Book Editing & Proofreading Services

Award-winning writer and editor H. L. BELL is committed to helping other writers make their work the best it can possibly be. Intimately familiar with the thrills and insecurities of the writing process, she empathizes and works especially well with other writers. Clients have praised her as an editor with an engaging manner, a meticulous attention to detail, and a consummate skill with language.

She has edited a broad range of acclaimed fiction and nonfiction titles, including Bonnie Jo Campbell's American Salvage, finalist for the 2009 National Book Award in fiction. Her own fiction and book reviews have appeared in Jane, Salon, The Women's Review of Books, and the Chicago Reader.

Services

Manuscript evaluation
Proofreading, copyediting, developmental editing
Ghostwriting, rewriting
Fiction: action/adventure, children's, crime, fantasy, historical, horror, literary, mystery, romance, science fiction, young adult
Nonfiction: biography, education, film and television, gender studies, memoir, parenting, psychology, self-help, true crime

Fiction
Sourcebooks
Nicolas Kublicki, The Diamond Conspiracy (2002)
Michael Malone, Time's Witness (2002)
Sterling Watson, Sweet Dream Baby (2002)
Michael Raleigh, The Blue Moon Circus (2003)

iUniverse
Jane Wagoner, The Bells of May (2006)
Preetham Grandhi, A Circle of Souls (2007)
Elle Newmark, Bones of the Dead (2007)

Wayne State University Press
Bonnie Jo Campbell, American Salvage (2009). Nominated for the 2009 National Book Award.
Laura Kasischke, Eden Springs (2010)
Gail Griffin, "The Events of October": Murder-Suicide on a Small Campus (2009)

Nonfiction
Sourcebooks
Gene Nora Jessen, The Powder Puff Derby of 1929: The True Story of the First Women's Cross-Country Air Race (2002)
Michael Lee Lanning, The Battle 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Battles of All Time (2003)
John Rosengren, Blades of Glory: The True Story of Championship Dreams and a Young Team Bred to Win (2003)
Jill Long, Permission to Play: Taking Time to Renew Your Smile (2003)

iUniverse
Barb Kirpluk, Caw of the Wild (2005)

Wayne State University Press
Patrick Brode, The Slasher Killings: A Canadian Sex-Crime Panic, 1945-1946 (2009)
Christopher Beach, The Films of Hal Ashby (2009)

Publications - Fiction
"Paradise is a Place with Plenty of Music," The Good Men Project (January 28, 2012
"Peg's Cate," Unlikely 2.0 (October 31, 2011
"Stopping By," The Chicago Reader (December 19, 2007)
"Catalog," Jane (August 2004)
"Signs of the Imminent Apocalypse: A-Z," The Seattle Review (Vol. XXVI, No. 2, 2004)
"A Scuba Lesson," The Southeast Review (Spring 2003)

Book Reviews
"Rock, Scissors, Paper: Andy Mozina's The Women Were Leaving the Men, Diagram 9.1
"Living with autism," The Women's Review of Books (July 2003)
"Survival skills," The Women's Review of Books (April 2003)
"Mad in America: Bad Science, Bad Medicine, and the Enduring Mistreatment of the Mentally Ill by Robert Whitaker," Third Coast (Spring 2003)
"The Boys of My Youth by Jo Ann Beard," Prairie Schooner (Summer 2001)
"How to Read Film," Girlfriends (April 2001)
"Cruddy by Lynda Barry," Salon.com (13 January 2000)

Honors and Awards

2007: "Stopping By," Chicago Reader Annual Fiction Issue
2006: Illinois Arts Council Fiction Fellowship
2005: Bentley Prize for Fiction, The Seattle Review
2004: Winner, Jane Fiction Contest
2002: Finalist, World's Best Short Short Story Contest
2000: Winner, 1999 Acura/Salon Book Review Contest

I found the network easy to work with and helpful. I like the amount of information and background provided for each editor. Ms Bell did an amazing job of editing my manuscript, considering the size (174,000 words). Not only was I impressed with the quality of her editing, but the scope. When I received my manuscript back with all of her edits and comments, I recognized my work, yet it was like reading it for the first time. Her recommendations for character and plot development were right on the mark. Her input will influence my writing beyond this manuscript.
John DeBon, nonprofit management

She’s simply marvelous! The whole editing experience was smooth, interesting—highly enjoyable, actually.”
Agnes Pokol-Hayhurst

When H. L. Bell took over to copyedit the manuscript, I got an advanced course in what every writer needs to know about the limits of her own vision and the powers of a really accomplished professional editor. Having taught writing for over thirty years, I became a quietly humbled student, and I am deeply grateful.
Gail Griffin, author of The Events of October: Murder-Suicide on a Small Campus

H. L. Bell is a thoughtful critic and consultant for work at every stage of development, and her skills as a line editor are unparalleled. I’ve worked with editors at New York houses and at university presses, and no one is as thorough, careful, and smart as she is. She edited my most recent book, American Salvage, 2009 National Book Award finalist, and I credit her with a good portion of the success the book has enjoyed.
Bonnie Jo Campbell, author of Women and Other Animals, Q Road, and American Salvage, 2009 National Book Award Finalist

The only time readers notice a copy editor is when the book or article they're reading is filled with errors. I'm happy to say, then, that nobody notices H. L. Bell--except appreciative authors like myself, who have benefited from her thoroughness, accuracy, and professionalism. She's the best.
Richard Bak, author of Boneyards: Detroit Under Ground

