Publish your novel with confidence

I’m Michelle Aguilar, an editor with more than a decade of proven experience in meticulous manuscript review. Let’s make sure your story is polished, professional, and ready to captivate readers.

"Michelle is someone I trust to work with our bestselling authors."

— Astrid Ohletz, CEO, Ylva Publishing

About Me

What do I love about my career as an editor? I love the puzzles involved in working with a story—figuring out why a scene isn’t working, identifying that one factor that’s making a scene fall flat, researching whether a Commodore 64 home computer was commercially available in 1979.

Nerdy passions, yes, but when you work with me, I use these passions to your advantage, making sure your prose is clear, engaging, accurate, and impactful, so that you can focus on your strength: the storytelling.

My specialty is genre fiction. I especially enjoy editing books about LGBTQIA+ characters. As an out and proud Mexican-American lesbian, I get a special joy from helping writers launch more queer books and protagonists of color into the world.

Genres I frequently edit:

romance and romantic comedies
sci-fi and fantasy
historical fiction
crime thrillers and police procedurals
new adult
erotica

My philosophy centers on collaboration and creative partnership. I will tell you what your book needs; I won’t pull punches. But I respect your authorial vision, and my goal is to help your story be as impactful and professional as possible, not turn it into something else.

If you’re looking for a dedicated, passionate editor to get your book ready for publication, let’s talk!

From Manuscript to Market

I’ve had the pleasure of helping bring to life more than 60 novels in a wide variety of genres. Several authors on this list below have worked with me multiple times.

A book cover for "The Fixer: The Villains Series: Book 1" by Lee Winter showing a close-up of the lower part of a woman's face with thick red lipstick, partially obscured by a hand holding a clear martini glass. The person is wearing a black turtleneck. The background is a dark, mottled purple. The title "The Fixer" is in large white serif font on the left side of the cover. "The Villains Series: Book 1" is in smaller white text in the top left corner, and the author's name, "LEE WINTER," is in all-caps white text at the bottom left. — Copy Editor

A minimalist book cover for "Who'd Have Thought" by G Benson. The cover features a stack of U.S. one hundred dollar bills with two wedding rings placed on top, set against a plain white background. The title "who'd have thought" is in an elegant, flowing script at the top, with "who'd" in dark purple and "have thought" in a lighter pink. The author's name, G Benson, is in simple black text at the bottom. — Developmental Editor

Copy Editor

A book cover for "Strange Attractors" by Ana K. Wrenn with a silhouette of a lone, bare tree and a large hobbyist telescope on a small hill, against a breathtaking night sky filled with a vibrant purple and blue Milky Way and countless stars. Distant mountains are silhouetted in the background. The title "strange attractors" is in lowercase white serif text, with horizontal lines above and below it and is placed in the upper half of the starry sky. The author's name, Ana K. Wrenn, is in white title text at the bottom. — Copy Editor

A graphic novel-style book cover for "The Power of Mercy" by Fiona Zedde. The illustration features a dark-skinned woman with curly hair, wearing a light blue tank top and dark pants, kneeling with one hand raised as if conjuring or deflecting something. Blue bubbles and light rays emanate around her, suggesting an underwater or supernatural aspects. The title "THE POWER OF MERCY" is in large white and blue outlined text at the bottom, and the author's name, Fiona Zedde, is in white text below it. — Line Editor

A book cover for "Love Next Door" by Rachael Sommers. The cover features a close-up of a smiling woman with various arm tattoos and a nose piercing, laughing with her mouth open. She wears a dark tank top and is holding a glass that contains a striped straw. The title "Love NEXT DOOR" is prominent, with "Love" in red script and "NEXT DOOR" in large white sans-serif font. The author's name, Rachael Sommers, is in white text at the bottom. — Copy Editor

