Writing without revising is the literary equivalent of waltzing gaily out of the house in your underwear.

— Patricia Fuller

As a writer, I know how utterly terrifying it can be to show someone else your work. This is why, as an editor, I come to the table with deep compassion for writers trusting me with their words.

I’ve been devouring books pretty much since I was born. Consequently, I am now a huuuge grammar-punctuation-word nerd. I’m also a perfectionist. I commit. This means that if I don’t know something, I will hunt down the answer to the ends of the internet for you (fortunately, a search in CMOS or Merriam-Webster will usually suffice). And I’m happy to report that I have an absolute eagle eye when it comes to proofreading—I’ve even spotted a comma in the wrong font.

If all you are looking for is a basic proofread, send me work in any genre. For other types of edits, I consult on fiction, memoir, creative non-fiction, and personal essays. Email me to see if we might be a good fit and to request a free sample edit. See my rates below.

“Magda went above and beyond in her proofreading of my manuscript. Her attention to detail is unsurpassed and her professionalism unparalleled. I am happy to recommend her services without reservation.”

—Heather Christie, Love Notes! Real Stories. Real People. Real Love (September 2024)

“Magda is truly one of the best that I’ve worked with, and I’ve worked with many throughout my academic career. There are editors, and then there is Magda.”

—Dr. Annise Mabry, Educational Disobedience (September 2024)

“I was scared to death of self-publishing my first book, Empty Cupboards. When Magda was brought on to copy edit my book as part of my team, I didn’t know what to expect. To say I was floored is an understatement. My stories went from reading through a jagged lens to a smooth river flowing around the ups and downs of my mental breakdown essays. Magda is a rockstar and I’m so grateful she is part of my Empty Cupboards team!”

— Stacey Powells, Empty Cupboards (June 2022)

“Magda did an amazing job editing my book. She was flawless every step of the way.”

— Scott Carpenter, A Fitness Enterpreneur’s Guide to High-Ticket Personal Training (June 2022)

“Wow. Just wow. I am in awe of your talents. You brought my storytelling skills to a new level. And your editing is mind-blowing. Thank you for bringing this book to the finish line. If I ever write another work of art again, for any reason, you will be my editor. Working with you has been the best, most enjoyable part of the entire publishing process.”

— Stephanie Wilson, Big Waves & Wooden Benches: A True Story (March 2022)

“Prompt, professional, thorough (above and beyond thorough), caring, meticulous, sharp-eyed, and, most importantly of all, exhibiting perfectly measured sensitivity as she tells you what you need to hear (which is not necessarily what you want to hear). Those are all ways I can happily describe Magda’s work as an editor. If you’re thinking about publishing a book without engaging an editor, don’t be the fool I almost was. She’ll be part of all of my writing projects from now on.”

— Todd Ford, This Dating Thing: A Movie Buff’s Memoir (December 2021)

“Magda is a superb editor. Her editorial instincts and grammatical chops are outstanding along with her timely communication, honest feedback, and meticulous attention to detail. Hiring Magda to edit my memoir was a smart decision that made my book the best it could be. She is a dream to work with!”

— Lisa Lucca, Ashes to Ink: A Memoir (Juju House Publishing, October 2021)

“[Magda] is one of the most gifted editors I have ever had clients work with. Every client I have ever sent her way has raved about her skills as an editor and her personal connection with them and their work.” 

— John Edgar Harris, JohnEdgar.Design

Editing Rates

General Comments

Not ready for developmental/technical editing yet? Have a shorter piece which needs a second set of eyes?
Send me your work-in-progress and I’ll provide you with feedback as to what’s working and what could be improved. Whether you’re unsure if your dialogue sounds natural or your characters are well-developed, or whether you need advice on structuring your memoir, I can help steer you in the right direction.

This service includes specific comments throughout your manuscript, as well as a typed page with general feedback.

$3/page

Developmental Editing

In this kind of edit, I look at big-picture elements of your writing, such as organization, pacing, consistency, story arc, etc. This is generally the first phase of the editing process.

$40/hour

Line/Copy Editing

You’ve done what feels like 800 drafts. You are finally confident that this is the one. This is the draft that will end up in bookstores someday, with your name on the shiny front cover.

But before that happens, let’s go through it with a fine-tooth comb. In a line/copy edit, I look at elements such as word choice, rhythm, grammar, spelling, consistency in tense, etc. Not sure whether to hyphenate a word or not? To spell out a number or use numerals? These are the nitpicky things I will check.

$0.025/word

Proofreading

When do you need a proofread?

When your work is ready to go to press. You’ve had beta readers and/or a developmental edit. Someone has gone through your manuscript, line by line, to correct issues such as grammar and usage.

The final proofread ensures that nothing was missed. No typos, no errant commas, no italics in the wrong place remain.

$0.020/word*
*Receive 10% off this rate if you hire me for line/copyediting.