Editorial Services
Ready to publish your book?
I provide professional book editing services for fiction and nonfiction authors. My editing style always strives to honor the author's voice and vision, to provide excellent quality, and to leave your work better than before. Providing affordable, quality edits with a kind pen.
VALUES
I value an individualized approach to editing that honors your voice and the heart behind your story. Your book isn’t just another manuscript—it’s a story that matters, and one that only you can write. A red pen isn’t a sword to wield against carefully typed pages, but a tool for instructive feedback, actionable strategies, and professional guidance. I don’t take an author’s trust lightly and will treat your book with the expertise and care it deserves!
WHO AM I?
Editor. Author. Story aficionado.
I’m passionate about story craft and empowering authors! In my view, an editor should be like a book’s best friend—pointing out the spinach in its proverbial teeth while cheering it on its journey.
A little about my credentials:
✿ Poynter ACES Certificate in Copyediting
✿ Silver Member of The Christian Pen
✿ Editor with Quill & Flame Publishing House
✿ Amethyst Symposium on Freelance Editing with The Writer’s Sanctuary
✿ Regular intensive courses such as Advanced Fiction Editing and Substantive Editing for Fiction
As part of my mission to offer affordable book editing services, all my listed fees are below the industry standard rates as set out by the Editorial Freelancers Association. I also provide a FREE sample edit per industry standard before working with a new client.
$150
Manuscript Critique
Need professional feedback and edits on your first three chapters and publishing advice?
This is a great and affordable option to get your story off to a good start! Ideal for giving your manuscript a “check-up” before querying or self-publishing. It’s also an effective way to see if we’re a good “editing match” before jumping into edits with an entire novel.
What’s included?
A substantive critique with in-line comments on the first three chapters of your manuscript. Edits will address big-picture issues as well as a line edit to make your prose sing! *Chapters should be under 4,000 words each.
A review of your query (or equivalent length synopsis) for feedback and suggestions.
One email of follow up questions regarding next steps on your publishing journey
$.015 per word
Developmental Edit
A developmental edit with in-line comments. Includes a detailed report (between 5-10 pages) with suggestions to improve your story. Perfect for finished drafts. Upon request, I also do a copyedit/line edit on the first page to give you a sense of where grammar or syntax could improve as you revise. Edits will focus on things like:
Plot structure
Character arcs, traits, consistency
World-building
Theme and story question
Narrative voice and tense
$.01 per word
Full line- & copyedit
Sentence-level editing to make your story shine! Edits will focus on:
Word choice
Spelling, grammar, syntax, hyphenation.
Pace and flow
Dialogue expression
Effective sentence-level narration
Told versus shown prose
Formatting guidance
Consistency with character voice, traits, etc.
Editorial Portfolio
What Clients Are Saying . . .
MAKES YOUR STORY SHINE
“Shoutout to Ellen McGinty for her amazing editing services. If any of you writers out there are looking for an editor who is affordable, incredible at what she does, is so helpful and encouraging, and makes your story shine, then please do yourself a favor and connect with Ellen. I promise you won’t regret it!”
— Caitlin Miller, author of THE MEMORIES WE PAINTED
EVERYTHING YOU WANT IN A GREAT EDITOR!
“Ellen listened to every concern I had about my manuscript and even tailored her editing package to fit my personal needs. Her thoughtfulness extended into the work itself. She carefully considered both the sentence-level detail and the broad scope of my book. I’m confident her suggestions made my story better, and I’m excited to work with her again on future projects!”
— Jon Tilton, author of PLEASE RETURN TO THE LANDS OF LUXURY
A GIFT WITH WORDS
“Ellen has a gift with words. I’ve worked with her on multiple books in The Hybrid Series and she’s made my prose, plot, and characters so much richer than I ever could on my own! She’s the perfect balance of challenging me to put out my best work while also providing the encouragement and guidance needed to reach my goals. I really believe I wouldn’t have my three book deal with Enclave if it weren’t for Ellen’s incredible feedback on my novels. I highly recommend working with her no matter where you’re at in your publishing journey!”
— Candace Kade, author of THE HYBRID SERIES
Let’s work together!
If you are interested in one of the packages above, please fill out the Editing Inquiry Form.