Your expert partner in nonfiction editing.
Publish a book you’re proud of.
Are you wondering if your book is any good?
Unsure if it will look professional and be taken seriously?
Are you concerned your book won’t connect with your audience?
I can help.
Editing Services
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Manuscript Evaluation
When you’re unsure of which way to go, we’ll take a look at the bird’s eye view of your manuscript. I provide a comprehensive evaluation of your work’s strengths, weaknesses, and revision needs.
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Developmental Editing
To be sure you deliver on your book’s promise, we’ll assess your manuscript’s structure, clarity, and flow. We’ll solidify your authorial voice, compelling readers to devour your book and change their lives.
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Line and Copy Editing
To be sure your book gets the respect and recognition it deserves, we’ll work line-by-line to hone sentence mechanics, rhythm, and style. We’ll correct errors in syntax. What results will be a professional manuscript with superb flow, eloquence, and execution.
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At Word Haven Editorial, we specialize in elevating and refining business books to ensure they resonate with clarity, impact, and professionalism. Having studied business, I am well suited to asses the content of your manuscript and provide comprehensive editing that enhances the clarity, structure, and overall quality of your book.
I have edited many business books on a host of topics including leadership; entrepreneurship; marketing; networking; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and mental health in the workplace. My clients have ranged from first time food truck owners to Fortune 500 company advisors. Some have used their books to spawn worldwide speaking tours. I love it all.
Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, seasoned executive, or industry thought leader, I will help you connect with your readers, convey expertise, and leave a lasting impression in your field. I want to team up with you to turn your words into a powerful tool for change and professional growth.
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You deserve to be heard, respected, and make a difference with your story.
When you’re writing a memoir, you want an editor who has studied the genre. It was my time studying memoir and narrative nonfiction with Blanche Boyd at Connecticut College that led me to start Word Haven Editorial, where I specialize in the art of refining memoir that tells your unique story with authenticity and emotional resonance.
I am passionate about preserving the essence of your personal narrative while ensuring it captivates readers from start to finish. Whether you're a seasoned memoirist or venturing into the storytelling realm for the first time, I understand the delicate balance required to honor your experiences.
I will help you enhance the structure, flow, and impact of your memoir, creating a compelling manuscript that reflects the depth and richness of your journey. Through it you will connect with your reader and shine a light on the humanity of your experience.
Your story is unique, and I am here to ensure it is told with the utmost clarity, sensitivity, and literary finesse. It’s what your legacy deserves.
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I believe that books change lives, and I want to help yours do just that. I specialize in editing personal development books that inspire growth, transformation, and positive change.
Having worked in the realm of self-help and personal development books for years, I understand the significance of clear and impactful communication in this genre. I work collaboratively with authors to ensure that their message is well-articulated and resonates deeply with readers seeking guidance and inspiration.
From structuring content for maximum impact to fine-tuning language to evoke motivation, I am committed to elevating your personal development book to its highest potential. Let’s team up to empower, motivate, and guide readers on their journey toward personal excellence.
You deserve a book that you feel proud of.
Specialties
Hi, I’m Laura.
There’s a lot of writing out there that misses the mark. I’m here to make sure yours doesn’t.
Together we’ll drill down to the heart of your message, nixing those dangling modifiers as we go. We’ll watch as your work transforms into the piece it was always meant to be.
More about Laura →
go all-inclusive
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Proofreading is an essential step in the writing process. It is the final clean up that ensures a polished respectable product. When you’ve booked a line and copy edit with us, you can add a proofread to the package. Proofreading is done by a professional vetted team member, so you will get a fresh pair of trained eyes on your final draft. After your proofread, you will have a clean manuscript ready for layout.
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We all know that people do judge a book by its cover. In the book world, it’s your most important piece of marketing. And you know the difference between a book that was professionally designed and one that was home-made. Hiring an expert for these steps will make readers take your book seriously.
While we don’t do this work in house, I am happy to pass your project on to a trusted colleague selected specifically for you. I will pair you with someone who I think will be a good fit for your needs.
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Marketing a book is often the hardest part for authors. Many authors tell me it feels wrong to them to talk about their work. Most people don’t know the ins and outs of author websites, email marketing, launch parties, and book signings. You don’t have to go it alone. I can direct you to motivated, experienced professionals to help you every step of the way.
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It’s hard to keep up with the latest trends and requirements in self publishing. The details keep changing, so researching on your own can be frustrating. If you’d like a guide for this step, I can connect you to someone great, and it will all be taken care of.
Word Haven Editorial provides a transformative experience to nurture your writing.
FAQs
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Every project is different. I tailor my editing to your manuscript’s needs, because editing is not one size fits all. I charge by the thousand words instead of by the hour, so you are not penalized if I happen to take longer hunting down a particularly pesky grammar rule.
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A manuscript evaluation is great for when you’re feeling stuck. You know your manuscript isn’t where it needs to be, but you’re not sure what direction to head with it. It’s an economical way to get professional assistance in refining your work, allowing you to make informed decisions as you progress toward a final, polished manuscript. While it is not the deep dive that developmental editing is, I will point you in the right direction, and give you a bird’s eye view of what’s working and what could use improvement.
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No. You always want a fresh set of eyes for the proofread. There are a few reasons for this; when more people look for errors, more will be found. Despite what some editors promise, no one is perfect, so two minds are better than one. You also want someone who is new to the manuscript and doesn’t know what it is supposed to say, to have the final look. This is why I have a vetted team member do all the proofreading at Word Haven Editorial.
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This is a much debated question. When a book is published through a major publishing house, it goes through about fifteen rounds of editing. Only a handful of mistakes remain at that point, so it makes sense to get the book laid out before the proofreading stage. But when you are self publishing, you get two to four rounds of editing. The proofreader will have more errors to catch, so it makes sense to get them taken care of before the design stage, to avoid costly changes after layout. At Word Haven Editorial, we do the proofread after the line and copy edit in order to ensure the cleanest manuscript heading into the next stage of the publishing process.
