I offer both flat-fee and sliding scale editorial services, depending on the length and complexity of your project. I provide line editing and commentary on basic English usage and style for short works–approximately 10,000 words or fewer–as well as multiple readings of longer works that include in-depth commentary on style and content.
For book/novel-length works–greater than 50,000 words–I typically do at least three readings, focusing on characterization, narrative structure and style, and provide a written summary for your reference.
Q&A/Disclaimers:
1. “Why don’t you mention works between 10,000 and 50,000 words?” It’s very difficult to publish short works over 10,000 words, with the upper limit usually somewhere between 5,000-7,500 for the majority of magazines and journals. You’re far more likely to find a market for your short fiction or nonfiction the shorter it is. Novel and book lengths vary widely by genre and subject, but a minimum of 50,000 words is a good basis.
Those lengths are, however, just guidelines, and I’m happy to work on any length project whether you intend it for publication or not.
2. “Are you an agent? Can you help me publish my story/essay/novel/book?” No, I am not, and do not provide such services, but I can share my own experience with that avenue of the process.
3. “Are you an attorney/can you give me legal advice?” I am not an attorney and can provide no legal advice.
4. “Can you guarantee that my work will be published after collaborating with you?” No, I cannot. Nor can anyone else, not even top agents, vast as their influence and resources are.
5. “So, what can you guarantee?” I can guarantee that I’ve provided hundreds of writers, from students to professionals, with the best constructive counsel I can offer regarding the practice of writing. Below are two examples of my clients’ comments about that counsel:
“Les got me focused. I had been working on what I thought was a book for 8 years and was all over the place. He began by acting as a sounding board, editor, and creative coach for one of my chapters and I am so happy with it! He gave helpful feedback and guidance and I’ve kept going. I would not be as far along as I am without his kick in the pants.” Christine S. from Eugene, OR
“Les has been an invaluable resource in my writing life. He’s thorough, sensitive, and insightful. Above all, he’s as compassionate as he is surgical, making sure his edits and advice address the human who wrote the words, rather than the words themselves.” Max C. from Asheville, NC