Editing

SERVICES I OFFER

Copy Edit:
Copy editing is a read through of your manuscript with attention paid to things such as: consistency of character appearance, character voice, verb tense, word usage, grammar, dialect, consistency of timeline events, grammar, and punctuation.
This step is where I also pay attention to repetitious use of words (word echo), word choice for reader clarity, and rewording suggestions (if needed).

Proofread:
Proofreading, is a step done after the manuscript has gone through developmental/content edits AND Copy Editing and/or Line Edits. Proofreading is done as a final step in order to catch typos, spelling errors, missing punctuation, missing paragraph breaks, and spelling / usage for regional preference.

Beta Read + Plus:
You’re ready to hit send on your manuscript and get it out to agents, editors, or self-publish. A Beta Read + Plus by me, is a read through of your book: a fresh set of eyes looking for overall impressions and notes (do the clues in your mystery work? does the structure of your story work?)
PLUS a version of non-invasive editing—where you, the author, aren’t wasting your time training editors not to mess with your voice (your unique version of grammar/punctuation), and includes only minor edits such as extra words, missing words, missing quotes, periods, etc. (or whatever things you mention you want looked for).

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Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have,
or to request a Client Questionnaire Form.

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A BIT ABOUT ME

Soon after I began writing, over a decade ago, I started doing short-story critique swaps with other writers. This is where my study and love of learning about grammar and punctuation first rose its horned head.

The more I wrote, the more I critiqued, and the more I learned. Eventually, I began to offer free copy editing and proofreading for contest story entries, because it helped other writers, because it gave me more practice, and because it justified all my research on “writing rules”. (Chicago Manual of Style 17th ed.)

From there, I applied and was accepted to read slush for two different SF/F publications—one of which I also did some volunteer proofreading and copyediting tasks for on accepted stories.

In 2021, I got the opportunity to join the proofreader team for WordFire Press (had to pass a test), which continued to give me even more practice and opportunities for learning.

Eventually all that practice led me to accept a position with Arc Manor Books as an Associate Editor. *I now currently freelance for them for them, and it’s still pretty AwEsOmE ♥

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*For my short story authors, here is the link I’ve referenced.
And, thank you from the bottom of my caffeine-fueled heart. LoVe.

https://ko-fi.com/aliciacay

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