, so if you need to get your word count down, I'll show you how best to do that without killing your darlings. At least, not all of them.
Flow is my favourite thing, so if requested, I'll suggest how to move elements around to improve readability, and provide in-depth, in-line edits - tweaks and shuffles on a small scale that will make a huge improvement.
For in-line editing I use mark-up in Word, so that you can choose whether to accept or decline any edits I make. If you don't know how to do this, I'll send you some easy instructions.
I am a mean word-slasher, so if you need to get your word count down, I'll show you how best to do that without killing your darlings. At least, not all of them.
Flow is my favourite thing, so if requested, I'll suggest how to move elements around to improve readability, and provide in-depth, in-line edits - tweaks and shuffles on a small scale that will make a huge improvement.
For in-line editing I use mark-up in Word, so that you can choose whether to accept or decline any edits I make. If you don't know how to do this, I'll send you some easy instructions.
WHY ME?
I have decades of experience in feature writing and magazine editing, as well as more than five years' experience as a published author. That means not only have I wielded the red pen, I've been at the sharp end of it, too.
I know how easy it is to get so close to your own work that you can't see the faults or the possibilities for improvement. That's why I often have an external editor look at my manuscripts; I'm guilty of overwriting and under-planning as much as the next person, and fresh eyes will spot the problems.
And I can be those fresh eyes for YOU. I can see at a glance if there's a hold-up in the action; I'll spot the repetitions and lags, the 'tell' when there should be the 'show'...
I'm like Terminator, only pudgier and a little more forgiving. So possibly not like Terminator at all. But I am efficient. And I am compassionate, too - I know how much your project means to you, and I will guide you with kindness.
I know how easy it is to get so close to your own work that you can't see the faults or the possibilities for improvement. That's why I often have an external editor look at my manuscripts; I'm guilty of overwriting and under-planning as much as the next person, and fresh eyes will spot the problems.
And I can be those fresh eyes for YOU. I can see at a glance if there's a hold-up in the action; I'll spot the repetitions and lags, the 'tell' when there should be the 'show'...
I'm like Terminator, only pudgier and a little more forgiving. So possibly not like Terminator at all. But I am efficient. And I am compassionate, too - I know how much your project means to you, and I will guide you with kindness.
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TESTIMONIAL
"Rachel took my mammoth, beasty manuscript and helped me cut it down to size. It's now a tighter, more accessible piece of writing. All of her edits were honest, insightful and communicated in a way that made her extremely easy to work with." Danielle Smith, adult crime manuscript now on submission. |
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Once you've written your manuscript, contact me with a short description of your book - covering reading age, length, genre - and what you'd like me to do. The prices below are a guide, but I should be able to tailor a service to your budget.
GUIDE PRICES |
CHECKLIST |
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READ THROUGH + GENERAL THOUGHTS ON PLOT, STRUCTURE, COMMERCIAL REACH.
Young middle-grade - £150 15-25K words Older middle-grade - £180 25-60k words YA and adult - £210 60-100k Anything longer + £25 per 10k words DETAILED IN-LINE EDITING + COMMENTS - £30ph If you want to discuss flexibility with prices or services please get in touch. |
Paying an editor to look at your manuscript isn't pocket-change. For that reason please be confident that you have worked on it as thoroughly as possible. Before you invest, ask yourself the following questions:
Am I as happy as I can be with my manuscript? Am I happy to pay for constructive criticism? Writing is a personal process. When I started out I was precious about every word, but I soon grew a thick skin; the writer is important, but the reader is king. It's hard when an editor suggests scrapping a sentence, paragraph or character that you've worked so hard on. Are you emotionally ready? Does my book have a hook? A hook is the thing that makes your manuscript unique/thrilling/sellable and it should stand out. One great way of identifying your hook is to write a logline. Consider the logline for Jurassic Park: "During a preview tour, a theme park suffers a major power breakdown that allows its cloned dinosaur exhibits to run amok." Can you write a logline for yours? Is your hook original? Is it clear? Have you put time aside between your last write and your most recent reading? The heat of creativity is a wonderful thing, but a little distance will cool the passion that could be blinding you to problems in your manuscript. Have you checked formatting? There are guidelines for word counts pertaining to age group and genre. There are exceptions, and formatting recommendations differ, but it's worth researching other books in your age group and genre. There are few editors that will be delighted to see a 200k word manuscript land on their desk, unless it's exceptional. |
