Editing Services

Editing services currently unavailable due to enrollment in MFA program

The IS THIS READY TO SUBMIT? Feedback Edit

Who is this edit geared toward?

New writers or writers without a writing partner/feedback group who want to submit their work to literary magazines and journals for publication.

NOTE: I cannot accept any work for feedback that has been (or will be) submitted to Atlas + Alice due to conflict of interest.

What kind of work will be accepted for an edit?

At this time, editing services are limited to essays/creative nonfiction (CNF) of up to 3,000 words (see below for pricing). Not that anyone is ever really finished with editing, but these should be well beyond first draft stage and should be near-final drafts that feel almost ready to submit or final drafts that have been declined by multiple lit mags.

What is the turnaround time for edits?

In most cases, edits can be turned around in under 10 days. I will disclose in advance if I expect it to take longer due to other clients in the queue or conflicts with my personal schedule. 

What kind of feedback will you receive?

  • TITLE – My first impression of whether this title is working, plus I’ll suggest 1-2 alternate titles.
  • OPEN/CLOSE – Opening and closing sentences are the bookends of a piece. I’ll let you know if yours are as strong as can be. 
  • THREE YES! WORDS – Three words/short phrases that really pop in the piece.
  • THREE “DELTA” WORDS – Three words/short passages that you might want to reconsider, with 1-2 alternates suggested.
  • PINPOINTS + TRANSITIONS – Brief comments where the piece flags, has awkward transitions, and/or seems under- or overwritten and might need more scrutiny and further editing.
  • ANALYSIS – A 250-500 word synopsis of my impressions of the piece as if it had been submitted as is, including the kind of frank (but kind!) notes I’d typically write to myself as editor before deciding whether to accept or decline.
  • MY TAKEAWAY – While my opinion is no guarantee of any potential acceptance, I’ll tell you yes, no, or not quite but almost to the ever elusive question, Is this ready to submit?
  • SUBMISSION CHECKLIST – I’ll share my own personal checklist of 10 questions I always ask myself before hitting submit.

Please note: in most cases, edits will be via track changes/redline in Word.

How much does it cost?

The fee for pieces under 1,000 words is $30. The fee for pieces 1,000-3,000 words is $50. Payment is accepted via Venmo or PayPal only, and is due upon my return of edits to you.

What do you need do to request a feedback edit?

Email me at kristen[at]kristenploetz[dot]com. Include in your Subject “EDIT REQUEST” with the following in the body of your email: (1) word count, and (2) where you intend to submit the piece for publication (or where it has already been declined) so I have an idea of the aesthetic that might be required. Please send your piece as an attachment (Word is preferred, otherwise PDF).

Why am I qualified to provide editing services?

  • I’ve got behind the scenes lit mag experience. Since April 2018, I’ve served as the CNF editor/reader for Atlas + Alice (an online literary magazine). I’ve read hundreds of CNF submissions, and edit accepted pieces prior to publication. I know what catches an editor’s eye, the good, the bad, and the ugly. This will be the honest pep talk you need so your piece stands out. But remember: I’m just one editor. There are hundreds of editors out there with their own opinions, biases, and style preferences, so my feedback is merely food for thought for you to take or leave as you see fit. Ultimately, it is your vision for the piece that matters most, and that’s what I’ll aim to preserve.
  • I’ve been in your shoes. With fiction and nonfiction pieces published at more than 25 online and print journals (full list here), I understand the effort it takes to get words just right, and can relate to the ambivalence of not knowing whether a finished draft is truly a final draft ready for submission, especially without feedback from another empathic, writerly human. 
  • Attention to detail is my jam. While the heart of this service is not intended as a copyedit, my former days working as an attorney and law review editor instilled an appreciation for close attention to language, syntax, and narrative, especially when word count and style are equally paramount.
  • I know a good, persuasive story when I see one. This comes from being an avid reader of nonfiction from a wide range of publications, serving as a judicial law clerk where I analyzed hundreds of written arguments, and, heck, being a parent. Let me show you where your words are working and where they can be strengthened so it becomes clear why you are the best person to tell this story, and why the rest of us should want to read it.

Let’s work together! Email me at kristen[at]kristenploetz[dot]com to get started.