Editorial Services
You drafted, crafted, and pulled marathon writing days, and now you’ve finished a manuscript. Congratulations! Now it’s time to get that book out into the world.
But wait! You don’t want it published full of errors, plot holes, or misplaced punctuation. (You definitely don’t want those one-star reviews.) You know it needs editing, but there are so many options, and beyond “I need an editor,” you don’t quite know where you should start.
Hi! I’m Blair, your editor, and that’s where I come in.
I'm an editor with over six years' publishing experience. I started The Author Studio so I could focus my time and talents doing what I love the most: helping authors make their books rock.
I've worked as a Senior Editor at Quirk Books, where my books included New York Times, indie, and international bestsellers. I'm a published YA author with two novels out from HarperTeen. And I have an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University.
So whether you want an editor with extensive industry experience, an advanced creative writing degree, or the empathy of a fellow author—or all three!—I've got you covered.
What type of editing do I need?
“I need my book edited” can mean a lot of different things. “Editing” isn’t just one singular process; it can take many forms to suit various needs and solve various problems. You might need big-picture plotting help, or devil-in-the-details nitpicking. So here’s a guide to what “I need my book edited” might mean for you—and how we can work on it together.
I need to make sure my plot, pacing, and characters are working.
Developmental Edit
A thorough developmental edit (or content edit) is the first step in creating a reader-ready manuscript. This in-depth edit looks at plot, pacing, internal consistency, character development, conflict, length of manuscript, and overall structure. I'll also keep your goals for publication and your project's marketability in mind. You'll receive an edit letter, as well as on-page notes in your manuscript.
I need each sentence, paragraph, and line of dialogue to shine.
Copy Edit
Copy edits polish and strengthen your prose. This edit focuses on things like sentence logic, clarity, individual word choice, and consistency of voice. It's best for manuscripts that have been through at least one major revision. I'll make suggestions about rephrasing, query anything that's unclear, and ask questions to guide your revisions. Your edits will come as Track Changes.
I need a book that’s free of grammatical mistakes, typos, and other errors.
Proofreading
For manuscripts that are rarin' to go, this final spot-check will zoom in on small errors, typos, and goofs like misplaced punctuation, misspelled words, and other distracting (but inevitable!) small flaws. If your manuscript has been line edited (by me or by someone else), then proofreading is your next step before publication or submission. As with line edits, your edits will come as Track Changes.
I’m not sure what kind of editing my book needs yet.
Don't sweat it! I've got something for that too. An editorial assessment can help you answer more general questions about what the best next steps are for you and your project. After letting me know your general goals, you'll get a short letter detailing the strengths and weaknesses of your projects, and recommendations for how to proceed.
How does the novel editing process work?
- You submit a request for a free sample edit below
- I prepare sample edits in Track Changes so that you can see how I’ll approach your book, and I provide a quote for a full developmental edit
- We agree upon delivery dates for edits, typically 3–4 weeks from contract signing
- You sign editorial client contract and pay first half of editorial fee (PayPal, credit card, or online bank transfer)
- I work on your manuscript
- At the deadline, I provide you with your edit letter and annotated manuscript with my comments and suggestions
- You pay remainder of fee
Timeframe: 4 weeks
- You submit a request for a free sample edit below
- I prepare sample edits in Track Changes and provide a quote for a full line edit
- We agree upon delivery dates for edits, typically 2–3 weeks from contract signing
- You sign editorial client contract and pay first half of editorial fee (PayPal, credit card, or online bank transfer)
- I edit your manuscript
- At deadline, I send you your line-edited manuscript
- You pay remainder of fee
Timeframe: 2–3 weeks
- You submit a request for a free sample edit below
- I prepare sample edits in Track Changes and provide a quote for a full proofread
- We agree upon delivery dates for edits, typically 2–3 weeks from contract signing
- You sign editorial client contract and pay first half of editorial fee (PayPal, credit card, or online bank transfer)
- I proofread your manuscript
- At deadline, I provide you with your proofread manuscript
- You pay remainder of fee
Timeframe: 2–3 weeks
- You submit a request for a free sample edit below
- I write a short assessment of your sample, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses I notice
- We agree upon delivery dates for edits, typically 1–2 weeks from contract signing
- You sign editorial client contract and pay first half of editorial fee (PayPal, credit card, or online bank transfer)
- I review your manuscript
- At deadline, I provide you with your editorial assessment
- You pay remainder of fee
You get: A 1–2 page assessment of your novel’s strengths and weaknesses in areas such as plot, character, pacing, and prose quality
Timeframe: 1–2 weeks
How much will novel editing cost?
Developmental Edit
starting at .03 per word
Copy Edit
starting at .02 per word
Proofreading
.009–.012 per word
Editorial Assessment
$650 for up to 50,000 words, .01 per word thereafter
The exact cost per word and overall quote will depend on the complexity of the edit, which I determine based on the sample edit. I will always give you a personalized quote for your project upon request based on a short (1,000-1,250 word) sample of the book.
Let’s do it! Get me a sample edit!
Hang on, I’ve still got a question...
Have any other questions not addressed here? I’m happy to help!