Copy Edit for your novel or novella by Elizabeth BauerCopy Edit for your novel or novella by Elizabeth Bauer

Copy Edit for your novel or novella

Elizabeth Bauer

Starting at

/hr

About this service

Summary

My editing philosophy is to leave as little mark as possible, ensuring the author's voice remains untouched while clarifying meaning and correcting errors. As a copy editor, it is my job to ensure that the reader receives the story that the author intended.

I use the Chicago Manual of Style, preferred by most fiction publishers. In addition to suggested revisions, you will receive a style sheet. This is specific to your work and will be useful if you choose to write sequels but prefer another editor.

Please note:

It is important to use an editor who has experience in your genre and understands your audience. The genres that I am best suited to are: sweet romance, fantasy, and cozy mystery.

I do not read books with explicit content. I am not the right editor for anything spicy, steamy, or LGBTQ. Trust me, you want an editor with experience in your niche. Please know this caveat is about content, not the author -- I am happy to work with people from all backgrounds.

It is best practice for authors to hire both a copy editor and a proofreader. I recommend this to all of my clients. Proofreaders will generally catch formatting issues as well as typos!

FAQs

How long does the typical copy edit take?
For novels (and novellas) of 100k or less, I guarantee delivery within 30 days of receiving your manuscript.
Does hiring you affect my copyright?
No. A copy editor offers a one time service. Your intellectual property and all rights to publication are still yours. I would never even include it in my portfolio without your express permission.
Do you use AI?
The only AI I use in my edits is spellcheck. You're paying for human eyes on your work, and that's what you get. I avoid editing software for two reasons. Firstly, many of the suggestions it provides lack context and while often technically correct, they do not follow my style guide or fiction writing conventions. And secondly, if you wanted corrections from editing software you would have purchased it instead of hiring me.
What is a style guide and which one do you use?
A style guide is essentially a collection of small decisions that ensure consistency across a document. You have likely been using them without knowing it -- remember learning about MLA and APA formatting in school? I'm most familiar with the Chicago Manual of Style, and that is the guide I use. My focus is fiction, and that is the style guide preferred by most traditional publishers.

What's included

Copy Edit
You will receive either a Microsoft Word document with in-line comments, access to a google doc with in-line comments, or a scrivener file with in-line comments. You choose.
Style Guide
This is a short document noting decisions made to ensure consistency if the book becomes a series. (Things like regional spellings and grammar preferences where there are two equally correct answers)

Skills and tools

Author

Copy Editor

Editor

Google Docs

Microsoft Word

Industries

Publishing

More services

Manuscript Critique

STARTING AT

$25/hour

hourly rate