A manuscript evaluation (also called a beta read) is an important beginning point for any full-length book.

 

At this stage, I assist the client in determining if the work is "on the right track" regarding numerous literary aspects including: the effectiveness of the message; the clarity of the structure and layout; the cohesiveness of the plot;  the effectiveness of the characters; and the consistency of the point of view.

 

Manuscript evaluations also delve into narrative arc, writing craft, pacing, and many other aspects, depending on the genre. 

 

This service is extremely helpful for writers as it provides an objective, "birds-eye-view" of the work.

 

Getting feedback early on in the writing process can help refocus, clarify, and tighten up the structure of a piece before the next stage of editing is engaged. 

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This reading is less in-depth than the developmental edit, but is less expensive and a great first step for a professional overview.

 

This literary process is being incorporated much more often by today's writers and publishers.  This service is also referred to as sensitivity reading and authenticity reading.  

 

We live in a complex, globally-connected world and communicating clearly without unconscious biases is critical for many readers. 

 

 Unconscious bias alienates readers and prevents engagement.  The language we incorporate into our books helps to engage a wide readership and prevent exclusion. 

 

It is, if course, perfectly fine to have characters that are biased, prejudiced, and purposefully cruel. This is usually shown within the dialogue rather than narration.  

 

As a seasoned authenticity reader, I  will evaluate your work and respectfully identify any stereotypes, unconscious or internalized bias, and note cultural inaccuracies in the work.

 

​Developmental editing is an in-depth, collaborative process between the editor and author.  It comes at the beginning of the writing process, before copyediting.

 

As your editor, I give detailed feedback about the book from the perspective of how well the book would appeal its target audience. Finding "comps," books that are comparable, can be helpful in gauging how the book compares in the marketplace to readers. 

 

I give feedback on a wide range of literary aspects including: plot structure, character development, point of view, writing craft, dialogue, chapter order, story beginning, imagery/details, transitions, and much more. 

 

​As your developmental editor, I will work closely with you to create a product that stands out. The terms “developmental editor,” “substantive editor,” “structural editor,” and “content editor” overlap and can be used interchangeably.

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This is a labor-intensive editing process and can make a good book a great book!

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The proofreading process comes after the manuscript has gone through numerous edits—at the very least,  a copy edit.
 

As your proofreader I look over everything with a finely-honed, pin-point focus. I check for errors in the front and back matter; pagination; running heads/feet; all of the main text; headings; page depth; margins; cross-references; and well ... every aspect of the manuscript.

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This is an important service since it is the last chance to catch those small (or large) errors that can be missed or even introduced in the layout/formatting phase. 

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A best practice states that the proofreader should be someone different than the copy editor or line editor. 

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The book or manuscript that is ready for proofreading has been edited and checked by a professional copy editor and has been formatted by someone expert in this particular service.