Turning manuscripts into masterpieces, one word at a time.
More Than Your Average Editor
Finding the right editor is hard. You’ve poured yourself into your manuscript — the late nights, the rewrites, the moments of doubt, the breakthroughs. You’ve given it everything. Now you want someone who honors that effort and helps you bring out the very best version of your work.
You need fresh eyes. You need someone who understands how vulnerable it feels to hand your writing to another person. Someone who will catch the mechanical errors and improve the flow — all while preserving the voice that makes your writing yours. Someone who gives you honest, constructive feedback you can actually use.
That’s exactly what I do.
Editing Services
Rates are negotiated based on individual projects.
Line Editing
More art than science, line editing works sentence by sentence to refine your style, improve readability, sharpen concision, and smooth syntax. It’s where your voice gets polished.
Copy Editing
More science than art, copy editing follows the rules of the English language to correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, word usage, consistency, and formatting. It’s where your manuscript gets cleaned up.
Proofreading
The final pass before your work goes to print, proofreading catches any remaining spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors or inconsistencies. It’s typically performed on a PDF after editing is complete.
Cookbook/Recipe Editing
Line and copy editing with a specialized eye, bringing additional training to the unique demands of cookbook writing. I review headnotes, ingredient lists, and instructions not just for style and mechanics, but also for measurement precision, cooking accuracy, and instruction clarity.
Indexing
The last step in the publishing process, indexing compiles and formats a searchable list of topics and terms so readers can easily locate information throughout the text. Like proofreading, it’s performed on a completed PDF once the book design is finalized.
Manuscript Maven is a small, woman-owned editing business based in Central Illinois.
Get in Touch
Reach out so we can discuss working together on your manuscript project.
