Putting the Right Words in the Write Places

Editing for Books

Writers in the Sky offers three types or levels of editing: developmental or substantial, medium, and light. We also offer proofreading for books, articles, and documents. WITS has edited many books for publishers, several becoming bestsellers in their category. Visit our Client List page to see our projects.

Typos, grammatical errors, confusing sentence structure, and inconsistent writing can prevent your work from being published. As writers and editors, we will work with you to assure that your writing is ready to present to the world and make a great impression.

In each of these services, our editor will analyze your book manuscript or document and mark all technical errors, and then return two electronic copies of the manuscript to the author. One will be a redline copy tracking the changes we make and you will be allowed to approve or reject each change. The other will be a clean copy to show how the text will look with all our suggestions accepted.


Editing Services Offered by Writers in the Sky!

Developmental or Substantial Editing

This editing service is used to coach or guide an author's work to the next level by offering suggestions for improvement. We not only mark errors in the text, we assist you with making changes to strengthen your writing and develop your story or manuscript to its best potential. A developmental editor may rewrite some sections for you. We work with you on all elements of book development including front matter, back matter, and strengthening your writing.

Starting at $8 per 250-word page (the average word count per page in a paperback book), we will serve as a shepherd or mentor for aspiring authors to improve their overall writing skills. Price depends upon how much rewriting is required of the editor.

See a list of books we have written or edited for clients.

See our client list and current book writing and editing projects.


Medium Copyediting

Our editor will go through your manuscript and complete the needed changes to include:

  • Correcting mechanical, grammar, and usage errors.
  • Correcting spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
  • Check for proper alignment and spacing of text. Mark inconsistencies.
  • Mark inconsistencies and ask author to consistently format dates, headlines, numbers, and alphabetized, bulleted, and numbered lists.
  • Note awkward transitions, redundancies, and hyperbole.
  • Note any biased language or stereotyping.

The editor may query the author to clarify suggestions for improvement, and ask the author to rewrite some sections. We do not rewrite for you at this level of edit. We will proofread the entire document one time once the author has accepted or rejected all changes and sent us a near-perfect document. Fee: $6 per 250-word page.

See a list of books we have written or edited for clients.

See our client list and current book writing and editing projects.


Light Copy Edit

We will mark or note the same things as outlined in the medium copy edit; however, the author is responsible for making all changes. The fee is $4 per 250-word page. We will proofread the entire document a second time once the author has accepted or rejected all changes and sent us a near-perfect document. Fee for second proofread is $1 per 250-word page.

See a list of books we have written or edited for clients.

See our client list and current book writing and editing projects.


Proofreading

Proofreader will mark all technical errors and return manuscript to the author as a digital document. The author is responsible for completing the suggested changes. Cost for proofreading is $2 per 250-word page.


Book Evaluation $250

One of our editors will read your book or manuscript (up to 70,000 words) and give a written assessment of its commercial potential. A kind but honest opinion of the author's strengths and weaknesses will be given along with tips for improving the overall quality of writing. The evaluation includes an assessment of the manuscript's publishing condition and what it would take to get it ready to submit to an agent or publisher.


Whatever Your editing Need, WITS Can Help!

Whether your project is a simple proofread of a business document you need to give your boss, or a major book edit, we are happy to work with you. Our editors will respect and preserve your personal voice and style while polishing your work. Editing is a collaborative process; therefore, we will be in touch with you as we make edits within your document.

Our Grammatika-certified chief editor is Barbara Milbourn, who oversees the editing projects for the WITS team. Other editors include Yvonne Perry, and Sarah Moore. If you would like more information about our editors, you may meet the WITS team members.

Did you know that grammar can be fun? The editors at Writers in the Sky are fans of Grammar Girl, her books, and her grammar podcast because she makes learning enjoyable and entertaining. If you haven’t heard her Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast series, you might want to check it out.

Test your grammar and word usage knowledge
with the fun quiz to the right.


Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services
Last updated: 11/20/08
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