Editing services for independent and self-publishing authors
Hey! I'm Pat Goggins, a long-time fiction and nonfiction editor based in the Pacific Northwest. I help new and established writers bring their stories to life on the page and communicate them to an audience.
Services: I specialize in manuscript evaluations, developmental editing, and line editing, and also do copy editing and proofreading.
Fiction: Mystery, thriller (psychological, suspense, spy), crime (noir, detective, heist), horror (ghost, paranormal, post-apocalyptic), sci-fi, speculative fiction, and anything dark, really.
Nonfiction: History, gardening/horticulture, cooking, business, how-to, memoir, film, music, travel
Even if your manuscript doesn’t fall into one of these genres, reach out to see if we’ll be a good fit.
Editing Services
I break down editing into two general phases:
Developmental editing (including manuscript evaluations and comprehensive developmental edits)
In-line editing (including line editing, copy editing, and proofreading)
The main distinction between the two: After a service in the developmental phase, the writer will rework the manuscript to address the issues brought up by the editor. In the in-line editing phase, the editor will do the work directly to the copy in the manuscript, and the author will accept or reject those edits.
For indie authors, I often do a manuscript evaluation (which I think of as a “developmental edit lite”), combined with line/copy editing. This will give you big-picture structural feedback as well as a paragraph-by-paragraph and line-by-line editing, and nitty-gritty grammar and mechanics editing, so you can be on your way to self-publishing. More info on all of my services below.
-
These are a “developmental edit lite”—I’ll look at the big-picture elements of your manuscript, including structure, organization, plot, character development, pacing, setting, voice, and more.
They’re ideal for authors who want:
A low-budget option for developmental feedback
To work out big-picture/structural elements before sending off to an agent
Initial feedback on an early draft of a manuscript, before getting a more extensive edit
A sounding board for an incomplete or stuck manuscript and don’t know where to take it
I’ll send you an editorial assessment (typically 10-20 pages) outlining the strengths and weaknesses of your manuscript. (It won’t include a marked-up version of your manuscript, those are included in full developmental edits.)
These are priced lower and turnaround times are quicker than full dev edits.
-
Also called structural or substantive editing, dev editing is an in-depth look at all the big-picture elements of your manuscript. It’s ultimately about whether your manuscript conveys its story, ideas, and message effectively and connects with the audience.
Elements I’ll look at include: structure, organization, plot, story, character arcs, tone, voice, pacing, readability, conciseness, and much more.
I’ll give you two deliverables: an in-depth editorial letter (usually 10-20 pages) noting the strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript and a version of your manuscript with extensive notes, comments, and tracked changes.
For a less expensive option, some writers prefer a manuscript evaluation/beta read, which includes the editorial letter only (more info above).
-
I often combine line and copy editing, especially for indie authors. For this service, I’ll make edits to your manuscript at the page-, paragraph-, and line-level, as well as look at grammar, mechanics, and all the nitty-gritty parts.
Combining these two services is less expensive than splitting them up, but I do also offer them separately for an extra layer of polish.
I edit according to The Chicago Manual of Style, and my edit will include an extensively marked up copy of your manuscript with all of my tracked changes.
Here are some specifics on the two types:
Line editing:
Also called stylistic editing, this line-by-line, paragraph-by-paragraph edit focuses on the flow of a manuscript, editing for clarity, smoothness, and pacing. It looks at voice, style, phrasing, word choice, and more, polishing sentences and words to make them pop off the page.
Typically, line editing is the medium level in the editing process: It’s done after the big-picture developmental edit and before the copy edit.
Copy editing:
This is the nitty-gritty, roll-your-sleeves-up editing that looks at grammar, mechanics, punctuation, spelling, usage, style, and much more. This editing will put the final touches on your manuscript before it’s ready for publication.
-
This is a final, careful reading of a copy edited manuscript to look for stray typos, misplaced punctuation, formatting and graphic errors, and other tiny mistakes. This is the final polish of your manuscript and the last step before publication.
For more on editorial service definitions, check out the EFA.
For the genres and subjects I work in, revisit my homepage.
My Editing Style
For me, the editorial process between a writer and an editor is collaborative, with a healthy discussion of ideas. It’s my job to help you tell your story, connect with your audience, and actualize your manuscript by helping refine your ideas, copy, voice, and much more. I’m down-to-earth and believe in plain speaking with clear and concise writing.
I work in Microsoft Word and use The Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster, industry standards.
Also, I don’t use AI in my work. I prefer doing things the old-fashioned way, to work directly with writers and their ideas.
My Process
Initial inquiry: First, reach out to me to see if we’ll be a good fit for your project by filling out the contact form below.
Phone/Video chat: I like to hop on a quick 30-min video or phone call to get a sense of you and your project. I’ll ask about your goals (including, self-publishing or traditional publishing), who your audience is, and more.
Initial assessment: I’ll ask to see your whole manuscript to determine if it’s a good fit for me and how long it’ll take to work on. I like to get a sense of the piece as a whole rather than see just a sample.
Proposal and contract: After this initial assessment, I’ll send you a proposal with a project rate and a timeline. I have a simple contract for you to sign which outlines the work so we both know what to expect.
Editing and post-edit chat: I’ll do the work and send you my edits. I like to schedule a post-edit chat via video or phone a couple weeks after you’ve looked over my edits to have a final discussion about your manuscript.
Testimonials
"Pat’s developmental edits and line edits were truly invaluable! His strategic, clear, and in-depth feedback allowed my novella to evolve greatly without changing the story’s ‘soul.’ He is very encouraging and suggests tweaks that adapt to the piece’s style. This was a very motivating experience, and I look forward to working with him in the future!"
— Evangeline Landon, author, Hotel Akrasia: A Gothic Folk Horror Novella
"I feel fortunate to have found Patrick Goggins as the person to read my manuscript for an evaluation. He was a diligent reader, and true to his word, sent a 16-page evaluation that was a gift for a new author. The follow-up call was wonderful and has made me eager to finish my book."
— Michael Jerome Troy, author, Sinai Subway
Rates
Here are my fiction editing rates, based on the EFA’s rates (my nonfiction rates are slightly higher, reach out to me for those). I also add a 3.3% credit card transaction fee to projects.
Manuscript evaluation: $0.015/word
Comprehensive developmental edit: $0.03/word
Line/Copy editing (combined): $0.035/word
Line editing (only): $0.03/word
Copy editing (only): $0.025/word
Proofreading: $0.02/word
Timeframes
Editing times can vary and largely depend on the length of your manuscript and what service you’re getting.
Generally speaking, for a 60,000 – 80,000 word manuscript:
Manuscript evaluations or proofreading will take about two to three weeks.
Developmental, line, or copy editing will take about three to four weeks.
Reach out to me to see my availability.
Contact
Tell me about your project or ask any questions about my editing services in the form below. Also, you can reach out to me directly at: pat@madroneeditorial.com. I’ll get back to you within two business days.