Lisa Kaitz

Lisa Kaitz – Editor

I’m a copyeditor with more than 13 years’ experience who loves making a story stronger and inspiring authors to go further!

Overview

Starting from a spark of an idea and arriving here with a story is already an extraordinary accomplishment!

MY PHILOSOPHY
On my business card, I included a saying from Arthur Plotnik that thrilled me when I read it because it perfectly encapsulates my approach: “You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what’s burning inside you. And we edit to let the fire show through the smoke.”

HOW I CAN HELP YOU
There are algorithms that can spot misspellings or suggest a word and they’re helpful, but only a human can read for context—distinguishing between homophones or noticing any flawed logic, for example. That’s where I come in, identifying and quietly disarming any land mines in a manuscript.

Experience is important, because what you do is special. There are creative standards in fiction that don’t apply elsewhere. (For instance, ample leeway is allowed for fragmented sentences.) And it’s only through years of hands-on copyediting that I can carefully handle such subtleties, knowing when to leave something alone and when to modify it.

But rest assured, I’m not a failed writer looking to make my mark on your hard work. I’m an enthusiastic professional who has found an outlet for language skills beyond pointing to typos in ads or on storefront windows. I love what I do, and I’m constantly improving by attending classes, reading not only within my field but for pleasure, and participating in social media editing and writing groups.

MY BACKGROUND
I have nearly 70 books in my portfolio, including international bestsellers Simon Gervais and Manel Loureiro, New York Times bestselling author Tanya Anne Crosby, and former Random House and Hearst powerhouse Howard Kaminsky. I specialize these days in thrillers and mysteries, but I’m open to just about everything. I’m a naturally curious person, so I enjoy the eclectic possibilities of editing all kinds of fiction.

MY SERVICES
Copyediting is about making thoughtful adjustments—kicking aside what doesn’t quite work, tightening everything up, and eliminating errors and inconsistencies so a reader isn’t distracted, allowing them to absorb and enjoy what you’ve worked so hard to convey. I understand it can be difficult to think about grammar and mechanics when you’re just trying to get a character from one place to the next. You were rightly concentrating on the creative process. Now it’s time to relax and let me deal with the nitty-gritty. Here’s a breakdown of the sentence-level particulars I focus on (in U.S. English):


~Correcting punctuation, spelling, grammar, syntax, capitalization, and word usage while preserving the meaning and voice of your original text

~Eliminating repetition, redundancy, wordiness, and incompleteness

~Substituting weak words or phrases with stronger alternatives

~Addressing basic point-of-view issues

~Fixing or indicating flawed logic (a character suddenly has red hair or walked through a locked door)

~Reading for overall clarity and sense with regard to the target audience

~Adhering to or imposing a consistent style, and creating a custom style sheet to maintain your preferences

~Performing light fact-checking (looking up the spelling of "Kathmandu" but not checking on how a character would get from there to San Francisco—authors are wholly responsible for facts)

~Rearranging the order of words or sentences within paragraphs to better convey a point

~Deleting or querying nonessential elements for better flow

~Making sure dialogue tags are verbal (from “Are you kidding me?” she laughed — to "Are you kidding me?" she said with a laugh)

~Adjusting dialogue on occasion to sound more like natural speech, unless it would undermine a character (using more contractions, for example)

~Ensuring any sequencing is accurate (where body parts go during a fight scene)

~Identifying language differences: localizing words not familiar to a U.S. audience (changing "petrol" to "gas")

~Flagging for possible biased or outdated language, as well as cliches

---> Two things to note <---

1. I don't provide developmental editing, meaning "big picture" stuff: identifying and solving problems in the text regarding plot, story arc, timelines, characters, etc.; reorganizing or rewriting whole paragraphs, sections, or chapters; suggesting further topics…yada-yada-yada. All this should be addressed during an early editing stage, before it gets to me. So when you request my services, it's strictly for copyediting.

2. I don't work on horror or material that contains very graphic descriptions of violence; however, mentioning in the manuscript that such things have occurred is fine. (If you're unsure, feel free to contact me through Reedsy's email.)


All work is strictly confidential and respected. I mean it.


FEES
Once payment has cleared my bank account, I can begin. Please be sure that you're all set up with Stripe so payments can go smoothly. The industry’s minimum for fiction copyediting starts at $0.02 per word and ranges to about $0.04. There are a number of factors I consider when figuring out a quote. How complex is your project? If it’s a smooth read from the outset—hopefully I can tell by your excerpt—I’ll quote on the lower end. If I anticipate lots of corrections or fact-checking, I’ll quote higher because it’s more time-consuming. If your story involves world-building or an intricate storyline, for example, this will factor in too. I also account for administrative work. Other editors may quote lower to attain steady work, but my fees represent the time and skill involved to give your manuscript the treatment it deserves. This isn't a side gig for me; I copyedit for a living.


