Book proposals and publication consulting
Need help drafting or polishing your book proposal and query letter? I can tailor your submission to target publishers and help you understand what editors or agents are actually looking for. I can also provide additional support to explain tricky issues like
- the differences between trade publishers, commercial academic presses, and university presses
- the full publishing process – how it works and what to expect
- which presses would be a good fit for your book
- how to “soft pitch” your book idea to an editor before submitting a full proposal
- when and how to contact series editors
- what you can and can’t negotiate in your contract (and what specific things you should be looking for)
Manuscript assessment
Often useful in conjunction with a book proposal edit, a manuscript “quick assessment” includes a full read of the manuscript and a reader report with suggested revisions to help you reach your publication goals. This can be particularly helpful for authors who just want a general assessment of the viability of their book for publication and any major issues they should consider reworking.
Full developmental edit
A full developmental edit includes chapter-level attention to clearly identify the key arguments your book is making, ensuring that each chapter is clear both on its own and as a piece of the larger structure of the book. More thorough than a manuscript assessment, full developmental editing will include detailed comments throughout the entire manuscript as well as a reader report, providing concrete suggestions for changes and a step-by-step plan for how to carry out the recommended work. A full developmental edit may also consider and help synthesize feedback from commissioning editors or peer reviewers, if relevant.
Line editing and language editing
I’m frequently asked for edits that are “between a copyedit and a developmental edit” or that will “improve readability.” This level of editing is often called line editing, but it may also be called language editing when authors are particularly concerned with ensuring correct English usage or general tone. (This is most often the case for authors who do not have English as a first language.)
A line edit works at sentence and paragraph level, suggesting specific cuts to avoid redundancy; additions where transitions or supporting examples are needed; and rewrites of sentences for clarity and flow. While developmental editing focuses on structure and argument, line editing focuses on improving the clarity and tone of the text. Line editing may be especially useful for authors who have been told they need to reduce their word count but have struggled to identify what to cut.
Line editing typically does not engage heavily with the overall structure of the book or the flow of the author’s argument. (That would be developmental editing.) Likewise, it will typically not include detailed attention to consistency issues (punctuation, capitalization, formatting, etc.), unless specifically requested.
Copyediting
Copyediting pays special attention to consistency, ensuring that spelling, hyphenation, and other punctuation usage (e.g., use of the serial comma, use of numerals, adherence to UK or US spelling conventions) is consistent throughout the entire manuscript. A copyeditor will typically also check reference formatting. If a publishing house is involved, the copyeditor will bring the manuscript in line with the “house style” preferred by that publisher. A copyeditor will also look for grammatical errors and will query sentences that are unclear or flag where additional information is needed, but more sparingly than in a line edit.
In traditional book publishing, typically the publisher will have a freelance editor perform a light copyedit of the manuscript after you submit your “final” draft, before it goes to typesetting. This will ensure adherence to their preferred style guide, including things like punctuation, capitalization, and hyphenation. (Be aware that some publishers may use AI tools to copyedit your manuscript in lieu of hiring a professional freelance copyeditor; if this is a concern for you, it is worth discussing with your editor or main contact at the press.)
Proofreading is a detail-oriented process that occurs after a book has been designed and typeset. A proofreader primarily checks for typesetting errors, but they also will be looking for small errors missed during copyediting, such as spelling mistakes or stylistic inconsistency. A “proofread” should only occur once pages have been designed—if your manuscript is still in a Word document, then you are likely looking for a “light copyedit” and not a “proofread.”
For a thorough overview of average editorial rates and a project fee calculator, I recommend the rate chart maintained by the Editorial Freelancers Association (US): https://www.the-efa.org/rates. Please note that my fees may differ based on the complexity and specific needs of your manuscript! To get a detailed quote and project proposal, please contact me.