Editorial Services
What level of editing do you recommend?
Bare minimum: I always recommend a copyedit and then a proofread after the book has been designed if you’re self-publishing. If you are an experienced writer and feel confident about where the manuscript and story are at and have worked with beta readers to fine-tune the story mechanics, then you’re probably good to skip a developmental edit and go straight to a copyedit. If you’re a newer writer or you still have big-picture questions, got conflicting feedback from beta readers, or aren’t sure you’ve taken the story as far as you can go, I’d recommend a developmental edit. It’s up to you and what you feel the manuscript needs! (Publishing can be very confusing, so if you’re not sure what all these terms mean, this Jane Friedman blog post is a great place to get started.)
Do you edit LGBTQ content and work with LGBTQ authors?
Yes!!! Although I am not LGBTQ myself, I love working with queer writers. One of my favorite recent edits was Cat Washington’s lesbian ghost romance novel, The Ghost of You Lingers. 😍
Do you edit content about trauma and abuse?
Yes, I’ve edited with poetry and prose that deals with themes of trauma. I know that finding an editor who is the right fit is essential when a poetry collection or manuscript is so personal. Here’s an interview I did with a poet whose trauma-focused work I edited (CW: sexual assault), and in my editorial portfolio you’ll find other books that deal with trauma.
What’s your book copyediting process like?
I go into detail about my copyediting process in this blog post about my book copyediting process.
What’s a style sheet?
I explain what a style sheet is here!
What’s your developmental editing process like?
I go into detail about my developmental editing process like in this blog post.
Do I have to have my query letter complete in order to do a query letter edit?
Yes, typically for the query packages I offer, I’d need a draft of the query letter, with the plot paragraph(s), metadata of the book, and author bio. Here are a few good articles about writing query letters: ”The Complete Guide to Query Letters” by Jane Friedman and “How to Write a Darn Good Query Letter” by NY Book Editors.
What format would you like the manuscript in?
Please send your manuscript to me as a Word doc (.docx). I usually do some quick manuscript cleanup to put the story in a font that I like to edit in, so no need for you to spend time formatting it a certain way.
Do you do book coaching?
No, I don’t offer book coaching, but I highly recommend my editor friend Raquel Brown, who is an excellent book coach!
Do you edit RPGs?
No, I don’t edit RPGs, but my editor friend Rachel Lapidow is a fantastic RPG editor. I highly recommend her!
Do you offer video calls?
Yes! If you’re more of a video call person, I’m offering consultations through Upwork where we can talk about what to do with your manuscript after you’ve written it: what type of editing you may need, book design, self-publishing, querying agents. Book on Upwork here.
Pricing and Payments
Do you offer sample edits?
No, I don’t offer sample edits.
Many editors who are established in their freelance careers don’t offer sample edits either; it’s more common for newer editors to offer sample edits. That’s because newer editors have more time to do sample edits since they’re still growing their client list and aren’t as busy with client work.
You can review my client testimonials and editorial portfolio to see my previous work and to get a sense of what it’s like working with me. I’ve also written a blog post about what to expect during a copyedit that gives a very detailed look into my editorial process, including real-life examples of what I look for, how I write comments, and how I put together a style sheet to ensure consistency in your manuscript. I’ve also written a blog post about what to expect during a developmental edit.
What are your rates?
For book editing, I provide custom project quotes based on the individual project. The EFA rate calculator can give you a good idea of the minimum you can expect to pay for book editing. My quote will be customized to your specific project (word count, complexity of text, state of manuscript, level of editing needed, etc.).
I do have set rates for query packages and project minimums for manuscript evaluations. Or you can hire me on Upwork at an hourly rate.
Why are your query packages more expensive on Upwork?
Upwork now takes 15% of any payment I make through their platform. Working through Upwork is a great option if you want to pay with a credit card, manage multiple freelancers in one place, and have the security of a third party monitoring the transaction, but it’s more expensive for both me and my clients to work together through Upwork.
How do you accept payments?
I accept payment through check or Zelle, which is offered for free by most banking apps with no fees, as both of these options mean neither of us have to pay a third-party fee. If neither check nor Zelle work, I accept payment through PayPal.
What currency do you accept payments in?
I’m located in the United States, and all my project fees or hourly rates are in US dollars (USD).
Privacy
Why do you need to see my manuscript before we work together?
I’ll generally ask for a copy of your full manuscript so I can review your manuscript prior to providing a quote and timeline. It helps ensure that I’m the right fit for your project and that I have an accurate idea of how long your edit will take. You can do this via Dropbox on my contact form page. But if you’d prefer to send your manuscript to me by email after I reach out, that is totally fine!
Or, if you want to meet with me before you send me your manuscript for a quote, I offer consultation calls on Upwork. Book on Upwork here.
Why do you want me to upload my manuscript to Dropbox when I fill out your contact form?
Uploading your manuscript via Dropbox on my contact form saves us a bit of time and helps me get you a quote sooner. When you upload your manuscript, it goes into my secure, private Dropbox folder. (Carolina is the only one with access to it; no one else can see your file once it’s uploaded.)
Do I need a Dropbox account to upload my manuscript?
No, you don’t need a Dropbox account to upload the file. You can also email it to me if you prefer.
Will you sign my NDA before we work together?
No, I don’t sign NDAs before working with authors. Read why here. However, I do have a confidentiality clauses in my contract that protects you, the author. Read it on my privacy policy page here.
AI
Do you use AI tools to edit?
No, I do not use any generative AI tools or programs in my editing process. I will not upload any part of your manuscript to a generative AI platform or use a generative AI tool on any part of your manuscript. Read more about my AI policy here.
Do you use AI in your business?
No. I store manuscript files in Google Drive and Dropbox. I use Microsoft Word (for editing manuscripts) and Adobe InDesign and Acrobat (for book design and proofreading), but I have AI features turned off on these platforms and don’t use the AI features. Read more about my AI policy here.
Do you work on AI-generated text?
I prioritize working with writers who use their own creativity and imagination to write and edit their work, and I’m not interested in editing content primarily generated by an AI model given the copyright concerns as outlined by the Authors Guild. Read more about my AI policy here.
About the Editor
What editorial training do you have?
I have an editing certificate from University of Chicago Graham School. I received on-the-job editorial training in several positions, including working at a content marketing company and interning and reading for various lit mags.
I am a member of ACES: The Society for Editing, St. Louis Publishers Association, and Editorial Freelancers Association. I attend the ACES editing conference every year to stay on top of my professional development and keep up-to-date on the latest in editing. I also attend various webinars and presentations on editing and publishing, and I go to local author book events to hear about writing and publishing from the author’s POV.
Read more about my editorial training here.
What style guides do you know?
I am trained in Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition, and AP Stylebook. I also proofread books and other content in APA style.
Are you a writer too?
Yes, I’m also a writer, but I focus more on editing these days because editing sufficiently fulfills me creatively. I completed Camp NaNoWriMo a few years ago and have a novel in a drawer. I’ll dust it off someday, but for now, I’m loving editing. Check out some of my writing here.
Where are you located?
I’m a freelance book editor in St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
Let’s Talk!
But enough about me. I want to hear about your book manuscript and your publishing goals!