How I Work

I’ll need a  manuscript that is done and ready to work on.

You’ll send me your first 3 chapters or 3000 words. I’ll read them, no charge,
to see if I think we can work together. Some new writers might require the
entire manuscript to be checked for constantly changing tenses, for example,
or they might not understand basic grammar. I’ll be looking for mistakes and
ways to make your book better, but not if the whole thing seems only half
realized.

We’ll schedule the edits.

You’ll get three editing passes from me:
1st pass is reader reactions: does it confuse the reader? Does something need
clarified? Is the book’s timeline impossible or out-of-sync with itself? Is
something factually incorrect? Are your characters in a “white room” and need
setting for their dialog? Can we tell who is actually speaking? I’ll let you
know when you are doing something right, too!

2nd pass is to see how and if you’ve made the changes I suggest. It’s your
book, so most of my comments will be suggestion, but I will let you know when
you’ve done something that absolutely must be fixed. I’ll also go deeper into
making the book sing at this point, working on things like flow and word
repetition.

3ed pass is to take care of any lingering issues.

During all three passes I’ll also check on spelling, punctuation, grammar, and
other copyediting and proofreading things, but I am primarily a developmental
editor. I’ll work to make your story and characters coherent, unforgettable,
and entertaining.