I offer four different types of editing services: proofreading, copyediting, developmental editing, and short story critiques. Below is a brief description of each service, as well as the rates. If you'd like to book a service, send me an email at carolineswicegood@gmail.com or fill out my contact form. If you're not sure which service is right for your project, get in touch with me and we can figure it out together.
$35/hour
Proofreading is: checking for and correcting technical errors. This includes fixing
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Spelling
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Punctuation
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Grammar
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Typos
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Formatting
Proofreading is NOT: editing for style, flow, or content.
You should choose proofreading for your project if: you are confident that your written English is fairly strong and you just need someone to check the mechanics of your text before publication.
$45/hour
Copyediting is: everything included in proofreading, PLUS editing for style, flow, and continuity. This includes
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Rewriting sentences to make them stronger
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Reformatting sentences to match the industry audience
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Reorganizing sentences and paragraphs where necessary
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Cutting out unnecessary words and information
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Replacing words to avoid redundancy
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Ensuring that the end result is strong, natural-sounding standard English
Copyediting is NOT: editing for developmental content.
You should choose copyediting for your project if: you need a little help making your sentences flow or your writing captivating; if you feel like your writing is a bit awkward; if you want to make your writing as strong as possible with the help of a professional.
Note: If English is not your first language, I recommend this option rather than proofreading. Proofreading is just about catching technical errors, whereas copyediting can help rewrite your text so it sounds natural in English.
$55/hour
Developmental editing is: everything in copyediting PLUS giving feedback and guidance on big-picture issues in your text. This includes
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What is working in the text and what is not
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What, if anything, should be cut or re-written
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What needs to be added
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What needs to be clarified
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Structural changes, if necessary
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Looking at character development and narrative arc (for fiction and creative nonfiction)
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Asking pertinent questions to guide content
Developmental editing is NOT: for a final draft that you hope to publish immediately.
You should choose developmental editing for your project if: you are working on a creative project and need a professional set of eyes on a manuscript in progress; if you are planning on doing at least one more big revision; if you're struggling to get your novel or nonfiction manuscript where you want it to be.
Short story critiques are: copyediting and developmental editing for your short fiction or creative nonfiction. This includes
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Line edits to make your writing as strong as possible
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In-text comments to point out observations and give feedback on specific lines and passages
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Written developmental notes that discuss what is working in the story and what is missing, needs changing, or could be clarified
Rates by length:
$15 - under 1,500 words
$30 - 1,501 - 3,000 words
$50 - 3,001 - 6,000 words
$75 - 6,001 - 8,000 words