Sending your story to an editor—especially if you’re new to the process, but also when you’ve been writing a long time—can induce anxiety and above all, uncertainty. What’s going to happen? What shape will the manuscript be in when you get it back?
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the editing processes. First, I’ll talk about how I make suggestions. In two follow-up posts, I’ll discuss the kinds of suggestions I most often make.
Particularly for those who appreciate knowing a lot of detail about what to expect, or who could find this useful as a checklist for self-editing, I'm putting together a 3-post blog series about how editing works. (It's based on my experience as an editor and also as a writer being edited; that doesn't make it universal, but it at least gives some background information for the processes involved. It'll be lot of background, actually, by the time part 3 is posted.)
I'm a freelance editor looking to edit your stories, fan fictions, poems, resumes, essays–anything! I provide proofreading, line editing, structural editing, copy editing, and revision and suggestion services all in several convenient bundles!
I'm an experienced editor having freelanced for almost a year now and served as Editor-in-Chief of the publication West 10th. I've edited poetry, prose, novels, fan fiction, scientific writing, resumes, and more. Please reach out via email if you'd like to see samples of my work.
RATE
(Each bundle includes one consultation)
Under 1k words – $25 with a 3 day turnaround
1k-5k words – $50 with a 5 day turnaround
5k-10k words – $100 with up to 2 weeks turnaround
Additional words exceeding 10k – $0.20/word
Additional consultations – $10/ea
Faster turnaround – $10/ea day
In March I’m opening full-time for freelance editorial work. You can read more about my packages and rates here: https://caroline-fitzgerald-shea.squarespace.com/editorial-consultations
I’ll also be relaunching my Patreon (patreon.com/carolineshea) featuring free weekly interviews with writers, editors, booksellers & more!
Feel free to reach out at [email protected] with any questions about editorial packages. March's Patreon interviews feature conversations with Alix Harrow and Jac Jemc among others, so subscribe for free now so you don't miss them: patreon.com/carolineshea
This is an editing porfolio and commissions guide for a freelance editor.
Hello all! Just a reminder that editing commissions are open, and this time I have a carrd!! All information about my commissions can be found inside, so please click the link and check it out!
As always, I reserve the right to refuse any commission I am personally uncomfortable with. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me either via dms or the email found inside my carrd!
Find your words, discover your story, unleash your dragons. Created by author, podcaster and overall book nerd Rebecca Fisher, Dragons Unlea
Find your words, discover your story, unleash your dragons.
Created by author, podcaster and overall book nerd Rebecca Fisher, Dragons Unleashed editing and revision services is dedicated to helping science fiction and fantasy writers get their manuscript ready for publication, pitching, or even just to the next stage of the drafting process. With her experience, enthusiasm, compassion and knowledge of the publishing and writing world, Rebecca is 100% dedicated to helping you find your words, discover your story, and unleash your dragons.
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Standard Rates & Services
PROOF READING (Checking for spelling, grammar, awkward sentences and wording, format, etc.): Full Length Books (50k words+): 25c per page. Short stories (Less than 15k words) 50c per page.
LINE EDITS/WORD CHOICE ANALYSIS: Books: 50c per page. Short stories: 75c per page.
CONTENT EDITING (Recommended): Books: 75c-$1 per page. Short stories: $1-$2 per page.
PLEASE NOTE that while these are standard rates, they are not set in stone. Prices may vary depending on individual client needs and financial well-being. Services are individualized and prices are subject to change project by project.
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DISCLAIMER: While hiring a professional editor certainly helps the author and their book be the best they can be, it does NOT guarantee success either with pitching agents or in the indi publishing world. Rebecca does NOT promise that her work will mean your book will receive immediate/substantial commercial success, bur rather the assurance that you, as the author, made sure your work was the absolute best it could be at the time of release by eliminating typos, strengthening sentences and paragraphs, and solidifying plot and character arches. These features guarantee an enjoyable, good book, which precedes any amount of commercial or financial success.
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About Rebecca
Rebecca went all the way through school with a book in her lap and ideas scribbled in the margins of her notebook, and despite all the trouble she got in with her teachers, wound up with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Literature and Writing from Hiram College. She studied Library and Information Science at Kent State University for a while, and has since worked as a Youth Services Librarian, a shop clerk, and a writer for podcasts, and a receptionist at a Chiropractor’s office. She’s now splitting her time between working on her own projects and helping other writers with theirs. When not getting lost in stories, she’s wondering out in nature or snuggled up on the couch with her husband and their five cats. She lives in Cleveland, Ohio.
Get editing help from a writer who knows what it's like down in the trenches. Check out my portfolio to see some of what I've written over the years!
Here’s a PSA from one freelance video editor to possibly another if they ever find this...
If a client is paying you by the hour, please
P L E A S E
Include the time it takes to export those videos. You may not be actively working but:
1. It’s most of your computer’s processing power so you can’t do much else on it and you’ll just be sitting there and waiting for the thing to be done. That can eat up time in your day.
2. It’s your electricity (and internet speed and file storage when dealing with uploading and downloading footage).
3. It’s your software that the client either doesn’t have, or they don’t have the time to bother with it.
At the end of the day, they hired you because you have that specific skill, and you have that specific piece of equipment and software. Equipment and Software can also have costs. Especially if you’re working with Adobe. I still low key hate adobe and prefer Final Cut Pro X but that’s beside the point.
ALWAYS FACTOR IN THE COST OF EXPORTING THE VIDEO
My first client I had nearly full time took advantage of me by telling me to export in bulk and let it do so overnight. Not charging anything for it. And sure, that was fine then when I was still at home and not paying bills. But now? Five years later? Holy shit. That’s a flippin scam. That would have been a ton of extra hours paid that I could have really used at the time.
And this current client whose stuff I’m exporting as I’m typing asked for a redo of 38 small clips. And depending on length, each of these are taking roughly 3-5 ish minutes.
It’s a free 2 hours essentially! It’s $60! That’s a tiny grocery trip, a console game, or several subscription payments.
one week left of the semester and then i just have to grade until my eyes bleed for 4 days and then i’m DONE, i’m not working this summer bc i’ve had it. officially.
Folks, I am officially hanging out my shingle! Shelly Greene, aka TurtleTotem, editor for hire. Need a professional pair of eyes on your novel manuscript? Preparing to self-publish? Willing to seriously invest in your fanfic? I’m your girl!
Qualifications:
I have three novels and two novellas published (under Shelly Greene and Elizabeth Belyeu)
I have experience with small presses and with independent publishing, working with and without an agent
I worked a six-month editing internship at Astraea Press (now CleanReads), where I was described as thorough, detail-oriented, and easy to work with
Specialties:
Romance, including LGBTQ
Fantasy
Science Fiction
Young Adult
Rates:
For developmental edits, 2¢ per word
Developmental editing is an in-depth analysis of the structure and content of your story, focusing on things like theme, tone, and the plot as a whole. Big-picture editing.
For copy editing, 1.5¢ per word
Copy editing involves correcting spelling and grammar errors, inconsistencies, fact checking, continuity, and making sure the story is cohesive and coherent on a sentence/paragraph level.
For proofreading, 1¢ per word
Proofreading is the final polish of a manuscript, checking for typos and technical errors without worrying about story content.
To engage my services or ask for more information (all questions welcome!), message me on tumblr or email me at [email protected]. (Note the “1″ there, just turtletotem is someone else.)
Even if you’re not looking for an editor right now, please reblog and help me spread the word to people who might be!
