Author Archive
“Counting Fairies” is online at Podcastle as both a text story and a podcast. It’s a true story except I never had the fairies, leprechauns, unicorn, or ogre to my house. And I’m not a vet either, though I wanted to be when I was a child. Sadly, the rest of the story is true to some degree. My OCD is far more manageable than Janet’s but it does leave a mark. The far greater impact was left by the abrupt death of my little fur boy, Cavall. Taken too soon. Rest in peace, Banana Nose. Mom and Dad will see you again.
Empress Editing is ready to help!
I take a me
thodical approach and edit one piece at a time. Your work will be my primary literary focus. If you long for a one-on-one editorial relationship, I look forward to speaking with you. Together, we will indulge your story because it’s worth it.
My writing and editing experience lean toward short stories and novels and genre experience includes Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Military and Historical fiction and Non-fiction. If you’re writing in another genre, please reach out as I expect my list to expand. I’m not a good fit for Horror, or Erotica.
I excel at line-level suggestions, (one critique partner said, “Your comments are specific and communicated well so I don’t have to wonder what you meant.) I love character, plot and world development, which are the basics of story.
All services include a $5 sample of your first page so you can see how I edit. If you decide to book my services, that cost will go toward the project fee.
Editorial Letter: I will read your manuscript and provide a detailed letter discussing strengths, weaknesses, potential issues and solutions. This is a hands-off overview and will not have on-the-page suggestions, but if you are in the first stages of writing, (such as plot or character development or worldbuilding) this can help you avoid pitfalls. Expect a two-week turn around for novels.
- $100 for 10,000 words or less
- $250 for more than 10,000 words; please provide an outline
- Additional $50 for 30-minute letter consultation
Developmental Editing includes an in-depth examination of the overall structure of your story including plot, character arc and thematic progress. These are the dry bones of every story and the elements most likely to muddy an otherwise promising tale. It can take months because of the need to rewrite and get the basic story in place. Editorial suggestions will be made via Track Changes and in-manuscript comments. Cost for short stories (less than 10,000 words) is .03 a word. Due to the time involved, the price for any work longer than 10,000 words is .05 per word.
Line and Copy Editing is a process I tend to combine, and I charge .03 a word for short stories and .05 a word for works longer than 10,000 words.
Payment Process: If you wish to use my editing services after seeing the sample, I will add you to my work calendar and send you a contract. I ask for 50% of payment upon start of work and will invoice you for final payment when I’ve finished. Payment are processed through Paypal or Venmo.
I remain available for clarification of editorial comments. For content editing, your fee includes a 30-minute conversation to discuss suggested changes. For copy editing, I am always available via email for technical questions about changes.
Interested? Contact me through the form below:
Want references? See what award-winning author Angela Cervantes had to say!
Full disclosure, I know Victoria Dixon from my critique group, which is why I selected her editing service in the first place. I know, firsthand, the quality of her writing and editing. For this reason, I cannot recommend Empress Editing highly enough! My work with her included helping me to write blogs and her review of the manuscript for my upcoming children’s novel was truly invaluable.
From the start, Victoria’s communication was clear and prompt, which made the entire process smooth and stress-free. I was impressed by the attention to detail throughout every aspect of her work—whether it was drafting blog posts or providing insightful feedback to elevate my manuscript.
Another major highlight was the fairness of pricing. As an author, finding an editing service that combines high-quality work with reasonable rates is rare, but Empress Editing delivers on both counts. If you’re looking for an editing service that is professional, thorough, and responsive, I wholeheartedly recommend Empress Editing. I’ll definitely be returning for future projects!
Good News on So Many Fronts
I’ve had a story reprinted and illustrated. Cold Heart is in Dreamforge!
I will also have a story out in the Unhelpful Encylopedia Vol.2, Murderbugs. It’s scheduled for a spring of 2024 release. If you’re interested in helping to fund the Kickstarter, please do so as soon as possible. The Kickstarter is funded for publication, but I’m still hoping to see it funded for illustrations. Especially because I’m hoping Glen Dixon, my husband, will be one of the illustrators. Any help toward that goal is greatly appreciated and not just by me. Funding means artists are paid and authors have their work professionally illustrated, a great honor.
And last but not least, I’ve had several Honorable Mentions and Silver Honorable Mentions from Writers of the Future. There’s a tendency to think, “Ha! You didn’t win, so who cares?” There are thousands of entries in each quarter and getting to the Honorable Mention level means you were in the top 10%. I’ve actually been a finalist once and I will get there again.
What’s your good news?
Incoming! Writers of the Future Vol. 38
I had the privilege of proofreading this work of art before it came out, so I’ve read the book. I’m still getting a copy. It’s THAT GOOD. There are stories in here I will read and reread and always marvel at how the author did it. (And try to learn how to duplicate their feat.) I’ve read these anthologies for years and this is one of my favorites.
Going to this link will get you a copy autographed during the week of the event. (Autographed copies are only available while supplies last!) This volume has the last short story published by Dave Farland before his untimely passing. The cover illustrates that tale.
It occurs to me that some people still associate this anthology with scientology. The two are SEPARATE. If you’re concerned about supporting a cult, you’re not. You’re supporting the literature and illustration of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror (although I don’t think there’s any horror in this issue). You’re supporting art.
What world doesn’t need more art?
Writers of the Future Workshop
Some of you might have noticed, I’m trying to win the Writers of the Future Contest. I’ve actually won four Honorable Mentions at this point. That means the judges recognize I have ability and want to encourage me to keep working.
They’ve now taken that encouragement a step farther. They launched a FREE workshop. The Writers of the Future Workshop will teach you how to write award-winning material. Do you want to write like Orson Scott Card, or Dave Farland or Tim Powers? They’re your INSTRUCTORS.
Do you have difficulties coming up with interesting concepts? Mr. Card has a class called 1,001 Story Ideas in an Hour and he’s not kidding. Do you hate research? Tim Powers is a master of it and has great suggestions for turning the subject on its head. David Farland, the head judge of the competition, will walk you through how to outline a story so that it fits publishing criteria.
This is a workshop that will take you a minimum of a week to complete. Make no mistake, you would normally pay $500-$1,000 under different circumstances. You will come out of the workshop a better writer if you listen to every module and do the practical exercises. You’ll come out of it with a completed (not necessarily polished) story.
Yup. A minimum of one new story completed. I have several partial stories in addition to the one I completed. They’ll also give you suggestions on how to turn your short stories into novels. It’s what Orson Scott Card did with “Ender’s Game,” so he knows what he’s talking about. It’s not necessary to write Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror to benefit from this workshop. It’s not necessary to write fiction to benefit.
You have nothing to lose and a career to win.