Non-Fiction & Memoir Editing & Ghostwriting Services

I'm booking new clients for my non-fiction and narrative non-fiction (including memoir and life story) editing and ghostwriting services. 

In general non-fiction, I'm particularly experienced in self-help, personal development, and spirituality genres. 

General non-fiction: I focus on idea integrity, fact-checking, argument and presentation, clarity, and the other elements of writing style and mechanics. Please see the "Book Editing & Proofreading Services" section below for details on each level of service I provide. 

Memoir and life story: I focus on storytelling, character development (yes, you are a character in your memoir), emotional clarity, theme development, and the other elements of writing style and mechanics. Please see the "Book Editing & Proofreading Services" section below for details on each level of service I provide. 

Why Work With Me?

I'm Samantha Lord, a Canadian book editor with 13+ years of freelance editing experience. I specialize in working with independent (self-published) authors, and have experience in genres as varied as narrative non-fiction (including memoir), self-help and personal development, spirituality and wellness, and clean Regency fiction (such as Jane Austen variations). 

I'm based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, but I work online with clients in several countries. I have edited several non-fiction books, including memoirs. 

As an independent editor, I'm able to provide a level of personalization that is difficult to find with large hybrid publishers. 

I have: 

• an MA in English Literature

• a Poynter ACES Certificate in Editing

• a strong literary background and storytelling knowledge 

I am a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA). 

"I wholeheartedly recommend Samantha Lord for her exceptional proofreading and editing services." 

(Client Testimonial) 

Editorial Service Definitions 

(https://www.the-efa.org/editorial-services-definitions) 

Developmental Editing

"Developmental editors (also called substantive, structural, or content editors) deal with content, organization, and genre considerations. After reviewing a manuscript, they may provide an overall critique of the content in a “manuscript evaluation,” or they may provide the author with a revision (or “editorial” or “edit”) letter that outlines the big-picture issues and offers suggestions for how to address them" (EFA). You may choose to have more than one round of developmental editing. 

Copyediting and Line Editing 

I do copyediting and line editing in one phase. 

"Perhaps the most familiar kind of editing, copyediting involves correcting spelling, grammar, usage, and punctuation, checking cross-references, and preparing the style sheets that guide consistency and accuracy across the manuscript" (EFA). You may choose to have more than one round of copyediting/line editing. 

"Line editors work at the sentence or paragraph level of a manuscript. Like copyeditors, they correct errors, but their main focus is on improving the language and style of the text. Line editing may be performed as a separate service, in conjunction with developmental editing after big-picture issues have been addressed, or in conjunction with copyediting" (EFA). 

You may choose to have more than one round of copyediting/line editing.  

Proofreading

"Proofreading is among the last stages of getting a manuscript ready for publication. Proofreaders check for typographical errors and formatting mistakes" (EFA). 

The proofreader looks for errors that slipped through during the copyediting/line editing process. 

If you hire me for the earlier stages of editing (developmental editing and copyediting/line editing), I can offer you a lower fee for your proofreading than I would charge otherwise.  

What is Manuscript Evaluation? 

Please be aware that evaluating the manuscript is part of developmental editing, but some authors choose to get a separate manuscript evaluation by itself (as it is lower cost than developmental editing) before they decide whether they want to pay for any type of editing. 

In a manuscript evaluation, I would provide high-level feedback on your manuscript, its possibilities, and some limited and general suggestions for changes you could make. I would present this in letter form. 

Please contact me using the form below. 

Keywords to help you find me: memoir editor, editor for my memoir, life story editor, editor for non-fiction, non-fiction editor, personal development editor, self-help editor, editor for personal development book, editor for self-help book, editor for spirituality book