Services
Ghostwriting: Do you have a great story to tell, but don’t have the skills or time to sit down and write it yourself? I will discuss your project with you at length, create an outline/table of contents for the project, and then interview you. Based on these interviews, I will write your book. I specialize in fiction, memoir, and business success stories. I also write shorter pieces, such as running case studies for textbooks.
Writing Content: Do you need educational content written? I am experienced at writing learning objectives and test questions for college level textbooks. In addition, I have written engaging histories for middle school students.
Rewriting: Have a manuscript that is only partially written? I can write the bridge copy, i.e., fill in the missing material. I can also create an outline for the material to make it easy to follow.
Developmental Editing: Have a novel, memoir, or textbook that needs proper structuring and organizing? Need help developing a plot and characters? Do you need to trim your manuscript and eliminate repetition? Let me help you with that. I also research competing books and help you determine how to best position your work so that it stands out from existing books.
Manuscript Evaluation: Are you looking for someone to read your manuscript and write overall feedback? Let me evaluate your manuscript and help you determine your next step.
Coaching: Do you need a coach who can give you weekly pep talks or check in on your progress? I am available to teach the basics of good writing, as well as grammar and punctuation. I can send you weekly exercises to encourage you to move forward with your manuscript.
Line Editing: Do you need someone to go through your writing line by line and suggest stronger phrasing and word choices? I love to help writers craft stronger language.
Copy Editing: Do you need someone to read through your book, thesis, dissertation, resumé, or letter to check the punctuation, spelling, and grammar? Send your fiction, memoir, or general nonfiction manuscript my way.
Project Management: Do you have a large project with multiple contributors requiring an organized and encouraging project manager at the helm? I have experience managing multi-volume textbooks with hundreds of contributors. I can keep your project within its timeline, as well as within its budget.
Permissions: Looking for someone to handle the permissions for your book? Let me take away this hassle for you. I am experienced at obtaining permissions from publishers, as well as from individuals.
Writing Content: Do you need educational content written? I am experienced at writing learning objectives and test questions for college level textbooks. In addition, I have written engaging histories for middle school students.
Rewriting: Have a manuscript that is only partially written? I can write the bridge copy, i.e., fill in the missing material. I can also create an outline for the material to make it easy to follow.
Developmental Editing: Have a novel, memoir, or textbook that needs proper structuring and organizing? Need help developing a plot and characters? Do you need to trim your manuscript and eliminate repetition? Let me help you with that. I also research competing books and help you determine how to best position your work so that it stands out from existing books.
Manuscript Evaluation: Are you looking for someone to read your manuscript and write overall feedback? Let me evaluate your manuscript and help you determine your next step.
Coaching: Do you need a coach who can give you weekly pep talks or check in on your progress? I am available to teach the basics of good writing, as well as grammar and punctuation. I can send you weekly exercises to encourage you to move forward with your manuscript.
Line Editing: Do you need someone to go through your writing line by line and suggest stronger phrasing and word choices? I love to help writers craft stronger language.
Copy Editing: Do you need someone to read through your book, thesis, dissertation, resumé, or letter to check the punctuation, spelling, and grammar? Send your fiction, memoir, or general nonfiction manuscript my way.
Project Management: Do you have a large project with multiple contributors requiring an organized and encouraging project manager at the helm? I have experience managing multi-volume textbooks with hundreds of contributors. I can keep your project within its timeline, as well as within its budget.
Permissions: Looking for someone to handle the permissions for your book? Let me take away this hassle for you. I am experienced at obtaining permissions from publishers, as well as from individuals.
My Clients Include:
- Independent Authors
- Academics
- Authors with learning differences
- Career coaches
- Engineers
- ESL authors
- Executives
- First-time authors
- Life coaches
- Novelists
- Nurses
- Physicians
- Professors
- Psychologists
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners
- Major Publishers
- Non-profit Educational Media Providers
- Universities
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you start my project right away?
It is helpful to contact me a few weeks to a month prior to the time you want to start your project so I can make room for it in my schedule. I can occasionally take a rush job, so if your project is time sensitive, you can always ask!
Why should I hire you as my writer, editor, or coach?
I will meet you “where you are” and offer friendly, compassionate suggestions to improve your writing. I strive toward keeping authors’ pieces in their own voices.
How do you choose your projects?
I take on projects that match my skills, with subjects that interest me, with authors I find enjoyable to work with. Life is too short to be "bored at work," so I only take on projects that I can enjoy reading and really "sink my teeth" into the editing process. I like working with first time authors, especially those interested in listening to my suggestions, who are willing to do the work to take their writing to the next level. This is a rewarding experience for me.
What is your process for editing a manuscript?
When I receive a manuscript, I like to read the piece in its entirety to get a full sense of the characters and plot, as well as the culture the author is depicting. I want my comments and queries to respect the author’s tone and voice, while doing as much as possible to make the writing clear, concise, and consistent.
