Editorial Services

Work with me to excavate the heart of your writing.

What I Offer

I offer editorial work on fiction and nonfiction projects, from their inception (seed) to the polished product (oak). Explore the options to the right to see which fits what you’re looking for, or reach out to me through the form below if you’re unsure.

  • $50/hour

    Your project has yet to begin, but a directive has been ordered. Perhaps this comes from a higher power (an employer, a professor) or perhaps a Higher Power (insert deity of choice here).

    At this point, you have ideas and perhaps notes, but nothing has been drafted. We’ll get on a Zoom call and work from wherever you are in the process. By the end, you will have concrete ideas and plans for moving forward.

    This can also be used as an opportunity to check if we’d be a good fit to work on your saplings or oaks.

  • $.03/word

    You have a draft, some branches reaching out toward the sky, perhaps boasting some buds. But it’s not where you want (or need) it to be, and you’re not sure how to move forward.

    You’ll send me your work and I’ll return it with in-line comments and a letter of response. You can specify what exactly you’re looking for in editing and I will be sure to respond to those things.

    My responses to Sapling drafts will be content-related, so focusing on voice, character, pacing, style, etc.

    The length of my response letter will correlate to the length of your work. 0-10,000 words = 1 page, 10,001-40,000 words = 3 pages, 40,000+ words = 5 pages+

  • $.02/word

    Your work now soars. Its leaves are full and cast shadows on the ground. What you need now is a final edit to prepare for submission, publication, or whatever your final step is.

    You’ll send me your work and I’ll return it with in-line comments and copyedits. I will not respond to stylistic concerns except for those that affect the clarity of the work. This is for final, polishing edits.

MFA Applicant Packages

For MFA applications, I offer special packages at a significantly discounted price. These packages are available from May through December and are only for those applying in the year we work together. For other projects, please look at my normal packages.

  • Fiction writers only!

    Includes:

    60-minute phone call for guidance on conducting research/narrowing down list of programs

    In-line comments and 1-page letter with edits on both your work sample and Statement of Purpose on TWO drafts of each

    Ideally this is a long-term relationship over the course of your application journey, and the above are spread over several months to be most beneficial to you.

  • Fiction writers only!

    Includes in-line comments and 1-page letter with edits on your writing sample, up to 30 pages (additional pages at extra cost)

    Additional rounds of edits available for $150 each

  • $125

    Open to all genres

    Includes in-line comments and 1-page letter with edits on your Statement of Purpose

    Additional rounds of edits available for $75 each

Inquire through the form below and let me know what package you’re looking at, a bit more about your project, and your budget.

Testimonials

“Writing about yourself can be so difficult. Helen provided excellent feedback on my statement of purpose, helping me narrow my focus and write about my work with more specificity and conviction. I have no doubt that her help made my application stronger.”

MFA Applicant who was accepted to 6 fully funded programs

“Helen encourages individual exploration and creates an open and respectful atmosphere for diverse voices.”

Former Student

“Helen’s service has given me a lot of motivation in the editing process especially when the writing life as a whole can be so lonely. Her edits were incredibly supportive and I am already thinking of her suggestions and observations as I revise portions of the novel beyond just the excerpt she worked on. She’s become like a little ghost reader on my shoulder as I continue editing.”

Former Editorial Client