COPY EDITING FOR INDIE AUTHORS
Let’s take your writing to the next level!
Welcome! I’m Francesca, a freelance copy editor who has spent the last three years helping romance, sci-fi, and fantasy authors achieve their dreams. I work with clients to address spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors in their manuscripts, and I go above and beyond to provide constructive feedback on writing style, plot/character inconsistencies, word choice, and flow. Whether you’re hoping to submit to a small press or a self-publishing platform, I’ll help make sure your prose is polished and ready to shine!
In addition to three years of experience as a freelance copy editor, I also have a background as a communications professional, college-level writing instructor, published author, and Master of Arts graduate. I specialize in editing romance, fantasy, and science fiction novels, and I’m currently booking new clients. Read more below about my copy editing services, and please let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to working with you!
About Francesca’s Copy Editing Service
My name is Francesca Varela, and I’m a freelance copy editor based in the Portland, Oregon area. Utilizing over a decade of experience in the writing industry, I work with romance, fantasy, and science fiction authors to polish their manuscripts by providing feedback on word choice, writing style, mechanical errors, and more.
I’m a member of the Northwest Editors Guild and the American Copy Editors Society (ACES), and I love supporting my fellow writers. I work with clients across the country, including self-published novelists and those hoping to be published by small presses.
📖 I’m accepting clients in the following genres:
- Romance
- Science fiction
- Fantasy
What’s included in the package?
Correction of basic mechanical and grammatical errors
Suggestions to improve fluidity at the sentence and paragraph level, such as changes in word choice and sentence structure
Review of inconsistencies in tense, point-of-view, or plot elements
Ready to get started?
Request a free 1,000-word sample edit!
How It Works
1
To get started, you can sign up for a FREE 1,000-word sample edit using the form below!
2
If you’re happy with the sample edit, we’ll agree on a starting date and I’ll add you to my calendar. You’ll sign a copy editing contract and pay 50% of the total editing fee upfront via PayPal.
3
On the agreed upon starting date, you’ll send me your full manuscript as a Microsoft Word file or Google Doc. I’ll go through the entire document and leave comments and tracked changes. This usually takes about one to two months depending on the length of the manuscript.
4
When I’m done, I’ll send you the fully edited manuscript and you’ll pay the remaining 50% of the editing fee via PayPal. After that, you’ll be able to review my edits and ask any questions you might have.
Copy Editing Calendar
Mar.
FULL
Apr.
ONE OPENING
May
FULL
Jun.
ONE OPENING
Jul.
ONE OPENING
Aug.
ONE OPENING
Ready to get started?
Request a free 1,000-word sample edit!
Copy Editing Rate
1¢
per word
As part of my editing package, you’ll receive:
✓
A style sheet with detailed information about my editing choices
✓
An overview of common grammatical issues found throughout your manuscript (and how to fix them)
✓
Ongoing support after I send you my edits
Client Testimonials
“Francesca’s editing was thorough. I appreciated her comments about places where I could expand the story. I feel like she helped me become a better writer.”
Chris Walters
Author of No One Like You
“Working with Francesca Varela on my dark romance novel was fantastic. She was professional, fast, trustworthy, and always willing to help. Communication was easy, and the whole process ran smoothly. Highly recommend.”
Shanen Ricci
Author of The Kiss of Death
“Francesca was so easy to work with! For a first-time author with a lot of questions and no idea what I was doing, she made the experience seamless and pain-free. Thank you!”
Jeannin Counts
Author of Secrets and Stardust
“I was impressed by Francesca Varela’s editing. She is professional, timely, and skilled. She has a great eye for catching small details that I swear I’d already caught before! Will definitely choose her again if I ever need more editing.”
Steve Davala
Author of The Way of the Forgotten
“Francesca was a joy to work with from beginning to end. As an author, she was everything I hoped for in an editor. She was professional, organized, timely, and considerate. I learned a great deal in working with Francesca and look forward to working with her again.”
Amanda Winters
Author of Finding Polaris
“Francesca is the best editor I have worked with. Kind, professional, and knowledgeable. I highly recommend her.”
Hillary Gauvreau Oat
Author of Thomas’s Second Chance
Check out my portfolio for a full list of books I’ve edited!
Request a FREE Sample Edit!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I pay?
I accept payment through PayPal.
How long will the editing take?
Usually around one to two months depending on the length of your work.
Which programs do you use to edit?
I use Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
What genres do you edit?
I specialize in editing romance, science fiction, and fantasy novels.
Do you use AI?
Absolutely not! I will never use AI in my editing work or in my own writing.
How do you set your prices?
My rates are based on standards set by the Editorial Freelancers Association.
Is Copy Editing Right For You?
Did you know there are different kinds of editing, each focusing on different stages of the writing process? Sometimes writers decide to work with just one type of editor, while others hire editors for each stage of their manuscript. My free 1,000-word sample edit can help determine if copy editing is the right fit for you!
Developmental Editing
Developmental editors provide you with in-depth feedback on your manuscript, focusing on character development and plot. They’ll work with you to smooth out the structure and craft of your novel. This is a good fit if you want a thorough, comprehensive critique of your story.
Copy Editing
Copy editors (like me!) take things down to the line level, correcting grammar and spelling mistakes and offering feedback on writing style. This is a good fit if you’re satisfied with your storyline and character development but want to clean things up before you send your manuscript off for querying or publishing.
Proofreading
Proofreading is the last editing pass before your novel goes to print. A proofreader looks for the typos, errors, or formatting issues that previous editors might have missed. This is a good fit for self-publishers or small presses who want one last scan before they send their novel out into the world.
Ready to get started?
Request a free 1,000-word sample edit!
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