Hire the Best Manuscripts Specialists

Brief Overview: You know those teachers who catch every little mistake in student papers, and offer extensive and substantial comments on how to improve the work? Students might not be fans of this…but wouldn't that be exactly who you want in your corner, to help you perfect your work before submission/publication? That’s me! I am a professional academic with decades of experience writing, editing, peer-reviewing, and formatting academic and non-fiction content, with a lifelong passion for fiction. My editing experience includes co-editing The Heritage of Western Greece book series, assisting numerous (often ESL) peers publish in academic journals such as Physiologia & Archai, as well as assisting independent authors improve the philosophical content of their books. The Full Details: About Me: I’m a native English speaker with a Ph.D. in Philosophy, an M.A. in Classics, a B.A. in History. I have 17 years’ experience as a professional academic: professor, editor, reviewer, and published author. I have provided editing, copy editing, proofreading, and ESL assistance, for hundreds of academic and professional documents — including research papers, manuscripts, dissertations, journal articles, and technical reports. How I can help you: Developmental Editing ("The Big Picture"): You have a great idea, but are having difficulty developing it into a cohesive thesis/story, with good flow, logical consistency, and no plot holes. *I will provide a systematic review that identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the core elements and themes, with actionable advice on how to proceed towards completion. Line Editing ("Content & Style"): You have the big ideas and a rough draft, but need assistance with improving the writing in order to clearly and effectively communicate the information to the reader. *I will provide an in-depth and detailed line-by-line analysis, to help you effectively deliver your thesis/story to your audience. Copyediting ("The Technical Details"): Your manuscript is essentially complete, but it could use some help with grammar, syntax, clarity, and consistency. Perhaps it also needs to be properly cited according to a style guide. *I will help ensure your manuscript is consistent and technically correct, to ensure a professional-level polish. Proofreading ("The Final Check"): Your manuscript is basically finished. But it needs a final check, to ensure it is entirely error-free, prior to being submitted/published. *I will provide a careful systematic check, to ensure the copy is truly error free, so you can be confident your readers will not find any unprofessional and embarrassing mistakes. Style Guide Compliance: Your manuscript needs to ensure proper credit is given to your sources, according to a particular style guide. *I will provide complete and accurate compliance with whatever style guide is needed for your manuscript. I am proficient working with multiple common citation styles (APA Style, MLA Style, Chicago Manual of Style), and can also follow alternative style guides for particular publishers. Fact-Checking/Research Support: You need to make sure that no sources were lacking in or inappropriately attributed, and/or you need to ensure your claims are supported by your sources. *I will thoroughly check the information in your manuscript, and ensure consistency and accuracy with your cited sources. ESL Assistance: You want to publish in English, but it is not your native-language, and you could use the assistance of a native-speaker. *I have extensive experience helping non-native English writers achieve native -level clarity and fluency, without losing their style, and successfully publishing. Why work with me: Academic Credibility: Internationally recognized scholar with extensive publications and conference presentations. Detail-Oriented Editing: Experienced in generating polished, error-free, and professional-level publications--all while tracking and documenting each change. Cross-Disciplinary Expertise: Broadly trained in the Humanities. Capable of working effectively in many areas: academic, non-fiction, fiction, gaming content. Multilingual skills: Native English speaker. Reading knowledge of various Romance languages (Spanish, French, Italian, etc.). Chinese (HSK 4). Transparent Process: Collaborative editing using tools like Track Changes, with clear communication at every stage. Whether you need help developing a work, refining your prose for clarity, citations, or polishing a final copy for publication, I deliver work that meets the highest professional standards. Let’s work together, to ensure your project is clear, credible, and ready for its audience!

I am a professor, published author, and journal editor who has helped people produce lucid and compelling writing for over 15 years. As someone with inside knowledge of the publishing process, I know exactly how to polish a manuscript to bring out your unique voice and contributions. Most importantly, I am a mentor who can guide you through every stage of your writing process. As a teacher, I cultivated the ability to provide feedback that is insightful, constructive, and empathetic. I can coach you at each step, whether this means sharpening your arguments, heightening the emotion of a pivotal moment, or perfecting your text’s overall structure. I have experience in nearly every kind of writing and format, including: • Books • Academic and popular articles • Dissertations and theses • School application essays • Proposals for grants and scholarships • Blog posts I served as book review editor for a major sociology journal, and my own work has garnered awards and appeared in leading discipline journals. Finally, I am experienced in many formatting styles (APA, Harvard, Chicago, MLA, ASA, etc.). Let's work together to bring out the very best in your writing!

