Before taking on a new client, I conduct a free sample edit of one chapter. This is our chance to ensure we are a good fit and our expectations match.
While I avidly pursue perfection, no one person can catch every error. I guarantee that I will put in the time and care to polish your work to the best of my ability, but I do not guarantee an error-free final product. After a line and/or copy edit, I recommend you engage a proofreader to find any errors that have slipped through. After a Full Edit or a Last Look, I recommend you or trusted readers read through the manuscript before publishing.
I use the Chicago Manual of Style for all conventions unless you request otherwise for specific conventions.
If desired, I will perform the same level edit you select for your manuscript on your blurb at no additional charge.
I’m happy to localize manuscripts for a US audience and include this with any level edit.
BLURB FACELIFT
Bring your working blurb to a live chat with me over Messenger or other platform you prefer (up to two hours). We will tailor the blurb for your market, look for opportunities to increase clarity and succinct language, and ensure the structure and phrases reflect the story. This service is available for books I edit and books I do not.
BLURB WRITING
Send me a brief on what main points you want your blurb to convey and impressions you want it to give. I will draft a blurb and send it to you. Up to two revisions included. Only available for books I edit.
EDITORIAL READ THROUGH
You want me to: Assess what level of editing your manuscript needs, create a guide you can use while self-editing, and/or create a style sheet. This read through is recommended if you want me to edit a book in the middle of a series to match conventions and details across previous books.
The process: I read through your edited or unedited manuscript/published book and make notes on characters, worldbuilding details, and spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation conventions used. I also make a note of frequently occurring spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation errors for you. I do not correct those errors in the text, as this is not an edit.
LAST LOOK
You want me to: Find and correct the errors that remain after a copy edit. This is the last editing step before publication.
The process: I will go through a Word document of the copy-edited manuscript using the Read Aloud function. I will look for and correct any instances of the below-listed issues using Track Changes. On the whole, I will only correct incontestable errors. I may make a few comments clarifying changes, but most of the corrections will take place in the text. I will return the manuscript as a Word document attached to an email. I am available for questions about any and all changes via email or message. The Last Look is only available for professionally copy-edited manuscripts.
I look for:
- Incontestable spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar errors
- Incontestable errors in sentence structure (faulty parallelism, incorrectly used participial phrases, etc.)
- Words used incorrectly
- Inconsistent punctuation
- Scare quotes
- Missing/extra spaces
- Missing/inconsistent nonbreaking spaces (in ellipses)
- Inconsistent/incorrect italics
- Repeated words/phrases
- Missing/extra/swapped words
- Incorrect/inconsistent verb tense
COPY EDITING
You want me to: Find and correct the errors in your manuscript as well as let you know about anything unclear or factually inconsistent/incorrect. This edit focuses only on errors and does not look for areas to improve style, tone, flow, etc.
The process: I will make one editing pass in a Word document of the completed manuscript. I will look for the below-listed issues, and I will correct incontestable errors in the text using Track Changes. I will address errors or issues that are debatable or have multiple possible solutions in comments. I will return the edited manuscript as a Word document if preferred, or as a Google Doc, where we can discuss the edits in comments. If desired, I will send a list of common errors in the manuscript after the edit.
I look for:
- Everything included in the Last Look:
- Incontestable spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar errors
- Incontestable errors in sentence structure (faulty parallelism, incorrectly used participial phrases, etc.)
- Words used incorrectly
- Inconsistent punctuation
- Scare quotes
- Missing/extra spaces
- Missing/inconsistent nonbreaking spaces (in ellipses)
- Inconsistent/incorrect italics
- Repeated words/phrases
- Missing/extra/swapped words
- Incorrect/inconsistent verb tense
- Details that need fact-checking
- Inconsistency in details or chronology
- Unclear phrasing
COPY AND LINE EDITING
You want me to: Find and correct errors, let you know about anything unclear or factually inconsistent/incorrect, and give suggestions for improvement at the word, phrase, sentence, and paragraph levels.
The process: I will make one editing pass in a Word document of the completed manuscript. I will look for the below-listed issues, correcting incontestable errors in Track Changes and making comments with suggestions. The goal of this edit goes beyond looking for errors into achieving the most polished manuscript possible. I will return the edited manuscript as a Word document if preferred, or as a Google Doc, where we can discuss the edits in comments. If desired, I will send a list of common errors and opportunities for improvement in the manuscript after the edit.
I look for:
- Everything included in the copy edit:
- Incontestable spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar errors
- Incontestable errors in sentence structure (faulty parallelism, incorrectly used participial phrases, etc.)
- Words used incorrectly
- Inconsistent punctuation
- Scare quotes
- Missing/extra spaces
- Missing/inconsistent nonbreaking spaces (in ellipses)
- Inconsistent/incorrect italics
- Repeated words/phrases
- Missing/extra/swapped words
- Incorrect/inconsistent verb tense
- Details that need fact-checking
- Inconsistency in details or chronology
- Unclear phrasing
- Breaks in point of view
- Opportunities to strengthen/deepen point of view
- Opportunities to improve sentence structure and flow
- Problems with paragraph structure and flow
- Opportunities to improve scene structure and flow, if applicable
- Opportunities to improve word choice/tone
- Inconsistency in dialogue based on character/scene/setting
- Opportunities to tighten or clarify sentences
- Overused phrases/structures
- Passive voice
- Overuse of telling rather than showing
FULL EDIT
You want me to: Find and correct errors, let you know about anything unclear or factually inconsistent/incorrect, give suggestions for improvement, look over any rewritten sections, then do a second pass using Word’s Read Aloud feature to find and correct any errors that slipped through.
The process: I will conduct a copy and line edit in one pass, return the manuscript to you and dialogue with you about the edits as desired. I will copy and line edit any new sections you mark for me, then conduct a Last Look, as well as continue to consult on any grammar/typo issues in the book after publication. The goal of this edit is to achieve the most polished, error-free manuscript possible through both the editing pass and the Last Look. If desired, I will send a list of common errors and opportunities for improvement in the manuscript after the edit.
I do not offer developmental (structural) editing. For this type of editing, I recommend Tina at HEA-Editorial. There is no one more thorough and dedicated to polishing plot and character arcs.
Kelley Luna 