Are you an editor? Or are you looking for a freelance editor?

[Sarah]

Georgina wrote: "I'm going to post this link too. I think it's great advice.

"Ten Mistakes Writers Don’t See (But Can Easily Fix When They Do)"
http://www.holtuncensored.com/hu/the-ten-mistakes/"

Gotta agree that this is a fun little article. I really like that she cites examples from famous people who are allegedly masters of their craft. It's nice to know we're all human and all make the same stupid mistakes (haha)

Georgina added (in a later post) "It's great isn't it. I found it back in 2006 [...] Crutch words in particular, can be so funny to find. You'd think they'd be obvious, overused words, but I've found some doozies in my manuscripts. "

My crutch words change with time, with my moods, with each reading of the manuscript. Sometimes, I think I've overused a word and yet, when I specifically ask my First Readers, they say no, they hadn't noticed but will look for it now. Too funny indeed.

It's hard, though, when one does start overusing a word because it's a real challenge to get your brain to interrupt the flow of the sentence to deliberately write something else. Then again, that is why editing is so different than writing--and the point of editing is to destroy errors, not create new sentences.

I keep saying it, Editing=Destructive; Writing=Creative and ne'er the twain shall meet o_O

-sry

[Tricia]

Hi everyone!
Just a quick note to let everyone know that I'm available for editing and book formatting, for both print (CreateSpace) and ebook(Smashwords). I'd like to get a few more projects booked for March/April. Feel free to send me a message here, or check out my website (http://triciakristufek.com) for more information.
Thanks!

[[deleted user]]

Tricia wrote: "Hi everyone!
Just a quick note to let everyone know that I'm available for editing and book formatting, for both print (CreateSpace) and ebook(Smashwords). I'd like to get a few more projects booke..."

Hi Tricia. Are you still available for mine? Copy-editing for 'The Taint: Sorrow's Child'? I'm working on the developmental editor's notes now, fixing and adding and changing. I'd like to have it to you by the beginning of April. It around 98K. It will be heavily polished by then and therefore hopefully not too much work.

:) Georgina.

[Tricia]

Georgina,
Yup! I have you down (wasn't sure for when exactly, but April is fine). Thanks!

[[deleted user]]

Fantastic! It's all getting exciting now. :) Georgina.

[Tricia]

Sure thing Sarah! If nothing else, it's practice. I'll email you.

[Sarah]

Tricia, Got your email and will reply there. Thx!

(my feet are throbbing...day 1 of 2 offloading trucks *yikes*)

[Tricia]

Ugh, I don't miss unloading trucks, usually at some horrid hour. Go rest!

[Sarah]

Tricia wrote: "Ugh, I don't miss unloading trucks, usually at some horrid hour. Go rest!"

wish I could!! Just got word this Wed that my dept's hours are being cut so I have to get the SAME work done in 16 hrs that I've been struggling to get done in 24 + if I still want to get 24 hrs of pay, I have to spend the other 8 hrs offloading/downstacking someone else's trucks Thurs + Sat (yes, some guys who are screwing around, burning hours and not getting the job done so the middleaged out of shape overweight woman has to do their job AND her own. unbelievable!) Myself (51) and a new gal they hired (47) just downstacked a truck in 1:15 that takes three 25-30 yo guys 2:30 to do so yeah it's a problem but why is it MY problem? :-/

I'm not sure how all this will affect my editing progress but I'm so exhausted after day one of this I can barely think let alone think clearly.

[[deleted user]]

Sarah, the Webbiegrrl Writer wrote: "Tricia wrote: "Ugh, I don't miss unloading trucks, usually at some horrid hour. Go rest!"

wish I could!! Just got word this Wed that my dept's hours are being cut so I have to get the SAME work do..."

Not fair! :(

[Sarah]

alas georgina, life is not fair...i've got so many damned lemons here I really need to make some lemonade! :) plus I believe in karma. the %#+£}%? of the world will get their come-uppance

[[deleted user]]

Sarah, the Webbiegrrl Writer wrote: "alas georgina, life is not fair...i've got so many damned lemons here I really need to make some lemonade! :) plus I believe in karma. the %#+£}%? of the world will get their come-uppance"

That thought usually brings me some pleasure too. :)

[Annie]

I am a professional editor and promoter, but I like to offer something a little different to save authors money. I will do edits to just the first chapter and provide extensive feedback that can be used to perfect the rest of the book. That way, if the author so chooses to have me edit more of the book, I can focus on other things with them.

For reviews, I provide plenty of feedback about the overall product and will do reviews and author interviews to be submitted to at least one site and up to five.

So, if interested, just let me know! I'm always happy to help in any way that I can. :)

[Katherine]

Here's another option.

If your manuscript isn't quite ready for line editing and publication yet, I offer a manuscript critique service that's usually less expensive than line editing. Manuscript critique is geared toward helping writers tighten and focus the storyline and characters before beginning the rewriting process.

If you feel like your book is missing something, or you're stuck and don't know where / how to rewrite, a critique will give you a very objective view of your work, in a supportive rather than critical way.

I have more than 20 years' experience in editing, proofreading, and critique, and I'm a published author as well. I would be happy to provide a resume and references.

Thanks, and best of luck with your writing!
Katherine

[Marjorie]

So I haven't seen anyone posting on this thread recently and thought I'd give props to two of our Creative Reviews members who are offering editorial services.

