Editing Services
Free Sample Line Edit
Finding the right editor is like trying to find a good barber. You need to observe how they cut your hair, and understand their process; know what to expect if they’re to take their clippers and snip-snip at that little head of yours. It’s highly collaborative at its core, so before you make any big investments, you need to make sure I’m the editor for you.
I offer a free sample line edit of 1,500 words, where I will refine your work while preserving your voice. At the same time, I’ll offer insight into how these edits might function in the context of the overall story. Obviously, a line edit can’t be fully comprehensive in such a short amount of words, but a free sample can give you a glimpse into my style.
I offer a free sample line edit of 1,500 words, where I will refine your work while preserving your voice. At the same time, I’ll offer insight into how these edits might function in the context of the overall story. Obviously, a line edit can’t be fully comprehensive in such a short amount of words, but a free sample can give you a glimpse into my style.
Here’s how it works:
Submit Your Pages
Send me up to 1,500 words (around 5–6 double-spaced pages). This can be from your opening chapter, closing scene, or any section of your manuscript.
I’ll Edit Your Sample
I’ll return your submission with track changes in Word or Docs, showing exactly how I refine clarity, sentence structure/flow, word choice, and rhythm while keeping your unique voice intact.
See If It Fits
This gives you a clear idea of what my line edits look like, and whether or not they’re what your manuscript needs.
The sample edit is free, with no obligation to book. But if you decide to move forward, we’ll use the same approach across your full manuscript.
Developmental Editing
If you are not familiar with the levels of editing, you can think of developmental editing as the first step after you’ve completed a manuscript. From there, it’s handed to an editor who critiques the structural integrity of your book. Plot, setting, character, theme, and pacing are just a few of the key aspects that are covered in a developmental edit. But in the end, the main goal at this stage is to make sure your story runs smoothly.
If your story is a car, I’m the greasy-handed mechanic with my nose under the hood, examining and tinkering with the parts that need work. Skip this stage, and you might miss details that seem small to you, but unforgivable to your audience of readers. Ever read a book and said to yourself: “Well, that was weird,” or “I just don’t understand Jason . . .” or “This doesn’t feel right . . .” These are often markers of stories that need developmental work. The first goal is to write a book that simply keeps readers engaged. No need for grammar, punctuation, or style guides here. If you can’t keep your readers hooked, your words hold no weight.
If your story is a car, I’m the greasy-handed mechanic with my nose under the hood, examining and tinkering with the parts that need work. Skip this stage, and you might miss details that seem small to you, but unforgivable to your audience of readers. Ever read a book and said to yourself: “Well, that was weird,” or “I just don’t understand Jason . . .” or “This doesn’t feel right . . .” These are often markers of stories that need developmental work. The first goal is to write a book that simply keeps readers engaged. No need for grammar, punctuation, or style guides here. If you can’t keep your readers hooked, your words hold no weight.
Rates:
My current rate for developmental editing is $0.02 per word, or about $20 for every 1,000 words. For example, a 25,000-word novella would cost $500, while a 100,000-word novel would cost $2,000. On average, I edit 50,000 words in about a week to a week and a half, and I measure projects in 25,000-word increments. Timelines may vary based on the project, however. Oftentimes, the delivery is quicker than expected, but more complex projects may move past the estimated timeline.
Sample Pricing & Timelines (Developmental Editing):
Word Count Timeline (avg.) Price
You’ll receive:
A Full Developmental Edit
You’ll receive heavy marginal comments on plot/structure, character, pacing, dialogue, world-building, and etc.
An Editorial Letter
This can be anywhere between 5–30 pages. It all depends on the complexity of the project and how I need to organize my thoughts. The letter will be well structured, easily navigable, and clear on how you should progress in revision.
Extended Support
You will have access to email me anytime with any questions or concerns regarding your project up to 30 days after completion of the project.