Developmental Editor

An illustrated book cover for "The Loudest Silence" by Olivia Janae featuring two abstract, faceless women, one sitting, one standing with her hands on the shoulders of the sitting woman. The sitting woman is playing a cello. The women and the background is done in bright, multicolored wash style, with blue, green, and purple washes. The title "The Loudest Silence" is in large, bold purple text with a white glow, and the author's name, Olivia Janae, is in a plain purple text at the top. — Copy Editor

Copy Editor

A contemporary book cover for "Just My Luck" by Andrea Bramhall. The cover has a distressed newspaper-like background with blurred text and dotted lines. The title "JUST MY LUCK" is prominently featured in bold, contrasting fonts: "JUST MY" in black and "LUCK" in bright pink. A blurry image of what appears to be a person or a scene with some blue elements is subtly visible through the text. The author's name, Andrea Bramhall, is in black text below the title, with a black line below it. — Copy Editor

A book cover for "Hooked on You" by Jenn Matthews. The image features a pair of hands holding a ball of fuchsia yarn. In the blurred background, shelves are filled with numerous colorful skeins of yarn, suggesting a craft store or yarn shop. The title "Hooked on You" is in a flowing cream script in the bottom half of the cover. The author's name, Jenn Matthews, is in white text at the top. — Developmental Editor

A book cover for "Honey in the Marrow" by Emily Waters featuring a vase of purple lavender sprigs in a clear glass tumbler with reflected lavender speckles on the glass. Nearby is another glass cup, a white knitted item, and a small, white heart-shaped pillow, all arranged on a white wooden side table or tray. The background is softly blurred in light grey and white tones. The title "Honey in the Marrow" is in large, bold purple title case text at the top, and the author's name, Emily Waters, is in smaller purple title case text above it. — Copy Editor

An illustrated book cover for "Reaction Time" by Emily O'Beirne. The cover depicts two figures embracing passionately in a lush, green forest clearing, surrounded by tall trees with varying shades of green foliage and a misty background. The title "REACTION TIME" is in large, thick all caps white sans serif text at the top. The author's name, Emily O'Beirne, is in smaller, thinner white sans serif text at the bottom. — Copy Editor

A book cover for "Sing for my Baby" by Jenn Matthews with a polished, wooden upright piano with open sheet music on the stand. On the piano bench sit two teddy bears, one with a red crocheted heart on its chest. The background is a rustic white brick wall. The title "Sing for my Baby" is in dark blue script at the top, and the author's name, Jenn Matthews, is in white serif text at the bottom. — Copy Editor

Book cover for "Under Your Skin: Book 2: On the Record Series - Wedding Planning Just Got Weird..." by Lee Winter. The image features two ornate rings, one a wide band covered in small gems and the other a more traditional diamond-set band, lying in or on the surface of blue-tinged water, with splashes and droplets around them. The background is a dark, blurred bokeh effect with numerous out-of-focus lights and falling particles, creating a sense of mystery or magic. The title "UNDER YOUR SKIN" is in large white serif font at the top, with "WEDDING PLANNING JUST GOT WEIRD..." in smaller white text below it. The author's name, Lee Winter, is in white text at the bottom. — Developmental Editor

An illustrated book cover for "Southern Lights" by Liz Arncliffe. The cover features a circular white overlay with a faint map background, positioned against a vibrant backdrop of green foliage, bright yellow spherical flowers, and spiky pink blossoms. A small brown bird with white markings perches on the left side of the white circle. The title "SOUTHERN LIGHTS" is in bold pink text inside the circle, with the author's name, Liz Arncliffe, in black text below it. — Copy Editor

A lighthearted book cover for "Loser of the Year" by Carrie Byrd. The top two-thirds of the cover feature a warm, gradient orange background. The author's name, "CARRIE BYRD," is at the top in dark brown text, with the title "LOSER OF THE YEAR" in large, dark brown, serif font below it, framed by horizontal lines. The bottom third of the cover shows the top of a young woman's head, with her eyes looking upwards, giving a curious or slightly exasperated expression. Her dark, curly hair frames the bottom edge of the cover. — Copy Editor

