Have you recently finished writing a book? Congratulations! Finishing a book is an incredible accomplishment that few can claim. Now I imagine you’re looking for that next step to make sure your manuscript is ready to be published. That’s what I’m here for. My goal is to help you move forward with confidence that your manuscript is polished and accomplishing your vision.
I offer a wide range of editing services for different stages of the writing process. These services can be applied to both fiction and nonfiction manuscripts. Multiple services can also be bundled together. For a more in-depth look at what working with me looks like, see my contact page.
Free 1000–1500 Word Sample Edit
Before any edit, I offer a free sample edit of 1000–1500 words from your manuscript so that you can get a sense of my editing style. I will also give you a quote for my services at this time. Because the needs of individual projects vary, my fees are project based.
Manuscript Evaluation
A manuscript evaluation is helpful if this is the first time your work is being reviewed by an editor and you’re not sure where to go next. It’s meant to be a springboard to help you move in the right direction.
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For a manuscript evaluation, I will read through your work and dive into the organization, plot, characters, themes, world-building, pacing, and more—focusing on the areas you request feedback on. I’ll then prepare an editorial letter containing impressions on where the manuscript shines along with suggestions and guidance so that you can confidently tackle your next steps.
You’ll receive a detailed editorial letter (5–10 pages depending on manuscript length).
Developmental Editing
Developmental editing is “big picture” editing focused on evaluating a manuscript’s overall strengths and weaknesses. This package is perfect if you’re looking to go a little deeper and get more specific feedback than you would in just a manuscript evaluation.
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In addition to a manuscript evaluation (as described above), my developmental editing package includes detailed in-text comments and a one-hour consultation (via video call, phone call, or instant messaging service). My in-text comments will point out specific areas of success and opportunity related to pacing, organization, tone, characterization, concision, and other elements that contribute to the strength of the overall story. The one-hour consultation will take place after you’ve received the edits to answer any remaining questions.
You’ll receive a detailed editorial letter (5–10 pages), in-text comments, and a scheduled one-hour consultation (more time may be added at the writer’s request).
Copyediting
Copyediting is precise, line-by-line, word-by-word editing for polishing a finished manuscript and removing errors to help your readers focus on the story being told.
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I will edit for grammar, punctuation, usage, spelling, and capitalization according to The Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster. I’ll make recommendations to smooth awkward sentences and paragraphs and clarify points of confusion. I will also check for accuracy and consistency and create a style sheet to keep track of your style preferences and other editorial decisions.
You’ll receive your document in MS Word with Tracked Changes, in-text comments/queries, and a style sheet.
Proofreading
Proofreading is the final quality-control check before a manuscript is published. It is meant to catch any errors or issues with consistency that may have slipped through other stages of editing.
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During proofreading, I’ll remove any remaining red flags that could distract your readers and check for consistent formatting, style decisions, etc.
You’ll receive your document in MS Word with Tracked Changes and queries, a style sheet, and a clean version of the document (without Tracked Changes).
Interviewing and Transcribing
My interview and transcription services are for those looking to record family oral histories or personal narratives. Recording an oral history is a wonderful way to make sure your family stories live on. I have recorded and transcribed 20+ interviews and know how to make the experience personal to you.
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My interview service includes the following:
- A consultation to determine the scope of the interview
- Personalized questions
- An interview (or a series of interviews) conducted in person or through video/phone call
- The audio files for the interview(s)
- A completed transcription in your preferred style
If you’ve already recorded an oral history, I offer transcription services with basic edits for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and sentence clarity. Alternatively, I can pull content from an interview (removing questions, dialogue tags, redundancies, etc.) to create a clean personal narrative. My goal with editing quoted material is always to preserve the speaker’s unique voice and change as little as possible while making the text clear and readable.
Testimonials
“Meredith performed the Herculean job of reading and editing my 500+ page book. There were instances of duplication, jumbled sentences, and some things that just did not make sense. She waded through all of that with meticulous attention to detail. The book has gone to press, and even 100 years from now, I’ll still be proud of it because we worked so hard to make it clear, readable, and grammatically correct.”
– Jonice
