Take My Free
Advice...
Are you a writer who wants to improve
your chances of getting published? A foreign student looking for better
grades on your English essays or graduate research papers? A business
owner with a website in need of a skilled yet affordable proofreader?
If it's your job or your passion, your
writing no doubt shows talent and the fruits of your hard work already.
But you will probably need to fine-tune your writing in order to get
a better reception for it in the wider world. Your own talent and
hard work, while necessary, are often not enough to take your writing
projects to the next level.
Why not?
Because of one simple fact:
It's next to impossible
to edit one's own writing with an objective eye.
Maybe all your writing needs is a trained
proofreader to catch simple oversights in grammar, spelling,
or punctuation. Or, your manuscript could benefit from copy editing
with attention
to smoother phrasing and finer points of style.
I can give you that
trained eye. I can provide you with the corrections and insightful
suggestions that your writing needs. And I can normally get your work
back to you, in finished form, within 1-2 days.
Why waste time and money on postage
and printing, on lengthy submission and rejection turnarounds? Why
cut your chances of publication (or higher grades, or more customers),
because of preventable errors in your writing?
Once upon a time, magazine and book
publishers had in-house editors to handle unpolished but otherwise
promising manuscripts. But in today's ultra-competitive writing marketplace,
there's practically no margin for error. Your submission editor, or
Web-surfing customer, is already moving on.
Whether you're a novelist, student,
website owner, or someone wanting to polish a memoir for posterity, your written work will benefit immediately from
the improvements I can make to it. I guarantee it!
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"I've
worked with Nowick for three years on a professional basis. He
has helped me see many of my works through to publication. His
comments are always astute and insightful and never hurtful or
condescending. He has the ability to discern the major portions
of a piece of writing and weed out what isn't needed. I would
recommend his services to any writer wishing to improve his or
her work."
--Charles Finn, author of Wild Delicate Seconds (an L.A. Times Summer Reads pick) |
While making every effort
to ensure that your writing is error-free, I also try to maintain
the integrity of the author's voice and personal style. I believe
that if you can speak, you can write. My job is not to replace your
voice with mine, but to work with your natural style to make sure
it reads clearly and flows smoothly, for the best effect.
To give you an idea of how previous clients have benefited from my
editing help, I reprint here some of their comments. In 2000 I edited
a collection of stories by people with MS, in association with another
writer and editor, Margot Russell. Margot's book was released in 2001
by Health Communications, publishers of the best-selling "Chicken
Soup" series. Here is what Margot had to say:
|
"I
loved your work. I have just finished going over Gary's story
and am very happy with it. I have read it several times now
-- and feel it is in perfect order. You seemed to have sensed
his writing style/personality very keenly, and maintained the
integrity of that style while editing. That's a talent.
...
"I am thoroughly convinced that I've just spent the best $100
of my life! Joanna's chapter looks incredible. I was very impressed
with your understanding of the material. In short, I am thrilled
with the revision.
...
"The improvements you made were perfect. You often amaze me.
Your suggestions and help in editing have been invaluable.
...
"You're the best. Thank you again for an incredible job. I have
so much respect for you and for your gift."
--Margot
Russell, writer and editor, Massachusetts, USA
...
more testimonials...
|
Click
here if you want
to get started right away with professional editing help for your
writing project.
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Here's what you'll
get:
The fastest
service you could ask for.
In most cases I can have your manuscript back to you in a day or two.
Custom service to fit your needs.
You can specify what kind of feedback you want: ranging from fast
and efficient proofreading, to corrections in basic grammar
and sentence structure, all the way to extensive reworking
and rewriting of your text. In every case I aim for clarity, while
maintaining the integrity of your original expression and unique writing
voice.
Check
out my affordable rates. Because
I work independently, I can offer you professional quality at lower
cost. You can choose from a standard range of services
(see below) or you can request a custom rate
tailored more precisely to your writing project.