Welcome to my page :) As a freelance editor and proofreader for over nine years, I've had the pleasure of working on a wide range of projects - from manuscripts and academic reports to website content. I take great pride in using my expertise to help both new and established authors refine their work before it reaches readers. Whether your project needs developmental edits, copy editing, or a final proofread, I'm here to lend my skills and ensure your documentation is polished and ready. No matter the stage, I'm excited to collaborate with you and bring your vision to life.

Clear, confident writing doesn’t happen by accident—it happens when ideas are shaped by an experienced editor who understands both language and purpose. I am a PhD-trained writer and editor with decades of experience helping clients communicate with clarity, authority, and style. Of course, your work will be error-free—but more importantly, it will read smoothly, make sense immediately, and achieve its intended effect. I work with a wide range of content, including: • Academic dissertations and theses • Scholarly and professional articles • Novels and memiors • Business reports and white papers • Marketing and advertising copy Clients come to me not just to “fix” their writing, but to make it clearer, more persuasive, and more professional—without losing their voice. I’ve been on Upwork since its inception and have successfully completed more than 400 projects across disciplines and styles. I’m known for being careful, responsive, and easy to work with—and for delivering writing that is finished, polished, and confident. If you want your writing to be not only correct, but effective and refined, I can help. All work is fully guaranteed.

Top 1% professional book editor and formatting/layout specialist with over 10 years experience helping authors. I specialize in Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Thriller novels, plus all types of Non-Fiction. I have helped authors achieve award-winning books, gain representation with publishers, as well as achieve great success with self publishing (one of my clients has reached more than 2500 4.5 star ratings on Amazon for their fantasy/technothriller series, and over one million page reads) If you are looking for a seasoned professional to take your book to the next level, give me a call. RATES: Proofreading - $15 per 1K words Copy Editing - $25 per 1K words Line Editing - $35 per 1K words Comprehensive Editing (Copy+Line) - $45 per 1K words Simple Layout and Formatting (Basic Novels): $250 Complex Layout and Formatting: Ask to discuss specific pricing CLIENT TESTIMONIALS—EDITING "It was an absolute pleasure working with Gareth. He is extremely responsive, collaborative and provides genuine and helpful feedback. His skill level in both editing and proofreading is top-notch. I highly recommend his services, and I will be using him again on future projects." —BK Greenwood, author of The Last Roman series. (Fantasy/Technothriller) "I would highly recommend Gareth as an editor to any author looking to polish their work or in need of advice on strengthening their plot." —Nick Stead, Author of the Hybrid werewolf series (Fantasy/Horror). "As a first time author, it was good to have a professional involved for guidance. Yet Gareth allows your voice to prevail. I will absolutely work with Gareth again!" —Andy Del Gallo, author of Carve a New You (Self Help). "The benefit of Gareth's professional critique and editing skills have transformed my writing. He has a clear vision of what works in any genre and communicates this with sensitivity and skill." —Sara Burgess, author of The House on Hill Lane (Historical Fantasy/Supernatural) "It was a great pleasure working with Gareth. He is passionate about waiting and doesn't just get the job done - he puts a piece of his soul into his work." —S V Michaelson (Children's Fantasy/SciFi) CLIENT TESTIMONIALS—LAYOUT AND FORMATTING (PRINT+EBOOK) "It was a real joy to work with Gareth. He is a real "wizard" when it comes to layouting and editing game manuals. He really pushed my project forward and gave it a lot more quality. I would rehire Gareth any time!" —Christian Mannsbart, author of Bust of Fire Game system. "Gareth was flexible helping me format my graphic novel for Kindle and printing. Highly recommended!" —Sam Lytle, author of Beyond VS. (Graphic Novel) "Gareth created both the eBook and the paperback formats for my 94k-word book. He is an excellent communicator and responds quickly. He exceeded my expectations with the deadline, completing the formatting in just a few days, which was well ahead of the two-week timeline provided for the project. He also made artistic suggestions to the interior that ultimately made for a much better product for the readers. I appreciate all of his hard work and efficiency. I highly recommend him and will be using him again for my next book." —Catherine Lamm, author of If You Hear Hoofbeats. (Crime/Thriller) Our team had the pleasure of hiring Gareth for the typesetting of a client's book, and the experience was nothing short of exceptional. Gareth’s deep knowledge of the craft was evident from the very beginning. He understood the intricacies of the project and provided insights that significantly improved the final product. One of the most impressive aspects of working with Gareth was his communication. He kept us in the loop at every stage, making sure that all our concerns were addressed promptly and thoroughly. His ability to explain technical aspects in a clear and concise manner made the entire process smooth and stress-free. Moreover, Gareth’s reliability and punctuality were outstanding. He consistently met every deadline, ensuring that the project stayed on track without any hiccups. His proactive approach and dedication to delivering high-quality work on time truly set him apart. Gareth is not just a typesetting expert; he’s a partner you can trust to bring your vision to life with professionalism and care. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a skilled and reliable professional who goes above and beyond to exceed expectations." —Omar Kandil, OBCIDO Inc

