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Services page Genres

Next to the vertical word "Genres" is a stack of rainbow books. The spines list the genres Maine Woods Editing edits: action/adventure, steampunk, some NF, romance/erotica, historical fiction, science fiction, fairy-tale remakes, mystery, fantasy.

Services page "The Maine Woods Editing Process" infographic

1. Request a free sample edit and rate quote (stamp reading "sample")

2. Do you want to work with MWE? (magnifying glass)

3. We'll decide on a date (month calendar page)

4. Digitally sign the contract (contract with pen)

5. Pay the $50 deposit to save your date (invoice)

6. Tell me about your book editing preferences (three question marks)

7. Send me your manuscript (email icon on laptop screen)

8. Pay half the invoice total ("Pay" on a phone screen)

9. Pay the remainder of the invoice when edits are done ("Pay" on a phone screen)

10. Receive your edited manuscript, editorial report, and style sheet ("Report")

11. Accept or reject the edits using Track Changes (green check mark and red X)

12. Have someone do the final proofread (page with red circles and check marks)

13. Publish your book and celebrate (hand holding book next to a glass of champagne)

14. Leave me feedback (three emojis with written feedback)

15. Send me your cover and links so I can help promote your book (pink book cover with heart)

Costs of AI graphic

• Writing one 100-word email with AI = the electricity to power an LED bulb for 14 hours AND 16.9 ounces of water

• If 10% of working Americans do that once/week for a year = 20 days of electricity for all of D.C. AND 1.5 days of water for all of Rhode Island

• One AI-generated image = 50%-100% charge for a smartphone. Upward of 34 million images a day are generated.

Copyediting page chart - copyediting versus proofreading

Manuscript features are listed down the middle of a checklist. On the left, checkboxes indicate the features covered by copyediting (CE); on the right, proofreading (PR): spelling (CE and PR), grammar (CE and PR), punctuation (CE and PR), capitalization (CE and PR), repetition (CE and PR), missing words (CE and PR), tone and clarity (CE), sentence structure (CE), phrasing (CE), word choice (CE), readability (CE), inconsistencies (CE), formatting (CE and PR), layout (PR), tense/POV (CE), timeline (CE)

Copyediting page "Samples of Maine Woods Editing Copyedits"

Note about the edits shown: I had limited tools for coloring and highlighting text, so for the most part, I've used the strikethrough tool to indicate changes even though I did not necessarily delete things in the original texts.

• Manuscript corrected to change "deserts" to "desserts" and remove a comma: "You should stay, and help me eat it." Editor comment: My tip for remembering desert versus dessert - you want two helpings of deSSert (or more, apparently - no judgment!).

• "Glass clinks as he places them onto my desk and pours. 'I thought things went well with Roger.'

  'It did.' " Amended to: "The glasses clink as he places them on my desk and pours. 'I thought things went well with Roger.' 'They did.' "

• "Chapter Four Owen." Editor comment: You haven’t identified the POV character in the previous chapters.

• "The elevator door catches our attention. I try to stop the desire knotting my insides, but after three months of conditioning, I'm like Palov's dog, dripping at the first ding." Editor comment: I love this!

• "I grin and hand him the manilla folder." Amended to: "I grin and hand him the manila folder."

• "I pretend to work on the computer while sneaking glances at him through the translucent wall separating his office from the rest of the floor." Editor comment: This means light gets through it but you can’t really see anything behind it - like windows in public bathrooms. Transparent would be clear.

• "The train ride takes forever, but the walk I get through in ten minutes instead of twenty. By the time I get to the chapel, I'm a huffing, sweaty mess." Editor comment: Since you’ve already said it’s an hour, you’re really going for a feeling here. Maybe “it’s interminable”?

• " 'Also there's a meeting.'

  'Add it to my calendar.' I cut her off, needing her to leave so I can explain myself to Paige." First period changed to an em dash. Editor comment: When someone’s dialogue gets cut off, you use an em dash to indicate that. Since I added one here, it does the work of saying he cut her off, so you could delete that part in the next line.

