An Interview with Gabriella West and Edit for Indies

Hi Gabriella! Start by telling us about Edit For Indies.

Edit for Indies (http://editforindies.com) is my freelance editing business, launched last year, and aimed especially at indie authors who intend to put their books on Smashwords and Kindle. (I’m a self-pubbed indie author myself!)

What services do you offer?

I offer polished, thorough copyediting/proofreading services with a fast turnaround (within 10 days).

What can an author expect when they get their manuscript back from you?

They can expect to see my corrections in Microsoft Word’s Track Changes, and there will probably be many more corrections per page than they think! I will be fixing grammatical errors, issues with dialogue, and typographical errors. I want authors to feel they’re in good hands when they send their manuscripts to me, so I try to maintain consistency in the ms.

How should an author format their manuscript before sending it to you?

Just formatted as a Microsoft Word doc with double-spaced Times Roman 12 font is fine.

Is there any type of manuscript or any genre that you will not edit?

I’ve never had to turn one down yet, but an excessively violent serial-killer mystery would be a turn-off, or a pseudo-Incest book. I’m very open to erotica and fantasy, as well as books by queer/women authors.

I don’t content-edit, though, so if someone needs help with major plot changes or character development, I’m not the person to pick.

What kind of payment methods do you accept and does the author need to pay the whole balance up front?

I actually invoice by PayPal when I complete the manuscript, so the author can wait to see what I’ve done before sending payment.

What are your qualifications?

I have a BA in English and an MA in Creative Writing. I’ve been a freelance editor in Northern California for almost 10 years now; I’ve proofread copy at alternative weeklies like S.F. Weekly, the Pacific Sun, and Metro Newspapers and I’ve worked on books for publishers like New World Library and No Starch Press.

What are some common mistakes you see over and over again in indie manuscripts?

Sometimes a character’s name is wrong in the text, and I’m happy when I catch those. It’s very common to find errors in formatting titles, like not italicizing names of movies, books, or newspapers. I find quoted speech can be tricky for writers, too–double quotes, single quotes, when to capitalize parts of speech. That kind of thing And of course there are the homophones like bear/bare, waist/waste, etc. Or serial commas, whether to use them or not. It’s not that indie authors are any sloppier than “traditional” authors, I hasten to add. In fact, I really enjoy the diversity of material in indie authors’ manuscripts.

Any advice for authors seeking editorial services?

I’d advise any author to go with someone who will not charge him/her an arm and a leg, but who is not cut-rate, either. It can seem tempting to pay someone $100, but that really isn’t worth it. Keep in mind that most manuscripts take at least 15 hours to edit. I personally don’t think it should cost over $500 per ms., though, unless there is some really serious content editing going on. Bottom line: I’m lucky to have found clients so far who don’t view my editorial changes in a defensive way and seem pleased with my work and pricing, and grateful when I return the ms to them.

Contact Gabriella or visit Edit for Indies at their website, or follow them on Twitter!