Fiction editing and proofreading
specializing in fantasy, science fiction, and horror
Hey, quirky writer. Your story matters.
Don't let errors get in its way.
If you're looking for an editor who:
has professional training and experience in fiction
will save you time, stress, and money
offers a free sample edit so you can see if she's a good fit
has a no-A.I. clause in her contract
won't judge your writing because she gets what it's like to be a writer
will amplify and encourage your voice, not discourage or rewrite it . . .
Then you've come to the right place.
Testimonials
"Andrea read my novel and offered very insightful, fun, and constructive comments that helped me see through her professional lens how I might improve my WIP and what themes were worth exploring and leaning into. I very much valued her honesty and encouragement and would recommend her services to anyone!" -Maura R.
"I have used Andrea's expertise to help with decreasing word count for one project, and helping me with commas in another project. She was fabulous to work with both times. I really appreciate that she explained why for each edit so that I could learn as I edited." -Chelsey O.
"Andrea is a word-chopping genius! She helped me cut almost 5,000 words off my manuscript!" -Megs M.
"Andrea is truly one of a kind! Her developmental edits (yes, she read it multiple times) helped shape my story in a way that felt true to my original idea, but also gave insight into key areas of improvement. She was even able to call out major improvements from her first read through to her second! If you are looking for a fast reader, who is able to provide both positive feedback and constructive criticism, I highly recommend her services!" -D.R. Driver
Services and Pricing
Payment plans available. I also reserve a few slots for authors with financial hardship. Contact me for more information.
Proofreading: Punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and basic grammar. $0.002/word
Copyediting: Everything included in proofreading, plus advanced grammar, checking for inconsistencies, and tips for more immersive writing, all while maintaining your voice. $0.004/word
Word-Count Trim: Removal of filler words and phrases to bring down word count without sacrificing the best parts of your story. $0.003/word
My rates are low because only one full proofreading or editing pass (plus a quick clean-up pass) is included; many editors charge more because they do multiple passes.
Proofreading example:
Copyediting example:
Word count trim example:
Frequently asked Questions
Why are your rates so low?
For two reasons. First, I want to make editing more accessible to more authors. Second, I only make one pass through a manuscript (well, more like one and a half--one thorough pass and a quick clean-up pass), while the industry standard is two. Clients are welcome to hire me for further passes.Do you use A.I.?
No, and a clause in my contract prohibits me from doing so. Besides the ethical concerns, your manuscript deserves the understanding that comes from a human editor.Can you edit other genres?
Yes. Speculative fiction (fantasy, sci-fi, horror, magical realism, etc.) is my specialty, but I can proofread anything and copyedit most genres.Do you have professional training?
Yes. You deserve to work with someone who knows what they're doing. I have a Certificate in Copyediting from the University of California San Diego, which is 120 hours of training. I've also taken classes specifically in editing fiction, and I'm a member of ACES: The Society for Editing, where I continue to upgrade my skills.Why is it so scary to let someone else see my work?
I hear this all the time, and I get it. All artists put a piece of themselves into their work, and letting someone else see it--well, it feels vulnerable. I always keep that in mind while I'm editing.
How It Works
1. Contact
Fill out my contact form with your manuscript's genre and word count, whether you need proofreading or editing, and any questions. I'll respond within one business day.
2. Sample edit
Send me approximately 1,000 words of your manuscript for a free sample edit.
Get a feel for my editing style and whether we'll be a good fit.
3. Contract
I'll send you a contract to sign and an invoice for a nonrefundable deposit of 10% of the cost of your project.
Send those back to me, and I'll put you on my schedule!
4. Finished product
Proofreading takes approximately one week from the agreed-upon start date, and copyediting takes approximately two weeks.
You'll receive a marked-up copy of your manuscript, a clean copy of your manuscript, a style sheet (see below for more info on style sheets), and an invoice for the remaining 90% of the cost of your project.
Frequently asked Questions
What is a style sheet?
In fiction editing, a style sheet is a multi-part document that an editor uses to keep track of allll the things. The first part is where the editor will keep track of your grammatical preferences--like how you feel about semicolons--and decisions we've made. Some grammar "rules" are really more like guidelines, so we'll note all of those choices on the style sheet to remember as we edit. We'll also keep track of things like unique spellings and hyphenations here.A fiction style sheet also includes sections for characters, places, and your story's timeline. An editor will note every character and place and every detail about them to check for continuity. They'll also create a timeline of the events in your book to make sure all of the timing makes sense.Editors create these sheets to help themselves in the editing process. But then we pass them on to you, so you can see the choices we've made and so you can have a record of all those details as you edit. And if you're writing a series, these can really come in handy when you're trying to remember the details from earlier books.Proofreaders also like to see editors' style sheets so they can check your grammatical preferences against the text, so be sure to ask if they'd like a copy.
About Me
I'm Andrea. Stories are my jam. They are so important--more now than ever--for empowerment, connection, and healing. I specialize in working with speculative fiction: fantasy, science fiction, horror, magical realism, and dystopia, in any possible combination. The weirder, the better!Anyone can call themselves an editor, but I've worked hard to receive professional training. You can rest assured that I know where to put a comma and why. I'm a member of ACES: The Society for Editing, and I have a Certificate in Copyediting from the University of California San Diego and copyediting certificates from the Poynter Institute.
Frequently asked Questions
Why did you become an editor?
Because stories, grammar, and words are my thing, and because so many self-published books could go further if they were well edited. I want to help with that.Why is your website so . . . unconventional?
For fun and for accessibility. Both are important to me.What do you do in your spare time?
When I'm not editing, I'm reading (150 books last year), writing (mostly flash fiction), or playing cozy video games with my kids (yay for Stardew Valley!). I also like to garden and volunteer at my local library. My favorite authors right now are Kate Milford, Suzanne Collins, and T.J. Klune.What's your favorite Pokemon?
Snorlax is my ride-or-die.
Contact
Thanks for your interest in Quirky Pen Editing! I'll get back to you within one business day.