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FOR WRITTEN PROJECTS THAT ARE SECOND TO NONE
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Online Author Copyediting, Proofreading and Copywriting Services: 
        Copyediting, Proofreading, Copywriting, Revisions, and Manuscript Evaluation or Critiques

My mission: to provide each valued client with a timely and cost-effective finished product that is second to none and far better than it has to be—one that will assure me of repeat business.

Your ACE Copyediting.com proofreader/copy editor specializes in . . . 

The proofreading, copyediting, revision, evaluation, or substantial rewriting of 

  fiction, articles, essays,
  autobiographies, biographies, memoirs
  nonfiction on all topics 
  query letters, cover letters, book proposals
  whatever you produce in the written word. 
  (Exception . . . I do not edit purely pornographic materials.)  

I specialize in first-time authors.

Why you need a freelance copy editor/proofreader . . .

• Editors, agents, and publishers want properly formatted, clean copy.

• Fierce competition demands writing mechanics expertise.

• An agent is not a copy editor.

• Documents riddled with grammatical and punctuation errors will not be read past the first two pages.

• Publishers no longer employ copy editors to do your job.

• Your query letter, synopsis,  and sample chapters are repeatedly turned down.

• An objective, experienced copy editor can see the details you miss.

• You want to see your manuscript in print!

• Published documents aren't just written . . . they're rewritten!

Substantive editing:  

  For your projects that need considerable reorganization and rewriting. Includes whatever services are required to help you develop accurate and logical content that is appropriate for your intended audience. Involves an examination of the basic elements of manuscript structure: pacing, voice, tone and subtext, a check for redundancies, repetition of phrases, clichés, misplaced modifiers, shifts in agreement, consistency, organization, flow, and clarity.  It also includes everything under copyediting (see next category). Substantive copyediting is performed directly on a P/C copy of the document, using MSWord's Tracking Changes tool. 

  Includes a check for errors of spelling, grammar, punctuation, diction, and consistency of style, and an evaluation of confusing and awkward writing techniques.  Includes a brief critique of the manuscript, to guide you in further self-editing, and a style sheet specifying repetitive errors and rules, to assist you in further self-editing.  Clients often confuse copyediting with proofreading.

  An already-edited document is examined one final time, checking for any remaining errors and inconsistencies.

  Involves the editing or writing of users’ guides, employee manuals, software manuals, brochures, medical texts for the lay public, legal presentations and texts (written in language for the lay public or for judges who prefer less "legalese") and white papers. I have extensive knowledge in both law (I am a certified paralegal) and academic medicine (32-year affiliation with those in academic medicine). I specialize in rewriting technical documents for the lay public.

  Involves the reading and analyzing of your manuscript, to discern its strengths and weaknesses.  A report is produced via a detailed evaluation form, with suggestions for improvement in such areas as your plot, characterization, setting, use of conflicts, climax, point of view, spelling, punctuation and grammar weaknesses, and format.  No proofreading marks are made on the document, as in copyediting.  An evaluation can also be made of a non-fiction book, a short story, essay, or any type of business document.  Sometimes, an objective point of view is exactly what you need!  It saves time and potential disappointment with the arrival of those dreaded rejection letters.

Testimonials:

  "If you are looking for a copy editor who is an expert grammarian and who pays attention to details, your search is over.  Nancy Johanson’s expertise is the best thing that ever happened to this writer.  She is a consummate professional. She has the innate ability to understand and flesh out the author’s voice, to deliver delicious character comments, and to suggest believable plot points ... all of which directly tie into the theme of the story.  It has been a pleasure to work with this copy editor and I have decided to team with her for all my future projects.  With Nancy’s eye on your manuscript ... you'll have a winner!" -Anne Fletcher Price, Author, A Walk In The Smoke, c2002.

