Lorna Lynch: Book Editor

Lorna Lynch has over twenty-five years of editing, copyediting, and proofreading experience, and has worked on more than a hundred books to date. She co-owned a monthly newspaper for seven years, where she wrote and edited hundreds of articles. She has a tremendous instinct for what "works" and what doesn’t in both fiction and non-fiction, and has guided numerous authors to publishing success. Her primary goal is to see that writing with some potential becomes writing with great potential, and she works closely with authors to achieve that goal. Her area of expertise is character-driven fiction; however, she has edited books of all stripes, including political commentary, how-to books, mysteries, romance novels, and psychological thrillers.

Fiction

Across the Great Divide by Nora Ryan
Haunted Past by Kathleen Perry
Web of Secrets by Toni Madkins
Sid by Joan Taylor
What Matters Blood by Tom Wallace
True Wind by Judith Wenscott
How Can I be Down? by Brenda Hampton

Non-fiction

The Last Jeffersonian: Ronald Reagan and Radical Democracy by Steven Greffenius
Descent Into Madness by Jonell Belke
The Future of Modern Music by James McHard

Lorna doesn't shy away from controversial topics in either fiction or nonfiction, but works to ensure that each and every manuscript is a strong as it can possibly be.

Specialties:

Fiction: Young Adult, Contemporary/Mainstream, Detective/Crime, Humor, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Women's Fiction, Short Stories, Thriller/Espionage

Nonfiction: Creative Nonfiction, Memoir/Biography, Self-Help/How-to, Psychology, Politics

Developmental Editing
Copyediting
Proofreading
Author Guidance

Feedback

"I want to thank you for the work you did on Just My Type. I approached working with a new editor with some trepidation in that I have had bad experiences before. From the beginning I felt you not only understood the intent of the work but that you were in tune with it. I found it very reassuring. As I went through the manuscript looking at your input I found that my confidence in what you had done built steadily. It was not just a matter of attention to detail but also the attention to concept and how I expressed the concept. Invariably I found places where you felt clarifications were needed to be on the mark. Sometimes I wondered what your point was and then, when I read the sentence carefully, the logic of it unraveled and I could see that there was something that needed to be fixed. Of course, at times I was irritated because you were making me think and usually the problem was that I had not really thought through what I was trying to say. Thanks to your expert assistance it is now a much better book." – Roger Burt, JUST MY TYPE The Secrets of a Jungian Toolbox to Guide Inspiration

"Lorna has worked as my editor for the past year. At all times I have found her to be extremely competent, hard-working, organized, efficient with great attention to my needs and to details. I have a great respect for her opinion and therefore trust her proposals for improvements and clarifications on my work. Lorna is a valuable asset to me." – Aston Farquharson

"I was very happy with the job Lorna did for me. The edit was very sharp and the critique very detailed. She broke down the manuscript from top to bottom and all of her points were excellent. She not only focused on technical structure, but also the substance of the story. She pointed out many things that I would not have discovered on my own and she looked at the manuscript not only as an editor, but as a reader--which is very important. I would definitely use Lorna again as my editor." – Derek Lively, Diary of the Devil's Son

"My editor, Lorna Lynch, is outstanding. She went right to the task and edited my manuscript in a short time. There are several ways that one can tell an expert. A great editor puts the care and expertise into the work to ensure that the manuscript is of the highest quality; he/she ensures that the manuscript has the best possible chance for success; he/she works well with the author and is flexible, always presenting alternatives; he/she remains willing to consider the author's counterproposals to suggested changes; and he/she gives timely updates on the status of the manuscript. If these are the characteristics of a great editor, then Lorna Lynch ranks at the top." – James McHard, The Future of Modern Music

"I'm very indebted to my editor, Lorna Lynch, for her superb editing, her friendship and her commitment. I thank her from the bottom of my heart." – Jonell Belke, Descent Into Madness

"Lorna Lynch has been the right match for me. Capable, honest and very reliable, she’s come through on every level. I was unable to get an overview of the novel I’d written from a professional point of view until I found her. She’s top notch, and if there comes a time when this first novel is published, I’m sure, in large part, it will be because of her. She once made the comment in one of her e-mails to me that for her 'less is more.' I not only put stock in that viewpoint myself, but it’s made her opinions even more centered for me. I haven’t had to struggle with overwhelming advice. I trust her judgment and plan on seeking her help in the future as another novel is in progress. Thank you so much for putting me in touch with her. For me, it’s made all the difference between 'stalling' and 'moving forward.' She’s one of your greatest assets." Contact information on request

"Lorna, you are wonderful! Thanks so much for your help. I don't know what I would have done without you." – Brenda Hampton, Two's Enough, Three's a Crowd

Submission

Please fill out this form to request a quote

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

2008@book-editing.com

Required:
Submit a sample of your book manuscript or story (Word/DOC or RTF attachment preferred). The sample should be 5-50 pages. Large files should be zipped. Attachment not required if writing has not started (e.g., because you're looking for a ghostwriter).

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? $ ________________

(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) How did you learn about our service?:

(19) Attach writing sample(s) (e.g., prologue, chapter 1, 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: Price quotes and time estimates for individual editors cannot be given over the phone or via chat. This is a network of freelance editors with varying prices and work schedules (see our FAQ). 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. It is possible that your submission was not received. You may also page the network coordinator by leaving voicemail or sending a fax to 469-789-3030.

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 freelance editor / proofreader / writer, not with the freelance network as a whole or its coordinator.