General Information
As the writer of any type of content, you have done the hard work. So first, congratulations! You did it—something many cannot do. Take a moment to appreciate how awesome you are for tackling this hard task.
Now, you need a guide to help smooth out any potential issues and to direct and cheer you along the revision phase, which can often be harder.
My team and I act as that guide—a beacon—building a trusting partnership with you through kindly worded queries, astute suggestions, and changes that preserve your voice.
Instead of paying for multiple editors, you can hire Beacon Point for multiple editing needs in one package deal, saving you time and money. The package deal includes several passes so my team or I can address big-picture issues while also focusing in on every detail.
My Credentials
Completed 12 professional editing courses.
Recognized as the top preferred editor for SPS within 4 months editing for their clients
Received a glowing recommendation from my nonfiction and fiction developmental editing teacher: she had never met anyone who picked up the art of developmental editing as quickly as I did
Personally edited nearly 300 books, 6 websites, 8 business documents, 37 resumes and cover letters, 48 biographies, and 5 personal statements
9 years’ editing experience
Earned my bachelor’s in English education with honors
Check out my team members’ credentials
Testimonials
I was so fortunate to have Katie Chambers edit my memoir. She helped polish my story from editing the conventions of writing to addressing the content, style, and structure. I was impressed by how Katie gave brilliant suggested options to improve and strengthen the manuscript. She is very professional and gets the job done. As an editor, Katie is a true gatekeeper between the author and the reader.
Working with Katie on ‘What’s Going on With My Family?’ was an honor! Her meticulous attention to detail and unwavering dedication to the project truly set the bar high. Not only did she ensure that the narrative flowed seamlessly, but her keen insights and thoughtful suggestions elevated the content to new heights. Her expertise in non-fiction editing is unmatched, and Katie’s ability to navigate complex concepts related to trauma and families within the text was truly remarkable. Thanks to her guidance and expertise, the book resonates with readers on a profound level, sparking meaningful conversations and offering invaluable insights. I wholeheartedly recommend Katie to anyone seeking excellence in their non-fiction editing needs. She is a true professional and a pleasure to work with!”
Katie easily absorbed My book’s main ides and then added ideas that I didn’t think about. That says a lot about how she works.
She didn’t just give me grammar and spelling advice. She did much more by suggesting paragraph movements and sentence structure as well as suggesting erudite ideas to enhance and add clarity to the book.
This was more of a consulting relationship than pure editing.
I will use her again!
5 Stars! A great book is two hands clapping. One is the writer; the other the editor. I have worked with a lot of top editors over the years and while they all have talent the majority live in a world of their own timing – they are not reliable. So while there may well be two hands clapping they don’t clap at the same time which leads the writer into realms of frustration. Waiting, wondering and worrying.
Not so with Katie Chambers. She is an excellent substantive editor and is prompt and reliable. A pleasure and a relief to work with.
That being said the bottom line with any review is would you work with this person again? And the answer is a definite yes. And I will recommend her to my fellow authors and speakers. Thanks Katie.
I enjoyed my experience working with Katie. As a first time author, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the editing process. I heard horror stories about editors completely changing your words, and writers losing confidence and giving up. I never experienced any of these working with Katie. In reality, she motivated me to think deeper and create a product that my readers will find valuable. I’m passionate about helping social service professionals and the notes Katie provided pushed me to create a product that will make a difference. If you’re looking for an editor that will challenge you to become a better writer while giving your manuscript the transformation it needs, I HIGHLY recommend you work with Katie.
Katie did a great job helping me turn my fiction dystopian novel from a rough draft into a compelling read. Not only did she point out where the manuscript could be improved, she provided me with invaluable resources that helped improve my skills. With her help, I made great strides in showing rather than telling, building tension, avoiding head-hoping, improving dialogue and internal thoughts, and removing all of the plot holes and inconsistencies. Her approach is thorough. The manuscript was throughly reviewed and edited and she also provided a lengthly editorial letter describing some of the big-picture items I needed to consider and change. Ultimately, I accepted all of her suggestions.
I can’t believe how much better my manuscript is after working with Katie. She is a great asset and worth every penny. I highly recommend her services.
