Are you a writer who is honing your craft and longs for expert feedback from an experienced editor? Do you want your work to be as perfect as it can be? As an editor, tutor, & writer, I can help you!
I’ve earned two Master’s degrees (one in Creative writing and one in the Humanities) from San Francisco State University. For over 30 years, I taught Intro to Composition, Intermediate and Advanced Expository Writing, Creative Writing, 20th Century American Novel, and Great Works of Western Literature at the University of San Francisco (USF), as well as Autobiography & Expository Writing for USF’s former College of Professional Studies. I’ve also tutored for USF’s Writing Center and free-lanced as a writing consultant, teaching business writing classes and coaching individuals in effective business writing. Currently, I’m teaching creative writing at USF’s Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning.
“Lily not only did a superb, careful job editing my book, she encouraged me so much I was greatly inspired to keep working on it. She’s a talented, insightful editor and a delight to work with. ” —Ann Cromey
During these years, I also have written four novels (FLING! was published in July 2015; CURVA PELIGROSA was published in 2017; FREEFALL: A DIVINE COMEDY was released in 2019, and THE RIPENING: A CANADIAN GIRL GROWS UP came out in 2021). In addition, I’ve published reviews, interviews, short fiction, poetry, travel pieces, essays, and memoir in over 170 American and Canadian venues. (See “Lily’s Publications” for more publishing information.)
Now that I’ve semi-retired from classroom teaching, I’m eager to use my writing skills in other capacities—editing, proofreading, and copyediting. I can work onscreen or on paper and on large jobs or small.
If you’re an independent author, I can provide a final, prepublication proofread. I’ll identify any grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors that have slipped through previous rounds of editing.
“Lily is a fairy godmother of writing. I love her honesty and her passion for the storytelling craft. She helps me refine my message and catches those pesky grammar mistakes. I don’t know what I would have done without her.” http://kidminds.org/
My background as a published fiction writer gives me insight into the process that many others in this field do not possess. For example, I can keep track of the key features of your main characters. That way, inconsistencies can more easily be flagged and checked for context.
I’m looking forward to working with you!
EDITING RATES:
For some projects, an hourly rate makes more sense. My hourly charge is $60.
My most requested service is extended proofreading/copyediting, as well as line editing, which includes the following:
1. Check your grammar and punctuation to ensure that your text is clear and that it makes grammatical sense, though without compromising on readability, context, or register
2. Proofread for consistent and correct spelling and syntax, while being sensitive to and respectful of regional variations
3. Remove rogue line- and letter-spaces
4. Respect the difference between rules and style preferences, bearing in mind your authorial voice and intended audience.
In addition, I will do some content editing to help you with the overall structure of your manuscript. Is your writing clear? Does it make sense? Is your word choice appropriate? Are there any redundancies or inconsistencies in the plot or narration? Are your characters or situations believable? During the editing process, I will leave you comments and questions in the margin of the document that address these issues.
The established industry standard for a “page” is 250 words. (To figure out your exact page count, divide your word count by 250.) Because a page is defined as 250 words, you do not have to worry about whether or not your manuscript is in the right font or type size before you submit it to me. You can send it “as is” and I’ll edit it for you.
The following rates apply to electronic editing of Microsoft Word documents (using the track changes feature) and hard copy manuscripts. I don’t edit in PDF format because the process takes much longer.
- $5.25/page (page = 250 words) when marking hard copy (printout)
- $5.00/page for corrected electronic copy (MS Word)
If you need me to review the manuscript after you’ve made all of the revisions I’ve recommended, that would be an additional fee, usually half of what I charged for the original edit.
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If your text needs an extensive rewrite or a more aggressive edit, I can help you overhaul it. (Please note, this service is rarely needed. The line-by-line copyediting service is usually adequate at addressing most issues.)
- $12.00/page (page = 250 words) when marking hard copy (printout)
- $10.00/page for corrected electronic copy (MS Word)
All of my rates are quoted in U.S. dollars, and there is a minimum charge of $60.00 per job.
Prices do not include return postage for printed manuscripts. Please anticipate an additional fee for any applicable courier charges. However, most work can be handled through the Internet. Let me know if you have a DropBox or similar account that you would like to use. I can tailor my work process to suit your needs.
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I accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express card payments through PayPal. I can accept personal checks, but the check must clear before work on a project begins. This can take several weeks, depending on your bank. Arrangements can be made to work on your manuscript in stages if you would prefer not to submit a large project all at once. I require a deposit of fifty percent to begin with. The balance is due upon completion.
I am so happy to be on your mailing list and to know I now have access to your expertise. You will be hearing from me soon.
Lovely to have you as a follower, Dee!