services

Elizabeth Sims

 

Services and rates for 2015

 

 

Free Consultation

 

Send me your first seven pages. I’ll read them and give you professional feedback via phone, Skype, or email. This alone could result in significant progress! Just send me an email to schedule. esims@elizabethsims.com

 

 

Custom Writing Coaching

 

This is all about you and your writing, from general to specific, with the goal of developing a complete literary work. If you’re working on a first draft or major revision, custom coaching from a professional can save you days of uncertain effort and spare you needless anxiety. We can also discuss strategies for building a career as a writer, including options for getting representation, publishing, and platform-building.

 

Power Hour

 

$100, via phone, Skype, or in person. You talk, I listen, we cut through difficulties together. If your project has hit a rough patch, or if you feel stuck or unsettled about your writing in general, this session can help you regain clarity, inspiration, and confidence.

 

Coaching Package

 

These hours are devoted to reading, analyzing, and discussing your work in progress via phone, Skype, and/or email. The hours can be spread over the course of days, weeks, or months, up to a year.

 

3 hours for $275

 

Free with Power Hour or Coaching Package: A copy of You’ve Got a Book in You: A Stress-Free Guide to Writing the Book of Your Dreams, personalized to you and autographed.

 

 

Developmental Editing and Consulting for Fiction and Nonfiction

 

I read your manuscript and give you a deep, substantive line edit and constructive critique on multiple elements, such as plot and characters (for fiction), structure, theme, dialogue (fiction and nonfiction), etc. I’ll include suggested revisions for awkward or unclear material. My focus is on making your manuscript as professional and commercially viable as possible. I pay particular attention to plot and structure, as these are the most crucial elements for success.

 

Although this is not a full copy edit, I’ll include some micro-level corrections, to give you an idea of what a copy edit is all about.

 

All edits will be made using Microsoft Word’s ‘track changes’ tool.

 

You’ll also get:

• A get-acquainted consultation via phone or Skype.
• An editorial letter that covers the manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses, and any suggestions for improvement not covered in my margin notes.
• A one-hour discussion by phone or Skype afterward.

 

Note: While I can work with any project at any stage, I encourage you to get your manuscript into the best possible shape before hiring me. You’ll get best benefit that way.

 

$5 per page (average of 250 words per page).

 

For projects under 60 pages, such as synopses, outlines, short stories or small collections, I charge my hourly consulting rates. Total costs vary. Once I see your project, I can give you a quote at no charge.

 

Free with Developmental Edit / Consultation over $120: A copy of You’ve Got a Book in You: A Stress-Free Guide to Writing the Book of Your Dreams, personalized to you and autographed.

 

 

Copy Editing

 

This is a full copy edit and proofread. It includes corrected spelling, grammar, usage, punctuation, and formatting, but not constructive critique or suggested revisions. If you do nothing else for your manuscript, get it copy edited before submitting to agents and publishers.

 

$4 per page (average of 250 words per page).

If I’ve done a developmental edit on your manuscript within the last 18 months, the charge for copy editing is $3 per page (average of 250 words per page).

 

Free with Copy Edit over $120: A copy of You’ve Got a Book in You: A Stress-Free Guide to Writing the Book of Your Dreams, personalized to you and autographed.

 

Let's talk! esims@elizabethsims.com

Clients Speak

 

 

Working with Elizabeth Sims’ fine balance of exceptional skills is one of the most beneficial—and enjoyable—experiences I've had as a writer.

Her highly developed creativity, grounded in a deep understanding of craft, gets down into the work as if it's her own, yet never intrudes on the individuality of a voice—either the author's or the story's. She's as knowledgeable about structure, form, and every vital aspect of story as a seasoned architect is about design, yet also an advocate for what is unfailingly fresh.

Elizabeth is a clear and timely communicator, a pleasure to work with, and what she
contributed to the process of my novel was a game-changer and turning point, for me and for my work.

 

Phyllis Ring

Author of Snow Fence Road and other books

 

 

 

Elizabeth Sims made me reach far deeper into my writing education and myself than I thought possible. With herinsightful critiques, guidance and support, I did the work, fixed the problems and built on the strengths. The result was not only a significantly improved manuscript and a solid voice; I am a much better writer now thanks to Elizabeth, and I'm halfway into my next novel, without encountering any of the stumbling blocks that were holding me back before.

 

Joseph Miccio

 

 

 

With an author’s heart and a teacher’s mind, Elizabeth Sims coached me to confidence in her thoughtful review of the detailed synopsis of my mystery novel. She served as a sounding-board for my premise, stuck with me through the draft of my first fifty pages, and gave me the courage to expand on an edgy plot dynamic intended to create a stir among readers of traditional mysteries. I highly recommend her writing services.

 

Liz Boeger

Author of AppleJacked! (forthcoming)

 

 

 

I first began with Elizabeth in a Writer’s Digest webinar in the early stages of A Layer of Darkness. Her comments struck me in a way that others couldn’t. She has a unique ability to see through the opaqueness of average writing and understand an author's true intent. I think we all struggle with that to a degree—knowing what we want in our heads but failing to cogently put it into words. Elizabeth knows how to open those doors.

With a full book content edit, Elizabeth is like a literary HGTV show. She comes into it, takes out the trash, outlines the remodel and will leave you with the same house, but a greatly improved look. I look forward to working with her again soon with my next book, China Basin.

 

Rick Niles

Author of A Layer of Darkness