Editing

Words speak to me.

I encounter them in draft form and they say, “Put us in our place, every last one of us.” I have no choice but to oblige.

Some words beg to be flung out like light. “Shine on, you crazy diamonds,” I encourage, giving them a polish. Others wish to be stripped down bare. “Cut the schmaltz and write us simple,” they implore. So I do. 

Such is the wordplay of an editor enamored with language. If you’re having anything less than loads of fun with your writing project, let’s talk.

Contingent on your needs, I step in with a critique, developmental or line edit, proofreading, high-level content writing, even ghostwriting.

My Editing Palette

Manuscript Evaluation

An evaluation of your work is the first step. If you have a partial or finished manuscript or other piece of writing, perhaps now is the time to have a set of professional eyes review your work and give you a solid critique.

Manuscript Evaluation

Bear in mind that feedback from those who know little about the artistic process—even well-intentioned colleagues and loved ones—can be ambiguous, personal and can stymie your creative flow or derail the whole journey; whereas constructive comments from a seasoned editor can spur you to new heights and beyond. (Your English major friend may be a great beta reader, but doesn’t have the same trained skills as a pro-editor.)

Enter, the Muse, stage right. My evaluation can be stand-alone or included as part of my editing services, below. Depending on your needs, we’ll put together a plan of action for moving your manuscript forward. Even if you feel that your writing is ship-shape, it can still benefit from a fresh perspective. As creators, we can get too close to our material and miss things that another trained eye would readily see. 

Developmental Editing

This form of high editing takes into consideration the entirety of the project. I look at the “big picture” items.

Developmental Editing

  • Do you need help with brainstorming your book idea / main message?
  • Is what you’ve written suitable to market or not quite ready for prime time?
  • Is the narrative cohesive or inchoate?
  • Should the material be reorganized to better present the topic or plot?
  • Does it need to be expanded, deepened, shortened or tightened in places?
  • Are there problem areas that require complete rewrites?
  • Is the plot sequential, plausible and logical?
  • Does the dialogue sound natural or stilted?
  • Should it include cited research or relevant sources that substantiate or bolster your central point?
  • Does your story structure function effectively within your specific genre?
  • Could the work use substantive revisions or a good cleanup throughout?

 

Developmental editing can also include crucial considerations such as the work’s overall theme, marketing viability and—last but not least—the title and subtitle. Always bear in mind that your writing should end up sounding like YOU, only better—not your editor or someone else’s voice.

Line Editing / Proofreading

This form of editing transforms your manuscript from good to great. It strengthens the work by applying the rules of good composition and efficient writing. It is generally performed as a final pass to hone a manuscript for submission or publication. When doing this type of editing, I gleefully slip into my OCD persona and focus on the twee minutia.

Line Editing / Proofreading

  • Correct spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors
  • Eliminate redundancies and verbosity
  • Tighten structure
  • Catch inconsistencies in plot, point of view, timeline, etc.
  • Fix problems with character development or pacing
  • Tweak and vary word choice
  • Fact-check
  • Fine-tune rhythm and sound of the prose
  • Generally give the language a spit and polish
  • Address front and back matter
  • Perfect formatting of all pages

 

If you are seeking a traditional book contract: Traditional publishing houses use acquiring editors and contracted editors to work on your manuscript and navigate the revision process with you. You may think you don’t need an editor if you’re pursuing traditional publishing because you’ll work with one if you get a contract—the operative word being IF. The market is oversaturated with unedited and poorly edited books. Boost your odds of being successful by working with a trained editor who can help you create content that is the best representation of your capabilities. THEN shop your manuscript. In the larger scheme of things, you’ll also be upholding the integrity of the market.

The Words of Gina's Clients

To Write is Human | To Edit is Divine

Gina Mazza

High-Level Content Writer

If it’s true that content is king, then I’m the queen of locution. Are you in need of clear, concise, radical and dazzling messaging with honesty and conscience? Then just say the word—that is, have me say it for you.

My business-as-usual is authentic, inventive content that informs, entertains and, ultimately, sells.

As your content writer, I can fly solo or step in to support your team, whichever you prefer. My vibe is super collaborative, so I slide in seamlessly to work alongside art / film directors, web builders, graphics departments, marketing coordinators, PR mavens, IT geeks, even other editors. Or if you want me to lead your project, I can take it from concept through implementation to completion, building a team for you, as needed. 

Practiced | in the Art | of Wordplay

Ghostwriting | Co-Authorships

Do you believe in ghostwriters? You may not see them but they’re real. This apparition is a writer who pens a project under someone else’s name with their consent. They can create whole books out of vapor or, through some mysterious voodoo, transform a pile of gobbledygook into a polished manuscript.

I am one such entity. Essentially, I write for hire in the shadows on behalf of my clients and they take all the publishing credit.

I accept a limited number of projects each year as either ghostwritten books or co-authorships (in which I share publishing credit with my fellow author). These are works in which I passionately believe in the message, integrity and salability of the author, and am drawn to collaborate with them on a level beyond editing and consulting.

If you’d like to be considered for an assessment, I would be delighted to talk with you about your project. Begin by sending a synopsis and marketing pitch to me HERE.