  "Nancy Johanson is a dedicated professional. Her expertise and knowledge is evident, not only to those in the writing profession, but in her ability to comprehend the message of the writers she serves.  Her strict attention to detail and her unique ability to interject nuances that parallel and enhance an author's style clearly reflect her desire to be one of the best in her copyediting profession."  -Matt Petti, Author, Heretical Wisdom, The Truths From Within, c2001

  "I stumbled upon Nancy Johanson's Web site by accident. It turned out to be my lucky day! I had written a book about the experiences of nursing students with disabilities. The book was rejected by numerous publishers. After I put the manuscript in Nancy's hands . . . bingo! It was accepted for publication. Nancy is a true professional in her work. She was committed to my success and to the value of my work. Her support was constant. A gifted writer, with outstanding knowledge of grammar and syntax, she gently taught me while she edited my work. Her fee was cost-effective in many ways. My edited book was accepted for publication and I received a personal tutorial. My overall writing skills have improved tremendously. Nancy helped me give greater power and richness to the voices in my book. I look forward to working with her again."  Donna Maheady, Ed.D., ARNP, Author, Nursing Students with Disabilities: Change the Course, c2002, ExceptionalParent Magazine Press.

"I knew that agents and publishing editors would not even consider my children's chapter book without a proper query letter and a nearly perfect manuscript. I felt tantalized by the task. Writing the book was hard enough, without having to worry about correct grammar, syntax, and format. Because of Nancy's experience, knowledge, and professionalism, my query letter got the attention of a respected and well-established publisher. I recommend Nancy's services to anyone in the business of writing. Not only does she understand the copyediting business, she also understands the ins and outs of the publishing world. I will be using her services again!"  Joshua Tilghman, Author, The Pumphouse Mouse, c2007

Policy:

  At any time during the project, if either of us decide our relationship or expectations differ from those assumed during the initial contact, either one of us or both may cancel the project, AFTER payment has been made for work completed. All copyediting or copywriting is fulfilled to the best of my ability and according to the standards set by the Freelance Copyeditor's Association.

    Look at your work. Look at mine. Then call.

By the hour. By the day. By the job. Whatever.

             

 

Click here to see Samples of my work or my Price Guide.

"IT IS AS EASY TO DREAM A BOOK AS IT IS HARD TO WRITE ONE." —Balzac

  It is not easy to produce a well-written, engaging, readable, publishable book. "Birthing" a book takes more than a good idea, especially in today’s publishing world, where mergers by the dozens occur each year. Costs have increased considerably and editors are beholden to conglomerate owners, many of whom are foreign investors. They are interested only in the bottom line—profitability!  No longer will agents and publishers accept first-time manuscripts with the intentions of nurturing a new writer for future fame and fortune.  Few manuscripts are accepted over the "slush pile," or without an agent. 

  If your book is still in the "idea" stage, take time to think about what you are expecting from your work. Are you writing with dreams of becoming a wealthy author, or because you have something special to say, or because you haven't anything better to do with your time . . . or because someone told you have talent and should? 

  Success in the publishing world doesn't come as soon as a work appears in print, either;  it is often determined by how much time you are willing to invest in the promotion of your book (i.e., contacting local book stores for signing parties; contacting local and national radio shows, television shows, schools, churches; building an author Web site) and by the total number of books sold.  Not many publishers invest company dollars in book promotion anymore, except for their few "stars." It is up to you to notify book distributors, book store owners or managers, and your city and state media personnel that you are available for reviews and interviews.  Are you willing to take on this responsibility? If the first printing of your book (usually about 10,000 hard cover or paperback copies) does not sell out, and if the publisher does not make a profit on it . . . you will find it difficult to sell a second manuscript.

  How large a market do you want to reach? Do you know your target market? Try to evaluate your intentions objectively and not merely from an emotional investment.

QUESTIONS . . .

1. Why do you want to write this book? What are you trying to accomplish?
2. What is your theme/premise? What do you want to prove by the last page?
3. Who is your primary audience? Women? Men? Both? Senior citizens? Children? Teens?  Business readers?  
4. What format is best for your story (novel, biography, article, short story, a drama, motion picture script)?
5. What is the best medium for your story (book, magazine, newspaper, Web site)? Is there enough material for a book or is an article more appropriate?
6. Will your premise sustain audience interest?  Will it be convincing?  
7. What effect will your premise and story have on your readers?  Will it arouse myriad emotions?
8. Can you state the premise of your work in one sentence? Pretend it is the sentence used by the publisher on the book jacket or in the publisher’s listing to entice book dealers to purchase it. 
9. Can you provide sufficient documentation or authorization for all facts that you use to support your premise?
10. Can you acquire the required written permission for the use of every quote obtained from an outside source?
11. How will your book differ from similar books in the same category?  Check Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble (barnesandnobel.com) to learn of the need for another book on your topic and the publishers that have already produced a book on it.  If they have, they will probably not be interested in seeing your script.
12. How extensive is the market for your book?  Local only?  National? Secular only? Religious only?  Both?  Only a specific industry or field of interest?
13. What do you believe are the best ways in which to reach your market?  How much time can you devote to assuring they get your book?
14. How many and what kinds of publishers would be interested in printing your type of book?  Have you researched Writers Market 2000?  Other sources?
15. Does your manuscript say something new about an old subject?
16. Why are you the most suitable person to write this book? Are you an expert on your subject or have you enough personal experience to be accepted as one?
17. Have you used anecdotes, illustrations, and conversations to communicate information?
18. Will your readers feel inspired to improve themselves or their environment in some way?  Will they feel impelled to discuss the book, to buy it for others, to reread it?

