Services
I’ve worked across genres as a developmental editor, copyeditor, proofreader, and authenticity reader for the Asian American experience. Below are the types of books I specialize in editing, but you can also find some of my edited projects here.
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Memoirs & History
- Picture Books
- Middle-Grade Novels
No matter what stage of the process you are in, an editor can be invaluable to making your book that much stronger and easier to read. Here are the different editorial services I provide, along with a description for each one to help you determine which level of editing is right for you.
Editorial Assessment
An editorial assessment, also known as a manuscript evaluation, is an overview of the big issues in the manuscript that the author should address before diving into the developmental edit. This report comes in the form of a feedback letter and may point out, for example, major plot holes, why a character is falling flat, or how a scene isn’t working with the book’s overarching theme. Please note that the editorial assessment does not include direct edits on a manuscript.
Best for: a manuscript in its early stages. If you’re not ready for a full developmental edit but would still like another opinion on how the manuscript reads, then an editorial assessment will give you some guidance on what is working and what could use improvement.
Developmental Editing (+ Art Directing)
Developmental editing is the first thorough editing phase of a manuscript, usually taking two to three rounds of review between the author and editor. This edit is a close, line-by-line review and focuses on overall elements of the book, such as structure, pacing, plot, character arcs, writing style, etc. For illustrated books like picture books and comics, the developmental edit may also include art notes for the illustrator.
Best for: a manuscript in its early stages. Maybe you’ve gone through a couple drafts by yourself to get a fully written manuscript—now it’s time to find a professional editor. A developmental edit will help you shape the manuscript into a clearer, stronger story.
Copyediting
Copyediting is usually performed after developmental editing. The copyedit checks and cross-references the nitty-gritty details of the manuscript, from grammatical errors to spelling mistakes to other discrepancies that may be found. For example, if a character is wearing a red shirt in one paragraph and a blue shirt in the next paragraph, the copyeditor would find great satisfaction in noting that.
Best for: a manuscript that has already been developmentally edited. After finalizing the big elements of the book, it’s time to turn your attention to the smaller issues that may have been overlooked, which include spelling, grammar, punctuation, formatting, consistency, clarity, and more.
Proofreading
Proofreading is the final editorial phase done before the book is published, usually appearing as marks and/or comments in the PDF of the designed layout. As meticulous as authors and editors can be, it’s hard to catch even the most innocuous comma out of place after reading a manuscript several times. The proofread double-checks that there aren’t any obvious errors left from the previous editing rounds or new errors introduced that can ruin the reader’s experience.
Best for: a manuscript that is almost ready to be published but may have hidden typos. The copyedit had caught a lot of errors, but now with the text designed and laid out, you would like everything proofread one last time rather than find missing commas and misspelled words later when the book’s already published.
Because every project is unique, my rates depend on the complexity of the book, the level of editing required, and the turnaround time. Generally, rates are based on the Editorial Freelancers Association’s rates chart here. I’m happy to discuss your budget and create either a project rate or hourly rate to work with your needs, so please contact me to receive a quote.