• "It doesn't mean that for one night I can pretend that I don't have clients depending on me to get them the justice my family never had..." Editor comment: And for one night I can pretend that...? This avoids all the negatives that make readers’ heads spin wondering what cancels what out and makes a positive

• "We arrive at the villa and walk down the stone path, past the crashing waves to our door." Editor comment: On p.12 when you first describe the villa, it doesn’t sound like they follow the path past the waves to the door - the car stopped in front of the door, and she could hear the waves.

• "Everyone knew Pete would end up living in town, getting some blue-collar job, and Budweisering himself into a pot belly and a few divorces." Editor comment: I love this [Budweisering] as a verb! Your prose is always so much fun!

• "I could see both Stephanie and Tonya's eyes going dim as I spoke." Added 's to end of Stephanie's name. Editor comment: Since they don’t share a set of eyes, they each need an ’s.

• "A sunbeam glinted off the waves, momentarily blinding me midstep and causing my ankle to wobble atop my brand-new wedge sandals. No one saw that, I assured myself. I'm fine, totally fine." Editor comment: The italics tell readers that these are her internal thoughts, so you can delete the dialogue tag.

• "Tingles cascade down my spine at the endearment, sending my romance novel-loving heart into a flutter." Hyphen changed to en dash. Editor comment: Use an en dash to connect 2 words to 1 other word.

• "Now that Ava has pointed it out..." Ava changed to Ana.

• "I press the phone to my ear. 'Ana?'

  'You and Parker.' Ana gasps." Editor comment: I would swap the order of these two sentences - it makes more sense for her to gasp first. Also, Ana already knows that the two of them have something going on from an earlier scene in the office.

Proofreading page chart - copyediting versus proofreading

Manuscript features are listed down the middle of a checklist. On the left, checkboxes indicate the features covered by copyediting (CE); on the right, proofreading (PR): spelling (CE and PR), grammar (CE and PR), punctuation (CE and PR), capitalization (CE and PR), repetition (CE and PR), missing words (CE and PR), tone and clarity (CE), sentence structure (CE), phrasing (CE), word choice (CE), readability (CE), inconsistencies (CE), formatting (CE and PR), layout (PR), tense/POV (CE), timeline (CE)

Portfolio/Feedback page alt text

Book cover: The Only Song Worth Singing by Randee Dawn

Feedback: MWE was fast, friendly, and clear with any questions about my work. Betsy was thorough and caught things even previous readers and other editors had missed. Recommended!

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Book covers: Andromeda's Choice; Andromeda's Fall, Andromeda's War by William C. Dietz

Feedback: Maine Woods Editing did an excellent job; I learned a thing or two. Betsy’s attention to detail, proactive feedback, and turnaround time were outstanding. The fact that my publisher prefers MWE says it all. MWE is the very best editorial service that I've worked with during my 40 years as a published author.

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Book covers: Embracing the Consequences; Courting the Consequences; Reconciling the Consequences by M.E. Thornwood

Feedback: Maine Woods Editing was amazing to work with. Betsy was so easy to talk to and really made the whole process so easy. She had a quick turnaround time and an absolutely beautiful style sheet with all the important information lined up for you. She taught me so much about my writing and was excited to help me grow as an author. She was very personable and an absolute joy to work with!

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Book cover: Dying for News by Maureen Milliken

Feedback: I was concerned about finding the right editor for my book. As an experienced editor myself, as well as a published author who has been through the editing process before, I'm picky and want someone who gets what I'm doing, as well as knows the craft of editing. I met Betsy at an author event and just talking to her for 10 minutes, I knew that she would be great. She knows her stuff, is extremely professional, takes what she does seriously, and cares about the manuscript. All communication was clear and straightforward, from the initial discussion, through payment, to the edits and notes. I was thrilled to find Betsy and thrilled at the work she did on my book. It definitely made it better. I highly recommend her, no matter what your level of writing.

