Home: Editing Services

Back in grammar school, you had teachers who went through your work and marked every little thing, good and bad. Painful as that might have been, you learned how to write from it. Years have passed and now you are facing that blank page with your career on the line.

When I work my way through your efforts, I notice every little thing: grammar, punctuation, logic, and sometimes even technical errors. I’ll tell you how your work is strong and where it needs work. I won’t just tell you to change things, I’ll tell you why it’s wrong so you won’t make the same kinds of mistakes in your next work.

I'll also work really hard to make sure that you tell the story YOU want to tell, not some Melanie-flavored version of it.

I offer editing services, but you’ll get real feedback on your work so that every time you write, it’s better, and each time you take on a writing assignment, you feel stronger.

I’ll help you prepare your writing proposal, from outline and market analysis to contract negotiations. I was an Acquisitions Editor and I know what they need from you and what will convince them that you’re the right author.

Together, we’ll develop an outline including scoping the topic, choosing an audience, and focusing the coverage. You'll learn how much is too much information and how much is not enough.

You’ll need to analyze the competition, and I'll teach you how to do that research and help you do it. You may want to produce work just like someone else’s in scope or audience, and you need to know how to make a compelling argument for why your work will attract positive attention and sales. Or, maybe you aren’t sure if your approach is novel; together we can figure out what the best-selling work can be.

There are a lot of contract terms that you might find confusing or intimidating. I can help you figure out whether you need a lawyer or an agent, whether the terms are fair (according to the industry), and what to do if you find that you are not meeting the terms once the contract is underway.

In short, I’m your personal Acquisitions Editor, giving you the tools you need to get published.

Unlike a simple copyedit, I offer highly interactive feedback on the clarity of your text, the linear aspects of it (or lack thereof), and suggestions on how to head for your goal without getting lost in tangents on the way. I can make changes for you, or show you how your work can be more linear or clear and leave the decisions up to you.

My participation is almost like having a co-author in that I’ll help you focus, I’ll give you options for how to stay on the direct path, and I’ll be that objective first reader who’ll tell you whether you’ve clearly ended up where you promised you would. I know that it’s your name on the work, and I won’t insist that it’s my way or the byway.

You can get feedback in the text itself, in a separate document, on the phone, or via e-mail or Instant Messenger, whichever works best for you

Analyzing your subject’s market can be bewildering because there’s so much out there. I can help you refine your search, narrow the focus of your topic, and clarify your place in the market. I can help you determine what else is written, who its audience is, its scope and depth of coverage, and whether it’s available to the same audience as your work will be. Together, we can find a niche for your work and a suitable publisher, if that’s your goal.

Sometimes, it can be overwhelming to see all the editing and comments in your work. I can provide a separate document providing general comments on the work and your writing style.

These comments can range from quite general, regarding style, word choice, formatting, or focus, to detailed, regarding poor punctuation habits or a weakness in grammar. After a general statement about the overall work, you’ll get a bulleted list, organized by the type of errors you make, and some specific comments on how to improve or see these problems for yourself. Any strengths you have, and guidance on how to use those strengths throughout your work, will also be cited.