I’m a writer and editor who loves words and loves helping other writers make their manuscripts the best they can be — taking manuscripts from Flubs to Fixes!

In college, I majored in English, which gave me a solid grounding in language and its use.

I work hard at honing my editing skills through courses and webinars. I have attained the Poynter/ACES Certificate in Copy Editing, which entailed working through an in-depth course in the different aspects of copy editing. You can view my qualifications below.

Since I am a writer as well as an editor, I understand how it feels to entrust your manuscript to someone else for feedback of any sort, and so I am sensitive and encouraging while also being as helpful as possible.

I have a passion for connecting people with the right resources, whether that resource is a book, a website, or a blog post. I often suggest resources to clients during the editing or consulting process.

I bring all this — plus a commitment to language, literature, and great writing — to my work as an editor.

Do you…

need fresh eyes and a fresh perspective on your manuscript, knowing it needs some elusive “something,” but you’re not sure what that something is?

Or are you…

ready to submit your manuscript to an agent or publisher, or ready to take the next step in independently publishing your writing, but need someone who has a keen eye for grammar, spelling, punctuation and all the mechanical elements that are crucial to a professional-looking manuscript?

I’m here, and through a critique or copy editing, I can help you make your manuscript SHINE!

In any profession, continuing education, aka professional development, is important. Editing is no different. It is important to work at improving one’s skills and knowledge throughout one’s career. I will continue to update this page as I take new classes and continue to hone my skills.

My qualifications include:

Certificates:

Poynter/ACES Certificate in Copy Editing (ACES is the American Copy Editors Society)

Courses:

Poynter/ACES Certificate Course

GALE Course, “The Keys to Effective Editing”

Editor Training Course by Mary Kole

Some of the Editing Webinars I’ve Taken:

Editing for Young Readers (ACES)

Bricklaying: Editing for Structure (ACES)

Introduction to Developmental Editing (EFA) (EFA is the Editorial Freelancers Association)

Developmental Editing of Fiction (EFA)

Finding Your Voice (EFA)

The Art of Feedback (EFA)

Introduction to the Chicago Manual of Style (EFA)

~ ~ ~

Writing

I believe it helps my editing greatly that I am also a writer. The courses I take and the webinars I attend as a writer also enhance my editing abilities. Therefore, I’m also listing writing memberships and courses.

Memberships:

Member of CANSCAIP (Canadian Society of Children’s Book Authors, Illustrators and Performers)

Member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators)

Courses:

Just Write for Kids – Picture Book writing course from Emma Walton Hamilton

Just Write for Middle Grade – MG writing course from Emma Walton Hamilton

Crafting Dynamic Characters (Writing Mastery) with Mary Kole and Jessica Brody

Involvements:

Co-Administrator of Children’s Book Hub Facebook Group, with Emma Walton Hamilton

Member of Thriving Writers, Mary Kole’s Subscription Group for Writers

I’ve been writing kids’ books and books for grownups for many years, learning and honing my craft. I’ve been editing since late 2013, and find that not only does my writing improve my editing, but my editing also improves my writing. It’s a great synergy!

Because I’m a writer, I understand how scary it can be to entrust your manuscript to a stranger. When I started writing, I was too nervous to show what I wrote to anyone but the closest of friends or family. I was fearful of possible criticism.

I knew that some people took classes or joined writers’ groups, but I couldn’t imagine having a virtual stranger reading and critiquing my work. Then I learned about Emma Walton Hamilton, who was offering a writing class in the craft of picture book writing – Just Write for Kids – online.

Emma’s gentle, encouraging teaching style not only taught me much about the craft of writing, but also made me feel safe enough to send my manuscript to her for a manuscript evaluation. I admit to nervousness about reading the evaluation, but her comments were filled with insight, and the positivity and affirmation I’d found in her teaching was present in every comment and suggestion she made.

Over and over, I have been amazed at the way I’ve been able to improve my manuscripts after receiving such editorial comments. A chance comment on the side of the page can get my brain churning with ideas! Now, I find it exciting to send a manuscript off, knowing that the feedback will help in ways I could not have imagined. This has certainly boosted my confidence in my writing ability. My experiences in the writing community have also increased my confidence in sharing my thoughts and knowledge.

All this has, I believe, helped me to become a better editor. After having such insightful and inspiring editing assistance for my own manuscripts, I want to provide the same encouragement to my clients. The joy of editing for me is helping another writer to learn and grow and make his/her manuscript shine. All I learn in honing my own writing makes me a better editor.

I love to help my editing clients learn more about the craft of writing, as well. Tied to that is my passion for connecting people with the right resources. I often suggest resources to clients during the editing process.

And, as I learned from Emma, I try to do all this with gentleness, with humour, and with a spirit of caring for the person and his/her manuscript ~ editing with a keen eye and an understanding heart.

I specialize in KidLit (picture books, chapter books, and middle grade fiction.)

I offer copy editing, critiques/developmental editing, proofreading, and query package critiques.

For copy editing, I consider adult fiction (no erotica or graphic violence), memoir, and children’s non-fiction on a case-by-case basis.

There is more detail in the sections below.

What’s included in a PB critique from me?

You’ll receive

• Comments on the manuscript about word choice, character, voice, plot, continuity, point of view, and much more – what works, and what could use a little tweaking.
• A four- to six-page critique letter that goes into detail on characterization, plot and structure, narrative and voice, theme and takeaway, read-aloud quality, format and manuscript length and more.
• Suggestions of where to start, and what is most important to work on.

