NERD GIRL EDITS
Copy Editing - Fiction
All of my editing solutions can be tailored to suit the needs of the client.
For those newer to writing/self-publishing, I would recommend some type of style and story review before a copy or line edit.
WHY? Any MS requiring developmental work will not be improved by copy editing or line editing alone.
I will never force any option on you, as I know cost may be a factor.
However, I will always be honest about what your MS needs.
"Working with Kate has been a delight. She has helped make my manuscript the best version of itself without changing my voice as an author. The process was easy and communication was clear throughout.
I’d definitely recommend Kate and would work with her again on future projects."
Elizabeth J Brown - Dark Fantasy
BASIC
This is for authors with a solid style and whose work is fairly free of errors.
The focus on this edit is to fix copy and tidy up some remaining style issues.
The story will also have been through some type of developmental/structural review.
What it involves
Correct errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax and word usage.
Identify sentences and passages that might need reworking, and offer solutions.
Make all capitalis(z)ation, punctuation, numbers, hyphenation, use of abbreviations, etc. uniform across the manuscript. I use The Chicago Manual of Style and Webster’s Dictionary when working on novels written in US English, and I use The Chicago Manual of Style and Collins English Dictionary when working on novels written in British-English.
Fact check.
When you’ve considered all my comments and edits and reworked your novel where necessary, you send your manuscript back to me, and I will review your changes to ensure everything is as it should be.
What you get
Fully copy-edited manuscript (two passes, one full & one final quick pass* to review outstanding issues)
A style sheet noting the uniformity I applied across the manuscript. This is useful for authors writing in a series.
5 hours of clean-up editing included.
*Note: the second pass is always optional. You may not need it.
Cost
Subject to a review of sample
MEDIUM
This is for authors whose sentence structure and style may need deeper work than a BASIC copy edit can provide.
It assumes the story has also been through some type of developmental/structural review.
What you get
A more detailed edit than BASIC to fix deeper style and copy issues. (two passes, one full & one final quick pass* to review outstanding issues)
A style sheet noting the uniformity I applied across the manuscript.
5 hours of clean-up editing.
*Note: the second pass is optional.
Cost
Subject to a review of sample
HEAVY
This is for authors whose MS might need more work to fix deeper issues with copy and style such as: information in the wrong place, scenes lacking transitions and POV confusion.
It assumes the story has also been through some type of developmental review.
Heavy Copy Editing is also referred to as Line Editing.
What you get
Fully copy-edited manuscript (two passes, one full & one final quick pass to review outstanding issues)
A report (at the same time as the first pass) pointing out any lingering developmental issues.
A style sheet noting the uniformity I applied across the manuscript.
5 hours of clean-up editing.
Testimonials
"Kate was highly recommended to me by another author, and she is an absolutely brilliant editor.
I had worked successfully with two excellent developmental non-fiction editors to get the book to the stage it was at, but I knew what it needed next was a fiction editor. The challenge I had posed to Kate was to maintain the historical accuracy of the narrative while making it as compelling to read as any fast-paced work of fiction. Kate did this and more. The end result is a book that’s even better than I had envisioned.
I highly recommend Kate for any editing project, and look forward to involving her in my future writing endeavors."
Brad Borkan (& David Hirzel) - Extreme Decisions
"I wanted to update a novel which I’d written some ten years ago, and Kate gave me an in-depth assessment of the manuscript. Her comments were hugely insightful and helped me see the changes I needed to make to tighten up the text. Kate also edited the rewrites, and I can truly say that the finished work is about 100 times better than the original. I just couldn’t have completed the task without her help. In addition to her brilliance as an editor, Kate works diligently, never misses a deadline and is a pleasure to work with. She’s very encouraging, but isn’t afraid to tell you if something isn’t right. A perfect editor in my book."
Helena Halme - Contemporary Nordic Fiction
"Working with Kate has been a delight. She has helped make my manuscript the best version of itself without changing my voice as an author. The process was easy and communication was clear throughout. I’d definitely recommend Kate and would work with her again on future projects."
Elizabeth J Brown - Dark Fantasy
Manuscript Assessment
Proofreading
Self-Pub Services
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