Once I have read the complete manuscript, I like to let the material "sit" in my mind for twenty-four hours. This allows my creative editing process to digest the material and give authors the best possible feedback.
Then I am ready to dig in to whatever stage of editing the client and I have contracted for. If I am doing a developmental edit and a copy edit, I will do the developmental edit first, focusing on story and structure. I may do a little line editing at this stage. I usually return the manuscript to the client to make the developmental edits, then, when the final developmental edits are returned to me, I start the copy edit. During the copy editing stage I will focus on grammar, punctuation, spelling, and syntax. I will also do a little more line editing.
When I edit, I use track changes, so authors can accept or reject my suggested changes. When I have queries (comments), I post these in the margins so authors can see what I am thinking and wondering about as I read their manuscripts.
At the end of my process, I write a summary sheet describing what is working, what is not, and how authors can change, add, or delete. This is also where I will mention any characters or plot points that need to be fleshed out, minimized, or added.
I like to wrap this process up with an opportunity to discuss comments with the author. It is important to me that authors feel supported as they start the editing process, as well as have a chance to ask me questions and gain full clarity on my suggestions.
Do you have a confidentiality policy?
Yes. All submitted material is held in the highest confidence and never shared.
What do you charge?
My rates are based on my experience. Please contact me, and we can discuss a budget for your project.
Can we create a contract for my project?
Yes, after we discuss your project and agree to work together, I will write up a contract detailing our agreement on the project’s scope and timeline.
How do you bill?
A billing schedule will be created to meet your project specifications. For long term projects, I bill monthly. For short term projects, I bill when relevant milestones are met. I accept payment through Square or by check. Work begins when an agreed upon deposit is made.
What does Feline Friendly Freelance mean?
Ha! I knew you were wondering about that. When I started my business in 2004, my feline friend, Vela, sat at the side of my desk and oversaw my work. At the time, a few other friends were also freelancing with their cats for company. Feline Friendly Freelance came into my mind as a fitting description of my business. Recently, I’ve been joined by a new feline companion, Oliver.
It is helpful to contact me a few weeks to a month prior to the time you want to start your project so I can make room for it in my schedule. I can occasionally take a rush job, so if your project is time sensitive, you can always ask!
Why should I hire you as my writer, editor, or coach?
I will meet you “where you are” and offer friendly, compassionate suggestions to improve your writing. I strive toward keeping authors’ pieces in their own voices.
How do you choose your projects?
I take on projects that match my skills, with subjects that interest me, with authors I find enjoyable to work with. Life is too short to be "bored at work," so I only take on projects that I can enjoy reading and really "sink my teeth" into the editing process. I like working with first time authors, especially those interested in listening to my suggestions, who are willing to do the work to take their writing to the next level. This is a rewarding experience for me.
What is your process for editing a manuscript?
When I receive a manuscript, I like to read the piece in its entirety to get a full sense of the characters and plot, as well as the culture the author is depicting. I want my comments and queries to respect the author’s tone and voice, while doing as much as possible to make the writing clear, concise, and consistent.
Once I have read the complete manuscript, I like to let the material "sit" in my mind for twenty-four hours. This allows my creative editing process to digest the material and give authors the best possible feedback.
Then I am ready to dig in to whatever stage of editing the client and I have contracted for. If I am doing a developmental edit and a copy edit, I will do the developmental edit first, focusing on story and structure. I may do a little line editing at this stage. I usually return the manuscript to the client to make the developmental edits, then, when the final developmental edits are returned to me, I start the copy edit. During the copy editing stage I will focus on grammar, punctuation, spelling, and syntax. I will also do a little more line editing.
When I edit, I use track changes, so authors can accept or reject my suggested changes. When I have queries (comments), I post these in the margins so authors can see what I am thinking and wondering about as I read their manuscripts.
At the end of my process, I write a summary sheet describing what is working, what is not, and how authors can change, add, or delete. This is also where I will mention any characters or plot points that need to be fleshed out, minimized, or added.
I like to wrap this process up with an opportunity to discuss comments with the author. It is important to me that authors feel supported as they start the editing process, as well as have a chance to ask me questions and gain full clarity on my suggestions.
Do you have a confidentiality policy?
Yes. All submitted material is held in the highest confidence and never shared.
What do you charge?
My rates are based on my experience. Please contact me, and we can discuss a budget for your project.
Can we create a contract for my project?
Yes, after we discuss your project and agree to work together, I will write up a contract detailing our agreement on the project’s scope and timeline.
How do you bill?
A billing schedule will be created to meet your project specifications. For long term projects, I bill monthly. For short term projects, I bill when relevant milestones are met. I accept payment through Square or by check. Work begins when an agreed upon deposit is made.
What does Feline Friendly Freelance mean?
Ha! I knew you were wondering about that. When I started my business in 2004, my feline friend, Vela, sat at the side of my desk and oversaw my work. At the time, a few other friends were also freelancing with their cats for company. Feline Friendly Freelance came into my mind as a fitting description of my business. Recently, I’ve been joined by a new feline companion, Oliver.
