CUINN EDITS
Editing Services
Precise and thorough edits for novels, scripts, dissertations, corporate handbooks, promotional materials, and more. Includes indexing and development.
Content Creation
Professional content generation, creative collaboration, and on-demand writing packages tailored to meet your individual needs and your budget.
Experience
From a background in news and professional writing to editing for small presses and major houses alike, my 20+ years of experience can work for you.
Find Me on Twitter
Latest news, professional advice, helpful links, and more – I use social media to stay connected to my clients and colleagues. Join the conversation!
About Carrie Cuinn
About 45% of my work is editing full-length fiction manuscripts - especially romance, SFF, and crime/political thrillers.
35% of my editing or indexing nonfiction projects are academic textbooks, PhD theses, and corporate handbooks.
My content creation work includes anonymously ghost-written fiction, press releases, blog posts, news articles, and more.
About 5% of my work includes helping authors with the other tasks necessary to create print and digital books.
Latest News and Articles
Testimonial: Robert H. (SFF novels) Manuscript Evaluation/Heavy Line Edit/Proofread
I had a wonderful client last year who not only hired me for two big projects and told his friends, he also wrote this great review of me online. With permission, I’m reposting it here: Robert H ★★★★★ 02/06/2019 I worked with Ms. Cuinn on two full-length book projects in 2018.Both times, she went above Read more about Testimonial: Robert H. (SFF novels) Manuscript Evaluation/Heavy Line Edit/Proofread[…]
5 Ways to Improve Your Novel Before You Hire an Editor
There are two facts about hiring an editor which are equally true: a professional editor can substantially improve your book, and hiring a professional editor to do a full range of edits is a cost not every author can afford. Sadly, too many authors think this means they can get away with hiring an amateur at cut-rate Read more about 5 Ways to Improve Your Novel Before You Hire an Editor[…]
5 Tips for NaNoWriMo 2018
November means NaNoWriMo for huge numbers of writers, and if you’re one of them, take a look at the 5 tips that most help me when I’m trying to get words on the page: If you can’t write, sleep. This is the rule I live by, and convincing myself to do it has resulted in Read more about 5 Tips for NaNoWriMo 2018[…]
Ask the Editor: Does an Editor I Hire Own Rights to My Work?
I was recently asked If I hire you to edit my novel, what are your terms on copyright and editorial acknowledgment (say if there are 2 or more editors)? My answer was simple: there aren’t any. When you engage an editor, you’re buying “work for hire”, whether that’s specifically stipulated or not. You pay me to edit your Read more about Ask the Editor: Does an Editor I Hire Own Rights to My Work?[…]
Sample Edit: Simple Line Edit vs Heavy Line Edit
In addition to developmental editing and many other services, I currently offer two levels of line editing (also called copyediting or CE). Copy (line) editing, light includes correcting spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax, and word usage; checking for or imposing a consistent style and format. Copy (line) editing, heavy includes correcting spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax, and Read more about Sample Edit: Simple Line Edit vs Heavy Line Edit[…]
Recent Work: Children’s Book
I edited a children’s book a few months ago. It was probably exactly what you’re picturing: less than 1000 words, and meant to be heavily illustrated. I did a two-part developmental package for this client — we worked together to review and revise his overall plot and characterization, and when he was satisfied, I did Read more about Recent Work: Children’s Book[…]
Editing Tips #5: Should You Trigger Warning Your Editor?
trig·ger warn·ing noun a statement at the start of a piece of writing, video, etc., alerting the reader or viewer to the fact that it contains potentially distressing material (often used to introduce a description of such content). We’ve seen a lot of discussion over the use of trigger warnings for a reader or viewer, Read more about Editing Tips #5: Should You Trigger Warning Your Editor?[…]
Editing Tips #4: Who’s Telling the Story?
Before I can edit I story, I have to know a few things. I have to read it over to get a sense of the author’s voice (editing means making the story better, but that doesn’t include making it not yours anymore). I also need to know where the plot ends, so that I can Read more about Editing Tips #4: Who’s Telling the Story?[…]
Editing Tips #3: Know What You’re Getting When You Have an “Editor”
Whether you have a story accepted at a magazine or you’ve hired an editor to help you smooth off the rough edges on your current wip, you will eventually be working with an editor. The kind of editor you hire, or the type of editing that’s done to your work, depends on whether it’s sold Read more about Editing Tips #3: Know What You’re Getting When You Have an “Editor”[…]
Editing Tips #2: Personal Style Guide
I’ve been asked to post some editing tips for people in the process of revising their own work. Most editing notes are universal — applying equally to people editing a short story or those revising their novel. You don’t have to follow every one of my suggestions, but if you at least consider them, your Read more about Editing Tips #2: Personal Style Guide[…]