Editing
Rates
Proofreading
If your writing is fairly polished but
needs a final check for simple errors of spelling, capitalization,
punctuation and grammar, I can offer you low rates and fast service.
With larger manuscripts you may qualify for additional discounts.
Your cost:
$3.60 per page*, $12 per 1000 words.
Basic
Copy Editing
Your writing will benefit from changes
to unclear wording, awkward sentence construction, or unnecessary
repetition. All changes are highlighted for your review. In areas
needing further clarity, I'll insert a comment with a question or
suggestion for you to take further.
Your cost:
$6.00 per page*, $20 per 1000 words.
Moderate to Extensive Rewriting
If you need a more active editorial role in rewriting and reworking
your text, just choose the advanced editing option. Poor sentence
construction is cleaned up, and larger blocks of text are reorganized
where necessary or requested. As with the basic option, all changes
and suggestions are highlighted for your review.
Your cost:
$16.50 per page*, $55 per 1000 words.
[*Page estimates
based on standard manuscript form (using double-spaced lines) at 300
words/page. For the most accurate estimate, use actual word count.
All prices in US dollars.]
Summary
of Editing Rates:
| Editing
Rates |
proofreading |
copy
editing |
rewriting |
| $/page |
$3.60 |
$6.00 |
$16.50 |
| $/1000
words |
$12.00 |
$20.00 |
$55.00 |
Not sure where
your work falls on the chart?
Email
me with your question or a one-page sample of your work. I'll provide
a free estimate and we can discuss
your specific needs.
Does
your work fall between the standard categories listed above?
No problem.
Send me a one-page sample of your work for a free
estimate, and we can negotiate a custom rate appropriate for
you.
You can rely on my thirty-five years of experience
as a writer, teacher and editor. I have a Master's Degree
in English from the University of Victoria and a B.A.
from Dartmouth College. Here are some of the credits I've
collected for my own writing:
- Editor
and writer for award-winning Cougar
WebWorks Alternative Culture Magazine, since 1996
- Essay included in high-school/college
English textbook, Inside Essays 2 (Harcourt Brace, 1992)
- Cited
for "standout fiction...subtle and altogether lovely ... impressionistic,
quiet and very real" (James A. Lee)
- Featured
poet in Denise Dumars' Reviews (April, 1990)
- Contributor to "The
Animist: Electronic Journal of the Arts"
- Staff
columnist at a leading online baseball fan
site since 2001
Writing skills are one thing--editing skills are another. Read what
my satisfied
and successful clients have to say about how my editing
improved their work; and consider how your own writing can benefit
from such help:
"Nowick
consistently gives me intelligent, useful feedback. I've asked
him to critique stories, articles and radio documentaries; with
all of them, he has a knack for helping me figure out how to make
things work better for an unknown reader or listener."
--Sean Hennessey, freelance writer
and broadcaster |
For
more client testimonials, click
here.
For
more information about my background and experience as a writer, teacher
and editor, click here.
Send
Email for Free Estimate:
Paste text or send webpage URL for free evaluation.
Please
include all the information below:
Your
information:
Your
name
The
total word count of your manuscript or web page
What
level of copy editing do you want?
proofreading
(spelling, punctuation, basic grammar)
basic
copy editing
(word
choice, clarity, phrasing, grammar and syntax, references)
advanced copy editing
(extensive rewriting and reworking of your text for readability and
style)
Or,
I can offer you a custom
editing rate (based
on your writing's needs, and the editing time required to achieve
your goals).
Include your manuscript
or webpage URL for free evaluation (3-400 words maximum). Either
attach Word document (preferred), or paste text to the
end of your email message.
Send email to editor
I will respond by email with my comments and an estimate, normally
within 1-2 days. Note: larger jobs may qualify for a volume discount.
I'll
look forward to hearing from you!
--Nowick
Gray
P.S.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!
I'll try to help you in any way I can.
If you
want to get editing help right away, click
here to go to the online order form.