Jessica Scharnagle
Professional Book Editor
I am a professional book editor with a specialty in line editing. My approach to editing starts with you. I am merely the thought-provoker, poking and prodding at your ideas to help you mold your work into the best it can be.I am a US-based editor with over seven years of experience in the editorial industry. To read more about me and my credentials, click the link below.
Why Choose Me?
My philosophy to all facets of manuscript editing is to give you an overall idea of your work from not only a professional lens, but from someone who truly believes in your work and wants you to succeed. From developmental editing down to proofreading, you can feel more confident in your work when the process is over.My goal is to present you with the right questions that enable you to think more broadly about your world, characters, and story. This will enable you to dig a little deeper and bring out your creativity in a new and exciting way!My rates are well below the standard editor rates listed by the Editorial Freelancers Association to offer access to both reflect my experience and education, and offer accessibility to indie authors.
Services Offered
Click below to see more about the services I offer and pricing.
Developmental Editing Overview
I do not provide developmental editing, but I do have resources for quality editors who do! Please email me for more information.
Line Editing Overview
Line edits are what make your story come to life. Whether you love a poetic and flowery style of writing, or you are looking for a balance of showing and telling, line edits will make each sentence flow into one another, creating a cohesive and naturally flowing story. This type of editing looks at sentence structure and word choice to ensure your sentences not only sound good by themselves, but work well within the paragraph and overall context of the story.For a line edit, you will receive the following:
- One critique letter containing strengths and weaknesses noticed throughout the work. This document will highlight your strengths in sentence structure and word choice, and ways you can improve on a broader level.
- A tracked document with in-line comments for specific recommendations.
- Open communication with me to ask questions at any point in the process.
Editing Timeline
The turnaround for manuscript edits varies based on the word count. As a general rule, expect one week of turnaround time per 50,000 words.For example: A 150,000 word manuscript would take three weeks to edit.
What Genres Do I Edit?
- Fantasy
- Romantasy
- YA Fantasy
- Thriller
- Personal Essay
Line Editing Rates
All rates are negotiable, but all of my rates are lower than the rates listed by the Editorial Freelancers Association. These rates are set to reflect my education and experience. I also value and support debut independent authors and my rates reflect an effort to be accessible to all authors.Rates per word count:
- Under 50,000: $.008 per word
- Under 100,000: $.012 per word
- Over 100,000: $.015 per wordFor example: A 100,000 word project would cost $1,500.
Proofreading Overview
Don't let your readers catch a single typo! Proofreading improves the flow of your novel by correcting grammar, increasing readability, and eliminating any awkward pauses. Your style is important, so during a proofread, you'll receive both Chicago Style recommendations, and recommendations based on experience and what is widely accepted within currently published novels. No one novel is ever styled the same!The focus for a proofread is a manuscript free of typos and consistency. Your style is unique to you, and with a proofread from me, you will be able to elevate your narrative while keeping your voice and tone.For a Proofread, you will receive the following:
- One critique letter containing strengths and weaknesses noticed throughout the work. This document will highlight your strengths in sentence structure and word choice, and ways you can improve on a broader level.
- A tracked document with in-line comments for specific recommendations.
- Open communication with me to ask questions at any point in the process.
Editing Timeline
The turnaround for manuscript edits varies based on the word count. As a general rule, expect one week of turnaround time per 50,000 words.For example: A 150,000 word manuscript would take three weeks to edit.
What Genres Do I Edit?
- Fantasy
- Romantasy
- YA Fantasy
- Thriller
- Personal Essay
Proofreading Rates
All rates are negotiable, but all of my rates are lower than the rates listed by the Editorial Freelancers Association. These rates are set to reflect my education and experience. I also value and support debut independent authors and my rates reflect an effort to be accessible to all authors.Rates per word count:
- Under 50,000: $.005 per word
- Under 100,000: $.006 per word
- Over 100,000: $.008 per wordFor example: A 100,000 word project would cost $800.