Editing has been a lifelong passion of mine and my full-time job since 2020, when I launched Red Quill Editorial LLC.

I have a BA in English with a concentration in creative writing and a certificate from an intensive proofreading course that required a minimum of 90 percent to pass the final exam. I am also a proud member of the Editorial Freelancers Association, where I continue to take editing-, writing-, and publishing-related courses and webinars to enhance, sharpen, and expand my knowledge and skills in the editing industry.

Want proof of these claims and that I know my stuff? Check out my Qualifications or look through my Tips for Writers articles!

If you want an editor who . . .

🪶 Has freelance editing experience since 2020 with dozens of happy and repeat clients

💌 Communicates clearly and regularly

📆 Provides solid deadlines and sticks to them

📚 Offers high-quality, positive feedback along with constructive criticism in an honest yet gentle editing approach

🎯 Gives specific suggestions and examples for how to hone your craft and enhance your book, all while maintaining your unique authorial voice

📜 Relates to your author journey (check out my book Horse Cents), understands the vulnerabilities of handing your hard work over to a virtual stranger, and reciprocates that vulnerability in her Blog

🎓 Is an expert in the creative writing field, continues to sharpen her skills with webinars and classes through her membership with the EFA, and freely shares her knowledge in her Tips for Writers articles

🥂 And gives her absolute best to your book, considers your wins as her own, and is just as passionate about getting your book published as you are

. . . then I am the editor for you!

Check out my Bookshelf to see what other clients have to say about working with me, and Contact Me to secure your spot on my calendar!

I am an empath who uses a gentle yet honest approach in my editing style. My goal is to help you grow and improve in your writing craft, while encouraging and supporting you at the same time. When you work with me, you can expect a balance between positive feedback and constructive criticism. 

My Genre Specialties are romance, sci-fi/fantasy, and mystery. Writing something else? Contact Me anyway! I am open to discussing most genres (check out my Bookshelf to see some of the genres I have worked with). If I honestly feel I am not the right editor for your book, I will let you know.

I specialize in Developmental Editing and Line / Copyediting. The only round I don’t offer is Proofreading, but I am happy to refer you to my colleagues who have fantastic eagle eyes! You can learn more about what each of these rounds of edits entails on my Services & Rates tab, by reading my Tips for Writers article The Four Types of Edits, or by watching my YouTube video What Type of Editing Does My Book Need?

I use the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) and the Unabridged Dictionary by Merriam-Webster as I work through each manuscript. I also use Google to research or fact check as necessary. Once I’ve performed both passes of the line/copyedit round, I also run a few macros and an AI program called PerfectIt to double-check for consistency and clean up the manuscript.

All of these commonly used subscriptions and tools are designed to work alongside your editor to help strengthen and enhance our work. Because language is full of complexities and nuances that simply can’t be caught by a computer in the same way a living, breathing editor can, none of these tools can work independently of your editor. They will still require an editor’s keen eye to research and make the final decision with the information provided by these tools.

I’d be happy to do a sample Line/Copyedit of up to 500 words on an excerpt of your choosing from your manuscript. Keep in mind that a full read of the manuscript is necessary for a quality Developmental Edit, which is why the sample would focus primarily on line/copyediting, although I do offer some developmental feedback where possible. I charge a flat $40 fee for sample edits, but if you choose to hire me for editing services, that fee would be applied toward your contract cost.

As a personal boundary to separate office hours from family time, I do not currently offer phone or Zoom consultations. This may change in the future, and in the meantime, I welcome open communication via email before, during, and after our project. I pride myself on quick and clear responses during office hours.

I am located in Northern California, where we use Pacific Standard Time. As an early riser, I am in my office Monday through Friday, 5:30am – 2:30pm PST.

Yes. The contract outlines our agreement of the editing services to be rendered, detailing what that includes, as well as the pricing structure. It also includes an intellectual property clause and an NDA, both of which protect your hard work. The goal of the contract is for both parties to be protected and understand what to expect from our agreement to work together.

