Editor for Hire

Writers may struggle for months to years with putting their ideas into words. Later, after letting the work sit (hours for short pieces - months for book-length works), writers can attempt to do basic editing. Tip sources suggest writers first look at their:

-spelling errors

-grammar

-sentence structure

-organizational problems

Most errors usually fall into one of those categories. However, each problem creates its own editing task, which can include multiple layers of editing. It can become quite confusing to edit your own work, especially if you're working in isolation.


Therefore, most seasoned writers and writing teachers preach:

No writer can edit their entire work successfully.


Writers need a fresh pair of eyes to spot mistakes, not only in structural errors but in logic, organization, and flow. Sometimes, what I think is most important to include in a piece is the same passage other writers question or suggest I should delete.


Moving From Writer to Editor

I've helped other writers over the years to edit their works, usually as a member of writer groups (or friends who needed to spit and polish their writing). I'd never considered doing editing as a job, though, something others might pay me to do. However, I've recently crossed over from a friend-editor to semi-professional editor (semi-professional meaning, I don't work for a publishing house).

I'm excited by my new role! I know I can help writers see their words more clearly and express those ideas in better ways. I have the patience to spot the missing comma (line editing) and the ability to recall--and notice problems with--the structure of what I'm reading (organization / flow). If a writer tells a reader that the tablecloth was blue--and it changes in Chapter Three to being green, I'll notice. When pronoun refer back to the wrong person, it grates on my reading "ear". When a phrase sits in the wrong position in a sentence, my reading eyes notice and my brain tries to switch the phrase to the correct position. When a writer uses "that" to refer to a person (my grandmother that baked bread), I automatically want to fix it and insert "who" - as a matter of fact, my brain screams WHO, WHO, WHO!

If you'd like me to review your work, please E-mail me. Tell me the length of your work and genre. I'll give you a sample edit of 5-pages, and return it with my quote. We'll agree on a price and method of payment. Fees must be paid in advance.

I work best with non-fiction, autobiographies, biographies, historical, self-help. Note: I will not be able to check facts or double-check research within this editing. If you want that type of review, however, inquire and I'll let you know if I can do the work.

I do not accept the following types of work: Pornographical; works in which abuse of children or other vulnerable persons is the central piece of non-fiction (abuse intended to titillate); Science Fiction (my reading ears never quite get the far-out names of characters); hate speech / hate writing; heavy religious topics.


If you want a strong review and critque...
If you want suggestions to improve your work..
If you want help making your ideas clearer...

Then contact me.


Judith