What Can I do for You?
Writing Coaching and Critiques
Trust me, I know how much you care about your baby. I’ve been there, so I know you need me to be gentle and respectful. When you engage me to critique your story. I go over it twice. First, I do a read-through, snug in my bed with my Kindle, or on paper, with red pen in hand. It’s how books were meant to be read. Then, when I understand your story and know your characters, I make a second pass, inputting changes and taking care to explain them, if necessary. I promise I’ll be kind.
Then we’ll work together to improve story elements such as style, character, plot, setting and pacing. I love reading good books, and look forward to helping you to make yours better. Make your readers lose sleep because they just can’t close your book and turn out the lights!
Writing
With 14 novels published and more than 20 years of writing professionally, I can guarantee you a well-written, engaging story. Even better, I will deliver copy that is clean, crisp, and without mistakes.
Proofreading
There may be yelling; there may be tears; there may be loud and ungodly crashes and bangs as I wrestle your document into submission. But I will emerge victorious, and it will come home to you somewhat chastened, but error-free.
Editing
The difference between editing and proofreading? Editing goes deeper. If proofreading is a quick dash of makeup, editing is plastic surgery. With my fine, surgical steel scalpel—well, my mouse and Track Changes button—I rearrange clumsy sentences, eradicate flabby prose, and pare wordy paragraphs down to their fabulous bare bones.
Pricing
I try to keep my costs as affordable as possible. Depending on the type of job, I charge:
- By the hour (for editing, coaching, proofreading or ghost writing): TT $200 or US $32
- By the word (for writing short articles): TT $1 or US $0.15
- By the job: My quote will be based on either of the above, but we’ll agree on a flat rate.
We can also agree on a payment plan, or you can submit your work piece by piece as you go along.
Down payment: I require a down payment of approximately 40% of the projected cost of the job. The rest is payable upon completion.
I promise you:
- A careful and thorough edit—because as a writer myself I’ll treat your baby as I’d want mine to be treated.
- Complete confidentiality—because blabbermouths don’t stay in business long.
- Honest and accurate pricing and calculation of billing hours—tick-tock, tick-tock; I always use my clock.
- Free face-to-face discussion of suggested changes, in person or via Skype—I’ll be like that know-it-all friend you can come to for answers.
- Respect for your copyright—your ideas remain yours.
With my years of experience, I think I’m the person to deliver what you’re looking for. Let’s talk!