Arcane Editorial

Let's Make Magic

What new journey begins at “The End?” For authors, the winding road from finished manuscript to published work begins with finding their trust-worthy companion, their editor.Let Arcane Editorial be yours.

"The End" is the Beginning

The first step on the winding road lies before you. Arcane Editorial stands at your side. Are you ready to take it?

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So, What Now?

First, thanks are in order. You and your work deserve nothing less than a great editor. Thank you for trusting Arcane Editorial to serve as your companion on the road ahead.

Now, on to the work. In 2 to 3 business days, you will receive an email that includes our next steps and a questionnaire for you to complete.

I am truly excited to get to know you and your work. We will speak soon!

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About Me

Editorial Essentials

What are the different kinds of editing?

Manuscript Evaluation

A manuscript evaluation is a high level review of the narrative elements of your story; characterization, plot, pacing, setting, tension, and so on. This critique is packaged into an editorial note that provides feedback on your story along with advice on how to incorporate it. A manuscript evaluation helps you better understand the state of your story.

Developmental Editing

Developmental editing (known to some as substantive editing) is frequently called “big picture” editing due to its focus on the narrative elements of your story, much like a manuscript evaluation. However, unlike a manuscript evaluation, a developmental edit comes with a more substantial editorial note and detailed marginal comments within your manuscript to help guide you in your revisions. A developmental editor might comment on consistent grammatical errors or the occasional awkward sentence in these comments, but their primary goal is to help you refine the frame of your story.

Line Editing

If developmental editing is “big picture” editing, line editing could be called “small picture” editing. Line editors focus on the written elements of your story; diction, paragraph and sentence structure, tone, voice, and more. Line editing helps refine the way you tell your story.

Copyediting

Copyediting is the most “traditional” of the four major editing types, with the most attention given to the mechanics of your writing. Copyeditors seek to refine grammar, punctuation, spelling, style guide adherence, and the like. Copyediting will also be the last line of defense against inconsistency in both the content and formatting of your story.

Please note that Arcane Editorial does not currently offer copyediting services.

Proofreading

The “final pass” before publication, proofreading seeks to locate and remediate any glaring errors that were not caught in the previous stages. Thus, proofreading primarily focuses on eliminating typos, spelling errors, and formatting errors.

Please note that Arcane Editorial does not currently offer copyediting services.

Side Note: Order of Operations

You may have noticed that the different kinds of editing narrow in focus as they are presented; a manuscript evaluation critiques your story, developmental editing refines the frame of your story, line editing refines the way you tell your story, copyediting refines the mechanics of your writing, and proofreading seeks to remove any remaining errors. Why are they presented like this?

Let’s say you finish your first draft and decide to have the manuscript copyedited so you can request feedback from friends and family without worrying about grammar. Afterwards, you hire a developmental editor to help implement the feedback. The editor suggests restructuring the plot, which leads to rewrites of previously copyedited content. Now, you have to pay for a second copyedit and wait for it to be completed. When it comes to editing, it is important to move from "bigger picture" editing to "smaller picture" editing. Going in reverse order might waste your time and money.

When should I begin looking for an editor?

First, it is important to consider your writing strengths, weakness, and budget when looking for editors. If you can afford to go through each stage of editing, by all means do so! Your story will be better for it. However, if you can't, it is important to choose an editor and service that will help you address what actually needs to be addressed.

For example, if you have a refined taste for plot and pace, but struggle with punctuation, hiring a developmental editor might not benefit you, but hiring a copyeditor might. Not every manuscript needs every stage of editing, but all manuscripts will need at least one (ideally two with the second being a proofread). It is important to determine what you and your manuscript actually need before hiring any editor.

So, when should you hire an editor? You should begin looking for an editor as soon as you have reached a hurdle with your manuscript. Then you should hire an editor that will help you get over that specific hurdle. When hiring, be sure to consider your schedule as well as their availability. Do you need your manuscript edited by a certain deadline? Does the editor you selected have availability within that timeframe? Most editors book their projects in advance, so the earlier you begin your hiring hunt the more likely you are to find an editor that fits your needs.

Where should I begin looking for an editor?

