Manuscript assessment
A ten to fifteen page editorial letter on structure, pacing and what to fix first.
Editing manuscripts since 2012
The draft is done. Now it needs a reader who is not you.
Developmental notes on what is not working, line edits that keep your voice, and copyediting clean enough to submit or publish.
13 yrsediting
480+manuscripts edited
1,500free sample edit words
4 wkstypical full manuscript
Editing levels
Three levels, and honest advice about which you need
Priced per word so you know the cost before you send the file.
Developmental edit
Chapter by chapter notes plus an editorial letter and a follow up call.
Line edit
Sentence level work on rhythm, clarity and voice, tracked in your document.
Copyedit
Grammar, consistency, style sheet and fact flags to Chicago or your house style.
Proofread of typeset pages
Final pass on formatted pages before print or upload.
Sample edit
Fifteen hundred of your words edited so you can judge the fit first.
Our editors
Six editors, each with their own shelf
Founded by Kara Lindqvist after eight years at a trade publisher, Redpen matches your manuscript to an editor who reads in your genre. Literary fiction does not go to the thriller editor. Every project starts with a free sample so you hear the fit before money changes hands.
•Genre matched editor named before you pay
•Free 1,500 word sample edit on every project
•Style sheet delivered with every copyedit
•A follow up call included on developmental work
Reviews
Authors on the experience
“The editorial letter identified in four pages what three beta readers circled for months without naming.”
Theo G., Debut novelist
“She cut nine thousand words and it still sounds exactly like me, only faster.”
Rachel D., Nonfiction author
“The style sheet alone made my copyedit worth it for the rest of the series.”
Nadia S., Fantasy series
FAQ
Questions authors ask
Which level of editing do I need?
If you are unsure whether the story works, start with an assessment or a developmental edit. If the structure is solid and you want the prose sharper, that is a line edit. Copyediting is the last stop before formatting, and doing it earlier wastes money.
How long does a full manuscript take?
About four weeks for an 80,000 word manuscript, depending on level and our queue. We book two to six weeks out, so tell us your deadline when you inquire.
Will editing change my voice?
It should not. That is exactly what the free sample edit is for: you see how we handle your sentences before committing. If the sample reads like us instead of you, do not book.
Do you guarantee my book gets published?
No, and be wary of anyone who does. Editing makes a manuscript as strong as it can be. Agents and publishers still decide based on market, timing and taste that nobody controls.
Contact
Send us your first pages
Share your genre, word count and deadline and we will return a free sample edit within a week.
Phone(597) 555-0197
Address1735 Pearl Street, Suite 3, Boulder, CO 80302, Boulder, Colorado
HoursMon to Fri 9am to 5pm Mountain
AreaRemote, clients across the US, UK and Australia