I can work with PDF and image files for smaller projects, such as children’s books or charts/images for a nonfiction book. But for longer text files like a full-length manuscript, I require a .doc or .docx formatted file. This way, I can use Microsoft Word’s Track Changes tool, which shows you what I have changed or suggested and allows you to accept or reject any of it. If you do not have Microsoft Word, you can share the file with me via Google Docs and I can download it as a .docx file for editing and upload the new file upon completion.

Check out my Tips for Writers article for more information on Formatting Your Manuscript for Your Editor.

It depends on the current state of your manuscript, your writing capabilities, and goals for your book. You can learn more about what each of these rounds of edits entails on my Services & Rates tab, by reading my Tips for Writers article The Four Types of Edits, or by watching my YouTube video What Type of Editing Does My Book Need? At the end of the article and the video, I give basic guidance on what your manuscript might need based on a few common scenarios, but you can’t fit every author and manuscript into a single box. If you need help figuring out which type of editing you need, Let’s Discuss Your Manuscript. I’m happy to help!

Reach out via my Contact Form to let me know the details of your book. I will send you a detailed proposal packet via email containing information about my services and process, letting you know when I am currently booking for, and providing you with an accurate turnaround and custom cost estimate for your particular manuscript. The cost estimate is good for 2 weeks and there is no obligation to commit.

As businesses grow, they learn more about who they are and what they represent, and with that growth comes change. While I am still the sole owner and editor at Red Quill and will continue to offer the same high-quality professional editing services, I wanted to clarify what Red Quill is all about. Click here to learn more about why Red Quill Co LLC became Red Quill Editorial LLC in 2024 and to see the changes and growth since launching in 2020.

Every project is different, but my rates start at 4.5 cents per word. Factors that can affect cost are your genre, word count, type of editing needed/desired, and the scope of work required. I also offer a variety of Discounts, a Payment Plan, and Value Adds. And don’t forget how much it costs to not hire an editor—loss of book sales, poor reviews, and being added to someone’s DNF list, just to name a few.

This is an excellent question that really boils down to the success of your book. Whether you publish traditionally or independently, your marketing plan is the key to making sales. You could write the next great novel, but people can’t buy it if they don’t know it exists.

If you publish traditionally, you will receive smaller royalties, but their marketing pros will take care of that aspect for you. If you publish independently, you will receive higher royalties, but the marketing will be your responsibility (you could hire a freelancer to do this for you as another investment).

Another thing to consider is that most authors tap into success by publishing multiple books, not just one. If someone reads one of your books and likes it, they will likely search for your other books and purchase them as well. And this is where the numbers really start to add up and take off.

So keep writing more books, ideally with the goal to release them steadily (that could mean once a quarter, once a year, or whatever works for you), and make sure you are doing the research and putting in the effort to market your book!

While AI programs such as ProWritingAid, Grammarly, and Hemingway Editor may help you catch and fix certain errors, they can also introduce new errors (six-fingered hands and embarrassing autocorrects, anyone?). Language is full of complexities and nuances that simply can’t be caught by a computer in the same way a living, breathing editor can.

There’s no denying the value a professional editor brings to your book—increased sales and positive reviews, plus a stronger writing craft for your future works. If you want others to invest in you by purchasing your book, you’d better be willing to invest in yourself by hiring a professional editor.

In general, the better shape your manuscript is in when you hand it over to your editor, the lower the cost. Performing self-edits, using AI editing software, and working with beta readers before you hire an editor can each get you one step closer to perfecting your book, lessening the workload for your editor and lowering your final cost.

Here at Red Quill, I’m also happy to offer Discounts & Specials and a Payment Plan option so my clients don’t have to settle for less than they deserve. Each of my clients also receive Value Adds when we wrap our project!

You will have the option to pay via credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, or bank payment (ACH) with a button right on the invoice.

A typical contract spreads the total cost out over three payments. A 50 percent deposit is due upon booking, covering half of each editing round. The remaining due for each round would then be payable upon completion of the correlating service. For example, if you hired me for both a Developmental Edit and a Line/Copyedit, you’d pay the other half of the Developmental Edit when that round is completed, and the other half of the Line/Copyedit when that round is completed.

