WORK WITH ME
Books may well be the only true magic.
— Alice Hoffman
Way better than “proofreading.”
Whether a professional critique or a complete review of every word and sentence, my job is to make sure your book is free of goblins and gremlins so you can publish your work with confidence. I specialize in bringing out the magic of your words—the style, voice, flow, clarity. Grammar, spelling, mechanics? Now you don’t have to remember those long-forgotten rules as you weave your tale. I’ve got you covered.
The Full Editing Journey
The whole enchilada—critique to tweak. A full editing journey is a long-haul trek
through your story and its words to make sure your book is the absolute best, beginning to end.
THE PACKAGE
- The service begins with a full Story Diagnostic, a read and critique of your entire manuscript*
- After your revisions, you’ll return the m/s for a complete Style Tune-Up, a line + copyedit*
After the conclusion of the Story Diagnostic and Style Tune-Up, one of the following is included. Your choice!
- A Query Cleanup* service, recommended if you plan to pursue an agent, OR
- A Marketing Magic* package if your goal is to self-publish
*see below for full details of what you’ll receive with each individual service in this package
YOU'LL RECEIVE
- A full critique of your manuscript in an 8–12 page editorial letter*
- A round of review questions between the Story Diagnostic and Style Tune-Up to help with your revisions
- A polished manuscript with all editing suggestions tracked*
- A style sheet of your manuscript’s editing suggestions and important details
A follow-up 30-minute phone call to answer any remaining questions at the end of the service
Depending on your choice between a Query Cleanup or Marketing Magic service, you’ll receive either:
- A checklist diagnostic and line edit of your query letter and synopsis*, OR
- A full copyedit of your marketing materials*
*see below for full details of what you’ll receive with each individual service in this package
PERFECT FOR
- Magic writers who want a concierge editing service without having to spend the time to find and hire multiple editors
- Budget-savvy wordsmiths who desire multiple rounds of editing, beginning to end, and want to save $$ by not paying multiple editors different fees
- Indie authors who want the traditional-publishing editing treatment before they self-publish
The Full Editing Journey can be applied to manuscripts in any shape—first draft to finished and anything in between. During the application process, I’ll work with you to design a timeline for the project that meets your needs, with intervals between the Story Diagnostic and Style Tune-Up that work with your publishing goals and revision requirements.
Style Tune-Up
A Style Tune-Up smooths anything that takes your reader out of the story, keeping them hooked
on your mesmerizing fantasyland and gushing about how brilliant a writer you are.
THE SERVICE
- A Style Tune-Up begins with a deep language review of your entire manuscript, editing line by line. I’ll fix repeating words, language flow, ambiguity, wordiness, agreement, pacing, and anything else that would take a critical reader out of your story, and I’ll leave thoughtful in-manuscript comments with further clarifications and additional suggestions
- Next are two copyediting passes for grammar, usage, mechanics, and spelling; character/setting consistency; light fact-checking; and to create a style sheet of important editing decisions and story details
- Finally, I’ll compose an editorial letter summarizing the edit that includes self-editing guidance for future manuscripts and a tip sheet for accepting the changes and suggestions I made
The following services can be added to your Style Tune-Up at a discounted rate:
- A Query Cleanup* service, recommended if you plan to pursue an agent, OR
- A Marketing Magic* package if your goal is to self-publish
*see below for full details of what’s included in each individual service
YOU'LL RECEIVE
- A line and copyedited version of your manuscript with all editing changes and suggestions tracked
- A thoroughly documented style sheet noting editing decisions and conventions as well as character/setting/story details to apply to future books in your series or give to your publisher or formatter
- An editorial letter with a summary of the edit and self-editing pointers for future manuscripts
- A tip sheet for reviewing and accepting the editing changes and suggestions I made
- A follow-up 30-minute phone call to answer any remaining questions at the end of the service
PERFECT FOR
- Magic writers who want the language of their story to flow well, helping immerse readers in their worldbuilding and plotting without clumsy sentences or paragraphs to stumble over
- Storybuilders who have already invested time and energy into developmental edits of their manuscript—and it shows in a tight, well-crafted story
- Indie authors who understand language and style issues are easily noticed by critical readers but hard to fix once a book is self-published
A Style Tune-Up is best for manuscripts that have been thoroughly beta-read and developmentally edited. During the application process, I’ll work with you to design a timeline for the edit that meets your needs, but the typical project schedule is 3–4 weeks.