Factors that affect the rate and timeline:
- Word count
- Structural Complexity
- Emotional and Thematic Depth
- Worldbuilding and Magic System Complexity
- Style of Prose
Line Editing/Copyediting
If developmental editing critiques the structural integrity of your book, then line editing/copyediting evaluates word choice, sentence structure, voice, and the overall sense clarity and consistency of the prose itself. Redundancies, confusing sentences, contradictory phrasing, and flat word choice are all factors that can pull a reader away from the page, even if your book is structurally sound. In addition to these responsibilities, a good copyeditor will also take note of your specific style as a writer while aligning grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and hyphenation rules with The Chicago Manual of Style—the standard book publishing reference guide of the book publishing industry.
So, maybe you have a story that works, but don’t have an idea of how to express the emotions required to add depth to your plot, character, and theme. In my copyedits, I’ll strengthen your prose while maintaining your unique voice as an author, helping you craft a more polished novel.
So, maybe you have a story that works, but don’t have an idea of how to express the emotions required to add depth to your plot, character, and theme. In my copyedits, I’ll strengthen your prose while maintaining your unique voice as an author, helping you craft a more polished novel.
Rates:
Line editing/copyediting is a meticulous service, and my rate is $0.026 USD per word. Timelines for a finished product can range anywhere from 1–4 weeks. This is going to, of course, depend on the length and overall quality of the manuscript. Alongside a polished copyedit, you’ll also receive a book-specific style sheet, which is a document that bookmarks specific preferences and style choices unique to an author’s work. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are among the most common preferences placed on a style sheet. It’s useful to keep not only for your own use moving forward (especially if your work is the first of many in a series), but also for when you reach the proofreading process (should you decide to go and find a proofreader, which I highly encourage).
Note: all Line Editing/Copyediting and Proofreading services will be handled by Jaelan McCloud.
Sample Pricing & Timelines (Line Editing):
Word Count Timeline (avg.) Price
If you want to inquire about line editing/copyediting for a higher word count, please contact me, and we can discuss your specific needs.
You’ll receive:
Detailed Line & Copyedit
A detailed line edit, or copyedit, with track changes, and marginal comments that will
Extended Support
You will have access to email me anytime with any questions or concerns regarding your project up to 30 days after completion of the project.
Copyediting Rate:
My current copyediting rate is set at $0.026 USD per word. An important thing to note here is that I also incorporate line editing within my copyediting process. From my experience, I’ve found that line editing and copyediting go hand and hand with each other pretty often. The minimum word count for projects I’m willing to take on is 5,000 words, and the maximum word count is 110,000. For any outside of any of these ranges, please contact me.
Timelines for a finished product can range anywhere from 1–4 weeks. This is going to, of course, depend on the length and overall quality of the manuscript. Alongside a polished copyedit, you’ll also receive a book-specific style sheet, which is a document that bookmarks specific preferences and style choices unique an author’s work. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are among the most common preferences placed on a style sheet, and it’s useful to keep not only for your own use moving forward (especially if your work is the first of many in a series), but also for when you reach the proofreading process (should you decide to go and find a proofreader, which I highly encourage).
Timelines for a finished product can range anywhere from 1–4 weeks. This is going to, of course, depend on the length and overall quality of the manuscript. Alongside a polished copyedit, you’ll also receive a book-specific style sheet, which is a document that bookmarks specific preferences and style choices unique an author’s work. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are among the most common preferences placed on a style sheet, and it’s useful to keep not only for your own use moving forward (especially if your work is the first of many in a series), but also for when you reach the proofreading process (should you decide to go and find a proofreader, which I highly encourage).
Sample Pricing & Timelines (Copyediting):
Word Count Timeline (avg.) Price
If you want to inquire about copyediting for a higher word count, please contact me, and we can discuss your specific needs. Also, payment plans are available upon query.
Proofreading
Brief note on what proofreading is:
Proofreading is the final stage of a manuscript before it moves to print. When a manuscript makes it to this stage in the process, the manuscript has already been through one or two rounds of copyediting.
