Reviews (18)

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Reviews (18)

Overview

Through the certification program at the University of Washington, taught by seasoned veterans of the industry, I learned the professional editing methods used by traditional publishing houses. As a strong proponent of indie books and bookstores, I apply those same high standards and thorough processes whether working with self-publishing authors or those seeking to publish through the traditional route. In addition to my editing and proofreading services, I can also offer guidance for first-time authors trying to navigate the (sometimes daunting) publishing process.

Since starting my freelance business in 2014, I have provided editing and proofreading services to a variety of individual authors, publishing companies, nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and large corporations, including Alaska Airlines, Holland America, Mountaineers Books, becker&mayer!, and Girl Friday Productions. Through Reedsy, I have worked with authors in a wide range of genres--memoirs, YA novels, historical fiction, and other types of fiction and nonfiction.

What type of editing do you need?

Before soliciting the services of any editors, I highly recommend Reedy's blog article "9 Types of Editing," which defines all the various stages of the editing process (https://blog.reedsy.com/types-of-editing/). Knowing which type of editing your manuscript is ready for will help your collaboration to begin much sooner and could potentially save both parties a lot of time.

Here are additional links with definitions and what to expect with each type of editing service that I provide:

Developmental editing: https://reedsy.com/editing/developmental-editing

Copy editing: https://reedsy.com/editing/copy-editing

Proofreading: https://reedsy.com/editing/proofreading

Simply put, you should work with a developmental or substantive editor before submitting your manuscript for copy editing; and likewise, your manuscript should be copy edited (and style sheet created) before you seek a proofreader. I also offer a combo dev-copy edit, which includes a general review of big-picture items such as plot and character development, chapter and scene breaks, and other major issues that should be addressed before proceeding to the line-by-line copy editing. You can let me know if you are interested in a rate quote for the combo dev-copy edit when you submit your request and upload a sample from your manuscript.

What should you send for a writing sample?

Ideally, your writing sample should include something from the beginning, middle, and end sections of your manuscript (MS) to best determine how much time will be needed to complete the project. Please be aware that providing a rate quote for each project takes time (approximately 30 minutes per request--to allow for reading the MS sample, estimating how long it will take, calculating an appropriate flat-rate fee, and responding with thoughtful feedback) and some days or weeks are flooded with requests--so please allow a couple of business days for me to provide an offer to your request.

What will editing services cost?

It’s also a good idea for authors to be aware of what to expect in terms of cost for various editing services. Reedsy provides a handy cost calculator that shows the average rates charged by editors based on book genre, word count, and type of editing (https://blog.reedsy.com/cost-to-self-publish-a-book/). Note that these are only averages, and many factors go into determining rates. Moreover, most freelance editors outside of Reedsy charge by the hour, but the Reedsy platform only allows editors to provide flat-rate fees. So, we do our best to estimate how long each project will take, which can be difficult to assess. Other reputable sources for editing rate charts are provided by organizations such as the Northwest Editors Guild and the Editorial Freelancers Association, which also includes an estimated pace for each type of editing (e.g., using 250 words/page, copy editing = 5 to 10 pages/hour; proofreading = 9 to 13 pages/hour), so you can calculate a range of how much to expect to pay based on the word count of your manuscript.

Additional information to include with your request:

I work with each client as a team--I want your project to succeed as much as you do! In addition to the standard information that Reedsy asks when you submit your inquiry, it can be helpful to provide the following information as well:

*Why did you write this story/book/memoir?
*Have you worked with any other editors on this project? If so, what type of editing did they do? If seeking proofreading, did your copy editor create a style sheet specific to your project? Do you have a preferred style guide and dictionary, or are you okay with using the standard Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster’s online?
*Are you familiar with and comfortable using Word's Track Changes feature?
*What are your publishing goals? Will you be submitting to traditional publishers or self-publishing? If self-publishing, do you plan to have a print version, e-book, or both? Do you plan to go through Amazon exclusively or have it available for all e-book formats? What is your timeline and/or deadline?

Please feel free to provide any other information about your writing experience, publishing goals, or personal background that you think might be beneficial to understanding your story's tone, language, theme, intended audience, or mission.

If you’ve taken the time to read through all of this information, thank you! I look forward to hearing your unique story and providing the editing services that you need to help turn your hard work into a publishable finished product!

~Lynn

P.S. Reedsy has a lot of other great resources for writers on their blog, and I encourage all writers, but especially first-time authors, to check them out. https://blog.reedsy.com/

Services

Developmental Editing

Languages

English (US)

Fiction

Action & Adventure

Historical Fiction

Mystery & Crime

Young Adult

Non-Fiction

Biographies & Memoirs

DIY & Crafts

Nature

Travel

Certifications

University of Washington Editing Certificate

Copy Editor, Proofreader, Fact-Checker

Self-employed

May, 2014 – Present (about 7 years)

As a professional editor, certified from the University of Washington, I have provided editing and proofreading services to a variety of individual authors, publishing companies, nonprofit organizations, small business, and large corporations, including Alaska Airlines, Holland America, Mountaineers Books, becker&mayer!, and Girl Friday Productions.

Although I love any type of editing project, I especially enjoy working with first-time authors to help them navigate the publishing process and see all their hard work turned into a professionally designed finished product.

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Professionalism

Professionalism

Quality

Quality

Value

Value

Communication & Punctuality

Communication & Punctuality

This is my first book and hiring a professional through Reedsy. Lynn went over and beyond my expectations. She added her valuable editing insight and expertise to help improve my storyline. I really appreciated how she was able to capture my voice using her words in a very timely manner. I highly recommend her services and will use her in the future.

Carmen Harris, June 2021

I had sky-high expectations that my MS would not need much copyediting since I had scoured it and pored over it many times. Ha! I hired Lynn and quickly came to realize how essential a competent editor is. Her professionalism shined throughout the project. From her thorough bio I knew we'd be a perfect match and I'm thrilled with the results of her talented edits. This is my debut work and I wo...

Colleen Burns Durda, February 2021

Lynn did an excellent job. She proofread and did a light copy-edit to make my manuscript "perfect" before I query agents. From the beginning of the process, Lynn has been professional and prompt with her responses. She thoroughly reviewed my manuscript, made or recommended constructive changes, and delivered the manuscript on time. I highly recommend Lynn as a proofreader or copy-editor.

Michael Westrich, December 2020

This is my first time with Lynn, and she has been a pleasure to work with. She edited my book professionally, giving me feedback and help me improve my writing. Lynn provided comments on the whole manuscript and then offered suggestions on how to make it better. I am so grateful for her work and looking forward to working with her in the future.

Alex Amit, December 2020

There is a lot to overlook as a writer, the words and phrases are ours, delicate creatures strung into what we are hopeful turns into an engaging narrative. I had gotten my manuscript to a point where I felt it was almost complete, but knew it required a profession's eye and experience to allow me to tell my story to the best of my ability. I am overjoyed that I chose to hire Lynn for developme...

Michael Cloherty, October 2020