  Like a work of fiction, the nonfiction manuscript should be written in such an exciting way that the reader cannot put it down. It should arouse a definite and intentional response:  laughter, joy, tears, expectation, admiration, conversation, sympathy, empathy, agreement, disagreement, satisfaction, inspiration . . . or any number of other emotions. It should also provide a wealth of factual information that can be quoted and talked about. But, in addition, a plausible work of nonfiction requires unquestionable honesty on the part of you, the author. You must either minimize personal influence in the presentation of ideas and events or clearly acknowledge your bias. You must also be meticulous in ensuring the accuracy of facts as presented, or your credibility is impaired. 

• Have you double-checked the manuscript for factual accuracy?
• Have you properly credited other people’s work, by use of quotation marks or footnotes or endnotes or the use of the author's name?
• Have you checked your manuscript for material offensive to certain readers?
• Have you eliminated any parts of your manuscript that might be considered libelous or defamatory?
• Have you protected the privacy of individuals described in your manuscript?

  The writing and marketing of fiction is different from nonfiction in many ways. In fiction, you must go far beyond presenting factual material and events and employ techniques that involve the reader’s ability to fantasize. Plot, setting, main characters, supporting characters, theme, genre style, originality, vocabulary, use of facts . . . all of these challenges must be met by you, the author, in order to educe emotional involvement and intellectual stimulation. It is not an easy task. Ask yourself the following questions, to evaluate the effectiveness of your manuscript.

1. Does the story take place in the past, present, or future? Is the reader convinced that you have accurately presented the time period?  Are the fashions correct for the period; are speech patterns and expressions accurate?
2. What is the location of your story? A city, small town, foreign country, hospital, factory? Does your story convey an effective understanding of the location?
3. Is the theme strong enough to carry the story to its logical conclusion?  Does it  fit your characters and your plot and your writing style?
4. Are your characters believable and will your readers deeply care about what happens to them?
5. Is there enough conflict to bring the characters and events to an effective resolution?  Have you led your readers and the characters to a satisfactory climax?  Have you presented your readers with a logical development of the story through a series of sub conflicts and resolutions, leading to a final climax and with increasing tension?
6. Have you tied up all loose ends in a satisfactory ending?
7. What are the protagonist's and the antagonist’s motivations? Does the reader learn about them in the first couple chapters?  Are they both strong characters?  Have they been allowed to mature and develop naturally?
8. Have you treated any character too harshly or too lightly? Is every character necessary to the story?  Are their actions and decisions essential and reasonable? Are they based upon clearly developed character traits?
9. Does every character have physical, social, and emotional dimensions?  Can readers empathize or sympathize with them, even if they are unlikable?
10. Is every character believable in speech, dress, behavior?  Is each character unique?
11. Do the characters formulate the plot and work out their own fates, or have you manipulated them to fit into a contrived plot?
12. Does your opening immediately grab the attention of your reader?
13. Does every transition from scene to scene and chapter to chapter lead the  characters toward proving your premise?

"According to industry figures, romances account for more than a third of all popular fiction sales, and generate more than $1 billion n sales each year. And as 0f 2002, there were 51.1 million readers of romance in the U.S." ―Robin Gee, 2004 Novel and Short Story Writer's Market

"Getting your novel published will take the same sort of creative problem solving, the same determination and persistence, the same refusal to quit that you brought to writing the book." — Blythe Camenson & Marshall J. Cook, Your Novel Proposal from Creation to Contract

"If you want to write fiction, the best thing you can do is take two aspirins, lie down in a dark room, and wait for the feeling to pass. If it persists, you probably ought to write a novel." — Lawrence Block, Writing the Novel From Plot to Print

Click here to examine samples of my work.    SAMPLES

Click here to see my pricing guide.    PRICING  
Easy payments made through my PayPal account,  which accepts at no cost to you.

