My goal is to help indie authors fine-tune their manuscripts.
Alpha Reading
Beta Reading
Copyediting
Proofreading
Alpha Reading
Do you need a fresh set of eyes on your manuscript? Do you want honest feedback from the perspective of a reader?
When working with a professional alpha reader, you can be certain that your manuscript will be completed promptly, and that the feedback will be as detailed as possible. Alpha reading is typically done with a rough draft. It is one of the first set of eyes on your manuscript.
Even if you have gone through some self-edits and want a more detailed report, then this service is for you. As a professional alpha reader, I will help point out the items below respectfully. This is your work of art, and I will treat it with the same respect as you do. My job is to provide constructive criticism so you can have the most resources needed to help fine-tune your manuscript.
What I will look for:
Plot holes/discrepancies
Pacing too fast or too slow
Setting inconsistencies/not enough setting
Romance/action scenes believable
Character inconsistencies
Possible chapter revisions
Any specifics that you would like me to be mindful of while reading your manuscript
Financial Investment:
The rate for alpha reading is $.002 USD per word.
Time Investment:
The turnaround time for novellas, poems, and short stories is 5-7 business days. Manuscripts over 50k words will be given 14 business days.
I will provide a 3-5 page report reflecting my honest feedback. Once we agree on a date of submission, I will send an invoice via PayPal.
Payment will be due upon receipt. You can then send me the manuscript however you choose. Most authors send their manuscripts via an MS Word doc.
This service is for authors who have completed either alpha reading or have done several rounds of self-editing and want more general feedback from the eyes of a reader. For example, does the overall plot flow, are the characters likable, did the first chapter grab my attention, was the ending satisfying, etc.
It will not be as in-depth as an alpha read since numerous rounds of self-edits have been performed. This feedback will help you to understand what works and what does not work from the perspective of a reader.
Beta Reading
Looking for some extra feedback as you finalize your novel?
Financial Investment:
The rate for beta reading is $.001 USD per word.
Alpha and beta readings have a $25 USD minimum.
Time Investment:
The turnaround time is 10-14 business days. A 2-3 page report will be provided with my honest feedback.
To determine whether you need an alpha read or a beta read, please DM me to discuss where you are at with your work-in-progress.
Copyediting
Copyediting is usually performed after a developmental edit or a line edit. Or you might feel that your self-edits are as clean as they can be and now need another set of editor eyes on your manuscript. Things I will work on while copyediting your manuscript:
Are you ready to start polishing your work?
What I will look for:
find repetitive words and make suggestions for alternatives
correct punctuation with dialogue tags/action beats
formatting issues like extra spaces between words, sentences, and paragraphs
ensure that the font and font size remain the same throughout
being mindful of story continuity, character descriptions, and timelines
suggestions on rewording sentences so the verbs agree with the subjects (past tense, present tense)
make sure that the POVs remain consistent
make sure that it stays in the first, second, or third-person voice (unless you specifically want it to change)
ensure that words are hyphenated properly (adjectives)
the correct usage of em dashes, ellipses, colons, semicolons, and commas
follow the specific guidelines that you prefer
provide a style sheet with details of the story, word choices, preferred punctuations, etc.
Financial Investment:
The rate for copyediting is $.014 USD per word.
Time Investment:
The turnaround time for a copyedit depends on the amount of editing that needs to be performed and the word count. Typically, for an average manuscript of 80,000 words, it could take anywhere between 4-6 weeks.
I will perform two passes on the manuscript. That means that I will read and go through the manuscript two full times before handing it back to you.
I use the Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word. I leave several comments, questions, and suggestions right in the manuscript. Once you receive the manuscript and accept/reject the changes, you can write any questions you have in the comment boxes and send it back to me. That is the easiest way to answer detailed questions pertaining to your manuscript.
Proofreading
Time to get publish-ready!
If you need a final set of eyes on your edited manuscript, I can help! A proofreader reads the manuscript and will pick up on errors that a copyedit didn’t catch. After all, we’re human! I will make sure to thoroughly go through the manuscript before sending it off to get published.
What I will look for:
repeated or missed words
inconsistencies with capitalization
inconsistencies with hyphenation
comma usage, spelling errors, grammatical errors, punctuation errors, and any other kinds of errors that your editor might have missed.
Financial Investment:
The rate for proofreading is $.009 USD per word.
Time Investment:
My turnaround time for proofreading depends on the word count. Typically, for an 80,000-word manuscript, it would take me about 2-3 weeks. Manuscripts can be sent as a PDF file, an MS Word doc, or a Google doc. I also complete two full passes on a proofread.
I’ve got a special package for authors looking to create the best possible version of their book. Get beta reading, copyediting, and proofreading for $.019 USD per word.
Looking for all of the above?
Fine Print
I offer a free 1,000-word sample edit. This is to see if we are the right fit. It will also determine the length, timeframe, and scope of the copyedit or proofread.
If you are confident that I am the right fit for your copyediting or proofreading project, I will submit an invoice via PayPal. There is a 20% nonrefundable deposit that will go toward the payment of the copyediting or proofreading service. This nonrefundable deposit secures your spot.
Copyediting and proofreading can be split up into payment plans consisting of three installments:
20% nonrefundable deposit to secure your spot
40% due at the start of copyedit or proofread
40% due when the copyedit or proofread is complete
I will also email you a Service Agreement which would need to be signed and returned prior to starting. The Service Agreement will go over timelines, dates, payment plans, and my role as a copyeditor/proofreader.
We can communicate via email, DM, voice memos, Instagram calls. Your comfort level is a top priority!