Nuts and Bolts
A Nuts and Bolts catches those slipups and typos that crept in during the arc of writing
your manuscript—you know, everything sharp-eyed readers like to point out in reviews. Oops!
THE SERVICE
- A Nuts and Bolts service includes two copyediting passes for grammar, usage, mechanics and spelling, character and setting consistency, and light fact-checking
- I’ll also create a style sheet to track important editing decisions and story details
- Finally, I’ll compose an editorial letter summarizing the edit that also offers self-editing guidance for future manuscripts and a tip sheet for accepting the changes and suggestions I made
The following services can be added to your Nuts and Bolts at a discounted rate:
- A Query Cleanup* service, recommended if you plan to pursue an agent, OR
- A Marketing Magic* package if your goal is to self-publish
*see below for full details of what’s included in each individual service
YOU'LL RECEIVE
- A two-pass copyedited version of your manuscript with all editing changes and suggestions tracked
- A thoroughly documented style sheet noting editing decisions and conventions as well as character/setting/story details to apply to future books in your series or give to your publisher or formatter
- An editorial letter with a summary of the edit and self-editing pointers for future manuscripts
- A tip sheet for reviewing and accepting the editing changes and suggestions I made
PERFECT FOR
- Magic writers who are solidly confident in their language flow and style but need a second eagle-eyed review of grammar, usage, mechanics, and spelling
- Storybuilders who have already invested time and energy into developmental edits of their manuscript—and it shows in a tight, well-crafted story
- Indie authors who want their text to be as perfect as possible, giving their self-published books the same exceptional quality as trad-published stories
A Nuts and Bolts is best for manuscripts that have been thoroughly beta-read and developmentally edited. During the application process, I’ll work with you to design a timeline for the edit that meets your needs, but the typical project schedule is 2–3 weeks.
Story Diagnostic
A review of your story from a professional reader who knows how to point out what works and
what doesn’t without killing your motivation. It’ll get you back on track or set you on a new, better road to publication.
THE SERVICE
- In a Story Diagnostic, I put my professional-reader hat on and review your manuscript for craft issues: plot, worldbuilding, character development, structure, pacing, or any other elements that concern you
- I’ll leave comments throughout the manuscript with glowing praise for what works and helpful suggestions for what could be improved—the ultimate writerly scavenger hunt!
- Finally, I’ll compose a diagnostic letter of approximately 8–12 pages addressing the manuscript’s strengths, opportunities for improvements, and tips for next-step revisions
- And—while you’re revising—I’ll be happy to answer up to 5 follow-up questions to clarify anything in the diagnostic
YOU'LL RECEIVE
- A diagnostic letter of 8–12 pages that addresses what works, what doesn’t work, general thoughts and suggestions, and my opinion of the book’s publish-ability in its current form
- In-manuscript comments with advice you can review as you revise
- Answers to 5 emailed follow-up questions after the diagnostic is delivered
PERFECT FOR
- Magic writers who are working on a first draft and want a professional reader’s opinion of their story’s craft and direction
- Wordsmiths who have gotten stuck in the muddy middle of their manuscript and need a clear path to get out of that swamp
- Cost-conscious indie authors who know developmental editing would help their book but might not have the cabbage for a dev editor’s goods
A Story Diagnostic is great for first drafts, incomplete drafts, messy drafts, or anything in between. During the application process, I’ll work with you to design a timeline for the diagnostic that meets your needs, but the typical project schedule is 2–3 weeks.
Query Cleanup
A thorough diagnostic of your manuscript’s query letter and synopsis, addressing what will make
an agent’s eyes pop and what might get the story tossed in the “no” pile.
THE SERVICE
- A Query Cleanup is a diagnostic of the two most common tools of a query package: the letter and your novel’s synopsis
- Using a proprietary diagnostic checklist, I’ll review your query package for required elements, strengths, and opportunities for improvement and return it to you for revision
- Once the query letter and synopsis have been revised, I’ll then perform a deep line edit, making sure your language is tight and your sentences sing
A Query Cleanup is available as a standalone service or to add to another package.