Both copyeditors and proofreaders are going to look for inconsistencies within the manuscript. Grammar mistakes, misspellings, and punctuation fall under both of their watches. However, while copyeditors are concerned with the logic, accessibility, and structure of the prose itself, proofreaders do not involve themselves with these elements. Furthermore, copyeditors help shape and mold the style and tone of the manuscript. A proofreader’s responsibilities won’t delve into any of these realms of the editing process. Proofreaders care more about how the words appear on the page instead of the substance of such words.
Furthermore, some proofreaders are responsible for things like typesetting the manuscript, which is a responsibility outside of the copyeditor’s tasks.
I have to make this distinction because, in my experience, many authors tend to make a false equivalency between copyediting and proofreading. If authors fail to understand this, their expectations may be unfulfilled. Unless an author has already gone through the proper copyediting process, authors should not look for their manuscript to be proofread.
This, I cannot stress enough.
So now I’ve made that quick little note, my proofreading rate is set at $0.018 USD per word. Also, minimum and maximum word count for projects I’m willing to take on is the same as my copyediting requirements: 5,000 words minimum, and 110,000 maximum.
Proofreading is the final stage of a manuscript before it moves to print. When a manuscript makes it to this stage in the process, the manuscript has already been through one or two rounds of copyediting.
Both copyeditors and proofreaders are going to look for inconsistencies within the manuscript. Grammar mistakes, misspellings, and punctuation fall under both of their watches. However, while copyeditors are concerned with the logic, accessibility, and structure of the prose itself, proofreaders do not involve themselves with these elements. Furthermore, copyeditors help shape and mold the style and tone of the manuscript. A proofreader’s responsibilities won’t delve into any of these realms of the editing process. Proofreaders care more about how the words appear on the page instead of the substance of such words.
Furthermore, some proofreaders are responsible for things like typesetting the manuscript, which is a responsibility outside of the copyeditor’s tasks.
I have to make this distinction because, in my experience, many authors tend to make a false equivalency between copyediting and proofreading. If authors fail to understand this, their expectations may be unfulfilled. Unless an author has already gone through the proper copyediting process, authors should not look for their manuscript to be proofread.
This, I cannot stress enough.
So now I’ve made that quick little note, my proofreading rate is set at $0.018 USD per word. Also, minimum and maximum word count for projects I’m willing to take on is the same as my copyediting requirements: 5,000 words minimum, and 110,000 maximum.
Sample Pricing & Timelines (Proofreading):
Word Count Timeline (avg.) Price
Beta Reading
One of the biggest anxieties a writer can have is putting their story out into the world for others to see. Though writing is a personal matter, in the end it’s the reader we serve. After finishing a manuscript, it’s key to let yourself step away from your work and let other opinions into the mix.
It’s a scary process, and though getting people to read your work is important and often tedious, you need more than just your friends and family’s opinion. They may read it, but how familiar are they with your world? They might give you feedback, but how applicable or enlightening is that feedback?
This is why you need a skilled reader; someone who can point out how your story feels, how it lands, how real your characters are—and ultimately, how your audience is likely to react to your book. Please, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to be introduced to you, the beta reader! (It’s my frickin’ job to read, so let me do my job!) All jokes aside, I’d love to give you gut-level, intuitive feedback on your work.
I’m not the type of beta reader that simply gives you feedback such as, “I didn’t like this . . . this is confusing . . . why did you do this?” Feedback like this, in my opinion, is rather vague and unhelpful. I like to be precise and point out why I feel the way I feel. Whether editing or reading, I like to be thorough to the point that you’ll be able to take something from it.
It’s a scary process, and though getting people to read your work is important and often tedious, you need more than just your friends and family’s opinion. They may read it, but how familiar are they with your world? They might give you feedback, but how applicable or enlightening is that feedback?
This is why you need a skilled reader; someone who can point out how your story feels, how it lands, how real your characters are—and ultimately, how your audience is likely to react to your book. Please, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to be introduced to you, the beta reader! (It’s my frickin’ job to read, so let me do my job!) All jokes aside, I’d love to give you gut-level, intuitive feedback on your work.
