Editing Services

Adjacent to my endeavors as a writer, I am also happy to provide my own freelance editing services!

As an editor, my goal is to make strong work stronger and your best work even better. All criticism is constructive in nature, aimed at inspiring new opportunities for your piece to shine. Editing is a collaborative process, through which I hope to help you improve your work and prepare for the next steps on your writing journey.

I primarily edit fiction, with pieces ranging from flash and short stories all the way to full-length novels. My focus is primarily on adult speculative and genre fiction, particularly sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and thrillers. However, don’t be afraid to reach out and pitch me your piece if it falls outside those realms. The first full book I edited was creative nonfiction. If a story speaks to me, chances are I'll be glad to help guide it toward publication.

Before I commit to any work, I’ll ask to meet with you (most likely via Zoom) to discuss the specifics of your piece and get a sense of what goals you hope to achieve through the editing process. My work timeline will vary depending on the length of the piece. For shorter pieces (flash fiction, short stories, etc.), odds are I can review and edit your work within a week or two. For longer projects (novellas, books), these can take up to two months. Fees for my editing services are noted below.

Utilizing the skills I have accrued over many years working alongside fellow creatives and industry professionals, I’m confident I can help you take your work to the next level.

What kinds of editing services?

Good question! Here are the editing services I can provide:

  • Developmental Editing: Also known as "substantive editing,” “structural editing,” or “content editing,” developmental editing looks at the big picture elements of your work. This includes plot, story structure, pacing, themes, and more. Developmental editing is not so much concerned with typos and grammar; it cares more that your story actually works. It is a thorough examination of your work, looking to add or cut content, fix major inconsistencies, and address organizational matters. This stage of editing works best when you have a finished draft and after you have gone through it a couple times to edit on your own, but now you need fresh editorial eyes.

  • Line Editing: Also known as “stylistic editing,” line editing takes a more detailed look at your piece to make sure your story is presented in the best way possible. This kind of editing cares about sentence and paragraph placement, word flow, style, narrative voice, and clarity. It ultimately ensures all the information in your work is understandable and carries the story forward in a sensible manner. It also looks carefully at smaller narrative beats, pacing within each scene, and dialogue flow. Even if you have nailed your story beats and character moments, none of those will work if the writing is not strong at the sentence level. Line editing is ideal for ensuring consistency, a compelling voice, and effective style choices.

  • Copyediting: Not to be confused with “proofreading,” copyediting goes sentence by sentence and word by word to help you fine tune your prose, making sure you are getting the best out of every word. It is a comprehensive look at punctuation, syntax, spelling, grammar, word usage, tone, tense, and point of view. It is also typically best for books in the final draft. Keep in mind, though, that sometimes what is grammatically “correct” is not necessarily the best choice stylistically, based on your work. Thus, there is some wiggle room for bending the rules when it comes to copyediting. At the end of the day, the degree of copyediting rigidity your book goes through is completely up to you.

  • Beta Reading: After you’ve done a couple rounds of self-editing, you might then consider hiring a beta reader before hiring an editor. Beta readers essentially offer feedback on your work as if they were any other reader. It’s less constructive criticism and more like casual reactions that you might expect from someone who purchased your book at the store. While it’s fine to get reactions from friends and family, it’s even better to get reactions from beta readers, since they’ll be unbiased toward your work. This kind of feedback can be invaluable during the revision process. After all, it’s these kinds of reactions you’ll likely be expecting once your work is published.

My Rates

My editing services are available for projects between 1,000 and 100,000 words.

Here is a quick breakdown of my rates:

  • Developmental and Line Editing: $0.03 per word

  • Copyediting: $0.02 per word

  • Beta Reading: $0.002 per word

I am very open to negotiating different rates depending on the piece. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask!

Testimonials

“Matt provided an outstanding developmental edit for my book. He had an excellent ear for what I wrote and helped me focus on areas that had been troubling me. A few weeks after Matt finished his work and I made changes based on his edits, a well-respected agent took me on as a client. I’m looking forward to working with Matt again on my next book.”

-Holly Witte, author, developmental editing client

“Matt’s beta read of my manuscript was incredibly helpful. His feedback was quick, concise, and thoughtful. Most importantly, it left me feeling hopeful about moving forward with my edits!” 

-Heidi G., author, beta-reading client

“While Matt has only been with The Argyle Literary Magazine as a fiction editor for a short time, his critical eye and adept literary skill have done much to facilitate the publication's evolution since the beginning of his tenure in late-spring of 2025. His professionalism and admirable work ethic have made him a crucial part of the editorial team and the magazine as a whole. His attention to detail, collaborative sensibility, and adherence to hard deadlines make him an invaluable asset.”

-David Estringel, MFA, founder and editor-in-chief of The Argyle Literary Magazine

“Matt is a talented and conscientious editor. He draws from natural skills and training to generate engaging content and supply superior copyediting services. While he is a stickler for perfection, Matt demonstrates great flexibility and is an adept collaborator. I’ve always enjoyed working with him.”

-Renee D., editor at a local publishing house on Long Island, New York

Thank you very much for considering me to be your editor!