LISA, THE PERSON
After spending a huge chunk of my misspent youth in New York City, I moved with my husband and young son to Portland, Oregon, where it rains only half as much as I thought it would—go figure. We also have two cats because…of course. I relish cracking open a good book (big surprise), listening to Armchair Expert and This American Life, rearranging my living room, playing Legos, and whipping up something in the kitchen, although that's really more about eating. Hello, cake!

WHAT'S NEXT
Let’s talk about your story and figure out how we can achieve your vision. I look forward to meeting you!

Services
Fiction
Action & Adventure Contemporary Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery & Crime Romance Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction
Languages
English (US)
Certifications
  • Certificate in Copy Editing

Work experience

Core K12

Oct, 2010 — Sep, 2012 (almost 2 years)

Copyedited student assessment tests for grades K–12 in all subjects, on hard copy
and in MS Word, using The Chicago Manual of Style and multiple style sheets customized for various school districts throughout the United States. Wrote original text or found and edited appropriate public domain material, replacing words and altering sentence length for complexity according to specific Lexile measures using Core’s CMS. Worked closely with content editors and art/production department to ensure precise requirements were achieved and delivered on schedule.

Core K12 acquired the K-12 division of The Princeton Review in early 2009.

Self-employed

Jan, 2010 — Present

Portfolio

Perfectly Broken

Robert Burke Warren

A novel of sex, dads, and rock & roll. His rock star days may be behind him, but stay-at-home dad Grant Kelly's life is getting more interesting by the day. It's the beginning of the post 9/11 era, and he and his wife and four-year-old son have traded a New Yo... read more
The Patriot Cipher

McCutchen, Sean

The electrifying sequel to international best seller Apocalypse Z The Russian-spawned virus that kills swiftly then ghoulishly resurrects its victims as ravenous cannibals has breached international borders. The infernal progression… From outbreak to epidemic ... read more
Angel Wings

Howard Kaminsky

As a veteran member of the Providence police department's elite homicide squad, Detective Danny Martell has seen his fair share of dead bodies. But he’s never seen anything quite like this. Women around the city are being brutally murdered, their dead faces el... read more
“Steven Manchester writes about people, life, love and second chances in a warm and realistic way that goes beyond fabulous writing and straight into sigh-worthy, romance that is both relatable and magical. He breathes life into his characters and fills them w... read more
Mike Walton had experienced terrorism from every angle. As a covert field operations officer, he thought he'd seen it all. But that was before terrorism struck him directly at home. Suffering devastating physical injury and unthinkable personal loss, Mike had ... read more
“Stunning.”– Crystal Book Reviews“It is amazing that Steven Manchester can take the same alphabet most of us use, create the same words most of us use, and arrange them so skillfully that they reach in and stir profound emotions in a reader. His ability to con... read more
Detective Manny Alvarez knows the body of a murdered Florida student is only the beginning—his investigation soon reveals a terrifying trend in nightclub abductions.Hotshot Assistant State Attorney Daria DeBianchi works the case too, hoping it will be the one ... read more
An explosion outside his speakeasy draws Jimmy into a life-or-death chase Young Jimmy Quinn is delivering a bribe for the infamous racketeer Arnold Rothstein when a bomb goes off on Wall Street, killing thirty people and scaring every banker in the city right ... read more
Redemption Song

Tanya Anne Crosby

Raised as an only child, Caia Paine once believed she had everything she would ever need to live a rich and contented life. The last thing she ever expected was that she would wake up one morning, despairing, and so full of loathing that even the sky is darken... read more
The Super Ladies

Petrone, Susan

The Flagler Hunt

Burns, Jeremy

Nicholas Colt…World-class guitarist with a crushed hand, private investigator with a revoked license. Currently settling into a nice quiet life of teaching music and spending time with his family. Or so he thinks.Diana Dawkins…Operative with the ultra-clandest... read more

Lisa has 16 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

AJ S.

AJ S.

Feb, 2024

Always a great edit from Lisa, and this last one is no exception.
AJ S.

AJ S.

Dec, 2023

As always, five stars is not enough for the job Lisa does. Another excellent edit.
William H.

William H.

Apr, 2023

I worked with Lisa on a recent fictional manuscript and was very pleased with the collaboration. Initially, she provided clear examples of her editing style and details about the products she would provide. After initiating the contract, she took the time to understand my needs and clarify her role. Her communication during the editing was excellent, and she delivered the final products on time...
Read more
Lisa K.
William, you were a dream to work with, and I loved your story! I wish you nothing but success, and hope to work with you again.
Anne B.

Anne B.

Mar, 2023

This is my third collabertion with Lisa. I'm sticking with a winner!
Anne B.

Anne B.

Jan, 2023

This is my second collaboration with Lisa. Her talent to hash out the story down to the smallest detail is inspiring. I feel her services provided to me were even more than my money's worth. She's made me a better writer. I will hire her again.

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