Developmental Editor

Book cover for "The Fifth Surgeon" by Faith Prize. The cover is a composite image featuring several medical professionals in different scenarios. In the top right, a female doctor with a stethoscope around her neck looks down thoughtfully. In the top left, two male doctors are blurred in the background, one in blue scrubs and a mask, the other in a white lab coat. The bottom half shows a close-up of medical personnel in surgical caps and masks, intensely focused, suggesting an operating room. The title "THE FIFTH SURGEON" is in large, bold red text across the center. The author's name, Faith Prize, is in red text at the bottom. — Copy Editor

An illustrated book cover for "Vengeance Planning for Amateurs" by Lee Winter featuring a large, cartoonish penguin on the right, looking towards a yellow and white retro Volkswagen van food truck on the left that is decorated with cupcakes and muffins and says "Love Muffins" and "Coffee Truck." The background is a solid coral color. The title "VENGEANCE PLANNING FOR AMATEURS" is in large, bold white text at the top, with the tagline "REVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED BOLD" in smaller white all-caps text below. The author's name, Lee Winter, is in large white text at the bottom. — Copy Editor

A illustrated book cover for "Shifting Gears" by Jazz Forrester. The image depicts two women interacting in a rural or wooded setting at dusk or night, under the canopy of a tree. One woman, with long dark hair and a plaid shirt, is sitting on the hood of a red pickup truck. The other woman, wearing a blue baseball cap and tank top, stands facing her, with her hand on the sitting woman's arm. The title "Shifting Gears" is in a modern light blue script at the top. The author's name, Jazz Forrester, is in light blue serif text at the bottom. — Copy Editor

A book cover for "The Club Revisited" by A.L. Brooks. The image features a close-up of a person's bare torso from the waist up, wearing a red bra and underwear, with one arm raised. The background is a dark brick wall illuminated with purple and red lights, suggesting a club or intimate setting. The title "THE CLUB REVISITED" is in large white sans-serif font in all caps, with "THE" above "CLUB" and "REVISITED" below it. The author's name, A.L. Brooks, is in white text in all caps at the top. — Developmental Editor

An illustrated book cover for "Pinned by Love" by Elaine J Daniels. The illustration is of a professional wrestling ring, with bright blue lights illuminating the space. On the left, a muscular, humanoid figure with the head and horns of a minotaur stands wearing light blue wrestling attire. On the right, perched on a blue ring post marked with "EMW," is a female humanoid with talons for feet and large, feathered white wings on her back. The minotaur looks towards the angelic figure. The author's name, "Elaine J Daniels," is at the top in white with "Daniels" in black. The title "Pinned by Love" is in white script at the bottom. — Copy Editor

A warm-toned book cover for "Perfect Rhythm" by Jae. The image features a person with long blonde hair, seen from behind, wearing a red and white plaid shirt and blue jeans, sitting amidst a field of golden wheat or tall grasses. They are holding an acoustic guitar. The background is a vibrant orange, yellow, and blue sunset sky with soft clouds. The title "Perfect Rhythm" is in elegant white script in the bottom left, and the author's name, "JAE," is below it in white. — Copy Editor

A book cover for "Above All Things: The Carlisle Series: Book 2" by Roslyn Sinclair with a blonde woman in her thirties or forties in a red velvet dress, reclining in a modern white armchair with her eyes closed in a serene expression. Behind her is a panoramic view of New York City, under a sky with scattered clouds. Prominent is the Empire State Building. The title "ABOVE ALL THINGS" is in large, bold dark red text at the top, with "THE CARLISLE SERIES: BOOK 2" in smaller text above it. The author's name, Roslyn Sinclair, is in white text at the bottom. — Copy Editor

