SERVICES
MY SCHEDULE
Want to take this journey together? I want you to know two things up front. First, as a mom of two young children, I only work part-time. Because of this, my turnaround times are longer than an editor working full-time.
​
Secondly, I am often booked weeks to months in advance. Please make your inquiries early for the best chance of getting a space in my schedule. I require a signed agreement and 50% deposit to reserve a spot.
​
Because of my limitations, I am selective about the editing jobs I take on. Please review my editing genres and interests here before contacting me.
HAVE A SMALLER PROJECT?
In addition to book-length manuscripts, I also edit smaller projects like articles, blogs, and short stories for a flat fee. These all-in-one edits include critique and copy editing.
<1,000 WORDS
$50
< 2,000 WORDS
$75
< 3,000 WORDS
$100
SUSY FLORY
New York Times bestselling author
Sarah Barnum is an editor I would recommend to anyone looking to write with more clarity, strength, and purpose. She has a knack for making a manuscript or article more readable and engaging (and marketable, too), and for helping to bring out the important messages and themes in the work. She's not only knowledgeable in making writing more clear and grammatical, she's also an extremely hard worker and very easy to work with. Anything Sarah works on is going to be a much better piece of writing.
EDITING SERVICES DETAIL
COACHING
Looking for direction with your work-in-progress? I’ll help you get on the right path with your manuscript. Coaching can include brainstorming, assistance with market research, help identifying your target audience, strengths and weaknesses assessment, teaching tips to improve your writing, and more.
​
STANDARD PACKAGE INCLUDES:
-
Critique of first fifty pages plus your outline or synopsis
-
One-hour phone or video consultation
-
Email support for one month
​
PACKAGE: $500
Looking for chapter-by-chapter review or ongoing coaching? Contact me for a custom quote.
CONTENT EDITING
Content editing is your trail map. You’ve bushwhacked your way to the end of your rough draft, and now it’s time to look at the big view to make sure others can track with you. With a content edit, I help you clarify or reorganize your writing for theme, development, and structure, addressing issues with pacing, narrative arc, flow and organization of information, consistency, chronology, transitions, character development, beginnings and endings, and more.
​
INCLUDES:
​​
-
A written editorial review letter detailing suggested changes
-
Optional supporting documents like structure spreadsheet and chapter analysis
-
Your edited manuscript with comments and tracked changes
-
A follow-up meeting, up to an hour, to answer questions and explain editorial suggestions
​
RATE: 4 CENTS / WORD
Looking for additional rounds or types of editing? Ask about my bundle discounts.
COPY EDITING & LINE EDITING
Copy editing makes your trail smooth so your readers don’t trip up. I help you trim those low branches and remove stumbling rocks from the path by editing for punctuation, usage, grammar, and syntax according to the Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition. For manuscripts needing extra smoothing, I offer line editing, a more intensive edit. Where copy editing addresses clarity and correctness, line editing addresses style and substance. In a line edit, I tackle overused words, cliches, or pet phrases; fact-check sources; reduce redundancy and tighten the writing; correct verb tense inconsistencies; make suggestions for word choice, and do light rewriting or re-organization to improve flow. A round of line editing also integrates copy edit changes.
INCLUDES:
​
-
A customized style sheet of your preferred spellings and style choices
-
Your edited manuscript with comments and tracked changes
RATE: 2.5 - 3.5 CENTS / WORD
All manuscripts are subject to review to ensure they are ready for a copy edit.
THE FINE PRINT
Rates are based on standard freelance rates established by the Editorial Freelancer's Association. Rates per word are based on word count of submitted manuscript. Manuscripts that require heavy editing or expedited turnaround times are subject to an increased rate. Editing projects totaling $100 or less are payable in advance. Editing jobs $100 or more require a 50% deposit. All jobs will be contracted with a signed editing agreement. Final manuscript files are delivered upon payment of the balance.