It's your book. Let me help you get it ready to publish.
You've finished your book, and now you want someone to help you make it better. Whether you choose to submit your work to an agent or publishing company or publish it yourself, I can give you the kind of help that will take your book to the next level.
As part of a complete copy edit, I will suggest changes for logic, clarity, style, consistency, grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation. I will make suggestions concerning word usage when I feel a different word or phrase will better convey your intended meaning. In addition to marking up suggested changes, I will also add comments to discuss reasons for suggested changes and to suggest revisions I don’t make explicitly. The work we do together will help you publish a better book. Inquire at EditingMcKennas.com. Nice things people sayOver the last couple of years, I've discovered the that hardest part of the writing process for me isn't starting. It's not even finishing the first draft. It's opening an edited manuscript and seeing what an editor changed, commented on, and didn't like. Talk about approach resistance.
Luckily I have Bridget for an editor, who may have been able to intuit how hard this can be, and helped make it less so. Even accepting minor changes she makes is an opportunity to learn and improve my prose, and her notes are constructive in a way that makes me think hard about what I've written. Thanks for helping me get over that approach resistance, and if any writers out there need good editors, I cannot recommend Bridget and Marti enough. Bridget not only improved this book by leaps and bounds, I know her recommendations have made me a better writer overall. —Jason Mical "Bridget is a timely, professional, and excellent copy editor. I look forward to a long and fruitful relationship."
--Meryl Yourish, author of The Catmage Chronicles “I had the pleasure of working with Bridget on a fantasy/action tale, and it was fantastic. She really took the time and effort to delve into my plot and characters. She not only made note of the myriad grammar and punctuation issues I had, but also made fantastic suggestions for cuts and additions to help the pacing of the story. What I appreciated the most was that when she’d make an edit, she’d explain why she thought the edit was needed. In this way, the review process became a learning one. As I continue to write, she’s given me helpful guidelines that streamline my writing the first time around. In the end, I felt that she was as invested in the success of this story as I am.”
—Jerry Darcy “I worked with Bridget for several years, and she edited numerous short stories and a novella of mine. In each instance, I found her edits made my writing much stronger. I count myself fortunate to work with such a professional, who not only knows writing, editing, and publishing, but also that arcane art of book doctoring. She knows when, where, and how a story will break down or fail to keep the reader engaged, and offers fantastic suggestions! Her lessons and insights contributed so much to the writer I am today. I cannot recommend her strongly enough—but I shall try! I would engage her without hesitation, no matter the writing project, knowing that working with her improves the quality of my writing.”
—R.K. MacPherson, author of Stormcaller and Assassins “Bridget McKenna is the perfect editor. She knows what it takes to help a client shape up a novel the way a personal trainer can help shape a client’s body. She is tough, but kind and empathic. She knows that writing and publishing one's work is difficult and highly competitive and she also knows how deeply important and personal writing is to the author. In graduate school I learned about group leadership styles. Some leaders are socio-emotional leaders. They have the ability to support and rally the group members. Others leaders are task-oriented. They make sure that the nitty-gritty of the work gets done. Bridget combines both. When I used her services in her Thriller Doctor days she helped me with the content of my novel, teaching me how to craft my mystery so that it would have a chance to be represented and eventually be published. She also emotionally supported me through the frustrating exercise of querying agents, and when I found one Bridget was in my corner all the way. If you have a writing project and are looking for editing services you will not be disappointed by using Bridget McKenna.”
—Dr. Ira Kalina, clinical psychologist and author of Final Shot: A Psych 'n' Roll Mystery www.psychnrollradio.com “I’ve worked with Bridget on numerous projects. No matter how polished the work I hand her, she can always buff it to a higher gleam. Her precision and concision always exceed my best efforts. Her broad experience, skillful ear, supportive critique, and artful eye...simply deliver. Even now, it’s hard to resist handing her this testimonial for a quick going-over. Her value extends beyond single-job editing, too—she teaches me valuable lessons every time we work together. Whatever she’s asking, she’s worth double.”
—Fran Stewart “Bridget’s edits are always sharp and constructive. She takes the time to explain her thoughts and show you how to be a better writer. When it came time for me to publish my work, she was a godsend. She understands every aspect of the process, from first-draft edits all the way to the finished product. She took my story to the next level, dressed it up into a bright and professional package, and presented it to me with a smile. I’m so happy with the end result and I would recommend her to anyone.”
—John Kratman |
Editing Rates
EditingMcKennas.com charges $30/hr for editing when dealing directly with authors. Editing charges on a novel of 80,000 words usually range between $1,100 and $1,500 for a thorough line-and-copy-editing pass before your rewrites, followed by a final pass after rewrites.
If we feel your book isn't yet ready for editing at this level, we can discuss the possibility of a more comprehensive editing job at the same hourly rate. |