Wilcox Editing Services

Services

Proofreading: In a proofread, I will catch language errors only. Any slightly awkward but not incorrect phrasing will be left alone. If you are self-publishing, this service is most appropriate to check the page proofs you receive from the printer. A true proofread of page proofs involves attention to issues of typography and final layout such as ensuring optimal word breaks at the end of a line.

Copyediting: In a copyedit, I will catch language errors and also suggest rephrasing of awkward sentences in a manuscript. A copyedit assumes that the content is set and the manuscript only needs a fine-tuning of language. A copyedit will ensure consistency of style, eliminate errors, and leave you with a manuscript formatted for submission to agents or publishers. Copyediting is usually the appropriate editing level for a manuscript that has already been revised and vetted for content or a finished scholarly text that has been translated into English from a foreign language.

Line Editing: A line edit provides everything a copyedit does, plus some attention to content. If your draft includes unnecessary material that undercuts the desired effect of the writing, I will help you find such redundancies and eliminate them. If your fiction contains problems of dramatic continuity or your text has light structural issues, a line edit is the appropriate editing level for the manuscript. A line edit is not appropriate for a text needing major structural changes or expansion of any kind. Unlike developmental editing, line editing is not an ongoing process of revision; it more like copyediting in this regard.

Developmental Editing: I only take on writers of fiction, memoir, and certain other forms of creative nonfiction as developmental editing clients because this work is highly specialized, requiring a deep understanding of craft and genre-specific conventions. If you have completed a draft of your manuscript and you feel this draft could be improved, I can help guide you through the revision process. Developmental editing entails an ongoing exchange between writer and editor. I accept very few developmental projects at one time. Please query me if you are interested in this service.

Editorial Assessment: If you are not sure which level of editing you require, you may benefit from an initial editorial assessment. I will read through your manuscript and identify general problems and attributes. For example, I might note the spelling is generally poor but the character development is excellent in your manuscript. I then recommend an editing level based on this assessment.

Rates

I assess individual per-page quotes based on a sample edit and the following hourly rates.

Proofreading: $30 per hour
Copyediting: $35 per hour
Line Editing: $40
Developmental Editing: $45 per hour
Editorial Assessment: $45 per hour