Professional Editorial Services,
Delivered with Care and Respect
Because I’ve had decades of experience working with creatives, and more than 15 of those in the writing world, I seek to support and empower you, as a writer. All of my feedback is delivered through the lens of care and respect, with the goal of helping your story, in your unique voice, touch the heart and mind of your ideal reader.
The Bookpilot Process
Step 1
Apply for a Free Consultation
Step 2
Manuscript Review
Step 3
Custom Editorial Package
Free Consultation
I ask you to provide me some information about your project so I can quickly see whether you and I might be a good fit or whether I might recommend you to a colleague. If it seems like we might work well together, I’ll reach out to schedule a video call, so we can get to know each other and I can hear more about your goals for your writing project.
Please keep in mind that my areas of specialization are in historical fiction, literary fiction, speculative fiction and nonfiction that is rooted in real events, time periods, or cultural research. Also, before I begin any in-depth editorial review, I always start with a manuscript review.
Manuscript Review
A manuscript review is an investment in your work. Think of it as a “30,000 feet” overview of your manuscript.
I will provide a comprehensive editorial assessment of your written draft and offer high-level feedback on its strengths, as well as the areas that could use revision.
I will not edit your draft, but rather, evaluate its strengths and weaknesses in multiple aspects. For example, in a novel or a memoir, I would evaluate the following aspects (and more):
Theme or message: What idea or conclusion do you want the reader to come to after reading your book?
Structure: Does each scene/chapter amplify or illuminate the theme, and build up to a climax and resolution?
Tone: What is the tone of the narrative, and does it effectively amplify the message? Is it consistent throughout?
Character development: Does the author/protagonist change and grow throughout the narrative?
Descriptive details: Does the writing help the reader envision the events with vivid sensory descriptions?
On completion of the manuscript review, I will share my feedback with you, both in writing and in a follow-up phone or video call. I will also recommend the level of editing I believe your manuscript requires to attain the next step in your publishing journey.
Should you decide to leave your manuscript with me for subsequent editing, I will credit the cost of the manuscript review to the final cost.
The reason I begin every project with a manuscript review is so that we begin with clarity, alignment, and a shared understanding of what your story needs.
Editorial Services
After I have reviewed your manuscript, I’ll be able to recommend the level of editing that your book will need before it’s ready for publication. I typically focus on copyediting and proofreading.
Copyediting
Copyediting (in which I include line editing) comes after you’ve completed your work, be it novel, nonfiction, article, blog post, web content, or business communication.
You’re satisfied with its structure, story arc, and plot or thesis development.
I will do a deeper edit, reviewing and suggesting modifications that, in my professional opinion, improve clarity, consistency, and reader flow/ comprehension.
I will suggest changes based on YOUR ideal reader, the choices you’ve made in building YOUR world, and your chosen or required style guide.
I will endeavor to enhance your text's coherence, consistency and ultimate readability.
After copyediting, your work will be ready for final proofreading.
Proofreading
Proofreading is the final and crucial step before submission to a publisher, and then again after the actual book or PDF file is created.
In proofreading your manuscript or published proof copy, I will ensure that the document is error-free, polished, and follows your chosen style guide, and is ready for the next step in your publication process.
I will scour your manuscript and eliminate the inevitable surface errors that creep into our writing, in spelling, punctuation, repetitive word choices (unless they are intentional!), and confusing syntax. I specialize in catching those pesky errors we miss in our own writing.
I will flag inconsistencies—capitalization, spelling of character and place names—according to your preferred style guide. I’ll even compile one for you if requested.
I will cast my eagle eye on the work’s formatting, ensuring spacing, fonts, headers, captions, tables, and lists are correct and consistent.
A note on Nonfiction and Academic Projects
For authors working on narrative nonfiction or humanities-based projects, I help transform well-researched material into engaging prose, either for an academic or general audience, as applicable.
Focus areas include:
Logical flow and argument structure
Readability and narrative connection
Historical and contextual accuracy
Smooth integration of quotations, references, and data
If your writing project includes footnotes or bibliographic material, I offer citation editing as a separate editorial pass. I am comfortable handling citations with precision and in most typical style guides (eg, APA, Chicago, MLA, etc).
How do we work together?
Step 1: Apply for a Free Consultation — You’ll provide me with some information about your book. I will respond within 48 hours to talk about your project in more detail, your timeline for completion, and your publishing plans. We’ll discuss your goals, and what the manuscript review process would look like for your book.
Step 2: Manuscript Review — If we decide to start working together in a manuscript review, you’ll provide your full manuscript as a Word Document. I will read it, beginning to end, and provide high-level feedback on your book’s strengths, as well as the areas that could use revision. I will also give you a comprehensive editorial assessment, so that you know what type of editing your book will need before it goes on to publication.
Step 3: Custom Editorial Package — I’ll put together an editorial plan that will move your manuscript through the levels of editing it needs before it’s published. The levels of editing may include developmental editing, copyediting or line editing, or a combination. If we would like to continue working together through editing your manuscript, I will credit the investment of the manuscript review toward our custom editorial package. Most packages fall in the range of .02 to .04 per word, depending on how much editing is required.