Are you ready to feel empowered?
“His eye for detail when proofreading is next level. It is very clear Sam is not only skilled at what he does but that he also loves it… I highly recommend him!” ~ Emily G.
About Me:
Hello, my name is Sam (he/him), and I’m excited to meet you!
I’ve loved editing for years, and still remember my elementary school days, when I would cut out examples from my grammar homework so I could study them more in my spare time. I’ve since earned a degree in writing and several certificates in editing (through places such as the EFA, Club Ed, and Liminal Pages, for proofreading, copy editing, line editing, and developmental editing) and have gone on to publish several fantasy novels.
My specialty and passion lies in supporting other queer and neurodivergent indie authors, particularly within the fantasy (adventure, urban, paranormal, romance, mystery, etc.), sci-fi (space opera, military), and romance (contemporary, spicy, closed door) genres.
I look forward to helping you take your novel to that next level so you can finally make your dream a reality! Partnering with me ensures your project goes out ready and polished so readers can concentrate on your words alone.
My Qualifications (Please note that due to differences in values and political beliefs, I don’t recommend all of these resources anymore. For editors looking to start training, Club Ed is my absolute favorite.):
Courses Taken:
Copyediting: Beginning – EFA (Editorial Freelancers Association)
Developmental Editing of Fiction 1 – EFA
Tea and Commas: The Foundations of Line and Copy-Editing Fiction – Liminal Pages
High-Level Proofreading And Copyediting Pro – Edit Republic
Beginning Line Editing – Club Ed
DE 1: Foundations of Storytelling – Club Ed
DE 2: Principles of Developmental Editing – Club Ed
Books Read:
Editing Fiction at Sentence Level – Louise Harnby (line + copy editing skills)
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel – Jessica Brody (dev editing + manuscript evaluation skills)
Understanding Show, Don’t Tell – Janice Hardy (dev + line editing + manuscript evaluation skills)
The Best Punctuation Book, Period – June Casagrande (copy editing + proofreading skills)
The Chicago Guide to Copyediting Fiction – Amy J. Schneider (copy editing skills)
The Conscious Style Guide – Karen Yin (conscious language skills/ recognizing harm to marginalized communities)
Writing an Identity Not Your Own – Alex Temblador (conscious language skills/recognizing harm to marginalized communities)
The Subversive Copy Editor – Carol Fisher Saller (copy editing / strengthening the editor-client relationship)
The Chicago Guide for Freelance Editors - Erin Brenner (running an editing business)
Adjacent Experience (NOT editing-specific):
English bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in Writing
Indie-published author
“Sam is incredible! It was a pleasure finding a gem like Sam to work this project with me.”
~ Jennifer M.
My Values
I value human-made art, which is why I won’t work with any authors knowingly using generative AI for writing, plotting, covers, character art, marketing, etc., and my contracts include two anti-AI clauses (one for me and one for you).
Further, I value community and believe in centering marginalized voices in the publishing industry, as well as everywhere possible. This means uplifting Black, brown, Asian, and Indigenous individuals, supporting immigrants, ensuring disabled individuals are able to thrive, and making space for queer people to experience joy.
This translates to our personal actions and behaviors. Are we striving to truly center those most marginalized? Are we contributing to boycotts, mutual aid, and the abolishment of the prison system and our own inclination to police those around us? Do we know whose land we’re on, and are we supporting them? Are we reading and hyping up Black books and paying Black educators? Are we divesting from whiteness (systems of white supremacy), are we decolonizing, and are we reaching for community? Are we checking in on disabled people around us, getting to know them, and wearing masks when out in public? Are we pushing queer people into stereotypes and binaries or allowing for all sorts of queer expressions? Are we showing up for immigrant communities near us? How?
Books are always political, and it’s impossible to properly edit them, support their authors, or support their readers without being political.
Services
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Copy Editing
Usually done before proofreading, copyediting goes a bit deeper. I’ll look for things like:
errors in grammar, punctuation, or spelling
technical inconsistencies regarding spelling, capitalization, font usage, etc.
continuity errors and consistency within the story - for example, ensuring your character descriptions stay the same throughout the novel (style sheet will be provided to the client)
factually incorrect statements
potential liabilities such as misusing a company’s name
$0.025 per word
Prices subject to change based on the nature of the project
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Line Editing
Line editing is generally done before copy editing and proofreading. I’ll look for things like:
sentence flow
sentence clarity
redundancy in word choice
continuity or consistency issues
*I always take great pains to preserve the author’s unique style and voice with any line editing changes I make.
$0.025 per word
Prices subject to change based on the nature of the project
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Developmental Editing
Developmental editing is generally done before any of the other editing stages. I’ll look for things like:
any potential issues with novel structure, pacing, tone, style, plot arcs, character arcs, scenes, etc.
provide you with a 15+ double-spaced report detailing my recommendations on how to make improvements to strengthen these big-picture elements
provide you with numerous in-document comments highlighting specific areas and offering suggestions
point out what’s working well, and why!
$0.030 per word
(Prices subject to change based on the nature of the project)
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Manuscript Evaluation
I will read your manuscript and provide detailed feedback from an editorial perspective. This evaluation includes:a several page document containing my notes on pacing, consistency, POV, voice, and dialogue
editorial notes on plot, characters, and scenes
an overview of the manuscript’s strengths
recommendations on how to resolve any issues within the manuscript
recommendations on next steps (what type/types of additional editing your manuscript would most benefit from)
$0.018 per word
(Prices subject to change based on the nature of the project)
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Proofreading
Proofreading is a final check before publication and looks at things like this:
errors in grammar, punctuation, or spelling which a copy edit missed
formatting issues
a proofread does not include a style sheet
(If you can only choose one service between a copy edit and a proofread, I always recommend picking the copy edit, as it will catch a lot more than doing just a proofread and forgoing a copy edit.)
$0.020 per word
Prices subject to change based on the nature of the project
What Am I Doing When I’m Not Editing?
Being a total nerd. You can catch me playing Minecraft or Powerwash Simulator, watching Markiplier on YouTube, reading, or watching reality TV! I especially adore the fantasy, sci-fi, and romance genres and have a special passion for helping queer and neurodivergent indie authors get their books into the world.