Finding the right editor is a little like shopping for shoes–fit is so important! After years of experience, we’ve cultivated an understanding of what projects are right for us; we know you have the same desire–to find an editor who is right for YOU. We hope Midnight Owl Editors can meet your needs, but if we can’t, we will do our best to refer you to an editor who can.
Emily loves character-driven stories of all genres, particularly those that are intricate and full of adventure and world-building. She has experience editing Mystery/Suspense, Historical Romance of many eras, Contemporary Romance, Women’s Fiction, Science Fiction, and Fantasy. Emily also has experience editing Middle Grade and New Adult.
Read below to find out how to schedule your free 1,500 word sample edit.
Note: Midnight Owl Editors generally stay booked several months in advance, so we recommend scheduling ahead. If you’re on a tighter timeline, expedited services are available for an additional fee. Cancellations do occasionally happen, so it can’t hurt to reach out. Let us know what you need, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your schedule.
Plot consultation/Brainstorming: $60/half-hour; $100/hour
We love to talk plot. Where is your story trying to go? How can you get it there more effectively? Why aren’t your characters cooperating? How can you fix the giant plot hole in the middle? If you’re feeling stumped, we are ready to help. From characterization to conflict, sometimes a great brainstorming session is all you need to get back on track.
FOCUSED EDITS
Developmental Edit: $75-$100*/10,000 words
In a developmental edit, your editor digs deep, identifying specific places in your manuscript where you can strengthen your story. It includes in-text notes as well as a comprehensive edit letter addressing issues relating to story elements such as plot, pacing, structure, point of view, theme, conflict, tone, and characterization. A developmental edit also includes a thirty-minute phone consultation, if desired, and continued email support during the revision process.
*Price adjusted on a sliding scale according to the extent of edits required.
Line Edit: $80-$100*/10,000 words
In a line edit, your editor digs into your manuscript at the sentence level. It addresses word choice and weak language, crutch phrases and cliches, passive vs. active voice, showing vs. telling, and overall sentence structure. A line edit is meant to be instructive, to help you build better habits as a writer and elevate your writing. A line edit does not address story issues, nor should it be treated as a final copy edit. While we will point out errors that you make habitually, line edits require author revision post-edit to apply suggestions, thus preserving authorial integrity and voice.
*Price adjusted on a sliding scale according to the extent of edits required.
Copy Edit: $70-$90*/10,000 words
A copy edit is best for polished manuscripts that are ready for a final pre-publishing edit, with a focus on grammar, spelling, formatting, typos, and style consistency in accordance with industry-standard style guides. Copy edits DO NOT address story and plot issues and do not include line-level comments.
*Price adjusted on a sliding scale according to the extent of edits required.
Proofreading: $40/10,000 words
Proofreading consists of a final once-over to catch missing words, misspelled words, and missing or incorrect punctuation. It does not include formatting or style issues. If, while proofreading, we find that your manuscript requires the deeper attention of a copy edit, you will be charged the higher copy editing fee.
COMBINATION EDITS
Comprehensive Edit: $115/10,000 words
A comprehensive edit is geared toward writers who are working with an editor for the first time and are actively growing their skills. It is designed to be instructive, helping you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your writing so you can see what you need to work on to take your writing to the next level. It is not meant to prepare your work for immediate publication, but to help you become a better writer, generally addressing story issues (plot, conflict, characterization), line-level habits and trends (sentence structure, word choice, language use), and the basics of copy editing (grammar, punctuation, formatting). Though this edit does provide both developmental and line feedback, because it only includes one pass of your manuscript, it will not be as in-depth as the single pass developmental or single pass line edit.
Advanced Comprehensive: $115/10,000 words
Preapproval and/or previous edit history required. This edit offers a combination of developmental and line edit feedback for more advanced manuscripts.
If, while editing, we find your manuscript needs something different than the edit selected at booking, we’ll reach out and discuss your options before moving forward. We do not want to waste your money or our time, so we’ll work together to make sure we do what’s best for you.
Do you need something that isn’t on this list? Please reach out and let us know what you’re looking for, and we’ll give you a personalized quote.
To inquire and/or schedule services, please use the contact form linked below. For new clients we may, at our discretion, request to review a writing sample to determine if we are a good fit for your writing level and/or experience. Likewise, if requested, we will provide a sample edit of up to 1,500 words at no charge to help you decide if we are the right editor(s) for your work. Not sure what level of edit is right for you? Ask for a sample edit, and we will make a recommendation based on the sample. If interested in a sample edit prior to booking services, please indicate when filling out the form. Flexible scheduling and/or rush edits are available for an additional fee. Please inquire for more information.
Submission Guidelines: For ease of editing, Midnight Owl Editors prefer submissions as email attachments in .docx format; double spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pt font. Please add page numbers as well as a page header that includes your author and manuscript name.
Editing Services require a 25% deposit at the time of booking. For edits priced on a sliding scale, invoices will be generated and deposits calculated based at the middle price point. Once editing is complete, final invoices will be adjusted down or up, if necessary, based on the extent of the edits the manuscript required. Should you need to cancel or reschedule your edit, the deposit is nonrefundable, however, we are happy to hold your funds and apply them to an edit rescheduled within six months of your originally scheduled date. Rescheduling fees apply. Should we need to cancel, or if we are unable to complete an edit for any reason, at our discretion, your deposit is 100% refundable. Billing and payment are handled through via QuickBooks with multiple payment options available so you may choose the method most convenient for you. By paying your deposit, you agree to the terms as outlined above.
Midnight Owl Editors 