You’ll also receive

• Suggestions of and links to additional resources that may be helpful as you continue to revise.
• Potential comp/mentor titles.
• Flubs2Fixes info sheets about some particular element of story, if warranted.

You’ll be able to send me a list of questions for clarification of points in the critique after I complete the work.

NOTE: I don’t make changes on your manuscript. I believe writers learn better when they make the changes themselves.

What will this cost?

The cost of this in-depth picture book critique is currently $75.00 in Canadian funds.* (About $55.00 US, although the exchange rate fluctuates.)

This is on the low end of the average cost of a freelance editor.

Click the image below for a downloadable PDF of the basic information about my editing services.

What’s included in an MG critique from me?

You’ll receive

• Comments on the manuscript about word choice, character, voice, plot, continuity, point of view, and much more – what works, and what could use a little tweaking.
• A six- to eight-page critique letter that will go into detail on characterization, plot and structure, narrative and voice, theme and takeaway, format and manuscript length and more.

You’ll also receive

• Suggestions of, and links to, additional resources that may be helpful as you continue to revise.
• Potential comp/mentor titles.
• Flubs2Fixes info sheets about some particular element of story, if warranted.

You’ll be able to send me a list of questions for clarification of points in the critique after I complete the work.

NOTE: I don’t make changes on your manuscript. I believe writers learn better when they make the changes themselves.

Options and costs

There are two options for a middle grade manuscript critique.

I can do a full manuscript critique, which will include all that any critique includes, plus comments on the “big picture” of the entire manuscript.

The cost of this in-depth full manuscript critique is calculated at $8.50 in Canadian funds per 250-word page. (Let me know the word count, and I’ll calculate the pages.)

OR

I can do a "mini-critique," that is, a critique of the first 50 pages. You’ll get everything that I offer in a full critique, although I won’t be able to speak to the big picture of the whole manuscript. (Note: if 50 pages brings you nearly to the end of a chapter, please include the rest of the chapter.)

The cost of a 50-page critique is $325.00 in Canadian funds. If you then decide you want a full manuscript critique, the $325.00 will be applied to the cost of the full critique.

Two payments:

To make it easier for you to pay the cost for a 50-page or full-manuscript critique, I can split the cost into two equal halves, and invoice for one half before beginning the edit, with the balance being invoiced after the edit. This will spread out the cost a bit for you. If you want this option, please request it when contacting me about doing the critique.

Click image below to download PDF Info Card with the basic information from this page.

If you prefer not to have a full critique at the full cost, you may request a critique of the first 50 pages.

The charge for this mini-critique is $325.00.

If you decide later that you want a full critique after all, the $325.00 will be applied to the full cost, and the critique will begin at page 51.

If you prefer, the charge for a middle-grade critique or a novel-length copy edit can be split into two equal payments.

One payment would be invoiced and due prior to the work being started, and the second payment would be invoiced and due after the work is complete.

This is intended as a help for those who find the full cost too much to pay at once.

This must be requested at the time of requesting the critique or copy edit. It is not automatic.

What are the steps involved in having me edit your manuscript?

1. Contact me using the Editing Contact Form. This form includes manuscript type, word count, type of editing requested, etc.
2. I will respond via email with the proposed cost and time frame for the work. Watch for an email from flubs2fixesediting (at) bethstilborn (dot) ca
3. You respond to that email letting me know if the proposed cost and time frame are okay. If you want the two-payment plan, please request it at this point.
4. I draw up a contract and send it to you by email.
5. You fill out the contract (it's a fillable document, no need to print it out), save, and return it to me as an email attachment.
6. When you send the contract, you can send the manuscript in Word, Pages or PDF. (Word is preferred.)
7. If you have chosen the two-payment plan, I will invoice you for the first half of the payment. Work will begin after I receive that first payment.
8. If you have chosen to pay the cost in one payment, I will invoice after completing the work, so the work will begin as soon as I receive the completed contract and the manuscript.
9. I will complete the editing, and will return it within the time frame via email.
10. The final invoice will be sent immediately after the completed edit/critique is returned to you.
11. You have the opportunity to send questions for clarification of the edit/critique: one set of questions to take up no more than half an hour of my time, sent by email.
12. Thank you for choosing Flubs2Fixes!

• Rates are per page, with a page being the industry standard 250 words, 12-point font.
• All charges are in Canadian dollars. To see what the cost is in your currency, use a currency conversion site like xe.com. For example, $6.50 Canadian is approximately $4.75 U.S.; $7.50 Canadian is approximately $5.50 U.S.; $8.50 is approximately $6.20 U.S.
• NOTE: The actual charge will depend on the exchange rate the day you pay the invoice.
• My rates are in line with the rates listing on the Editorial Freelancers Association website, allowing for the difference between Canadian and US dollars. This generally means, for American clients, that the rate is lower than it looks.
• I invoice after the project is complete, with the exception of the two-payment plan, using PayPal. You don’t need a PayPal account to pay the invoice.
• There is a two-payment plan for middle-grade critiques, if desired. In that case, the charge will be split in two, with the first half invoiced before the work begins, and the second half invoiced after the work is completed.
• The invoice will be in Canadian dollars. PayPal does the currency conversion.
• NOTE: if you are a resident of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, I must charge PST.
• Rates are subject to change, although I try not to change too often.