How do you pronounce your middle name?
Thanks for asking! Denyven is pronounced: Den-uh-ven.
What’s the criteria for setting your rates?
I use this handy chart compiled by the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA). As stated on their site, the data represents average rates as reported by freelance editors on “a survey administered to EFA members in April 2020 by Venture Research Associates.” I use the average base rate for developmental editing of fiction, which is $.03 per word. This is for the full developmental editing package. Depending on the condition of a manuscript, my quote may differ by a few cents.
Do you offer discounts?
Since my rates are comparable to the base figures listed on the EFA’s chart, I do not discount my work. Instead, I offer tiered developmental editing packages (manuscript assessment, manuscript critique, and full developmental edit). There’s one exception: if you purchase the manuscript assessment package and progress to the next package recommended by Amelia, you will receive 15% off that subsequent editing package. This must be redeemed for the same manuscript and within one year of the original editing contract. I may, during select times and at my discretion, offer special promotions for members of certain writing communities or professional associations.
What payment methods do you accept?
I use PayPal.
I’d love to work with you but can’t afford it right now. What’s something I can do on my own to strengthen my writing?
I completely understand. Hiring an editor can be expensive, and it’s not something to rush into. You want to make sure you and your manuscript are ready for the investment. A great first step is joining a critique group. You can reach out to other writers on social media or find a partner through organizations like the Society of Children’s Book Writer’s and Illustrators, KidLit411, or Julie Hedlund’s 12x12 community for picture book writers. Also, you can visit the Resource page where I list my favorite books on writing.
Do I have to be a published author to enlist your editing services?
Not at all! My clients are authors with varied writing experience (both published and pre-published), pursuing the independent, hybrid, or traditional publishing routes. However, I cannot onboard every client who queries me. My intake form helps me discern whether the author and I will make a good match, and if my schedule allots enough time to give a manuscript the level of service it requires.
Where is the intake form? I can’t find it on your website.
First, contact me here. Then I will respond by email and provide a link to the intake form.
Where is your email address, and can I reach you by phone?
The best way to contact me is here.
Why do I have to send my full manuscript before you commit to editing it? What if you steal my story?
It is standard practice for an editor to evaluate a full manuscript before accepting it for a developmental edit. This is the only accurate way to assess the condition of the manuscript, the level of editing it requires, and whether my schedule allots enough time to perform that edit. For line or copy editing, an editor might only request to preview the first chapter. Rest assured, your story belongs solely to you, and I do not steal, plagiarize, or otherwise make use of clients’ work. Your manuscript is already protected by having been written and saved as a document. Read here for more information on copyright laws for intellectual properties.
Do you offer sample edits?
A developmental edit is a global assessment of an entire work, with suggestions organized in an extensive editorial letter; therefore, a big-picture edit is difficult to provide for only a portion of a manuscript (this is also why I only edit completed drafts and not works-in-progress). So, I do not provide samples of developmental edits.
What program do you use for editing?
I use Microsoft Word track changes to edit the manuscript, and I compose my editorial letter in Word as well. Please submit all manuscripts as Word documents, double-spaced, size-12 font in Times New Roman or Courier, with one-inch margins all around. In the manuscript’s heading, please include your last name/ TITLE/page number (e.g., MacDonald/LILITH/2).
You estimate 4-8 weeks per manuscript critique. That’s a long time! Can I get mine expedited?
Keep in mind that in publishing terms a 4–8 week turnaround for a full manuscript is quite fast. When querying agents you can wait upwards of six months for a response. You can view the week-by-week breakdown of my editing timeline here. If my schedule permits, I can expedite a manuscript for an additional cost. Contact me for a quote.
How do I know when my manuscript is ready for a professional edit?
To maximize your investment in a professional critique, I suggest only hiring an editor after you have performed several rewrites of a manuscript and shared it with trusted critique partners. That’s not to say I won’t work with a rough draft, but my developmental edits will be most beneficial to writers who’ve taken their manuscripts as far as they can go and now need a trained (and distanced) eye to alert them to the parts that need strengthening.
Do you only edit children’s and young adult fiction?
KidLit is my niche market and the area in which I’ve devoted the most extensive training, but I enjoy editing across all age categories and genres. My special interests in adult literature include cozy mysteries, creative nonfiction (such as memoir or personal essay collections), blog posts, short stories, magical realism, light fantasy, realistic fiction, travelogues, Southern gothic, all things Appalachian or Celtic, and essays on faith and spirituality.
Are there any subject matters or types of manuscripts you prefer to avoid?
Yes, please note:
I am not a good fit for stories that include exorbitant amounts (or explicit depictions) of gore, rape, abuse, torture, or other acts of cruelty.
I do not edit manuscripts over 100,000 words.
I love thrillers, mysteries, and gothic tales, but I prefer suspense over violence.
For romance novels, according to this heat levels chart, I have a one- or two-flame comfort level. No erotica, please.
Where did you get your copyediting certificate? Which house style do you use?
My certificate is from UC San Diego Extension Studies, and I am trained in using The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS).
On your credentials page you mention an MFA in Children’s Literature. Where did you study? Do you recommend getting an MFA?
While I don’t consider an MFA program necessary for writers to achieve publication, my time at Hollins University enriched and shaped my writing journey. Hollins is a wonderful place to network with other writers who are passionate about crafting stories for young readers. This program spans 3–5 summers, depending on your track (Master of Arts in Children’s Literature, Children’s Book Writing and Illustrating MFA, or a Certificate in Children’s Book Illustration). I also have friends who participated in and recommend the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Vermont College of Fine Arts.
MFA programs require significant financial and time investments; alternatively, you could attend craft workshops and/or retreats (online or in person) with The Writing Barn, Highlights Foundation, or Society of Children’s Book Writers (SCBWI), all of which offer scholarships. Research your favorite children’s and young adult authors to see if they offer book coaching services, mentorships, or workshops. Regardless of whether you pursue an MFA program, it’s important to find a trusted writing community and commit to ongoing study of your literary genre and target age category. Fortunately, this type of professional development is accessible via social media and your local public library at little to no cost.