Official Site of
Rachel C. Neale
Author + editor
Why work with me ?
With an editing certificate from Simon Fraser University, I bring ten years of writing fiction and a background as a published author to every editing project. When you work with me, you get a support system:​
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An editor who nurtures and polishes your authorial voice.
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A writer who understands what it takes to complete a book (tears, late nights, overwhelming joy).
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And an entrepreneur who has been where you are and can give you valuable feedback on marketing, the publishing industry, and the process of writing.
Full Disclosure
Third Sister Editing rose from the ashes of four un-published books and more than a dozen half written manuscripts. The experience of hiring editors and then grappling with the great undertaking of revising without check-ins or subsequent support was my Achilles heel.
By my late twenties, the cycle of writing, hiring an editor, and giving-up had become a pattern. Yet, I still wanted to write. My imagination oozed with unwritten stories and characters. I would take a hiatus from writing only to come back and repeat the cycle.
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I yearned for community, support, and encouragement in my endeavours, so I turned to writing groups, live writing sprints, and beta readers. The collaborative efforts and moral support I received from these outlets where un-matched. A lot of the writers I met had one thing in common with me––the feeling of being isolated while writing, especially in the revision stages.
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If this struggle sounds familiar, I’m here to help. My goal as an editor is to show up one hundred percent to support your manuscript. As a writer, I understand how polarizing the trenches of revisions can be, and I’m here to help you through them with resources and valuable expertise gained through Simon Fraser University and ten years of writing.
My values as an editor are Creativity, Community, Inclusivity, and Expansion.
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing (also referred to as structural editing and substantive editing) focuses on the overall structure of your manuscript. This stage of editing typically happens once you are satisfied with your final draft and before copyediting.
I do not accept manuscripts that are at a first draft level.
At this stage, I help you with:
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Structuring the layout of your book
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Formatting chapters and titles (for example, suggesting the merging of two chapters or giving you feedback on when to transition into a new chapter if said chapter is running too long)
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The plot structure of your story (including catalyst, conflict, climax, resolving action, and ending)
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Fleshing out underdeveloped settings
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Flagging scenes where characters may be underperforming or disappearing (this can often happen with secondary characters)
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Flagging any world building issues (such as an underdeveloped magic system or an unclear political system)
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Evaluating your main character’s motive. Is it strong enough to propel the reader forward and keep them engrossed? (publisher’s will be asking the same questions)
I incorporate edits at this stage by highlighting passages of texts in Microsoft Word and leaving suggestion/questions in the comment section. If I have the green light from you, I will go ahead and move or delete a body of text, and I will always explain the changes I make in the comment section.
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Copyediting
Copyediting (also referred to as line editing and content editing) focuses on the grammar, spelling, punctuation, language, and syntax of your manuscript. This is the sentence level edit. This stage of editing typically happens after developmental editing and before proofreading.
At this stage, I edit for:
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Clarity of sentence structure
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Cohesion of writing style and tone
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Cohesion of spelling (if you write with both American and British spelling, I edit so that your preferred spelling is used)
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Correct spelling of names, locations, titles, original words, etc. throughout entire manuscript
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Language that may not be suitable for the genre, tone, or era of your manuscript
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Missing words or misspelled words
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Correct punctuation according to the CMOS (for example, I will edit and flag run-on sentences, comma splices, and the incorrect usage of apostrophes)
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Correct capitalization and abbreviation according to the CMOS (or the stylebook of your choice)
I incorporate edits at this stage by highlighting texts and querying for clarity of meaning in the comments or flagging a sentence that needs your attention. I use Track Changes in Microsoft Word so that you can see the edits I have made. With Track Changes, you can accept or reject all editorial changes, including deleted words and moved sentences.
Typesetting
Typesetting is all about the interior design of your finalized manuscript. Interior book design happens after copyediting and before proofreading and publication. This service is for self-publishing authors. Traditional publishers have a team of designers that complete typesetting in-house.
It’s best to proofread after the typesetting has been completed to insure that your book is error free. I don’t provide proofreading, but many editors do.
With typesetting I:
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Design the front matter, body, and back matter of your book. This includes the copyright page, title page, table of contents, dedication page, chapter title pages, chapter text, appendix pages, acknowledgement pages, and author bio/titles page.
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Suggest dingbats (stylized fonts to add decorative notes to your book) inspired by the genre, tone, audience, and purpose of your book and then insert them where desired.
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Layout page numbers, author header, and book title header
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Design text around images/illustrations (if images are included)
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Suggest typeface, font size, line spacing and decorative elements (such as a dropped cap on the first letter of a new chapter) based on the genre, tone, audience, and purpose of your book.
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Research standardized design based on the genre, tone, audience, and purpose of your book.
Editing Rates
Developmental Editing: $4.00 per page
Copyediting: $2.50 per page
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Typesetting: $25/hr
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All rates are in Canadian currency.
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I base quotes on the standardized 250 words per page. For example, if the word count of your manuscript is 80k, the quote for copyediting would be $800. Please email me with the specifics of your manuscript (word count, genre, title, tone) for an official quote.
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The timeframe for delivery of edits depends on the page count and my availability.
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Please keep in mind, my rates are based on a polished manuscript, not the first draft of your book. I will not accept manuscripts that are first draft level.