It’s hard enough to trust your beloved words to a total stranger. But please keep in mind that we all have the same goal: making your writing the best it can be.

The Mighty Pen’s edits are generally categorized thus:

• Proofreading: This is only done after the author has put down the pen. A proofread looks for typos and inconsistent formatting only.(Sample proofread)

• Copy Editing. This is sometimes referred to as “line editing” or “mechanical editing.” During a copy edit, we ensure that the manuscript follows the five “C”s: it is clear, correct, concise, comprehensible, and consistent. The Mighty Pen’s copy edit is generally performed twice, by two different editors, to ensure accuracy and consistency of usage. (Sample copy edit)

• Substantive or “Developmental” Editing. A substantive edit addresses the overall structure and organization of a manuscript. Character and plot development, pace, organization, introduction of subplots, examination of character motives, and tone are all elements of a substantive edit. We encourage a hands-on relationship with the author during this process.

The distinction between different types of edits is often blurry: the Pen’s editors will correct any typos they see while copy editing, for example. However, different types of edits are never done simultaneously. It is not possible to consistently catch grammatical errors while editing for plot development. In addition. whenever text is added or changed by the author, as a developmental edit frequently requires, errors are introduced–and this would make additional proofreading necessary. You can see why we keep these different edits distinct!Sample EditsIf you send the Pen five pages via email attachment, we will edit the writing sample at no charge. We do a sample edit for two reasons: first, so that you can see the Pen’s editing style and determine if it is appropriate for your work (the importance of a good match can not be overstated); second, so that we can get a feel for your writing, determine how “clean” it is, and give you an accurate time and monetary estimate for your project.

Note: select five consecutive pages that you think are representative of the whole. Please do not give us the first few pages of your manuscript, as the first part tends to be cleaner than the latter.

After you have reviewed the editing sample, we ask that you sign a simple contract that details the parameters of the edit.

The Mighty Pen’s editors are happy to edit hard copy or electronically. For electronic edits, we make corrections using Microsoft Word “track changes” function, so you can identify them easily. We will save the corrections as a word document (.doc or .docx) unless you specify another format.

The rate of rejection by agents and publishers is about 99.9 percent. The reasons most manuscripts are rejected out of hand are simple: they’re improperly formatted, and contain typos and grammatical errors. Working with a team of editors before submitting your work can improve your chances of publication and/or agent representation. Of course, professional editing does not guarantee publication.Editing Do’s

All of your editor’s changes are justifiable. Editors do not make changes based on personal preference or whim.

Most of the Mighty Pen’s clients prefer online editing–that is, electronic editing. We enjoy editing hard copy (paper manuscripts), too.

“Partnering with The Mighty Pen for my fiction writing has brought one of the most positive experiences I’ve had with the editorial community.

“[The Pen’s team] provides a delightful treasure of tips, ideas, things I couldn’t see, and a warm tone that made their suggestions the best an editor can deliver: perspective, confirmation of what’s working, and professional thoroughness at a competitive price.

“I’m glad to consider myself a happy customer. It’s because they know what they’re doing, and because they care.” –Gary W

 What does an editor not do?

• Professional editing does not guarantee a book’s publication.
• Editors never change an author’s tone or meaning, nor would ever insert their own views into an author’s work. An editor does not judge writing but tries only to make the author’s writing the best it can be. Our editors strive to preserve the author’s own language and unique voice.
• An editor is not a fact-checker. If we discover a statement that we know to be technically inaccurate and such is not the author’s intent, the editor will bring it to the author’s attention. If specifically instructed to fact-check, the editor may do so, but keep in mind that fact-checking is time consuming and therefore expensive.
• A manuscript editor is not an acquisitions editor. Manuscript editors work for the author (or company) and are concerned with the clarity, organization, and technical propriety of a manuscript. Acquisitions editors work for publishers and are concerned with acquiring books for the publisher that they hope will generate sales. Terms like “slush pile,” “query letter,” and “synopsis” belong to the world of acquisitions editors. “Serial comma,” “back story,” and “internal narrative” are terms that are dear to a manuscript editor’s heart.
• While the Mighty Pen frequently edits writers’ synopses and query letters, our editors DO NOT promote or market books.
• The content and ideas expressed in your writing are safe with your editor. The Pen’s editors are happy to sign confidentiality agreements and frequently do, but this is unnecessary. We never betray our authors’ confidence.

Start your inquiry with our secure on-line form to get started or request a sample edit. You can also e-mail Editor@MightyPenEditing.com with questions or material.