Hello! I am a professional novelist, ghostwriter, developmental/copy editor, and medical technical writer with over thirteen years of full-time experience on Elance/Upwork. I also do Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) formatting for Amazon’s self-publishing program, to include images/photos. Writing as "Janeen O'Kerry," I am the author of twenty different titles. These include historical and contemporary romance; science fiction; fantasy; and non-fiction. I did the writing, editing, formatting, and cover selection on all of my own books,and you can see them simply by searching "Janeen O'Kerry" in the Amazon store. I will, of course, provide a free sample proofread, edit, or ghostwrite of about 500 to 1000 words. I am a full-time writer and editor and always open to ongoing projects. I will sign an NDA if you wish. Outside of a standard built-in grammar checker, I do not use artificial intelligence (AI) software in any part of my writing, editing, or research process. ***All ghostwriting, editing, and proofreading jobs include the following: A manuscript that is fully edited, polished, and ready to upload as an e-book. A searchable table of contents. About 120 words of cover copy for the back cover and the Amazon detail page. A short 140-character piece for Amazon ads and social media. Ghostwriting Let me help with action scenes, romantic/love scenes, dialogue, or “humanizing” your AI manuscript. All ghostwriting includes a full copy edit and e-book formatting. $0.05 (five cents) per word. Original work solely from your idea. $0.03 (three cents) per word. Writing from your outline or partial manuscript. $0.015 (one and one-half cents) per word. Rewriting from your complete rough draft, with some minor additions. Outlining Creating a scene-by-scene outline for your novel. This is a form of ghostwriting. Includes basic descriptions for up to five leading characters. $0.03 (three cents) per word according to your desired length. Developmental Editing An overall critique with many in-depth suggestions. No copy editing or rewriting. $0.005 (one-half cent) per word. *Save time and money! I am happy to do a developmental edit on just the first 10,000 words of your manuscript. You will have plenty to work on! Copy Editing Line-by-line corrections to grammar, punctuation, and word choices (rein/reign and trooper/trouper). Recasting of sentences for clarity and turning narrative into dialogue where appropriate. $0.01 (one cent) per word. Copy Edit with Developmental Edit A combination of both, as described above. $0.015 (one and one-half cents) per word. Proofreading Punctuation, spelling, and word choices only. No rewriting or suggestions. $0.005 (one-half cent) per word. KDP Formatting Formatting your e-book, paperback, and/or hardback manuscripts for Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) program. Includes a searchable Table of Contents for the e-book; page numbers with Table of Contents for the paperback/hardback; and a list of suggested categories and keywords. Note: Amazon requires that you do the actual uploading yourself, since no one else can use your account; but you may consult me through Upwork messaging during the process. The formatted manuscripts will be sent to you as .docx and .EPUB for the e-book and as a .pdf for the paperback/hardback. Both e-book and paperback in the same project: $0.0035 per word. Paperback alone: $0.0035 per word. Hardback alone: $0.0035 per word. E-book alone: $0.0025 per word. Images: $2.00 each up to 50 images; $1.00 for each additional image. This includes resizing, placement, captioning, and Alt Text for each image, all of which Amazon requires. Cover Copy (the "blurb") From your short description, outline, or synopsis of the book, I will create: A blurb of about 100-120 words for the book's back cover and Amazon detail page. A short 140-character piece for advertising and social media posts. $40.00 per book includes both of these. $25.00 to edit an existing blurb into both of these. Medical Writing & Editing Articles and information for your website, e-book, blog, or patient handouts. I have extensive experience with writing and editing for medical websites and e-books. References and samples will be included in the application. I also have eight years of full-time work as a medical transcriptionist for clinics and hospitals, which gave me extensive experience with medical terminology in many different specialties. Medical Writing: Five cents per word. Medical Editing: Three cents per word. Allow me to help make your book into one that will have lasting appeal and continue to sell for years to come, as my own books do. Thank you! I look forward to working with you. Janeen Sloan / "Janeen O'Kerry"