An illustrated thriller/mystery novel cover for "Verity's Game" by Jennifer Giacalone featuring two women standing back-to-back: one with long dark hair in a flowing red dress holding a glass of red wine, and a more masculine-looking woman with short, spiky blonde hair in a suit with her arms crossed. The background is the Mexico City skyline with the Angel of Independence monument visible with a vibrant mix of red and pink superimposed over the background in a subtle dotted pattern. The title "VERITY'S GAME" is in large, bold white text, arranged horizontally between the two characters. The author's name, Jennifer Giacalone, is in white text at the top left. — Copy Editor

Book cover for "Presidential" by Lola Keeley. A close-up image of a woman from the chest up, wearing a dark gray suit jacket over a white top. A small American flag pin is visible on her left lapel. Her face is partially visible, showing her chin and mouth with pink lipstick, suggesting a professional and serious demeanor. The background is a blurred blue, possibly curtains or drapes. The title "PRESIDENTIAL" is in large white serif font across the center of the jacket. Below the title, a white oval emblem depicts the White House with an American flag flying above it. The author's name, "LOLA KEELEY," is in white text at the bottom. — Proofreader

A colorful illustrated book cover for "I Do" by Cheyenne Blue. The cover depicts two women, one with short white hair in a dark suit with an open white shirt, and the other with blonde hair in a flowing white wedding dress, holding hands and smiling. They are in front of a charming street scene with colorful buildings and small trees, suggesting a town or city setting. A whimsical brown llama with a rainbow scarf stands to the right of the women. The sky above is a vibrant gradient of pink, orange, and purple, like a sunset. The title "I Do" is in large, elegant white script at the top. The author's name, "Cheyenne Blue," is in white text at the bottom outlined in teal. — Copy Editor

Book cover for "The Wrong McElroy" by KL Hughes. The cover's top half has numerous red and maroon hearts of various sizes, hanging by strings against a white background. The title "the Wrong McElroy" is prominently displayed in script, with "the Wrong" in a lighter red and "McElroy" in a bolder, deeper red. The author's name, KL Hughes, is in black text at the bottom. — Developmental Editor

A book cover for "Sub-Rosa" by Charlotte Mills. The image features a white car partially submerged in dark water or mud, with bright, possibly emergency, lights illuminating the scene from behind the vehicle. The setting appears to be a dark, rural area with a hill or mountain in the background under a cloudy or nighttime sky, creating an ominous atmosphere. The title "SUB-ROSA" is in large white text at the top, and the author's name, Charlotte Mills, is in white text at the bottom. — Copy Editor

Copy Editor

A book cover in black and white for "The Art of Us" by KL Hughes. It shows a silhouetted figure with long blonde hair, seen from behind, standing nude by a window and looking out at a city skyline. One hand is raised as if touching the glass or saying goodbye. A sheer curtain is visible on the right side of the window. The title "THE ART OF US" is in bold yellow text in the upper right quadrant. The author's name, KL Hughes, is in yellow text at the bottom left. — Developmental Editor

A book cover for "A Curious Journey" by Jess Lea featuring two silhouetted figures, one holding up a map or large document. They are standing next to a classic car and next to a small dog, also in silhouette, against a vibrant purple and pink sunset or twilight sky with faint stars. A large, gnarled tree silhouette frames the right side of the cover. The title "A Curious Journey" is in large white script in the center, and the series title is in smaller white text at the top. The author's name, Jess Lea, is in white text at the bottom. — Copy Editor

A seductive book cover for "Principle Decisions" by Thea Belmont featuring a close-up of a person's torso wearing a black lace bra, against a dark, textured background. The italicized tagline at the top reads: "Engaging a dominatrix is certainly one way to have a meet-cute." The title "PRINCIPLE DECISIONS" is in all caps and in the center of the cover in large, white serif font. The author's name, Thea Belmont, is in white sentence case serif text at the bottom. — Copy Editor

An illustrated book cover for "Eve Falls First" by Fiona Zedde. The cover features a smiling woman with voluminous curly brown hair wearing a pink dress with ruffled shoulder sleeves that is covered in white polka-dots. She is partially obscured by a field of bright yellow flowers in the foreground. The background is a clear, light blue sky. The title "Eve Falls First" is in an white script in the center right quadrant, and the author's name, Fiona Zedde, is in white text at the top. — Copy Editor