H. L. Bell’s editing assistance with my novella was invaluable. She has a keen eye for detail and a pitch-perfect ear for language. She caught not only errors and inconsistencies but places where fine-tuning supplied far greater grace and nuance. I am so grateful to have had her as an editor and know that my work has gone out into the world much stronger for it.
Laura Kasischke, author of Eden Springs

Ms. Bell assisted me with editorial content on my most recent book for Wayne State University Press, and I was most impressed by both her ability to capture nuances in wording as well as her attention to detail in the factual content of the work. She made suggestions that added to the overall feel of the period I was trying to capture. As well, she was diligent enough to keep an eye for discrepancies or outright errors, and thanks to her, they have been kept to a minimum. This was the sixth book I have published, and Ms. Bell's editorial work was among the most competent I have experienced.
Patrick Brode, author of The Slasher Killings: A Canadian Sex-Crime Panic, 1945–1946

Having H. L. Bell edit your manuscript means having a real pro at your side (and on the page) for every word. She didn't merely assist with line edits but asked the truly significant questions that are essential for a writer to move to more resonant levels-her probing led me to critical revisions at key points. From the beginning she envisioned the best possible version of the book.
Anne-Marie Oomen, author of An American Map

I first want to thank you for your exhaustive copyedit…. Many of your changes either caught significant errors or brought genuine improvement, particularly to the introductions to the various parts of the program.
Cynthia Barnhart, author of Let’s Read: A Linguistic Approach, Second Edition

I know the book will be better thanks to your discerning input.
Christopher Beach, author of The Films of Hal Ashby

H. L. Bell is a tremendously accurate and efficient copyeditor and proofreader. Highly recommended.
Todd Stocke, Editorial Director, Sourcebooks, Inc.

Submission

Cut and paste the questions and answers into an e-mail:

EditMyBook@Gmail.com

Alternates
2012@Book-Editing.com
Help2012@Airmail.net
Contact@Editing-Writing.com

You may send your initial submission to all addresses to make sure it's received.

Required:
Submit the first 50 pages of your manuscript (Word/DOC or RTF attachment preferred). Large files should be zipped. Attachment not required if writing has not started (e.g., because you're looking for a ghostwriter).

A sample is required to receive an estimate
for editing services

Along with a sample, the following information is required. Ignore questions that do not apply to your project (e.g., footnotes).

(01) Word count of complete project (under "Tools" in MS Word):

(02) Put your 100-word (approx) synopsis/description here (or attach):

(03) Describe your genre and topic (e.g., nonfiction/self-help, science fiction, horror, romance, mystery, Western, young adult, children, poetry, Christian, creative nonfiction, literary):

(04) Deadline date, if any, for return of complete project. (Please be realistic. Remember that professional editors usually have a project in process.):

(05) If you have no immediate deadline, when do you want to start the editing process?: (For instance: within 30 days, within 60 days, within 90 days, 4-12 months)

(06) Level of editing desired/expected --

Copyediting / Proofreading / Line Editing (e.g., English corrections, typos, paragraph and sentence structure, word use)
Developmental (e.g., help with the big picture, such as flow/pacing, telling the story, characterization, structure, style)
Rewriting / Ghostwriting
Critique / Evaluation

(07) Number of charts/tables/pictures (if any):

(08) Writing style/format manual (e.g., Chicago Manual, APA, MLA), if applicable:

(09) Number of footnotes/references:

(10) Do you have a contract with an agent or publisher?:

(11) Do you plan to self-publish?:

(12) What is your budget for the entire project?
$ ________________
(Note: The editors will quote their regular rates, but having an idea of your budget allows the editors to tell you what services they can provide to stay within that budget.)

(13) Your name:

(14) E-mail addresses:

(15) Day/evening phone numbers (required -- in case the response to your e-mail bounces or the editors need clarification regarding the scope of service needed, deadline, etc.):

(16) City, State, Country (or time zone):

(17) The name(s) of the editor(s)/writer(s) you'd like to contact.
(If no names are selected, your e-mail will be sent to several consultants chosen by the coordinator):

(18) Do you want the coordinator to reroute your submission if you requested editors/writers who (a) are not available by your deadline date, (b) do not handle the type of material you submitted, and/or (c) do not perform the service(s) you want?

(19) How did you learn about our service?:

(20) Attach the first 50 pages of your manuscript (include prologue/preface, proposal, query)

Notes:

No hidden charges
We won't quote you one price and charge you another. When possible, we'll provide you with a per-word or per-page rate so you'll know up front exactly how much your project will cost. (Of course, we ask that you fairly represent the scope of your project.)

To learn more about the rates charged by professional editors, please see: Editorial Freelancers Association

It is a mistaken notion that freelance editors work "on spec" (speculation) with no payment to the editor. It is basically asking the editor to work for free. There's no guarantee that a book will see a profit (or even be published). The editors posted here do not work on spec.

LIVE AGENT

Note: Questions about price and turnaround times cannot be given over the phone or via chat.
To obtain a price quote please follow the procedures listed on our quotes page.

Contact live support if you do not receive a response within three hours (M-F, 9a-7p central). Expect longer response times if you submitted after U.S. business hours or on weekends.

You may also send your submission to our alternate e-mail addresses if you do not receive a response within three hours M-F:

Help2012 at Airmail.net
editingnetwork at gmail.com
contact at editing-writing.com

You may also leave voice mail for the network coordinator: 469-789-3030. This number is for verification of e-mail submissions only.

Please be as complete as possible in representing your project's scope and size so you will receive the most accurate estimate.

Disclaimer: Your agreement, whether oral or written, is with your editor or publishing consultant, not with the editing network as a whole or its coordinator.