Both Tricia Kristufek and Cassie McCown worked on my book Conditioned Response which just released last month. It's already getting some rave reviews and a few mixed reviews--not one of which mentions a single thing like "it had a few typos" or "the plotting needed to be looked at more closely" !! In fact, the high polish and tightness of the book are definitely two of the most-oft praised comments. That leaves people free to remark on the book, itself, which is why good editing makes a huge difference to a new author.

I wrote a "Trishtimonial" (using Splitter's term) and a testimonial for Cassie. These two had some seriously diverse styles and strengths. More on that after I quote each's recommendation (sent to them for posting on their web sites):

Trishtimonial (hasn't been posted yet I guess as of this writing but that's the link where it'll be "soon"):

Another Trishtimonial. I'd never worked with Trish before and had only briefly conversed with her on Goodreads so learning to communicate with a total stranger about my most-intimate and treasured thoughts (i.e, my first book!) was a a little intimidating before we started. I was daunted by the unknown, but Trish made communication about as easy as can be without sitting face to face over coffee with me. She was there, available via GChat (the GoogleTalk client which I have installed), like clockwork each and every morning, just to check in and touch base because she was "officially" working on my project. When it was "my turn" on her list, she made sure I knew it. That's Customer Service! It also meant that if she had a question, she could just ask, I'd answer, and my book suffered zero delay. Likewise, if I had an idea, I could instantly bounce it off her via GChat and she'd reply with honest and thoughtful reactions. I highly recommend Trish for any author who needs help during the developmental edits of their book. She's just fantastic at seeing the curve of the story arc and helping you to smooth out the bumps or identify where you need to insert another plot point to connect all the dots in a way that makes sense.There was only one area where Trish and I didn't see eye to eye: Proofreading. This was a point of contention due to the fact that Trish likes to refer to the Chicago Manual of Style and I use King's English. I'm not sure what details were really stylistic differences or other issues. We were just worlds apart on proofreading from the start so next time, I'll ask for Trish's inputs on the content and handle the proofreading through other channels. To paraphrase a reviewer of the book Trish helped to shape: What she does well, she does very well indeed. Thank you, Trish! -Marjorie F. Baldwin / Author of Conditioned Response

Okay, Tricia's #1 strength is her "instant" feedback, ability to brainstorm with you and provide you with a sense that you are #1 on her "to do" list. Cassie provides customer service, too, but not in this "at your fingertips" sense that Trish did.

Cassie's Testimonial

Cassie, I really don't know why I'm finding this so hard to write. Clearly, I still need your editorial guidance :) I appreciated all of your inputs more than I can say. Throughout the process, your unbiased and impersonal critiques addressed the material and its issues and never once brought me, my writer's style or my voice into the discussion. That's a very hard line for most people to avoid crossing.

In addition, when you were providing developmental inputs during the stage when I did the chapter-by-chapter reads in a public site, your remarks were designed to get me thinking about my plotting choices rather than praising or finding fault with the choices I'd already made. You never once told me this or that was right or wrong. Things you didn't think worked, you simply pointed out to me, telling me why they didn't work for you, and by inference, you trusted me to have the authorial skills required to fix the problems. That was a huge boost to my ego without your having to say anything directly. Like keeping the comments objective, this is also exceedingly hard for most people to do and you did it exceedingly well. There was only one other commenter who came close to your level of constructive and useful criticisms. I know my book is a far better piece of plotting and storytelling because you were a part of its early development than it would ever have been had you not been involved. I want you involved from the start for the next piece--and this one's starting to sell already, so hopefully, I'll be able to pay you what you're worth, which "ain't cheap" :)

To any authors considering hiring Cassie to do developmental edits for pacing, plotting and characterizations, I can only advise you to get onto her calendar early! She's sure to be booked solid just as soon as word gets out of how good she is!
-Marjorie F. Baldwin / Author of Conditioned Response

Cassie's #1 strength was the considered critiques, in-depth and objective, always specifically answering any questions I might've asked (even those I'd forgotten I'd asked). Cassie didn't answer in minutes or even days sometimes, but she always answered, in full, every last detail. Cassie also seemed to have a knack for crawling inside my head and asking the right questions back. That is, rather than just providing an answer that would work, she got me thinking about all the answers possible and then told me what she thought. It was a nifty trick. I don't even know if she realized, herself, that she was doing it. It was especially noticeable in the early days on Authonomy when I was doing chapter-by-chapter feedback but not providing updated drafts for them to read.

I can't say enough about the importance of getting a good editor. I think the trick is to find someone you mesh with and honestly, I felt more of a mesh with Cassie than with Trish. That's not saying Trish didn't help me--OMG did she ever! The morning check-ins were critical at one stage!--but I needed more hand-holding of Cassie's style, I think. It's all about personality and every author and every editor will have to find the pairing that works best for them. I was lucky enough to get two VERY different personalities BOTH Of whom managed to help me! That's a feat right there.

-Friday
@phoenicianbooks

[Donald]

I really could use an editor. I have no cash (or little to give)If you are interested in review some of my work. Please message me here on goodreads.

[Kerry]

K

[Christine]

I provide an affordable yet detailed editing/proofreading service for manuscripts - both fiction and nonfiction (most nonfiction topics and fiction genres).

I also edit/proofread author pages, back cover blurbs, book descriptions, book proposals, press releases, query letters, synopses, and anything else that the author needs edited/proofread.

You can view my complete list of services and their prices here.

You can contact me through my website to discuss the project that you need edited or proofread and I'll be happy to help.

Christine