Manuscript Editing
from a twenty-year pro who works directly with you
Behind every great writer stands
(or, let’s be honest, sits)
a professional editor.
A great concept and engaging story are only part of the battle in this business.
To get noticed in this business, a manuscript’s prose needs to be lively, free of errors, and easy to follow. Nothing will wreck a reader’s interest faster than dull, clunky prose that’s full of typos, punctuation errors, floppy words, and awkward narrative structure.
If you plan to seek the representation of a top-tier literary agent with the goal of selling your book to a major commercial publisher, then it’s essential that your manuscript be as close to perfect as possible. If the manuscript doesn’t have a professional look to it, agents and publishers won’t even read far enough to discover whether the story has merit.
The need for perfection also applies to self-published books.
If you don’t think it’s necessary to have your manuscript professionally edited, take a look at a few Amazon reviews of self-published books. Poor editing is the chief reason for snarky comments. What we’re talking about here is readability. Your book may have a compelling plot and engaging characters, but how can readers enjoy it if they’re constantly stumbling over typos, grammatical errors, and mangled prose?
Answer: They won’t. Worse, many of them will leave negative Amazon and Goodreads reviews instead of the positive reviews that can generate respectable book sales.
Production-line editing has become the norm.
Large editing firms dominate this business nowadays. They handle dozens – in some cases hundreds – of books each month, and believe me, it isn’t personal to them. They don’t care about the time and effort you’ve put into your book. They don’t care how important it is to you.
Your manuscript will be tossed into their production line with a team leader, an editor, and maybe a proofreader, and there will be no way for you to know if they’ll have an experienced editor work on it, or even if the editor speaks English as a first language.
Those of us who have been editing books for many years know the importance of communication between author and editor. But if you sign up with one of these big editing firms, you likely won’t have any contact at all with the editor.
Production lines are fine for assembling toasters and wheelbarrows, but do you really want to hand your hopes and dreams over to a production-line editor?
For more about my editing services,
feel free to send a query via the form below.
The Your Words Difference
I’m not a production line. When I edit your manuscript, it’s just me, my computer, and the dog. I’ll be living and breathing it for as long as it takes me to finish the work. I know it’s your baby, and I’ll treat it accordingly.
My first step will be to review the manuscript and assess its editing needs. This assessment is a critical part of the process, one that most book editors don’t take the time to perform. They just wade in and start fixing typos and moving commas around. Too often, this results in a generic edit that doesn’t take the author’s narrative voice into account, and what was once uniquely yours winds up sounding flat and distant.
Once I’ve assessed the needs of your manuscript, I’ll correct all the mechanical errors (punctuation, grammar, sentence structure, paragraph structure, etc.), polish the prose to improve clarity and narrative flow, and provide a new, fully edited manuscript. I’ll take at least four editing passes from start to finish, and when the book is published, readers won’t be complaining about typos and awkward prose, and the story will still read with your unique narrative voice.
Kyle Fager
Editor
Manuscript Editor
Guy Who Needs a Haircut
Get a Free Edit Review and Fee Quote
I’ll be glad to take a look at your manuscript and let you know what level of editing it needs. I’ll also tell you exactly what my fee will be and how soon I can do the work.
The quickest way to get your manuscript to me would be to use the button on the right to email it. Please ensure that your work is in Microsoft Word, RTF, or PDF format.
If you would prefer to discuss the project before sending, please feel free to schedule a chat using the “Email for a Review” button. Or just call me directly at 608.213.7594. I love to discuss literary projects and would be happy to give you advice on next steps.
Please note: I’m a book writer and editor. I work only with novels and nonfiction books of at least 40,000 words. If you need help with a short story, magazine article, term paper, collection of poems, or PhD dissertation, I can’t help you. If you need help with a novel or nonfiction book, then I’m your guy!
What my clients are saying
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Kyle’s work as an editor was exactly what I needed to prepare my novel for submission to publishers. He provided everything from insightful thematic considerations to deft work line by line that brought out the resonance of the story. He helped me to find and address the weaknesses I could not see on my own. He strategized with me to develop the potential I knew was waiting within but needed the right touch. Having a good editor is essential to the creative process, and I highly recommend Kyle.
—David Belczyk
Author of City of Bridges -
Kyle Fager was an invaluable editor and friend from the very beginning. His professional approach and calm demeanor gave secure and steady passage in developing this story. Also, his knowledge of producing the physical book has kept us focused on the final product. [Co-author] Chad and I have been very fortunate to have his expertise available to us throughout the process.
—George Shannon
Author of The Best Seven Years of My Life: The Story of an Unlikely Caregiver -
As a first-time author, I needed guidance in all areas of editing and publishing. When I was introduced to Kyle, he walked me through the step-by-step process of what it was that he foresaw as my editing and publishing needs. Once we agreed on a plan, Kyle included me in every step of the editing and publishing phases. His timeline for completion of the project was met and I am completely happy with the outcome. If you are in need of a professional and experienced editor, Kyle Fager is your man.
—Jerry Veshio
Author of Moving Forward: The True Story of an Underdog’s Improbable Run to a State Football Championship
Your Words Literary Services
Manuscript Evaluation ………. $345
I’ll read your manuscript from first page to last and tell you what you’ve done right and what still needs work.
Manuscript Critique ………. $24 per thousand words
My practical, detailed suggestions will show you how to turn your manuscript into a book with solid commercial value.
Manuscript Editing ………. $40 – $50 per thousand words
I’ll correct the mechanical errors (spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc.) and I’ll polish the prose to improve clarity and narrative flow.
Book Proposal ………. $950 and up
I’ll help you avoid the mistakes that can make the difference between sale and rejection.
Major Rewrite ………. $15,000 and up
I’ll develop a rewrite plan for your approval. Then, I’ll overhaul your manuscript from the ground up.
Ghostwriting ………. $25,000 and up
I’ll ghostwrite your book based on your story idea or outline.