Rebecca Hughes – Editor

I'm a developmental and copy editor with an extensive background in both fiction and narrative nonfiction. No matter the genre, my very favorite projects have been stories about love: literary novels (with both LGBTQ and straight protagonists), contemporary and suspense romance, an international dating guide, a cam girl's memoir. I don't shy away from the controversial (in fact, I love it!), and with every project, my goal is to help the author bring out the very best in the story they set out to tell.

Editing is a collaboration between author and editor, and I have a few specialized areas of knowledge that can bring value to projects that call for them. New York City is one of those areas; I've spent a great deal of time in the city and am deeply familiar with its history, geography, and culture. My business name, Five Points Editorial Services, is a nod to a particular bit of New York history. I've also lived in Germany and England, and I've traveled all over the United States (California is another region I know well). My lifelong love of Japanese culture has also been helpful in a surprising number of editing projects.

With each editing project, I begin by asking your goals for the project, which can help in developing my approach (acquisitions editors at traditional publishing houses, for example, have a different set of preferences than the dedicated fanbases of self-published authors). I also ask about your concerns and anything in particular about the story that you'd like for me to focus on or help you resolve. My most popular service is copy editing that also includes developmental comments in the margin -- more affordable than a traditional developmental edit, and extremely helpful in polishing a project before it goes out to agents or readers.

From the time I receive the full manuscript file and the first payment (usually 60%-70% of the total), I usually require four to six weeks to complete the project. Once I receive the final payment, I return the file with tracked changes and comments (a process I'm happy to explain if needed); with traditional developmental editing, I include an editorial letter of four to eight pages. You're welcome to read through my comments and ask me questions, including about ideas you may have to resolve any story issues I've noted. I don't perform a second read-through of revised material, but any further editing of smaller sections can always be arranged separately for a discounted cost.

If this sounds like the collaboration you're looking for, I'd love to take a look at your project and offer you a quote! I only take on projects for which I believe I can be genuinely helpful, and I'm happy to help guide you to the right service (or editor!). While most of my services cover full manuscripts, I also offer a service I call the Story Edit -- an affordable, flat-rate developmental edit on the first 10,000 words of your novel, designed to identify "big picture" issues so you can revise with confidence before a more extensive edit.

In your message, please include any questions you have about the process as well as your goals and concerns -- and, of course, tell me about your story. Editing is an important step in every author's professional journey, and it's an amazing feeling to see your work work shine even brighter than you had pictured. Send me a message and let's discuss it -- I'd love to help!