ISLA ELRICK
an editor for all seasons.
Hi, there! I'm Isla.I've been editing for indie authors for nearly a decade - as an editor, I know what you need, and as a fellow author, I know what you want.Feel free to navigate the site and, if you're ready to book a sample or edit with me, DM me on any of the platforms listed above.
ISLA ELRICK
why choose me?
Having trouble comparing me to other affordable editors? Here's a quick list of reasons you might choose my service over another!
I have been editing since 2015, and have worked with best-selling authors such as C.N. Crawford, Leia Stone, Mike Omer, Bilinda Sheehan, and many more.
I offer a FREE 2,000-word sample so you can see if we're a good fit for each other before you book.
I am affordable, efficient, and professional (although you MAY receive memes that remind me of your characters).
I have expert knowledge of the Chicago Manual of Style, The Copyeditor's Handbook, and indie best practices.
I am trans/queer and have a large amount of sensitivity training, so I will be able to point out things you may want a sensitivity reader to look at.
I want to make YOUR book the best book it can be - NOT the book I would write. In other words, I work hard to keep your voice & style intact.
I am willing to work with authors of all skill, income, or experience levels. I don't discriminate!
You'll be supporting a fellow indie author! I write fantasy romance, gaslamp, urban fantasy, and more.
I am flexible and understanding in terms of scheduling and payment plans.
I am willing to explain the changes I make, and my DMs are always open for discussion and questions from you.
I am thorough and meticulous when it comes to inconsistencies in anything from characterization to capitalization.
I am up to date on genre conventions, especially in the fantasy romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and epic fantasy subgenres.
If I have less knowledge of your subgenre, or a particular element of your story, I am more than happy to research.
I have sundry knowledge regarding folklore & myth, Medieval life & culture, Regency life & culture, Victorian life & culture, Edwardian life & culture, WWI, literature, theatre & opera, archeology & anthropology, gaming (table top, PC, console), internet culture, queer culture & history, and much more.
You are guaranteed to get the most out of your money spent, and I will work with you until you feel you have.
You'll be helping to keep these little guys fed:
ISLA ELRICK
what are others saying?
“Isla’s meticulous attention to detail and thoughtful editing work on many of my novels, over a number of years, truly helped to make them shine.”
-C.N. CRAWFORD"Isla is the best editor I've worked with so far! After a string of bad experiences, she turned my entire career around. Probably one of the things I appreciate about her is just how communicative she is. If she's going to be late on a project, she will always tell you. And she is thorough in her approach toward your manuscript. I would rather throw off my entire publishing schedule than hire someone else at this point."
-D.J. RUSSO"Isla was wonderful to work with! Efficient, thoughtful and willing to go above and beyond. I will definitely use Isla on my next book!"
-JILLIAN WITT"Isla saved my manuscript on short notice with a thorough proofreading on an incredible turnaround timeframe, catching the punctuation and errors I’d completely missed. Isla was immediately responsive to my inquiries and professional throughout — I’d had a poor experience with an editor right before, but with Isla, I knew exactly what to expect, how long the editing would take, and the cost. I’d recommend Isla to anyone in need of an editor!"
-SIENNA ARCHER"Isla stepped up when I needed a last-minute proofread. She completed the work when she said she would and was clear and communicative throughout the process."
-IRENE DAVIS"Isla's feedback is insightful and kind, and clearly comes from someone with tons of story experience. As she will say herself, they are a bit more on the vibes and instinct side of structural feedback, rather than the hardline rules for structure side, but that was exactly what I was looking for and needed. The feedback I got was friendly and considerate of how the author would feel reading and applying it. I appreciated that her feedback was also succinct; even with both an edit letter and inline comments on my 90k manuscript, her feedback was far more distilled and less overwhelming than any I've received in the past. I'd highly recommend Isla to any fiction authors who need feedback around character arcs, emotional delivery, or overall tone issues in their work, and want that feedback to come from a real, grounded, and kind source."
-REBECCA MAEVE HARTWELL"I had the pleasure of working with Isla on my manuscript, and was truly impressed by her thoroughness in copy edits and her commitment to developmental edits. She went above and beyond to refine my ideas and enhance the narrative. Her insights were invaluable, and I would gladly work with her again."
-ADALYND GRAYVES"First of all, I want to say I'm so very grateful for the hard work you put in editing my book and the patience and grace you extended to me when I was going through a hard time. I cannot thank you enough for that. As for the edits themselves, I really appreciate how thorough you were. You truly helped me whip my manuscript into shape and make it ready for others to read."
-GISELLE BRISEIA"Isla delivers thorough editing quickly and with great enthusiasm. She has excellent attention to detail and was a pleasure to work with."