A book cover for "Flipping Hearts & Homes" by Chris Zett. The illustrated scene depicts a serene lakeside setting with a woman in a swimsuit sitting on a large rock in the foreground, looking out over the water. Another person is swimming in a swimsuit in the clear blue lake. A small white and brown dog runs in the grass nearby. The background features lush green trees, distant mountains, and a bright blue sky and white clouds, all reflected in the calm water. The author's name, Chris Zett, is in white text at the bottom. The title "Flipping Hearts and Homes" is in multicolored text, with "flipping" and "homes" in black and "hearts" in red. — Copy Editor

Developmental Editor

A book cover for "Rock and a Hard Place" by Andrea Bramhall, featuring a silhouette of a female rock climber scaling a cliff face on the right side of the image. In the background, majestic, snow-capped mountains rise under a clear blue sky with white clouds. The title "ROCK AND A HARD PLACE" is in large white all-caps serif text in the upper left quadrant. The author's name, "ANDREA BRAMHALL," is at the bottom in white text. — Developmental Editor

Book cover for "Until the End of the Line" by Hazel Yeats. A person's hands are holding a glowing smartphone. The person wears light-colored sleeves, possibly a jacket, and a watch. The background is softly blurred with warm, glowing lights, bokeh style. The title is in cream-colored script across the top center and right of the cover. The author's name, Hazel Yeats, is in matching script at the bottom. — Copy Editor

A book cover for "Chaos Agent" by Lee Winter. The image features a close-up of a person's chin and red-lipped mouth in the upper right quadrant, while their hand holds a large red daisy in the foreground. The person wears a dark top, and the background is a blurred dark red or purple. The title "Chaos Agent" is in large white serif font in the center of the cover. "The Villains Series: Book 2" is in smaller white text in the top left corner, and the author's name, LEE WINTER, is in white text at the bottom left. — Copy Editor

An illustrated book cover for "The Road Trip Agreement" by Tiana Warner. The scene depicts two individuals sitting in blue camping chairs, facing each other, next to a white van with a kayak on top, overlooking a serene body of water and a sunset. A light-colored dog lies at their feet. The title is in large white script at the top, and the author's name is in white at the bottom. — Copy Editor

A retro-styled book cover for "Two Is A Pattern" by Emily Waters. The illustration features a woman with long, flowing blonde hair, seen from behind, wearing a red t-shirt and light blue jeans, walking away from the viewer. She is on a patterned ground that creates long, stark shadows from a row of tall palm trees vanishing into the background. At the background's vanishing point is a sunset or sunrise in a vibrant orange, blue, and purple sky. The title "TWO IS A PATTERN" is in large, bold white text in all caps across the bottom half of the cover, and the author's name, Emily Waters, is in white serif text vertically along the right side. — Copy Editor

An illustrated book cover for "Snowed in with Summer" by Tiana Warner featuring two individuals standing close, facing each other, in a snowy mountain landscape. One person has short dark hair and wears a reddish-brown winter hat and coat, while the other has long blonde hair and wears a light blue winter hat and jacket. In the background, snow-covered mountains, pine trees, and a small cabin are visible under a sky that transitions from a light blue to a warm orange, suggesting either sunrise or sunset. Snowflakes are gently falling. The title "Snowed in with Summer" is in a whimsical blue script at the top. The author's name, "Tiana Warner," is in white Arial text at the bottom. — Copy Editor

A book cover for "Colstead & Andie" by Olivia Janae. The image features a close-up of two individuals embracing, their arms wrapped around each other. One person wears a light pink shirt and blue jeans, and the other wears a teal shirt and blue jeans. Their faces are not fully visible, but the closeness of their embrace conveys affection. The title "Colstead & Andie" is in a flowing dark red script, prominently displayed over their bodies. The author's name, Olivia Janae, is in matching dark red text at the bottom. — Developmental Editor