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Book covers: Hilarious, Hardwick Hall, The Cruise, The Cruise II by Jess Savage

Feedback: I have loved working with Betsy Judkins of Maine Woods Editing. She makes the editing process painless, educational, and positive. Her great sense of humor put me at ease right away, but what I have deeply appreciated is that she is dependable, smart, and a clear communicator, and she takes her job seriously. She has an expert eye for detail, and she is extremely easy to work with. My only regret in our working relationship is that I did not find her sooner! Betsy is a tremendous asset, and I recommend her highly.

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Book covers: Her Sweet Seduction series; Teasing All the Way; The Stand-In Bride by Adele Knight

Feedback: Betsy is a fantastic cheerleader and an amazing editor. Her passion for editing shows in her detailed feedback, and her love of the romance genre is evident in the fun comments she sprinkles throughout the manuscript, highlighting her favorite parts. Her kind, encouraging words and professionalism create an enjoyable and successful author-editor relationship. I plan to work with her again on all my future projects.

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Book cover: Carry the Flame, edited by Charles Luckmann

Feedback: Elizabeth Judkins, of Maine Woods Editing LLC, is a thorough copyeditor and proofreader. She asks good questions and makes helpful edits and comments in preparing a manuscript for publication. She helped us prepare an anthology of over 50 essays for layout and design. She’s also fun to work with! I plan to use her services again.

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Book cover: Eye Candy by Esme Brett

Feedback: Betsy is a hero wielding Track Changes! She is thoughtful, diligent, and very responsive. Having her edit my debut spicy rom-com (Eye Candy) was a smooth process and valuable experience. I'm definitely a member of the Maine Woods Editing fan club.

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Book cover: Another Fox Bites the Dust by Mary Frame

Feedback: Working with Betsy was wonderful. She was quick and incredibly thorough, going above and beyond to polish my manuscript to perfection. She also included feedback and suggestions for potential improvement on more big-picture items along with the copyedits. I would definitely recommend her services to anyone looking for a top-notch editor, and I would absolutely use her again for future projects.

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Book covers: Where I Belong; Pinned by Kelly Renway

Feedback: Working with Maine Woods Editing was the best decision I made for my book. As a novice author, I probably required more work than some, but Betsy was undaunted. She provided me with thorough edits, guidance, and incredible patience. Her edits were timely, and she communicated throughout the entire process. I cannot recommend her services enough.

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Blog post: Canva

"Jed slid a hand down her back, his thumb stroking her cheekbone while he unlocked the door." Cartoons around the edges show a planet, a spaceship, and a purple three-armed alien. "Maine Woods Editing...rescuing characters from three-armed aliens one book at a time."

Blog post: Canva

Ad shows silhouettes of a man and a woman with their backs to each other. The woman's arms are crossed (she's ticked), and the man is starting to walk away. The top of the ad says, "I'm tired of your shirt!" A red proofreader's mark shows that the R in "shirt" should be deleted. Text at the bottom reads, "Maine Woods Editing...protecting innocent shirts one argument at a time."

Blog post: Canva

"Emma hurdled her clothes, racing to get undressed." A red proofreader's mark shows the D in "hurdled" should be deleted. Cartoons show a woman in a sports bra and boy shorts hurdling over a discarded miniskirt and top to get to a guy. Text at bottom: "Maine Woods Editing...making stripping just a bit sexier one book at a time."

Blog post: Freelance Editing Prices

A boss cartoon represents full-time employment. Colorful circles with icons show what employers typically cover in wages and benefits: Full-time employment typically provides both wages and benefits that cover family and employment needs: child care, education, savings, utilities, housing, food, transportation, clothing, health care, retirement savings, office furniture, technology devices, software, office supplies, professional training, sick days, vacation days, professional networking, and health insurance.

Several client silhouettes represent a freelancer's "boss." The colorful circles from above are inside yet another one that shows icons that represent a freelancer's costs: the self-employment tax, overhead, a website, professional services, books and resources, internet, travel expenses, events, advertising/marketing.

An open book has "50K words" on its pages. Next to that, it says ~2,500 words/hour = 20 hours of work = 1 full week

The same text and image from above, plus two equations are added: $0.002/word = $100 arrow $5/hour. $0.02/word = $1,000 arrow $50/hour