-HANNAH DARE"Isla Elrick is exactly what you need in an editor—knowledgeable, reliable, and a grammar guru. She sticks to her deadlines, and my books are always improved by her thoughtful suggestions."
-MARINA FINLAYSON"Isla does a fantastic job editing my books. I’m thrilled to work with her because her edits are always so thorough and her comments are great. I would be lost without her."
-BILINDA SHEEHAN"Isla’s editing made a big difference to my manuscript. Her work was fast and thorough and I felt more confident publishing my book once she had Americanized my UK English. I will definitely use her again in the future!"
-ADAM WRIGHT
ISLA ELRICK
rates & FAQ
Below, you can find a table of my rates and some frequently asked questions!NOTE: All rates are subject to flexibility based on the workload or state of the manuscript.Please use common courtesy and do not hand me a first draft of your book unless we've negotiated an alpha developmental read. It's polite to go through at least one round of self-editing.Do NOT send me fully or partially AI-written work, ESPECIALLY if you conceal its usage. That is a breach of courtesy and is disrespectful of my time. If I discover your manuscript was written by AI, I may charge a fee or terminate our contract, and I really don't want to do that.
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| Proofreading | $0.006/word |
| Copy editing | $0.01-$0.012/word (workload dependent) |
| Line editing | $0.012-$0.02/word (workload dependent) |
| Developmental | $0.01/word |
To calculate your rate, use this quick formula:[your manuscript's word count] x [rate] = [amount]For instance, a 100,000-word manuscript's quote would be $600 for proofreading, ~$1,000 for copy editing (workload dependent), $1,200-2,000 for line editing (workload dependent), and $1,000 for developmental editing.
need more than one?
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| Proof & copy bundle | $0.012/word |
| Copy & line bundle | $0.016/word |
| Line & dev bundle | $0.018/word |
| Everything but dev | $0.02/word |
| Everything AND dev | $0.025/word |
Customers who book more than one project at a time will receive 15% off the price of manuscripts combined.
FAQ
| Service | Includes... |
|---|---|
| Proofreading | typos, homophone errors, repeated words, punctuation errors, objectively incorrect grammar and mechanics |
| Copy editing | best practice grammar and mechanics, awkward phrasing, passive voice, POV violations (“headhopping”), tense shifting errors, sentence length and rhythm, sentence structure (dangling participles, misplaced modifiers, etc.), awkward dialogue, overused words and phrases |
| Line editing | high-level sentence structural issues, continuity errors, dialogue, narrative voice, characterization, adding (or subtracting) details/description, foreshadowing, pacing |
| Developmental | critique, analyzing and honing plot, worldbuilding, character/character development arcs, dialogue, global structure, high-level pacing, theme, plot holes, etc. Basically making your story the best it can be at its very bones. NOTE: developmental editing is most helpful early on in the process! |
How does a sample work?Before you book your slot with me, you may choose to send me a 2,000 word selection from your manuscript. I'll edit it according to the service you're looking for and return it to you free of charge. That way, you can see how I work and determine if we'll be a good fit! When the sample is completed, I'll send a quote along with it. Please do not send me a sample that has been edited/workshopped to a different level of quality from the rest of the manuscript. Send me a sample that truly represents the condition of your full manuscript. Failure to do so may result in me returning your manuscript.How do I book?If you're happy with your sample, reach out to me via email or DM and ask about my availability. I will give you an estimate for how long the project will take and we can go from there. Make sure to tell me your vision for the timeline, and I'll try my absolute hardest to fit both our schedules!Do I need to sign a contract?I will now require a contract at the time of booking, for my own scheduling & security, but am still flexible vis a vis lateness or changes. See below for my lateness/cancellation policies.Do I need to make a deposit?Starting August, 2024, there is a non-refundable 25% deposit upon booking. This is for scheduling + cancellation purposes. I will send the remainder of the bill after services rendered.Are there late fees?No, there are no late fees! However, please do understand that in the event of lateness, due to my schedule, I may need to fit your manuscript around other projects. So, there may be up to 2 weeks delay plus time taken for editing.Are there cancellation fees?There is a non-refundable 25% deposit upon booking. Other than that, there are no additional cancellation fees.Then what?When your booked time comes up, email me your manuscript in .doc/.docx form, and I'll confirm I got it. I'll send you periodic updates (and questions if I have any). When the manuscript is finished, I will return it to you with tracked changes. You can then feel free to ask me any clarifying questions or brainstorm with me in DMs or email. If you chose a bundle, this process will have several passes!Where do I pay?I will send the invoice through Paypal. All I need is your Paypal email!