Editing Services
For Writers
Do you have a story to tell? A message to share? Something you’d like to see get into the hands of readers who would be blessed by it?
I’d love to come alongside you and help you move toward achieving that goal!
Professional Editing and Proofreading
If you have part or all of a manuscript written, I can help you polish it. My comprehensive editorial services combine a developmental content edit, line-by-line copyedit, and proofreading for typos, inconsistencies, and errors in punctuation, usage, grammar, and spelling according to the most recent editions of the US publishing industry’s standard reference guides. I also share how to format your manuscript for submission to a publishing house, subsidy publisher, or independent formatter.
I highly recommend Kathy Ide’s editorial service. You can learn more about good writing from an excellent editor like Kathy than from any class or critique group. Less than a year after Kathy edited the first half of my manuscript, I received a contract for a three-book series with Barbour for that book and two others I hadn’t even written yet.
Thank you, Kathy!
I like to start with the first few chapters—or even just the first chapter. That will give you a good feel for my editing style and what you can get out of an edit from me. If you’re not happy with that initial edit, you don’t have to do any more work with me. But if you like what you see, you can study that first edit, pick up on recurring corrections and suggestions, and apply them to future chapters. Each set of chapters we do this way should make your writing more polished, which will require less time to edit, thus saving you money. And you’ll be learning how to implement professional writing techniques along the way. I like to think of the experience as an in-depth writing course, using your manuscript as the lesson plan.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your edits!!! You have such an amazing eye, and catch things that snag the flow or cause confusion or lack of clarity. I finished the revisions last night and feel great about the final product. You’re the best!
“I really appreciate the work you did for me on my novel. … You motivated me to go the extra mile to make it my best. One reader told me that she hadn’t finished her last two novels but that she couldn’t put mine down and finished in less than a week. Thanks!”
If you’d like to try for traditional publishing, I can help you prepare and polish a query/cover letter, synopsis or summary, and other facets of a book proposal. I can also make recommendations regarding literary agents and publishing houses.
If you prefer to pursue independent publishing, I can recommend reputable companies that will edit your manuscript, print your book and/or format it as an ebook, and assist with marketing strategies.
Kathy’s editing changes have enabled me to communicate with greater clarity and have greatly improved the quality of my manuscripts. I appreciate her suggestions and her sincere desire to teach me to be a better writer.
If you’d like to pursue writing as a career, I can help you navigate the ever-changing seas of the Christian publishing industry through ongoing emails. Ask whatever questions you like, and I will provide answers based on my years of experience in the business and my regular contacts with publishing professionals at writers’ conferences and other author events.
While I am sure there are many other fine editors, any writer would be well served by hiring Kathy Ide. Kathy has helped me sharpen my plot and pointed out many, many mistakes. With her help, my novel has improved quite a bit. Kathy did this for a price I consider quite reasonable. I cannot guarantee that I will be able to sell my manuscript. But I know the chances of rejection are lower now. It would embarrass me to present an acquisitions editor with one of the manuscripts I produced before Kathy checked it over.
Why Work with Me?
I have been a professional freelance editor since 1998. I’ve edited both fiction and nonfiction in a variety of genres. I’ve worked with aspiring, beginning, and intermediate writers as well as several top authors in Christian publishing. I’ve also worked for a number of publishing houses, both traditional and independent.
I’m the author of Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors, Editing Secrets of Best-Selling Authors, and the Capitalization Dictionary.
I’ve served on faculty for numerous writers’ conferences across the country for more than a dozen years. So I keep up with what’s going on in the Christian publishing industry.
I believe most people have a misconception of what editing entails. True, it involves some wordsmithing. But it involves so much more: cutting unneeded scenes and overused words, when to add a character’s thoughts and actions; pointing out things that aren’t logical or realistic. (My favorite comment you wrote is “That sun’s been setting a long time, Charles!”) Overall, I believe a freelance editor provides direction. If a ship departs port headed in the wrong direction, it will end up way off course. But periodic course corrections keep it on track.
I’m the owner/manager of Christian Editors Association, with four divisions focused on helping editors start and strengthen their businesses. CEA sponsors the Editors’ Choice Award for beautifully written and meticulously edited books.
I have video courses on Christian Writers Institute:
10 Easy But Essential Self-Editing Tips: A quickie course to help writers edit their manuscripts (a $19 course)
Mistakes New Writers Make: Explore the biggest mistakes writers make and how you can avoid them This four-part course (available for $29) includes the following video presentations:
- Top Ten Myths of Becoming a Published Author
- Ten Things Authors Do Besides Write
- How to Avoid the Mistakes that Scream “Novice”
- Is God Calling You to Write?
Results
Kathy did a superb job of editing. I appreciated her insights. I was impressed with her knowledge of sentence structure and knowing when to add or delete description or dialogue. The end result was a fine-tuned book. I am proud to announce that my book is now published. I could never have accomplished this feat without Kathy’s editing services.
I utilized Kathy’s services at the early stages of my writing career. Her help was invaluable and saved me years of learning. I highly recommend her services to any new author and to any others who need that second set of eyes. Kathy is thorough and clearly explains her editing judgments. She uses a variety of sources and applies this knowledge according to the type of work sent.
Several of my editing clients have landed book contracts with traditional publishers and/or agent representation after working with me. Including many first-time book authors.
Books I’ve edited, and authors I’ve worked with, have been nominated, placed, become finalists, and won awards and medallions in several venues.
I’d have either given up or spun my wheels for decades without Kathy.
I started working with Cindy Woodsmall at the beginning of her writing journey. She went on to write a three-book novel series. Book one became a bestseller on many lists throughout the United States and Canada. Book two was a CBA bestseller and also made the New York Times extended list. Book three hit the number 13 spot on the New York Times Bestseller list.
When Cindy’s first novel was published, Andrea Burns, a reviewer with Christian Book Previews, said, “The story is very well written, and the fact that it is Woodsmall’s first novel is surprising and difficult to believe.”
In an interview with Novel Journey, Cindy was asked, “What’s the worst piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?” Her answer:
“Freelance editors will steal your voice.” That may be true of some. … But Kathy Ide caused me to find my voice. Even now, if I can’t find my voice, I return to her and ask, “What am I doing wrong in this chapter or scene?”
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If I’m not the right editor for you, I’d love to help you find the right one. The Christian Editor Connection has a database of established professional editors who have been extensively tested and screened, and they can match you with ones who would be a good fit for you and your project. And that match-making service comes at no cost to you! Just go to ChristianEditor.com and fill out the Request an Editor form.