Editing

I offer freelance editing services. I've been editing professionally since 2012, and unprofessionally (wait, that doesn't sound quite right...) for a lot longer than that. I love the written word, and I want to help you get your manuscripts in the best shape they can be. Contact me for more information, either on my Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/sarahallanauthor/ or email me at: sarahallaneditor@gmail.com

The fiction genres I will accept for editing are mostly in what I write: romance, erotica, and their various sub-genres. I am willing to consider other fiction genres as well. I also do other editing projects (example: proofreading professional letters and web content for clients), so feel free to contact me about whatever you need. I'm flexible.

One industry-standard manuscript page is defined as 250 words.

I offer the following services (descriptions of editing services are paraphrased from here, here, and here), though I am open to working with authors to help you get what you need:

Substantive/Developmental Editing 
This is the most intensive form of editing. The document is evaluated as a whole and problems of structure, organization, coherence, and logical consistency are corrected. Sentences may be removed or added. Paragraphs may be rewritten, condensed, or expanded. Blocks of text may be moved from one section to another. With fiction writing, the developmental edit will flag inconsistent character behavior or speech, help the author adjust language to the desired audience, and make sure the story has believable dialogue and a plausible plot line. A developmental edit will help improve clarity, accuracy, and readability. Issues with grammar, spelling, and punctuation will be reviewed.

Copy Editing 
A copy edit corrects problems of grammar, style, repetition, word usage, and jargon. Alternate wordings or suggestions for reworking sentences or paragraphs may be suggested. It is not as intensive or detailed as the substantive or developmental edit, and content issues are not addressed. 

Beta Reading 
A beta reading is usually performed on a complete manuscript and consists of reading through the entire manuscript with a critical eye. Suggestions for things like plot, scenes, characterization, what is or is not "working", and other issues will be made. Some light grammar, spelling, punctuation, style issues might be addressed. The author may request feedback on specific things for the beta reading to concentrate on (e.g. if a character is coming across as likable, if a scene is too violent, is the ending satisfying to the reader, etc.). This is the least extensive editing service that involves story reading and not just writing mechanics.

Proofreading 
Need one last set of eyes to catch any glaring errors before your manuscript goes out the door? That's what this edit is for. Different from a copy edit in that the editor only looks at very basic issues. A proofread is the lightest form of editing, and only minor errors are corrected.
These may include:
-errors of grammar and style (e.g. verb tense, use of numerals and words such as "5" or "five")
-errors of capitalization and punctuation (e.g. the use of commas, periods, semicolons, dashes, etc.)
-errors of spelling and word usage (e.g. to/two/too, affect/effect, farther/further)
No story elements will be addressed in a proofread, though light formatting issues (as far as consistency) will be addressed (e.g. consistently formatting characters' text messages within the story).

Please note: I do NOT do formatting for e-books, though there are many good services that do.

Since every author and manuscript are different, I will request a sample of the manuscript that I will use to gauge my editing time frame and fee. I cannot assign a time-frame for completion of edits until I've taken a look at the sample, performed the requested style of edits on it, and you're satisfied with the edits I've done on the sample. The sample size I request may either be based on the size/word count of the completed manuscript or a flat size, and may be be based on chapters, words, or pages (e.g. first chapter, first 2,000 words, or first ten pages). I require that samples be sent in the form of a Microsoft Word document in double-spaced Times New Roman 12pt font. I use the “track changes” feature heavily. NOTE: Please do not send a sample or complete manuscript if I have not requested one.

How it works: I will then send the sample back to you with an estimated quote for finishing the rest. The estimated quote will be based on several things: service requested, manuscript word count, and overall condition of the original sample. All of these things add up to roughly how many pages I can complete in an hour. A manuscript that comes in for a developmental edit that is in need of a lot of work will obviously take a while for me to comb through and do a satisfactory job on, and the estimated quote for that piece will be higher than a developmental edit of comparable length that comes to me with fewer errors and will take me a shorter amount of time to complete. An estimated quote is just that--an estimate, and I reserve the right to alter the estimated quote as necessary. If there will be a difference between the quoted price and actual (for any number of reasons, including that the manuscript turned out to be more time-intensive than I'd originally planned for), I will email the client to let them know and give them the option to either continue with the edits as planned, or to make other editing arrangements. I will also give the client the option to "upgrade" their service if it appears that more work may be necessary (example: if a client requests a copy edit, but the manuscript really needs a heavy developmental edit). If they agree and have paid any of the fee ahead it will apply to the more extensive service, and the rest of my work will be billed at the rate for that new service. This may also push my estimated completion time out, as it takes more time to do a developmental edit than a copy edit, for example. If the client in this situation would prefer not to upgrade, I will continue with the original service with the understanding that this may not be what's best for the manuscript.

Fee/Payment: I require half of the editing fee up front, and the other half before the final product is returned to the author. I accept money orders or PayPal.

I will include rough estimates for pricing at a later date. I primarily use the Chicago Manual of Style to base my edits on, though I do pull from other sources.

Disclaimer: I cannot guarantee that your manuscript will be accepted anywhere for publication. I reserve the right to refuse any editing project for any reason.