Writing

I specialize in complex technical and literary writing. As a technical writer, I strive for concision and clarity, particularly in bridging the gulf between technical and nontechnical audiences. As a literary writer, I enjoy the art of painting a picture with every word, from the sounds of individual phonemes to the rhythm of my prose.

Editing

I work with fiction and nonfiction books, academic dissertations and theses, and legal briefs. Please note that the rates listed below are guidelines. Some manuscripts may require adjusting the rates up or down.

Copyediting ($0.035/word)

Copyediting focuses on the more mechanical aspects of the text, such as spelling, grammar, formatting, and citations.  While I will also correct some issues with style, those changes are generally at the sentence and sometimes paragraph level rather than dramatically rearranging the text.

Substantive ($0.040/word)

Substantive editing focuses on big-picture content. As a substantive editor, I can help you develop and correct the structure and presentation of your content. Substantive changes often involve global revision, such as moving entire sections so that the overall flow of information makes sense. This level of editing also involves evaluating genre considerations, which can be important for some fiction works.

Proofreading ($0.025/word)

Proofreading focuses on catching mistakes that have slipped through earlier editing. As the last major step before publishing, proofreading is vital to ensure that small typographical errors are eliminated, leaving your text clean and ready for the world to see.

Manuscript Evaluation ($0.010/word)

I can provide feedback on both fiction and nonfiction works. For fiction, I can assess plot structure, style, and characterization based on my literary knowledge. I tend to prefer more serious works, especially ones dealing with complex, technical subjects from a Christian perspective. (Think C. S. Lewis rather than “popular” mass-market fiction.) For nonfiction, I can tackle works on science, technology, literature, philosophy, history, or Christian theology for advanced readers.

For any questions, please e-mail me at jonathan@jonathanlaird.com so that we can discuss your project.