As a copy editor, I work with you to ensure that your message is communicated clearly and effectively through an excellent use of language, critical thinking, a broad knowledge of many different disciplines and jargons, and the absolute conviction that everyone has something
worth saying.

I have 46 years experience in writing and editing newspapers, magazines, research and technical documents, speechwriting, non-fiction books from geology and history to military and ancient cultures, and both short and long fiction works.

Free Sample Edit

I will read and edit 10 double-spaced pages for free, then quote a ballpark charge and the time required to complete the project, depending on what level of service you want.

Services Offered

Line Edit - Basic level includes sentence by sentence checking for typographical, grammatical, and formatting errors -- $7.00 per 250-word page.

Copy Edit - Includes line edit and proofreading, plus making rewrite suggestions and normalizing grammar, detecting internal errors, indexing if necessary, maintaining consistent style and tone while remaining true to the author's voice -- $10.00 per 250-word page.

Proofread - Ensures that a finished work is properly formatted and relatively free of typographical errors -- $6.00 per 250-word page.

Short Pieces - For pieces under 100 pages, work is performed at $25.00 per hour.

Fiction Submission Package Evaluation - Reading up to 25 double-spaced pages of the work, the synopsis and query letter, and making suggestions -- Flat fee of $135.00.

Non-Fiction Submission Package Evaluation - Depends on length and complexity -- $45.00 per hour.

Writing Services - Creating work based on your raw information -- Generally $25.00 per hour, but negotiable depending on length and complexity of project.

Ghost-writing fee depends on the project.

Work is produced in Microsoft Word. After your query contact, please send material in an attachment, rather than in the email text. Within the email, please include your phone number and street address, the topic of your piece, and a word count or page count.

Payment Terms

One-half of the estimated fee is due before the work is begun; the remainder will be charged at the length of the finished work or the original length, whichever is longer, and is due before I send the final copy to you. If I miss the agreed-upon deadline, I will rebate 10% of the contract price. If the deadline is missed because of your changes, this provision is null and void.

I will provide one hard copy and one disk of the completed work. Your fee also covers postage and usual office costs such as copying, paper, ink, etc.

Confidentiality is guaranteed.