Visit my FREE self-help writing guide, Read It, Write It, Say It Better!  Learn why you may have writing and speaking difficulties.

Be sure to visit my LINKS pages, for an extensive listing of Web references especially suitable for writers like you, who may need more help in producing publishable written projects.

See my BOOK STORE for a list of quality reference books for your writing library.

"I wish to have one copy of every book in the world." -Sir Thomas Phillips

Books Recently Edited:

Understanding Employee Stock Options, Rule 144 & Concentrated Stock Position Strategies, by Travis Knapp and Nathan Reneau (Nonfiction, Financial) 
Absence of Malice, A Vampire's Lesson in Betrayal, by E. Carter Jones (Horror Fiction) 
Heretical Wisdom, The Truths From Within, by Matthew August Petti (Nonfiction, Religious/Philosophy) 
The Moses Riddle, by Hunt Kingsbury (Mainstream Thriller) 
The Tenacious Tooth Fairy, by Pam Donnelly (Picture Book) 
The Pumphouse Mouse, by Joshua Tilghman (Child's chapter book) 
Gun Fu: The Martial Arts of Paintball, by Terry Adams (Nonfiction) 
The Elements of Incontinence: A Woman's Guide to Bladder Control, by Andre Kulitz, Ph.D. (Medical) 
The Shake 'N Bake Sergeant, by Jerry S. Horton, Ph.D. (Autobiography) 
Nursing Programs for Students With Disabilities, by Donna Maheady, Ph.D. (Nonfiction, Medical) 
New Testament Leadership, by John Clinton, Jr. (Religious, Inspirational)); Ghostwriter 
Silver the Sea Gooch, by Addie Stewart (Picture book) 
Smoke in the Kitchen, by Gloria Allan (Fiction)
A Walk in the Smoke, by Anne Fletcher Price (Mainstream Fiction) 
Processing Life's Moments, An Anthology, by Doris Kennedy Williams (Nonfiction/Inspirational)
Sister North, by Jim Kokoris (Mainstream Fiction)
Charlie Baker, by Jim Kokoris (Mainstream Fiction)
This Side of the Rainbow: A Metaphysical Focus on Vision, Loss, and Sorrow, by The Reverend Joe Rowe (Religious, Inspirational)
Christlike Leadership, by William Oakes (Nonfiction, Religious/Business)
Business or Pleasure, by Amber Marler (Fiction)
The Big Truck Nosenbellys, by Terry Atkins (Picture Book)
The Eleventh Son, by Gu Long, translated from the Chinese by Rebecca Tai (Martial Arts Fiction)
Lady of Light, by Carolyn Fitzsimmons (Fiction)
Am I Righteous Enough to Serve God? by John Clinton, Jr. (Religious, Nonfiction) (Ghostwriter)
Revelations, by Scott Byrnes (Science Fiction Thriller)
The Eighth Scroll, by Lawrence Brown (Historical Thriller)
Cold Eyes, by Mina Wilcox (Suspense Thriller) (Partial Ghostwriter)
Toad: A Legend of the Night, by Toad McGee (Nonfiction, Autobiography)
Toad: The Last of the Irish Hoods, by Toad McGee (Nonfiction, Autobiography)
One More Miracle: The Memoirs of Morris Sorid, by Morris Sorid (Autobiography)
The Three Gorges, by Ben Yablon (Mystery/Thriller)
Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed, by Marc Blatte (Crime)
A Rendezvous to Die For, by Betty McMahon (Crime)

NOTE:  At any time during the project, if either of us decide our relationship or expectations differ from those assumed during the initial contact, either one of us or both may cancel the project, AFTER payment has been made for work completed. All copyediting or copywriting is fulfilled to the best of my ability and according to the standards set by the Freeland Copyeditor's Association.

      

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ACE Copyediting.com is published by Johanson Consulting, 108A Ruelle Lane, San Antonio, TX 78209.  Copyright © 1998-2008 [Johanson Consulting]. All rights reserved.
Revised: April 09, 2008.

"The Lord's blessing if our greatest wealth.  All our work adds nothing to it!"  Proverbs 10:22

"But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth."  Deut. 8:18