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Let’s tell your story.

Editorial services.

  • Shelley Mann Hite is a freelance editor, writer, and proofreader

    As a writer, too, she knows what it feels like to trust another person with your words. She loves helping people tell their stories more effectively.

    She works with authors on all stages of the editing process:

    Manuscript evaluation: Quick-hit, big-picture feedback on what’s working in your manuscript and where to focus in revision. Includes a one-page manuscript evaluation report.

    Developmental editing: High-level, in-depth assessment of your manuscript, with in-line comments throughout offering suggestions on how to incorporate feedback. Includes a multipage (3-5 page) manuscript evaluation report.

  • Line editing: Focuses on style and flow, editing for sentence structure, word choice, tone, clarity, and overall readability to make writing more engaging.

    Copy editing: Focuses on mechanics and accuracy, fine-tuning your writing by editing for grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, and consistency.

    Final proofread: One final read-through to make sure no errors remain. A final proofread can be provided as an add-on service with the purchase of a line edit or copy edit.

    Not sure which type of edit you need for your project? Reach out and I’m happy to take a look at your manuscript and let you know!

  • Manuscript evaluation

    Perfect for authors who have completed a manuscript draft and are seeking feedback on how to tackle revisions. I'll approach your manuscript from the reader's perspective and let you know what's working and what's not. You’ll get a multi-page editorial letter detailing your manuscript’s overall strengths and weaknesses, providing feedback on readability, pacing and flow, plot, characters and character arc, dialogue, voice, world-building, and pacing. This critique does not include line edits or in-document comments or mark-ups.

    Rate: Based on word count

  • First chapters critique

    Want to stand out in the slush pile? I can help polish your first three chapters, ensuring you’re starting in the right place—and strong enough to make an agent, editor, or reader want to continue reading. You’ll get a multi-page editorial letter detailing what’s working and what’s not in your opening chapters, and providing feedback on readability, pacing and flow, plot, characters and character arc, dialogue, voice, world-building, and pacing.

    Rate: $250

  • Developmental editing

    Developmental edits provide big-picture, holistic feedback on a manuscript’s overall structure, plot, character development, pacing, and more to help enhance clarity, coherence, and marketability before it moves to more detailed editing stages. Along with a high-level manuscript evaluation, you’ll receive detailed comments and guidance on how to integrate editing feedback throughout your manuscript document.

    Rate: $.015/word

  • Line or copy editing

    Ready to polish your manuscript and get it ready to publish? I can edit your manuscript line by line for readability, grammar, spelling, Chicago Style, and consistency to guarantee your writing shines and is ready to publish. Line editing focuses on improving the flow, style, and voice of your writing, while copy editing focuses on the mechanics, correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation. My specialties are fiction, women’s fiction and memoir.

    Rate: $.012/word

  • Final proofread

    Ready for one final review before publishing? I can carefully proofread your manuscript line by line, catching typos and editing for grammar, spelling, Chicago Style, punctuation, and consistency. My specialties are fiction, women’s fiction and memoir.

    Rate: $.007/word

Let's work together

“A valuable service to aspiring authors for a very reasonable price. One of the gems.”

“Spot on with what worked and didn’t work with my manuscript. She was thorough and specific and I came away feeling that my problems were fixable. And I felt good about how I’ve handled my story—she was clear about what I did right, also..”

“I have worked with multiple editors on this project, but Shelley ‘gets it’—she is thorough, empathetic, and respectful of my experience as an author.”

Get in touch.

Maybe you need feedback on a first draft. Maybe you’re ready for a developmental edit or a copy edit. Or maybe you can see the finish line and just need one final proofread. Wherever you are in the process of writing your book, I can help.

LET'S TELL YOUR STORY

LET'S TELL YOUR STORY

Can’t wait to read what you’re working on.