Lisa Kaitz – Editor

Starting from a spark of an idea and arriving here with a story is already an extraordinary accomplishment!

A quote from Arthur Plotnik thrilled me when I read it because it perfectly encapsulates my approach: “You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what’s burning inside you. And we edit to let the fire show through the smoke.”

There are algorithms that can spot misspellings or suggest a word and they’re helpful, but only a human can read for context—distinguishing between homophones or noticing any flawed logic, for example. That’s where I come in, identifying and quietly disarming any land mines in a manuscript.

Experience is important, because what you do is special. There are creative standards in fiction that don’t apply elsewhere. (For example, ample leeway is allowed for fragmented sentences.) And it’s only through years of hands-on copyediting that I can carefully handle such subtleties, knowing when to leave something alone and when to modify it.

But rest assured, I’m not a failed writer looking to make my mark on your hard work. I’m an enthusiastic professional who has found an outlet for language skills beyond pointing to typos in ads. I love what I do, and I’m constantly improving by attending classes, reading, and participating in social media editing and writing groups.

I understand it can be difficult to think about grammar and mechanics when you’re just trying to get a character from one place to the next. You were rightly concentrating on the creative process. Now it’s time to relax and let me deal with the nitty-gritty.

-Correcting punctuation, spelling, grammar, syntax, capitalization, and word usage while preserving the meaning and voice of your original text

~Eliminating repetition, redundancy, wordiness, and incompleteness

~Substituting weak words or phrases with stronger alternatives

~Addressing basic point-of-view issues

~Fixing or indicating flawed logic (a character has walked through a locked door)

~Rearranging the order of words or sentences within paragraphs to better convey a point

~Deleting or querying nonessential elements for better flow

-Performing light fact-checking

~Ensuring any sequencing is accurate (where body parts go during a fight scene)

~Flagging for possible biased or outdated language, as well as cliches

[Please note that I don't provide developmental editing: identifying and solving problems with plot, story arc, timelines; character development; reorganizing or rewriting; suggesting further topics…yada-yada-yada. All this should be addressed during an earlier editing stage, before it gets to me.]

Regarding fees, the industry standard for fiction copyediting is between $0.02 and $0.04 per word. My fees represent the time and skill involved to give your manuscript the deep dive it deserves. This isn't a side gig for me; I copyedit for a living.

All work is strictly confidential and respected.

Let’s talk about your story and figure out how we can achieve your vision. I look forward to meeting you!

Lisa