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Editorial Services

 


Thank you for your interest in my editing services.
I’m currently closed for bookings from new clients. 

Whether you’re self-publishing or submitting to agents and publishers, your story should shine! As an author myself, I know what your book means to you—and I know the importance of sending it into the world looking polished and professional. Don’t let typos, grammatical errors, or plot hiccups get in the way of a great reading experience.

I edit most genres, including romance (from sweet to scorching), women’s fiction, romantic suspense, mystery, cozy mystery, and thrillers.

I work in Word, using Track Changes, so you’ll see every suggestion and correction. I can edit books written in either American or British English. And I charge by the word, not by the hour, so you’ll know exactly how much to budget for. Payment is via PayPal, for your convenience and protection.

Copyediting/line editing: US$0.009/word

A combination of copyediting and line editing, including:

~ spelling, grammar, and punctuation (US or UK)
~ appropriate use of point of view (e.g. no ‘head-hopping’)
~ consistency of capitalisation, hyphenation, italics, abbreviations, etc.
~ overuse or repetition of words and phrases
~ continuity (character traits and plot points)
~ timeline check—making sure the story doesn’t lose or gain a day (or more!)
~ basic fact checking
~ suggestions for rewording to improve sentence flow or clarity
~ a style sheet or series bible to record your preferences (for a single title or across a series)
~ an editorial letter outlining general points for you to consider, and any specifics that need more explanation.

I’ll also point out any issues with plot, style, or characterisation—anything that doesn’t quite make sense, or could jolt your reader out of the story. (If there are lots of these kinds of issues in the book, a developmental edit might be needed. I only take on developmental editing by special arrangement, but can recommend other editors for that service.)

Please note that the per-word rate may be higher for books in translation or by authors writing in English as a second language, due to the extra editing required.

Proofreading: US$0.007/word

A thorough check of spelling, grammar, and punctuation (style sheet included). This option is only available if your story has already been professionally edited.

I’m happy to provide a sample edit of your first pages (up to 2000 words), so you can get a feel for how I work and whether we’d make a good team. If you’re not sure what level of editing your manuscript needs, we can figure that out together.

For more information about rates and availability, send me a message via the contact page or email serena@serenaclarke.com.

 

“Serena Clarke ROCKS! I was fortunate enough to have Serena edit my Brides on the Run series and my Small-Town Royalty series. Serena is so easy to work with. She’s efficient, professional, and incredibly insightful. She helps make my stories better without trying to change my voice in any way. I can’t say enough good things about my experience working with her. When you’re as grammatically challenged as me, it’s good to have someone like Serena in your corner.” Jami Albright, romantic comedy author

“I absolutely love working with Serena! We’re onto our third cozy mystery series together, now, and I don’t know what I would do without her. These are long series and she manages to keep track of everyone and everything. She is flexible, kind and extremely tactful with her feedback. Basically, I just say yes to everything she suggests changing because I always agree with her—even when I’d rather not do the extra work. She holds me to a high standard and I appreciate knowing I can’t slide anything past her. I highly recommend Serena’s services for either proofing or editing, if you’re lucky enough to get a spot.” – Ellen Riggs, cozy mystery author

“I had an exceptional experience working with Serena on my book. She has a true eye for grammar, detail, and consistency and provided an edit that helped elevate my manuscript to the next level. Beyond that, she’s a delightful person to work with and I would recommend her editing services to anyone!” Amelia Rowe, romantic suspense author

“I came to Serena when I realized some aspects of my novel needed another eagle eye. Serena was invaluable in helping me streamline the flashback scenes and clean up the character point of view. Her attention to detail was meticulous and resulted in a much better flow for the overall story. She also helped me see what the reader would be looking for in particular scenes that I had previously glossed over. Her edits were just what I needed. I’m very pleased with Serena’s services!” – Lara Ward Cosio, contemporary romance author

“Serena did an amazing job line editing my manuscript. She was a joy to work with, and she was very communicative and clear in her feedback. Her comments and questions helped me take my manuscript to the next level. My proofreader was blown away by how clean my manuscript was!” – Erin L. Jungdahl, romantic comedy author

“I cannot begin to describe how glad I am that I found Serena. I have learnt so much from her editing and helpful tips. I feel my writing has improved immensely with her guidance. I came to Serena for my debut novel and I was still nervous about other people reading my work and the type of feedback I would get. But at no point have I felt criticised or belittled for what I don’t know about writing, craft and editing. Serena shares her knowledge with me in a way that I can understand so I can improve with every word I write. She points out inconsistencies and repetition of words and phrases throughout my story, and gives insights into how the characters are coming across. She explains everything for me so that I can understand why she suggests edits. When there are elements that I have a choice over, she presents these options for me, again explaining them so I understand and can make an informed decision. Her communication has always been spot on, updating me on her progress and her availability for my future projects. I will forever be grateful for the time she has given me and I cannot recommend her enough. I look forward to working with Serena in the future and learning even more from her.” – Marie Harper Wright, contemporary romance author

“Serena Clarke is an absolute joy to work with. She has an amazing eye for detail and really knows her stuff. Added to that she is fast, easy to communicate, and always improves my stories. In short, she’s a dream copy editor, and I can’t recommend her enough!” – Amanda Ashby, YA and contemporary romance author

Serena Clarke at Free Bird Editing was fast, thorough, and delivered more than I’d expected, for a very reasonable price. Not only did she pick out things I’d completely overlooked, as well as bigger issues, in her editorial letter she also helped to fix some plot issues by offering useful suggestions. She was supportive throughout the subsequent revision process. I was a little scared at the thought of working with a new editor, but Serena erased all my fears and made the editing process a lot easier. It was a real pleasure working with her, and I would definitely recommend her to anyone who asked.” – Grace Roberts, sweet romance author

“Serena knows her stuff when it comes to punctuation and grammar. I love working with efficient and honest people, and Serena doesn’t disappoint. I highly recommend her as an editor.”– Tamara Gill, historical and time travel author

“Serena is an absolute pleasure to work with—I can highly recommend her to any writer looking for an excellent copyediting service. She makes working at a distance so easy with her clear communication, helpful advice, and speedy responses. I am a non-fiction writer and I was very impressed with her ability to edit both fiction and non-fiction in an extremely capable way.”  – Sarah O’Flaherty, non-fiction author

“Serena Clarke at Free Bird Editing did a great job proofreading a novella for me, even picking up a few factual inaccuracies that had slipped through earlier edits. I would definitely recommend her services.”– Karina Bliss, contemporary romance author

 

P.S. Wondering about my qualifications? Here’s my ‘official’ editor bio:
Serena Clarke followed up her Bachelor of Arts degree with a Diploma in Equine Management, a Certificate in Editing Skills, and a TESOL qualification from Trinity College, London. From this eclectic education, she built a career as a writer and editor in publishing, PR, and communications, but now she’s happily focused on fiction—her true love. A passionate reader and traveller, she’s lived in seven cities in four countries, and is now settled in New Zealand. Her e-reader is packed with everything from hot, angsty romance to gritty thrillers, but her favourite reads always have a feel-good HEA. As a published writer herself, she knows how important it is to provide great editing, while keeping the magic of the author’s own voice.