Yes! I understand that editing services can get quite pricey at times, and I want you to get the best possible service to help your manuscript shine rather than feeling forced by your budget to settle for something less than you deserve. That’s why I am happy to offer a Payment Plan for any contract that totals $500.00 and above.

How does it work? The 50% deposit is still mandatory. This acts in good faith to get your project on the schedule and allows me to get to work on your manuscript. The remainder due can be paid off using the payment plan. No interest is accrued and there is no timeframe to pay it off as long as you are making regular payments. 

An updated invoice displaying your unpaid balance will be sent on the 1^st of each month and a flat monthly service charge of $25 will be added to your account. A minimum monthly payment of $200.00 is required until your account is paid in full. Late payments made after the 5th of each month will incur an additional $25 late fee. 

Please be aware that the first round of editing must be paid in full prior to securing your spot for the second round.

The first step is to Contact Me and tell me about your book. I will respond with an accurate turnaround time based on your word count, a custom cost estimate, and more information about my process.

When you let me know you are ready to secure your spot on my calendar, I will send you an email with links for the contract (which includes an NDA and an intellectual clause, both of which protect you as the author), a brief survey asking your style preferences, and your invoice. Prior to reserving your spot, I require the completed paperwork and a 50 percent deposit.

Once I receive these three items, I will email you with a confirmation of reservation, providing you with a solid start date and deadline for when you can expect it to be completed. I will email you again one week prior to our start date to remind you to finalize any self edits and to send the most current version of your manuscript to me no later than 48 hours prior to our start date.

The Developmental Editing round comes first. During this round, I will be focused on big-picture items such as tropes, character development, plot holes, and pacing. I will perform two passes on your manuscript before returning it to you, and once completed, the deliverables will be a detailed editorial letter and a Track Changes version of your manuscript with comments. The letter will include tips to elevate your writing craft, specific examples of what worked and what needs improvement, and suggestions for your rewrites.

You can take as long as you need for the rewrite process. Whenever you are ready, we will get you back on my calendar for the next round of edits.

The Line/Copyediting round typically takes twice as long as the developmental edit. During this round, I will perform the first attack on grammar, spelling, and punctuation issues. I will also enhance the cadence and rhythm of the narrative by focusing on things such as optimal word choice and sentence length. Once completed, the deliverables will be a Track Changes version of your manuscript with in-line edits and comments, as well as a “clean” version of your manuscript with all changes accepted and comments deleted.

If your project takes longer than one week to complete, you can expect regular weekly updates from me during each round to confirm that I am, in fact, working on your manuscript, to inform you of my progress, and to keep the lines of communication open.

An editing pass is when your editor goes through your manuscript, while an editing round is a type of edit. At Red Quill, I perform two passes on your manuscript for each round of edits. For example, if you hire me for a Developmental Edit, I will read through your entire manuscript twice prior to returning it to you so I can offer my best edits to you.

Every project is different, but as an example, a Developmental Edit of a 50,000-word book will take me about 2 weeks, while a Line/Copyedit of the same word count will take me about 4 weeks.

When you Contact Me, I will be able to give you an accurate turnaround for your particular manuscript. Once you book your spot on my calendar, I will give you a solid start date and deadline you can count on.

Just because we’ve completed our business together does not mean I will abandon you. If you want to bounce an idea for a rewrite off me, please do! If you have a question about grammar, just ask! And if you simply want to check in and ask about the weather, don’t hesitate! I’d love to hear from you, and in fact, many of my clients become lifelong friends and pen pals.

Yes! Because I believe word of mouth is one of the best ways to find someone who offers the service you need, I am always searching for partners in the publishing industry who offer reputable and high-quality services for referral purposes.

Whether you need a final proofreading, cover design, illustrations, formatting, marketing & reviews, or printing & publishing, I vet each one of my publishing partners before I send my clients to them, so you can feel confident reaching out to someone in Red Quill Editorial’s Publishing Partners Rolodex.

I am always looking for more partners in the publishing industry who I can vet and confidently refer my editing clients to. Whether you offer cover design, formatting, proofreading, or something else publishing related, reach out via my Publishing Partners Application and let’s discuss whether we’d be a good fit!