PROFESSIONAL EDITING SERVICES

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Dear Writer,

When authors (myself included) receive a manuscript filled with suggested corrections from their editor, they tend to see this as a sign that the story is bad or they're incompetent writers. Neither of these beliefs is true. The craft of writing is a lifelong learning process. Furthermore, being close to our work causes us to develop blind spots, particularly with longer pieces.

As an editor, my job is not to change a story. My goal is to free the manuscript from filler words, repetition, overly involved descriptions, and other pitfalls that distract the audience, sometimes enough that they stop reading and give the story a negative review. My purpose is to help writers tell the story they want to tell. 

In the following example, I use a sample of my own writing to illustrate how editing improves clarity. 

https://ornerybookemporium.blogspot.com/2024/07/shameless-self-promotion-inspiration.html

When I first attempted professional editing, I assumed editing and proofreading were different terms for the same thing. I would like to share with you what I've learned since then.

Developmental editing, line editing, copy editing, and proofreading are all essential stages in the editing process, each serving a specific purpose to improve the quality and clarity of a written piece. 

Briefly, developmental editing addresses the big-picture elements of a manuscript, line editing focuses on refining the writing at a stylistic level, copy editing ensures technical accuracy and consistency, and proofreading catches any final errors before publication. Each type of editing plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of a written work.

Here are the key differences between them:

1. Developmental Editing: 

- Focuses on the overall structure, content, and organization of the manuscript.

- Addresses big-picture elements such as plot, character development, pacing, and narrative flow.

- Helps shape the manuscript to ensure ideas are presented cohesively and effectively.

- Often involves substantial rewrites, additions, or deletions to enhance the overall quality of the work.

My fees for developmental editing are $7.50 per 500 words.

2. Line Editing:

- Involves a detailed review focusing on style, tone, and sentence structure.

- Targets language use, clarity, consistency, and coherence at a paragraph and sentence level.

- Aims to enhance readability and flow of the text by refining the language and ensuring the author's voice is consistent throughout.

- May involve rephrasing sentences, improving transitions, and fixing awkward phrasing.

I charge $6.25 per 500 words for line editing.

3. Copy Editing:

- Concentrates on technical aspects of writing, such as grammar, punctuation, spelling, and style consistency.

- Ensures the text follows the appropriate style guide or formatting requirements.

- Checks for errors in grammar, syntax, punctuation, and usage to improve the overall clarity and accuracy of the writing.

- May involve fact-checking and verifying references, as well as flagging any inconsistencies or inaccuracies.

I charge $5 per 500 words for copy editing.

4. Proofreading:

- Involves a meticulous review of the text to correct mistakes in spelling, punctuation, and formatting.

- Does not typically involve substantial changes to the content or structure.

- Ensures that the final draft is error-free and ready for publication.

I charge $2 per 500 words for proofreading.

For works longer than 20,000 words, I will edit one chapter free of charge so you can decide whether I'm a good fit. Pro tip: middle chapters are usually messier than first or last chapters. They don't call it the Murky Middle for nothing!

I can edit one chapter at a time, or you can send me your complete manuscript. I aim for fast turnaround times, but I won't compromise accuracy in favor of speed. 

How fast am I driving this literary hot rod?

It depends on the length of the document and the type of editing I'm doing. A heavy developmental or line edit with multiple issues will take longer than a light copy edit to catch the odd typo or grammatical error. I've found I average about ten pages a day on a document requiring moderate editing. It takes me ten days to two weeks to complete a detailed line edit of a novel containing 50,000 to 75,000 words.

I limit myself to four hours a day editing any specific document because, after that point, my ability to spot and process issues starts to decline. Peak accuracy is always my top priority. 

Please email me at hootsandreviews@orneryowlventures.com to request service. I have many years of experience editing what may be the worst writing in existence (mine). Surely, I can help you with yours!

If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact me, and we will work something out. 

Need to know what direction to take before beginning the editing process? Try my alpha reading services! Has your book already been edited but you want an idea of how it will be received? Check out my beta reading services! Click the link to learn more.

https://ornerybookemporium.blogspot.com/p/ornery-beta-reading.html

Your intellectual property is safe with me. I will never share your documents with anyone else. Upon request, I will provide you with a non-disclosure agreement.

My availability for free ARC reviews is extremely limited. Guest posts are always welcome, but you will get more bang for your buck from a book tour service. Follow this link for more helpful information.

https://ornerybookemporium.blogspot.com/p/arc-reviews-and-promotions.html

~Ornery Owl Has Spoken~

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