Copy Editor

Book cover for "Truth and Measure: The Carlisle Series: Book 1" by Roslyn Sinclair featuring a stylish blonde woman in a red dress, confidently seated in a luxurious modern white armchair. She has one leg crossed over the other. Behind her is a sweeping panoramic view of a bustling New York City skyline, dominated by the Empire State Building under a dramatic cloudy sky. The title "TRUTH and MEASURE" is in large, bold red text at the top, and "THE CARLISLE SERIES: BOOK 1" is in smaller text above it. The author's name, Roslyn Sinclair, is in white text at the bottom. — Copy Editor

A book cover for "The Best Mistake" by Emily O'Beirne. The cover features two wine glasses at the bottom, one upright and filled with red wine, showing a pink lipstick mark on its rim, and another lying on its side with red wine spilled from it, also displaying a lipstick mark. The background is a warm gradient from orange to yellow. The title "The Best Mistake" is in dark grey serif font stacked on top of each other. The word "best," however is written in dark grey script. The author's name, Emily O'Beirne, is in grey text all caps sans serif text on the center right quadrant. — Copy Editor

Line Editor

A book cover for "Worthy of Love" by Quinn Ivins. The top half of the cover features two women embracing. One woman with light brown hair in a ponytail and a red shirt looks directly at the viewer with a soft smile, while the other woman with dark, short hair, wearing a white shirt, looks at her. The background behind them is a soft, light yellow to white gradient. The title "Worthy of Love" is in large, flowing red script, with a red heart substituting for the "o" in "Love." The author's name, Quinn Ivins, is in red text at the bottom. — Copy Editor

A book cover for "Never Say Never" by Rachael Sommers. featuring a bird's-eye view of two pairs of feet on a light wooden floor with a large red heart outline painted on it. One pair of feet wears black and white striped flats, and the other wears white sneakers, suggesting opposite personalities. The title "Never Say Never" is in bold red text meant to look handwritten print, with the author's name, Rachael Sommers, in serif black text in the upper left corner. — Developmental Editor

A book cover for "Body of Work" by Charlotte Mills featuring two silhouetted figures walking away from the viewer, hand-in-hand, down a path through a shadowy, arching tunnel made of overgrown trees, leading into a brighter, green field. The title "BODY OF WORK" is in large white all caps text at the top. The author's name, Charlotte Mills, is in white all caps text at the bottom. — Copy Editor

A romantic comedy book cover for "From Fan to Forever" by Tiana Warner, featuring two animated figures from the waist up. On the left, a person with short brown hair wears a purple shirt and khaki pants. On the right, a person with long blonde hair, adorned with a pearl necklace and bracelet, wears a flowing red dress. They are positioned behind a black movie clapperboard that reads "FROM FAN TO FOREVER" in white, handwritten-style text. Bright lights emanate from behind the clapperboard, suggesting a film set or celebrity context. The author's name, "Tiana Warner," is at the bottom in white text. — Copy Editor

A book cover for "Fair Game" by Charlotte Mills. The cover features a split image. On the left, a woman's silhouette stands in a brightly lit window overlooking a small balcony, suggesting an urban setting at dusk or night. On the right, a darker, blurred image of what appears to be a person lying on the floor is partially visible behind a sheer blue curtain, creating a sense of mystery and suspense. The title "FAIR GAME" is in large, bold white letters across the center. The author's name, "CHARLOTTE MILLS," is at the top in white. — Copy Editor

Book cover for "The Red Files: Book 1: On the Record Series" by Lee Winter. The dominant feature is a pair of hands typing on a dark keyboard, illuminated from above. The cover's background is a dark teal with numerous blurred, glowing bubble-like shapes, creating a bokeh effect that implies digital lights or an abstract, mysterious atmosphere. The title "THE RED FILES" is in large white serif font, with a tagline below it that reads: "RIVAL REPORTERS, A RIPPING STORY, AND A HOT ROMANCE." The author's name, Lee Winter, is in white text at the bottom. — Line Editor

