Lynn Post - Editor

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, PostScripts Editing, 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/