My mantra is “Keep the reader in mind.” My specialties are speed and clarity.

Whether for works of fiction or non-fiction, I offer two basic services.

EVALUATION

One is an evaluation (sometimes called an overview). This entails a careful reading, followed by a long and specific letter indicating what I believe works or does not, and how to fix what does not.

In non-fiction, I look for consistency of message, writing style, redundancy, tone, argument, and flow, among other factors.
In fiction, I look for story line, writing style, dialogue, scene setting – the works.

LINE EDITING

The second service is line editing, which is meant especially for developed works.  I work more closely on grammar and a finished style, while looking for smaller errors, such as repetition within a scene, hackneyed phrases, and awkward sentence structure. (Line editing is not copy editing. Copy editors make certain, for example, that 6 p.m. is written that way, rather than 6pm. I am more interested in what is taking place at 6pm or p.m.)

CLIENTS

My clients have included therapists, media people, businessmen, and poets. I read all works as an outsider who represents the reader, someone who is at least marginally interested in the non-fiction topic or the fictional tale, but easily confused.

FEES

For either service, I charge either an hourly fee or an overall fee based on the anticipated difficulty and length of the project. The latter is payable in three installments.

When people engage me for line editing and prefer to pay by the hour, I suggest they come up with a finite number of hours they’re comfortable with, and see if my work proceeds in a way that makes them want to continue. When people are not sure which service they need, I read a brief section, of perhaps 25 pages or so, to make the determination or suggestion.

References: I am glad to furnish names and contact information of former clients.

Contact Alison for further information or inquiries about this service.