Book cover for "The Love Factor" by Quinn Ivins with a woman with long, light-brown hair wearing a white button-down Oxford shirt. She's holding a yellow pencil to her lips. The background is softly blurred, showing hints of mathematical equations and symbolsThe title "The Love Factor" is in large black script with "Love" being particularly prominent. The author's name, "Quinn Ivins," is in black text at the bottom. — Copy Editor

A book cover for "The X Ingredient" by Roslyn Sinclair. The image focuses on a woman's crossed legs, clad in a dark blue skirt and red high-heeled shoes, seated in a white office chair mostly out of frame. The background is a bokeh office setting with large windows. On the white floor, near her feet, lies a pair of red, lacy thong underwear. The title "The X Ingredient" is prominently displayed in red, with a large, stylized 'X' forming the dominant part of the title. The author's name, Roslyn Sinclair, is in red text at the bottom. — Copy Editor

Editing that meets you where you're at

Whether you’re finishing your first novel or you’re an experienced author getting your next manuscript ready for publication, I offer editing tailored to your needs. See the options below:

Developmental Editing

Strengthen your plot, deepen your character arcs, and clarify your story's central themes.

In a developmental edit, the editor does not mark up the text. Instead, you receive a 5-10 page editorial letter that contains:

An analysis of the plot’s coherence, logic, and pacing.
In-depth feedback on the major characters and their story arcs.
A thoughtful evaluation of your story’s apparent themes and how effectively they are conveyed.
Suggestions on how you might resolve storytelling problems

Line Editing

Elevate your language for maximum impact. Make your prose engaging, your narrative voice consistent, and your text into something readers will want to quote.

A line edit will have markup and comments in the text. It includes:

A detailed look at your word choices to make your writing clearer and more powerful.
Suggestions to improve the flow and rhythm of your sentences and paragraphs.
Guidance on keeping your characters’ voices internally consistent.

Copy Editing

Go beyond a proofread. Find not only spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting errors but also plot and character inconsistencies. Ensure consistency throughout your book.

A copy edit has markup and comments in the text. You receive:

A comprehensive review for accuracy and consistency in your manuscript’s spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting
A check for any basic consistency errors in the story’s timeline, characters, or settings
A detailed style sheet with the names of the characters, settings, and unique terms in your story. You or anyone who later edits the manuscript—or edits a sequel to your book—can use this resource as a sort of “bible” to your story’s world

Proofreading

Your last line of defense in the War on Error. A proofread is usually for manuscripts that are at the last step before publication. I catch typos or formatting mistakes so readers don't. A proofread usually has comments inside the text and includes:

A final check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors
A search for any formatting errors
It usually uses only comments inside the text, i.e., no use of markup
It does not include checks for story consistency
It does not include a style sheet

Paid Beta Reading

Get affordable feedback on the most important aspect of your story—how it affects readers. A professional editor acting as a beta reader is a storytelling expert who knows how to give you articulate, detailed responses about what's working well and what's confusing—and why.

In my beta read, I can answer any specific questions you have about my reactions as a reader, and I will happily fill out forms you provide. If you're not sure what you want to know, I'll write a 2–5 page letter with general reactions to your story's major characters and story elements. In that letter, I'll discuss both what I found engaging and what fell flat for me and provide reasons why.

Why clients choose to work with me

“Michelle is a wonderfully attentive editor who’ll spot all the little things others miss. I appreciate her attention to detail enormously.”

—Lee Winter, author

“With her exceptional attention to detail and creative mindset, every project is a pleasure. I can’t recommend Michelle enough.”

—Gill McKnight, author

Ready to talk?

Before you work with an editor, you want to know you can trust her, right?

In this short video, I discuss how the process works—from initial consultation to contract. Want to know more about my editing process? Click here.