I’m not the type of beta reader that simply gives you feedback such as, “I didn’t like this . . . this is confusing . . . why did you do this?” Feedback like this, in my opinion, is rather vague and unhelpful. I like to be precise and point out why I feel the way I feel. Whether editing or reading, I like to be thorough to the point that you’ll be able to take something from it.
Pricing:
Unlike my developmental edits, I charge flat rates between three tiers for my beta reads, as the feedback is more or less intuitive and reactional rather than directional, but based on which tier you pick, I may venture slightly into developmental territory. Beta reads are available for manuscripts up to 100,000 words. Longer manuscripts may be considered at an adjusted rate, but anything over 100k words is generally better suited for a developmental edit. Please contact me personally if you’d like to inquire about a longer beta read.
Tier one: General Impression ($100)
Here, I’ll provide general feedback, pointing out areas of confusion, pacing issues, engagement, and character believability/likability.
What you’ll get: A short summary letter (2–3 pages) of the things I saw within your manuscript, where issues may pop up later, your strengths, and subtle suggestions on how you can move forward.
Tier two: Report ($150)
Here, I’ll go a bit deeper into my thoughts and provide a slightly longer summary letter (3–4 pages) of your work, its strengths, and its weaknesses. You will also get a document with margin comments, where I’ll be providing a few of my thoughts at key moments within your story.
Tier three: Deep Dive ($200)
Here, you will get a highly detailed summary letter (4–5 pages) providing my full thoughts on engagement, character, structure, prose, strengths, and weaknesses, along with margin comments with my full/live reactions as I move throughout the manuscript. At a few points, I may dip slightly into developmental territory to offer you examples of what I might do if I were to perform a full developmental edit.
Tier one: General Impression ($100)
Here, I’ll provide general feedback, pointing out areas of confusion, pacing issues, engagement, and character believability/likability.
What you’ll get: A short summary letter (2–3 pages) of the things I saw within your manuscript, where issues may pop up later, your strengths, and subtle suggestions on how you can move forward.
Tier two: Report ($150)
Here, I’ll go a bit deeper into my thoughts and provide a slightly longer summary letter (3–4 pages) of your work, its strengths, and its weaknesses. You will also get a document with margin comments, where I’ll be providing a few of my thoughts at key moments within your story.
Tier three: Deep Dive ($200)
Here, you will get a highly detailed summary letter (4–5 pages) providing my full thoughts on engagement, character, structure, prose, strengths, and weaknesses, along with margin comments with my full/live reactions as I move throughout the manuscript. At a few points, I may dip slightly into developmental territory to offer you examples of what I might do if I were to perform a full developmental edit.
Sample Pricing & Tiers (Beta Reading):
Tier Price What You’ll Get
-
General Impression $100
A short 2–3 page letter with overall feedback on clarity, pacing, engagement, and character believability.
-
Report $150
A longer 3–4 page letter covering strengths and weaknesses, plus a document with margin notes and comments at key points.
-
Deep Dive $200
A 4–5 page detailed letter covering engagement, character, structure, prose, strengths, and weaknesses, plus margin comments and notes documenting my live reactions as I read.
Editorial Assessment
An editorial assessment is what happens when an editor takes a look at a manuscript and evaluates structure, theme, pacing, character, and all of the other big picture elements within your work. If beta reads are you receiving gut-level, intuitive feedback from a reader’s perspective, then the editorial letter is a detailed breakdown of your manuscript from the eye of a professional editor.
Editorial letters remove the comments and track changes often found in a developmental edit or even line edits. It is an assessment of your work that serves as a guide in your revision process. You may not want feedback on lines that are up for the cutting board, and you may not want to deal with the clutter of sifting through comment after comment.
Who is this for?
If you’re early in the process—whether that means you’ve just finished your first draft, or if you’re still in the process of writing, and need tailored feedback that will provide direction and clarity to push you forward—then an editorial letter may be for you. If you want intuitive feedback, book a beta read, and if you want intuitive and constructive/developmental feedback, purchase an editorial assessment. But this is also helpful if you are near publication, and you need the perspective of a strong and detailed eye.