Luckily, where is much simpler than when. To find a freelance editor, your best bet is to head to the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) member directory. There you can browse the editors associated with the organization and filter by the type of editing you need. Look for editors that have editorial education (such as a certificate from an accredited organization) and experience (such as a few years freelancing or working with a publishing company), as well as editors that work within your genre, especially if you are searching for a developmental or line editor.

Why do I need an editor?

Simply put, you need an editor to help refine your manuscript. A professional editor will help make your story shine, which is of the upmost importance regardless of which of the two major publishing routes you undertake; traditional publishing or self-publishing.

Traditional Publishing

As large publishing houses rarely take submissions, you will most likely need to hire a literary agent to “get in the door.” However, the agents of today are bombarded by thousands of queries and can’t represent them all. The better shape your manuscript is in, the more likely it is to catch an agent’s eye. Also, some agents only represent ready-to-sell manuscripts, so make sure you investigate the agent's requirements and have your manuscript edited accordingly.

Self-publishing

If you decide to self-publish, you will want to ensure that your manuscript is able to compete with those produced by a traditional publishing house. Readers will expect quality, regardless of how your story makes its way into their hands. This means your manuscript will ideally go through at least two of the stages of editing; whichever editing you think you need most followed by proofreading. Having multiple sets of eyes on your manuscript will help reduce errors no matter what stage of editing your manuscript moves through, from plot to punctuation.

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Services & Rates

All of the rates for Arcane Editorial's services are based on the most recent rates survey from the Editorial Freelancers Association, which you can find here. This page also has an editorial rate calculator, which you can use to determine the approximate cost of an edit to your manuscript. Please note that all of Arcane Editorial's rates are subject to change.

Editorial Services

Manuscript Evaluation ($0.015 per word)

An editorial assessment is a review of your work that is focused on its narrative elements (characterization, plot, pacing, setting, tension, etc.). I will read through your manuscript and provide you with an editorial note that contains feedback on your work and advice on how to implement said feedback.

You will receive an Intro Consultation (1 hour), an Editorial Note (10 page limit), and an Outro Consultation (1 hour).

Developmental Editing ($0.03 per word)

A developmental edit is an in-depth review of your work that is focused on its narrative elements (characterization, plot, pacing, setting, tension, etc.). I will make multiple passes through your manuscript, annotating as I go, and use those annotations to provide you with an editorial note that contains intensive feedback on your work and advice on how to implement said feedback.

You will receive an Intro Consultation (1 hour), an annotated copy of your manuscript in Microsoft Word, an Editorial Note, and an Outro Consultation (1 hour).

Line Editing ($0.025 per word)

A line edit is an in-depth review of your work that is focused on how you tell your story (diction, paragraph and sentence structure, tone, voice, etc.). I will make multiple passes on your manuscript, annotating and editing as I go, and provide you with a deftly edited copy of your work.

You will receive an Intro Consultation (1 hour), an edited copy of your manuscript in Microsoft Word, and an Outro Consultation (1 hour).

Editorial Consultation ($45 per hour)

An editorial consultation is a meeting between author and editor to discuss your work in whatever way you wish. Charged per quarter hour.

You will receive an Editorial Meeting via video or phone call.

Formatting Services

eBook Pre-Formatting ($0.01 per word)

eBook pre-formatting is a revision of your manuscript to prepare it for the production process. I will reformat your manuscript and provide you with a clean document that is ready for front matter, back matter, and ePUB file creation.

You will receive a pre-formatted copy of your manuscript in Microsoft Word as well as a guide on how to navigate it.

eBook Formatting ($100 per single-title manuscript)

eBook formatting is the process of converting your work from word processor file into an eBook file. I will properly assemble and tag your front matter, manuscript, and back matter into a polished ePUB file that is ready to be uploaded and published.

You will receive an ePUB version of your manuscript that is ready to be published as well as a guide on how to publish it.

eBook Pre-Formatting and Formatting (5% discount on total cost of both services)

If your manuscript needs both pre-formatting and formatting, I would be happy to provide you with both at a discount!

You will receive a pre-formatted copy of your manuscript in Microsoft Word, an ePUB version of your manuscript, a guide on how to navigate the pre-formatted document, and a guide on how to publish the ePUB file.

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