Nothing reads better than a human.
Editorial Services
You want pages that read clearly and feel like you wrote them on your best day? My job is to help you get there without taking the work out of your hands.
I offer practical, human editing for books, essays, and long form projects. I pay attention to structure, voice, and reader experience, not only to grammar.
What I Do
A software tool can catch spelling errors and basic grammar slips. A living editor does something different.
I read as a human reader. I look at what you want the work to do. I consider who you want to reach. I examine what gets in the way. I help you see where the story or argument loses shape. I identify where the pace drags. I point out where characters or ideas go flat. Finally, I show where your voice fades.
My aim is not to turn your writing into mine. My aim is to help your pages sound more like you at your clearest and most deliberate.
Services for Books
Manuscript Assessment
For writers who want clear direction before a major revision.
Rates
- Up to 80,000 words: 300 USD
- 80,000 to 110,000 words: 375 USD
You receive
- A full read of your manuscript.
- A three to five page editorial letter on structure, pacing, character, and tone.
- Specific notes on what works, what does not, and where to focus your next pass.
- Follow up email support where you can ask questions about the letter.
A manuscript assessment does not change your actual pages. It gives you a clear plan for your own revision work.
Line and Style Edit
For writers who want sentence level work that keeps their voice and improves clarity.
Rate
- 0.018 USD per word
- Minimum project fee: 250 USD
You receive
- A full pass in Word or Google Docs with tracked changes.
- Sentence level edits for flow, clarity, and consistency.
- Corrections to grammar, punctuation, and basic word choice.
- Margin comments that explain changes, highlight patterns, and suggest options.
- A short summary of strengths and habits to watch in future drafts.
A line and style edit is detailed and patient. It works best once the big structural questions are mostly settled.
Proofread
For near final drafts that need a last check before submission or publication.
Rate
- 0.01 USD per word
- Minimum project fee: 120 USD
You receive
- A careful pass for spelling, punctuation, and basic grammar.
- Light corrections of repeated words and small formatting slips.
- Tracked changes only where needed, with brief notes if there is a question.
A proofread does not reshape your sentences. It cleans them.
Full Edit Package
For writers who want one editor from first assessment to final proof.
This package combines:
- Manuscript Assessment
- Line and Style Edit
- Proofread on the revised draft
Pricing
- Package price is 85 percent of the total if you booked each service separately.
- Custom quote based on word count and stage of the work.
You receive
- An editorial letter to set the direction of your next draft.
- A full line and style edit on your revision.
- A final proofread of the updated draft.
- Email support between stages for short questions.
Services for Essays and Short Work
Short Essay Edit
For blog posts, opinion pieces, or personal essays.
- Up to 1,500 words: 60 USD
You receive
- A line edit with tracked changes.
- Brief comments on argument, tone, and audience.
- A short note on next steps if you plan a series or follow up piece.
Light Proof for Short Work
For pieces that are ready to go and need a last technical check.
- Up to 5,000 words: 50 USD
You receive
- A pass for typos, punctuation, and basic grammar.
- Clean copy ready for a website, newsletter, or submission.
Economy Options for Drafts in Progress
These options are designed for newer writers or for tight budgets. Each one focuses on a small, defined piece of the work and gives clear, practical feedback.
Opening Chapter Check
For the beginning of a book or story.
- Up to 3,000 words: 75 USD
You receive
- A light line edit with tracked changes.
- Margin comments on clarity, pacing, and tone.
- A short note on how well the opening sets up the rest of the book and what you can adjust.
10,000 Word Structural Snapshot
For a section from anywhere in your draft.
- Up to 10,000 words: 95 USD
You receive
- A read with light in text comments.
- A one to two page letter on structure, stakes, character focus, and flow.
- Clear advice on whether to keep drafting, step back to outline, or reshape what you have.
These smaller services can stand alone, or they can act as a first step before a larger edit later.
Lia Declan's Musings 