Editorial letters remove the comments and track changes often found in a developmental edit or even line edits. It is an assessment of your work that serves as a guide in your revision process. You may not want feedback on lines that are up for the cutting board, and you may not want to deal with the clutter of sifting through comment after comment.
Who is this for?
If you’re early in the process—whether that means you’ve just finished your first draft, or if you’re still in the process of writing, and need tailored feedback that will provide direction and clarity to push you forward—then an editorial letter may be for you. If you want intuitive feedback, book a beta read, and if you want intuitive and constructive/developmental feedback, purchase an editorial assessment. But this is also helpful if you are near publication, and you need the perspective of a strong and detailed eye.
Pricing:
I charge a flat fee of $500 for editorial letters. It’s designed for writers who want big-picture clarity and direction without the full investment of an in-depth edit.
What you will get:
An Editorial Letter detailing your big picture elements, strengths, weaknesses, and guidance for revision. As I mentioned with my developmental edits, this letter can range anywhere from 5–30 pages (or more).
What you will get:
An Editorial Letter detailing your big picture elements, strengths, weaknesses, and guidance for revision. As I mentioned with my developmental edits, this letter can range anywhere from 5–30 pages (or more).
How Booking Works
Editing is an investment, and I want it to be as accessible and affordable as possible. Payment plans are available and tailored to your project upon proposal.
Step 1: Choose Your Service
Decide whether you need a Sample Edit, Beta Read, Developmental Edit, Editorial Letter, or any other service.
● If you select Beta Read, you’ll also choose your tier: General Impression, Report, or Deep Dive.
Decide whether you need a Sample Edit, Beta Read, Developmental Edit, Editorial Letter, or any other service.
● If you select Beta Read, you’ll also choose your tier: General Impression, Report, or Deep Dive.
Step 2: Submit Your Project (I’m thinking of some kind of intake form that connects to my email. I wonder if there is a way to automate a response for confirmation)
Fill in the form with your name and email, exact word count, and brief description (genre, goals, concerns as well). Depending on your service, here’s what to send:
Fill in the form with your name and email, exact word count, and brief description (genre, goals, concerns as well). Depending on your service, here’s what to send:
- Sample Edit→ Up to 1,500 words (5–6 double-spaced pages). I’ll return your pages with track changes, showing how I refine clarity, rhythm, and word choice while preserving your voice. If you’re considering a full line or developmental edit, I strongly recommend starting here.
- Developmental Editing → Submit 10–25 pages. I’ll review your story’s structure, pacing, and scope, then send a tailored proposal with pricing and timeline.
- Line Editing (Full Project) → For 5,000–50,000 words. Start with a sample edit first, then we’ll expand into a full project based on your manuscript’s needs.
- Beta Reads → Submit your full manuscript (up to 100,000 words) and select your tier: General Impression, Report, or Deep Dive.
Step 3: Secure Your Spot
For Developmental Edits, Line Edits, Beta Reads, and Editorial Letters (Skip if you only requested a sample edit.)
For Developmental Edits, Line Edits, Beta Reads, and Editorial Letters (Skip if you only requested a sample edit.)
- I’ll send you a proposal outlining scope, pricing, and timeline.
- For Beta Reads, pricing is fixed — the proposal confirms acceptance + timeline.
- Once you confirm and make a payment, your project is officially booked.
Step 4: The Edit
I’ll complete your edit, read, or assessment within the agreed timeline. You’ll receive: ● Margin notes in your manuscript (with track changes depending on service).
I’ll complete your edit, read, or assessment within the agreed timeline. You’ll receive: ● Margin notes in your manuscript (with track changes depending on service).
- A detailed editorial letter explaining strengths, weaknesses, and next steps.
Step 5: Revisions & Beyond
Once you’ve reviewed your feedback, you’ll have the clarity to revise with confidence. If you’d like, we can schedule a follow-up consultation call to walk through the notes together.
Once you’ve reviewed your feedback, you’ll have the clarity to revise with confidence. If you’d like, we can schedule a follow-up consultation call to walk through the notes together.