Why do I need an editor?

Nobody's perfect, and it always helps to have a second, trained set of eyes to help you optimize your time and effort before sending your manuscript out to an agent or publisher. My job is to make your work look even better while catching things an agent or publisher might otherwise reject right off the bat.

What do you do?

I work with you, the writer, to correct your misspelled words, incorrect grammar, inelegant structure and general rough edges. I may suggest rewriting your work in order to make it clearer, tighter and better overall.

What kind of editing will you do?

I can proofread and/or copyedit fiction, nonfiction, white papers, articles, papers, annual reports and résumés. If there's something you need my help with and it doesn’t appear on this list, ask me!

Can you get me published?

I can't, but I may be able to help you get your manuscript in good enough shape to capture the imagination and support of an agent or publisher.

But no, I'm not Oprah and I'm not going to introduce you to an agent who will guarantee you representation. Sorry.

Do you work for any publishers?

No. I am an independent editor. I will never, ever suggest you go with a certain agent or publisher, and I advise clients to be wary of any "independent" copyeditor who does.

Do you offer translation services?

No. I do not have enough confidence in my foreign-language skills to take on any translation duties.

What do you charge, and what does it include?

For simple proofreading—that is, checking for typos, misspellings and the like—I charge $5.00 a page based on 250 words to a page (or about $0.02 per word on a single page).

For copyediting—addressing clarity, style and general elegance of text—coaching and/or fact checking, my rate is $35.00 an hour, and, barring extensive research, I can do three to five pages in one hour. All clients receive a manuscript markup and critique of the overall work.

Significant changes or rewrites, if necessary, would be suggestions only and incumbent upon the author to fix. The same charge of $35.00 per hour applies for secondary revisions, half hour minimum.

I don't live in the United States. Is this a problem?

Thanks to the Internet, we should have no trouble collaborating! (You are reading this online, aren't you?) For mutual protection, I use PayPal to process payments, and this service can convert any currency into U.S. dollars at no additional cost to you.

Is there anything you won't touch?

Poetry. It's a very subjective medium—more so than fiction—and so I don't wish to risk correcting rules of spelling and usage broken intentionally.

Pornography. Although I am comfortable reading works that include sexual passages or themes, I prefer to stay away from writing that features such scenes as the main event.

Hate literature. I know this probably goes without saying, but you'd be surprised. Alternative history and even conspiracy theories are fine, but I draw the line at Holocaust denial and similar ideas.

Excessive and/or graphic violence, particularly in a misogynist vein, or in scenes where children are involved. See Pornography, above.

I think I'm ready. What next?

Drop me a line at editor[dot]eve[at]gmail[dot]com. Tell me a bit about yourself, your work and what you'd like to see me address. Do not send an attachment at this time. I'll be in touch.