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Services

We love helping authors succeed! Whether you’re just starting out as an author or are already established, we can help you bring your book to life.

Need something that’s not on the list? Contact us with your request, and let’s chat! We’re not afraid to get creative in finding solutions that work for you.

 

How we work

Unless otherwise specified, we use the Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster as editing standards. We have experience editing for British, Canadian and Australian English as well.

​We request that files be sent in MS Word, and we will track revisions. You will always have a choice in accepting our edits. We believe your book is yours — and we honor that, polishing your work and putting the final decisions in your hands.

 

Our AI policy

At Two Birds Author Services, we firmly believe in and back the dreams of living, breathing people to create and share books that come from the heart. It’s our good-faith policy not to use AI in our editing — we’re all-in, hands-on, and committed to using our brains and our skills to edit your work. Nothing you provide us will be put through AI software. Likewise, we do not work on or edit AI-created stories and reserve the right to turn down AI-written projects.

STRATEGY

Book Coaching

The skills for writing a great story can be learned! Meet with our certified book coach and receive one-on-one coaching on your writing as you turn your story idea into a strong manuscript. Our 30- and 60-minute Zoom sessions are designed to help you delve into story problems, brainstorm solutions, and get live input on pages submitted ahead of your sessions.

 

Cost: $85 for 30 minutes, $165 for 60 minutes, multi-session (discounted) packages encouraged to ensure progress (contact us for details)

Author Consulting

Want to pick our brains for ideas? We offer hourly consulting! Based on your specific goals, we’ll craft a personalized consulting plan for topics such as genre expectations and target audience considerations, getting started with self-publishing, brainstorming sessions to fix problem areas of your manuscript, ways to improve your author newsletter, and more.

 

Cost: $165 per hour

Series Arc and Standalone Book Outline Reviews

Position your series for success with well-planned, strategic plot and character arcs that carry through multiple books. We’ll assess your series outline and provide feedback to help you build on themes, prevent plot holes, set up foreshadowing, and lay out character growth. This process can also be applied to the outlines of standalone books.

 

Cost: $250 including series arc or standalone book outline review, written feedback, and a 60-minute follow-up consultation via Zoom

STRUCTURE

Developmental Editing

This in-depth process takes a deep dive into all the big-picture elements of your story to help you flesh out the best story possible. Attention is given to issues that can be resolved chapter by chapter (or even page by page), making it a great option for authors who want detailed guidance on solving storytelling issues. One pass includes:

  • Examination of all big-picture elements of the manuscript
  • Consideration of structure and form
  • Addressing of problematic characterization
  • Highlighting world-building snafus that can distract or confuse readers
  • Failures to meet genre expectations and suggested fixes
  • Identification of plot gaps and inconsistencies
  • Input on ways to fine-tune storytelling voice and writing skills
  • Attention to any other big picture elements that can torpedo your story’s success if not handled properly

Because developmental editing includes lengthy review and frequent communication, this should be one of the first steps on the editing path. We will work with you to develop a plan that addresses your goals and timeframe prior to starting any project.

 

Cost: $.028 per word and up

Manuscript Evaluation

This editorial assessment provides a valuable overview of what’s working and what isn’t in your manuscript. It is usually the first step in the editing process, and results in a report that covers all the major elements of storytelling that you can apply as you revise. A critique is a good fit if you desire broad feedback without the in-depth nature of developmental edits.

We’ll read through your entire manuscript and summarize its strengths, weaknesses, and next steps for a multitude of areas including:

  • Plot effectiveness and notes on inconsistencies
  • Character likeability, motivations, and development
  • Pacing and narrative drive from scene to scene
  • Setting consistency, descriptiveness, and grounding in place and time
  • World-building rules and questions
  • Genre expectations and how well the story matches its target audience
  • Opening hook effectiveness
  • Point of view consistencies
  • Tone and writing style
  • Input on ways to make your line edits simpler and more affordable
  • Anything else worthy of feedback (foreshadowing, theme, etc.)

 

Cost: $.014 per word and up

Beta Reads

Gauge how your story comes across to readers by getting professional beta reader feedback. Geared toward insights into the impact your story is having, beta reads focus deeply on the reader experience. You’ll receive a written report that reveals:

  • How characters come across, and whether they feel believable and likable
  • Whether plot developments make sense and keep pages turning
  • Places where pacing felt slow (or even too fast)
  • Moments where readers got pulled out of the story or distracted
  • And more.

 

Cost: $.007 per word and up

DETAILS

Line Editing

Line edits focus on flaws in and opportunities with style, flow, and use of language at the sentence and paragraph level. This stage of editing is normally completed after a critique or developmental edit, and before proofreading and layout. One pass of line editing may include:

  • Recommendations or minor suggested rephrasing to improve clarity or enhance meaning
  • Identification of redundancies and repeated word or phrase usage
  • Suggestions intended to “tighten” sections of dialogue, exposition, etc., to produce optimal focus
  • Flags for stilted language, tonal shifts, pacing issues, and more
  • Short summary of developmental notes and possible technical issues

 

Cost: $.023 per word and up

Copyediting and Proofreading

A final editorial review of your manuscript after issues with style, flow, and technical aspects have been addressed. This minimal edit should be the last step before layout and publication. One pass of copyediting may include corrections to:

  • Grammar, punctuation, spelling, and other low-level technical errors
  • Repetitive word usage
  • Minor sentence structure issues that need clarification
  • Short summary of additional identified issues

One pass of proofreading focuses strictly on grammar, punctuation, spelling, and other low-level technical errors as a final polish before publication.

Cost: $.019 and up for copyediting, $.015 and up for proofreading

Formatting

Basic formatting for print and eBooks, ideal for authors who are self-publishing via online sellers such as Amazon and B&N.

 

Cost: Print and eBook files starting at $195, including one round of revisions. Additional $35 for each additional round of author-requested changes and additions, such as correcting errors in the originally submitted manuscript, front, and back matter.

Free Sample Edit

The relationship between editor and author is extremely important. So before we start on any project, we begin with a free, 1,000 word sample edit. Based on what you share with us, we will recommend the level of editing that will most benefit your story. Our sample feedback will also help you determine if we are the right editors for the job.