Welcome to HawleyEdit

Welcome, writer. You have searched out this site, which tells me not only that you are a writer but also that you have written -- you have a manuscript.

The fact that you are looking for an editor tells me more: You're feeling a bit of mystery in your mind and heart about this MS. Perhaps it seems to be finished, and you're confident that it's all you dreamed it might be when you began, but ... you're not sure. You suspect it may need a clear-eyed look from an objective and expert reviewer. It may need editing. On the other hand, you may feel tentative, unclear, blocked, uncertain. You'd like an unvarnished, professional opinion about where you should take it from here.

Every piece of writing is unique, and its needs are unique. In consultation together, we can arrive at a description of the service you feel you are seeking.

This leads to a primary service, a preliminary step, that "clear-eyed look": examining what you've written to help you discern what work it may still need and whether that work should be done by an editor or by you. If you need guidance, that's part of my job. Call this an evaluative edit, a term I've made up because we need it.

I'm here above all to help you discern the next step to take with what you've written, and only then to perhaps offer my services as your editor on the text. In fact, "editor" is one of those words with too many meanings. It can mean anything, including a thorough unpacking and critiquing of how a text is put together, its tone and vocabulary, the depth of its themes (nonfiction) or the dimensionality of its characters (fiction), and numberless other possible needs for reworking. I'd call that a developmental edit, and it's at one end of the spectrum.

At the other end, your manuscript may need no more than a careful proofreading to make sure of spelling and punctuation -- and perhaps attention to the details of your typing so that it will go smoothly into typesetting. The intermediate needs can be grouped under a copy edit -- from checking for good flow and clear sentence structure, correct word choice, and the like to detailed suggestions to help the flow, adjusting the pace in spots or overall, shortening or tightening this passage or amplifying that one, and the like.

Under the "Services" button to the left, I've described these options in detail. Then if you decide I should see your text (or a sample) and give you feedback -- telling you what I think your text may need -- we can proceed to define how I may help you and assign a fee to that service based on my rates, your budget, etc.

I'll draft a written summary -- propose a contract -- stating what I expect to do, along with a fee structure and a schedule, and if we agree, I'm off and running. Your text is that much farther on its way.

I look forward to hearing from you and exploring how I can help you take the next steps with your creation.

Expectantly -- Paul