Editing Services

Need help with your manuscript?

I am a line, copy and developmental editor as well as a book coach. My book coaching credentials are through  Author Accelerator,  founded by author and book coach Jennie Nash.

Aside from working with private clients, including USA Today best selling authors, I have also worked for Cambridge University Press, Kensington Publishing Corp. and  Archangel Ink.

Below are the private services I offer:

Manuscript Evaluation
I will read your entire novel as a whole and highlight areas where your book needs strengthening, focusing on plotting, pacing, where there may be missed opportunities or areas that need clarifying.

My evaluation includes a few in-line editing notes on each chapter as well as a 3-5 page assessment. 

Developmental Editing
I will do a deep dive into your manuscript focusing on your target market and noting everything from plotting, pacing and character development to structural issues and missed opportunities to clarify things. 

The developmental edit will include extensive in-line notes (in track changes) on your manuscript as well as a 5-6 page summary noting all issues.

Line editing, copyediting and proofreading
No developmental or structural edits. This is just to make sure your manuscript is ready for submission. I will look solely at grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure and formatting.

Free five page assessment
If you’re unsure whether you’re ready to invest the time and money in an editor, I will provide a free assessment of the first five pages of your manuscript. This will let you know how much work you still need to do and if you’d like to move forward with my services.

Note: All editing is done in Word and using track changes so that you can see the markups clearly. This feature also allows you to individually accept or reject any changes to your manuscript. All editing is based on the industry standard 250 words per page, one inch margins, Times New Roman 12 point font, double spaced.

Because this may be your first foray into hiring an editor, my rates are not exorbitant, but I believe they are fair. Please see the testimonials below on this page. I’m happy to work with you to discuss a rate and a program that can fit within your budget. Please email me for more information. In the message box please include the following:

  1. The length of your manuscript
        (word count and number of pages)
  2. Your manuscript’s genre
  3. Provide a three-to-four line synopsis of your book

Testimonials

For me, the most important element in a writer-editor relationship is trust. I have that trust in Kelly. She gets exactly what I’m aiming for in my work, but never lets me off the hook. She’s the voice in my head, and she is making me a better writer.

– Susan Setteducato

Kelly has been the best thing that has happened to my writing. She’s been instrumental in helping me find the story of my novel and the voice that will carry it. In the four months I’ve been working with her, I’ve made more progress than in the 10 years I spent going to writers conferences and participating in workshops and writers groups.

– Jennifer King

If you are writing, or thinking about writing a book, I urge you to talk to Kelly. As a first time writer I had no idea how important it was to have someone with Kelly’s professional skills to provide the expert guidance that she offers. Kelly’s feedback and advice is concise and relevant, and most of all, she helped me transform my writing from a rough draft full of editorial blunders to a polished manuscript that any agent/publisher would be happy to consider. Kelly is passionate about her work and without her editorial feedback, my book would still be floundering.

- Mike Dowd, Australia

I’d never worked with a writing coach before, but it was incredibly easy to start with Kelly. Her notes were honest and insightful and I felt as if she really took an interest in my work, wanting me to get those most out of her feedback to improve my story. She was always positive and encouraging in her comments and I’m looking forward to using what I learned to finish my manuscript. Thanks for a great experience, Kelly! 

– Leslie Hunter

Kelly is a fantastic editor. She has helped me clarify, develop, and enhance the major themes of my work. She has helped ensure the scenes and content in my story clearly express the experiences I hope will engage and move the reader.  Kelly’s focus on every detail of my story has added richness and power to my work. I will continue to work with her and highly recommend her. 

– Larry Chroman

Kelly was an enormous help to me with my first book. After the first draft I had been so immersed in my story, that I couldn’t see the forest for the trees. Kelly was the perfect person to help me fine tune and develop the story in a tight thematic way that by the time we finished, I was able to find a publisher. Her insights, feedback and edits are invaluable, so much so, that I’m working with Kelly on my second book.

– Wendy Adamson - author of Mother Load