YOU'LL RECEIVE
- A 4–6 page diagnostic letter that addresses general requirements of a query letter and synopsis, strengths and opportunities for improvement, and revision tips
- A line edited document with all changes and suggestions to your letter and synopsis tracked
- Answers to 5 emailed follow-up questions after the diagnostic is delivered
PERFECT FOR
- Magic writers who plan to take the traditional publishing route and want to present the best query letter and synopsis they possibly can
- Wordsmiths who struggle to write a concise yet thorough synopsis of their full-length book
- Authors who are confused about the most common elements of a query letter/synopsis and need some guidance before they submit
A Query Cleanup can be purchased anytime during the process of writing your manuscript, but it’s best used after the final draft has been completed. During the application process, I’ll work with you to design a timeline for the diagnostic that meets your needs, but the typical project schedule is 1–2 weeks if I have already read your book, 2–3 weeks if not.
Marketing Magic
A fine-tooth comb through your author- and book-related marketing materials—
because who wants a perfect book but a typo on the book jacket? (No one, that’s who.)
THE SERVICE
- Marketing Magic applies my editing chops to any (or all!) of your book’s marketing materials: website content, your bio, your book’s blurb, social media posts, or other related copy
- I’ll perform two copyediting passes to polish grammar, usage, mechanics, and spelling, plus catch any other writing trolls that may have taken up residence in your words
Marketing Magic is available as a standalone service or to add to another package.
YOU'LL RECEIVE
- An edited document of your marketing copy with all changes and suggestions tracked
PERFECT FOR
- Indie authors who plan to self-publish and want their marketing materials to shine as bright as their novel’s prose
Marketing Magic can be purchased anytime. During the application process, I’ll work with you to design a timeline for the service that meets your needs, but the typical project schedule is 1–2 weeks.
Developmental, line, copy—not sure what kind of editing your story needs?
Take the quiz and find out!
Answer a few simple questions about your manuscript and what mile marker you’re on in your writing journey, and this not-so-scientific quiz will guide you to the next waypoint on the path.
TAKE THE QUIZ 
Working with Shawna was a wonderful experience. From the beginning, she homed in on what I liked about the book, which was the rhythm of the language, and she kept that intact throughout her detailed and thoughtful editing.
I felt that she was an ally as I read through the remarks, and everything she noted was valid, clear, and helpful. At every stage, Shawna is professional and present. I would recommend her to any writer.
Clementine Moss
As a first-time author, I finally took the big plunge and sent my book out for editing. I can't say enough good things about Shawna and her Story Diagnostic. Not only did she help me identify the problem areas in my manuscript, but she also offered up innovative ideas for fixing them. Throughout the whole process, she was enthusiastic and responsive. I truly got the feeling that editing is a passion of hers and not just a job. I would recommend Shawna without a doubt and look forward to working with her in the future.
Sarah Stratton
Magic Words has been invaluable to my editing process and writing journey. As a first-time author, I had a lot of anxiety and imposter syndrome, but I felt supported through this whole process and left feeling empowered despite having a lot of work left to do. All I can say is thank you, and I’ll be back.
Rebecca Solem
I was at a point in my process where I needed to know if the story I had in my head was the one that I was putting into words. Shawna’s Story Diagnostic was thorough and encouraging. It gave me the energy to carry on to the next phase of my novel. She is warm and encouraging, yet practiced and professional. I trust her feedback, her advice, and her commitment to the content she is reviewing and the relationship she in turn builds with her clients! 10/10 Would recommend!
Jess Steenlage
Shawna's editing is adept, respectful, and intelligent. She is also a creative thinker just brimming with outside-the-box ideas and inspiration. I have no doubt Shawna will be an enormous asset for any writer or publisher who teams up with Magic Words Editorial Services. I think she’s a little bit magic herself.
Susannah Noel, Editorial Arts Academy
Shawna's copyedit was extremely helpful because she corrected things that I couldn't see on my own. Her suggestions and edits fit within the flow of the story and my personal style. I never once felt a suggestion changed the integrity of the story, only enhanced, cleaned up, and made it better—exactly what a writer needs from an editor.
Jordan C. Harrison
