Editing Services
I’ve been a professional writer now for more than two decades—my first novel released in ‘10—and I’ve been delighted to see my books win several accolades: Starred reviews in PW and Booklist. A silver medal in Foreword INDIES Book of the Year. A gold medal in the IPPYs. I’ve been featured on Booklist’s Best First Novels for Youth, School Library Journal’s What’s Hot in YA, and have been chosen as a PW Pick of the Week. I’ve also seen my work for younger readers become a finalist or Master List nominee for several state reader awards, including my own home state of Missouri’s Mark Twain Award.
But they would never have gotten there without some great editors.
Look, I know, firsthand, what it’s like to have a manuscript you can feel just vibrates with potential…but isn’t quite there yet. I know how frustrating it can be to struggle for weeks on end, trying to come up with a solution to what’s not working. I know how hard it can sometimes be to even identify what’s not working.
I know, in short, how important an editorial eye can be.
I know what kind of guidance has helped me the most over the years—both with specific projects and in becoming a better writer overall. And it’s a delight to bring this guidance to other authors.
What I Offer
Developmental Edits
Brainstorming Sessions
Plotting Consults
Line Edits
Copyedits
Query Letter Consults
Don’t see what you’re interested in on this list? Get in touch anyway. Seriously. That’s how I find out what fellow authors are looking for (we all have different weak spots and needs as writers). I would love to continue to add to the above list of services.
What I Charge
I hate to say this, but…it depends. It really does. It’s all about the amount of work required and the length of the project. But rather than charging by the hour, I will always charge a flat fee that we agree upon ahead of time. That way, you know exactly what the final cost will be. No surprises when the bill arrives. On average, I’ve been charging $500. Query consults are $25. I offer sample edits of developmental and line edits for $30—it’s non-refundable, but if you decide to hire me, the $30 is applied to the cost of editing the entire manuscript.
How It Works
Get in touch using the form below. Give me a brief overview of your project, genre, word count, and what you’re looking for. If we can agree upon a timeline and fee, I’ll send you a contract (this is for your protection) spelling out our agreed-upon terms and the date on which I will return the edited manuscript. For larger projects, I ask for 50% upfront and 50% at the time of the job’s completion.
Who Can I Work With?
Indie authors. Traditional authors. Those who have published extensively and those who are just starting out. I’m currently accepting both adult and juvenile work in just about any genre—romance, mystery, literary, thriller, humor...The only genres I am not currently accepting are erotica, some sci-fi (space operas), and high fantasy.
Testimonial
I’ve been working with fellow authors for the last few years. Here’s what one had to say about working together:
Holly is a publishing pro! Her reviews of my novels are always timely and thoughtful, and she draws on years of experience as an award-winning author to provide insightful assessments of my work that ultimately strengthen my manuscripts. – Jen Doktorski, YA author