“Having Renée edit your manuscript is more like completing a college creative writing course than having a list of ‘here’s what’s wrong and needs fixing’ thrust at you. You learn how to write! She spotlighted places in my storyline that could be improved, noted inconsistencies, and suggested fixes for the problems. As a result, the story was tighter, more interesting, and the grammar and typos all fixed under her eagle eye. Renée is not only professional, she’s friendly and easy to work with. I’m glad I found her!” ”
Always thoughtful, never cruel.
As an editor who is also a writer, I often approach a client’s manuscript by asking myself: If this were my book, what would I want to know and how would I want it said to me? After all, getting feedback can be one of the most difficult parts of being an author, but it’s also one of the most critical stages in preparing for publication. We need to know when our timelines don’t make sense or which plot points were never resolved as much as we need to make sure our writing is clear and our commas are in the right places. My goal is to help authors show their best work to the world by providing them with the feedback they require while respecting their authorial voices and perspectives.
I therefore take a holistic approach to editing, meaning that I look at a manuscript's content—including story and character development, flow, and clarity of larger ideas and themes—as well as the prose itself. Clients have their manuscript read twice and returned to them with in-text notes, suggestions, and corrections. I also include a cover letter summarizing more general concerns and considerations.
Although my edits include copyediting, I do not offer purely copyediting services.
What I edit
Fiction: mystery, commercial, and literary. Unfortunately, because I write speculative fiction, I have decided to no longer accept editing projects in the science fiction and fantasy genres. I will consider other genres when the project deals with multi- or trans-cultural subjects or characters. I am not well suited to children’s books, erotica, or religious fiction.
Non-fiction: art history and related areas.
Cost
$20 flat fee, plus $0.01 per word, per edit.
Availability
I am currently accepting submissions.
How to submit an inquiry
If you are interested in my services, please send the following to reneedevoemertz@gmail.com:
-your manuscript’s working title, genre, and word count
-a short description of your story or project
-questions and special requests
-scheduling deadlines, if any
Please be aware that it can take anywhere from one to three months for me to return a book-length manuscript, depending on the project’s word count, condition, and complexity, as well as the demands of my own schedule.
-a two-page excerpt in either Word or Pages that is reflective of the rest of your text. Manuscripts should have gone through the self-editing and beta-reading process before submission.
A sample of my in-text edits is available upon request. I do not give out lists of former and current clients.
Other questions?
If you are currently working on a manuscript and have a specific problem you need help with, send your question to me! I will either answer you through e-mail or respond on my Notes from an Editor blog.