A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
Proverbs 25:11 ESV
Hi there!
I’m Claire Erasmus, an editor who works with Christian authors to achieve excellence. I believe choosing the best words to tell your story is as important as making sure the plot, characters, and themes are all working together well. Have you chosen the best words? Is your author voice shining through on every page? Or are grammatical errors and not-quite-right words distracting your readers and lessening the impact of your story?
With a background in tutoring, I am committed to working with you to polish your voice and free your manuscript of grammatical errors before you release it to the world.
My Services
Line editing
This is a deep dive into how you and your characters use words. While a line edit will correct glaring grammatical errors, it is more focused on how you have told the story and seeks to find ways of polishing your and your characters’ voices so that your story shines with the right words and not the almost-right ones.
Available for both fiction and nonfiction.
Copyediting
This is focused on the three Cs: correctness, clarity, and consistency. A copyedit will make sure your sentences, punctuation, and spelling are all correct. Any unclear or confusing sentences and paragraphs will be marked for you, and any inconsistencies in the story will be corrected.
Available for both fiction and nonfiction.
Proofreading
The final check before publishing, a proofread seeks to remove any errors that were missed in previous stages of editing. This will correct spelling and punctuation errors but will not clarify confusing sentences or ensure that details are consistent throughout the story or scene.
Available for both fiction and nonfiction.
“I actually learned something from Claire’s edits.”
Morgan J. Manns, short story author
@morgan.j.writes (Instagram)
“I felt as though I had a real friend looking over my shoulder helping me produce the best version of my book possible.”
Alicia van Huizen, biblical fiction author
www.aliciavanhuizen.com
My commitment to you is . . .
Education
Having your manuscript edited is an opportunity to learn since it will highlight what you tend to do as an author. As an editor, my goal is to thoroughly explain the grammar rules and suggested changes made to your manuscript so that you can grow in your skill as a wordsmith.
Encouragement
Getting edited is a scary business. You’ve invested years into this book, and you’ve just released it to an individual and asked them to point out errors. But there are things you will have done well. My goal as your editor is to point out those strengths of yours while catching typos.
Excellence
As Christians, we have the call to proclaim Jesus Christ to the world, giving Him glory in all we do. As an editor, this means I am committed to eliminating grammatical errors from a manuscript so that the published book glorifies God with its excellence.
“Claire scatters comments of enjoyment and encouragement through the manuscript, which is a great morale booster!”
Vanessa E. Howard, middle-grade and YA fantasy author
https://www.vanessaehoward.com/
“Thorough, detailed, understandable, helpful, insightful, knowledgeable—these are a few adjectives I would use to describe the editing Claire did.”
Carolyn Dickinson, short story author
Frequently Asked Questions
What editing services do you offer?
I offer line editing, copyediting, and proofreading services for both fiction and nonfiction. To learn more, visit my services page.
What genres do you edit?
I edit most things except for theses, academic writing, horror, and romance. My preferred genres to edit are Christian fiction, speculative fiction, Christian nonfiction, and devotionals.
Do you offer free sample edits?
Yes, I do offer free, no-obligation sample edits for most potential projects. However, I don’t do sample edits on projects I know I won’t edit, such as theses or horror. But feel free to contact me and ask about a sample edit.
How much does an edit cost?
This depends on the type of edit, the length of the manuscript, and the individual editor. Some editors charge per word, others charge per page, and still others charge per hour. Edits that are more intensive, such as line edits, typically cost more. To see what I am currently charging, visit my services page. To get a quote, contact me.
How long does an edit take?
This depends on the length of the manuscript, how much work it needs, and the type of edit being performed. Turnaround times also vary from editor to editor.
In general, for a manuscript of 80,000 words, you can expect a developmental edit to take 8–10 weeks, a copyedit to take 6–8 weeks, and a proofread to take 4–6 weeks. But always get an estimate from your editor.
What does the editing process look like?
When you contact me for a project, I will send you a questionnaire about your book to help me get to know it. Should you want a free, no-obligation sample edit, this will be scheduled. Once you have accepted me as your editor, an editing agreement letter will be drawn up and work can be started.
I will typically work through a manuscript three times in one round of editing, although this can and does vary. But I like to read through a book from start to finish, then perform the edit, then go back over the edited manuscript and perform final checks before returning it to the author.
What’s the difference between a single-round edit and a two-round edit?
A single-round edit means that I will only work on the manuscript once, making corrections and adding comments where needed. Once the manuscript is returned to the author, it will not be returned to me.
A two-round edit means that after I have performed the initial edit, the manuscript is returned to the author for their review. They work through the corrections and suggestions in an agreed-upon time frame, then return it to me along with specific questions or comments they may have. I then go over the manuscript again, addressing their questions and comments and doing one final editorial pass.
A single-round edit is cheaper than a two-round edit, but a two-round edit gives room for conversation between the editor and the author.
You’re South African. Is that a problem?
No, it isn’t. My mother tongue is English, and I have been trained in both UK and US style guides. I believe that my nationality is an asset, as it gives me a different perspective to many in the publishing industry.
How do I pay you?
I am able to receive payments via PayPal or direct bank transfer.