Katie is a highly organized professional who provided insight and suggestions to improve my writing. She guided me through the editing process and thoughtfully considered not only grammar and organization but also the flow and intent of the book itself. She took my project as seriously as I did and paid attention to every detail. I would work with her again in a heartbeat and won’t hesitate to recommend her.
I was originally referred to Katie by my SPS personal coach. and could not have been happier with the decision to go with her. She is very affordable, professional, and qualified. Some of her changes were beyond my expectations and improved the overall quality of my manuscript without compromising its integrity. I highly recommend her!
I was extremely impressed with Beacon’s work on my manuscript. I thought I was pretty good with grammar, but they really cleaned things up. Aside from that, it was clear they took the time to familiarize themselves with the flow and content of my work. This was evidenced in their comments and suggestions regarding said content. I would confidently consider them for any future projects.
Katie did a brilliant job of taking a rookie writer through the editing process. I’ll be collaborating with her on any books, etc that I write. She is a valuable partner in the process.
Editing Details
Services
Substantive/developmental editing
Suggesting and making changes to content and organization—ensuring clear, coherent delivery.
With fiction this means looking at plot, characters, setting, pacing, and point of view.
Copyediting
Fixing errors with grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation; suggesting changes to sentence structure and word choice, ensuring your language is clear, fluid, and pleasurable to read; and ensuring consistency.
*Our copyediting service includes what some call line or stylistic editing.
Proofreading
Fixing remaining errors with grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation; fixing formatting errors; and commenting on any awkward phrasing.
This service comes after editing. We don’t proofread any manuscripts that haven’t first been copyedited.
Manuscript Checkup
A bridge for authors who want professional feedback to help guide their self-editing and save time and money.
Includes professional edits on your first two chapters, a one-on-one coaching call to teach you two specific craft techniques your manuscript needs, and feedback on one self-revised chapter so you know you’re applying it right.
Clients We Work With
Fiction authors
YA fantasy, supernatural; YA and adult dystopian, mystery, thriller; middle grade; picture books; and chapter books.
Members of my team can edit historical fiction, closed-door romance, poetry, and science fiction.
Nonfiction authors
Self-help, business, how-to, memoirs, and religious guide books.
Each Beacon Point editor (including me) specializes in one–three nonfiction genres.
Business professionals
Website content, business marketing documents, and self-marketing documents (resumes, cover letters, biographies, and personal statements)
Editing Style and Author Control
With any Beacon Point editor or proofreader, you can expect this style.
Hands-on editing: many changes are made directly in the text rather than just suggested in the margins. This approach saves you time and lets you see exactly how clarity, flow, or craft can be improved in the context of your manuscript.
In nonfiction, we may suggest content-level changes rather than make them directly or we may make them directly if we feel confident with the topic. In fiction, we model craft-level edits in the text directly for the first few chapters or so, then offer suggestions to help you apply the same techniques in future chapters. Substantial changes to plot or character are always provided as suggestions in the editorial letter.
Even when edits are made directly in the text, they’re still just suggestions—you remain in full control. You can accept them as is; accept, then tweak them to fit your voice; or reject them entirely.
We simply encourage you to consider why a change was made before deciding what to do with it. Our goal is to support your message, your voice, and your growth as a writer.
Editing Process
Nonfiction process
This is our usual process, but we can adjust it to fit your needs. This has just been the workflow that has worked best for the majority of Beacon Point’s clientele. To expedite the process and ensure round two can begin sooner, you can choose the chunking method.
Combined Package or One Service Process
(2.5 passes in two rounds)
Round One: Two editing passes. Complete a first pass, double check the work and add any additional edits during a second pass, then send the manuscript to you. If you choose the chunking method, the manuscript will be delivered in chunks (Two passes on one chunk, then send to you, etc.)
- To the Author: Your job is to accept/reject changes and add any additional material or changes per the suggestions. If you choose the chunking method, while you’re completing your tasks on the first chunk, the editor will be editing the next chunk.
Round Two: Half pass, edit any newly added material, make changes agreed upon ahead of time (e.g., rearranging content), check all comments and your responses and add anything as needed, run grammar and spelling checks, and check consistency (e.g., spelling, formatting, etc.).
- To keep Beacon Point’s rates affordable, this second round is not a full read-through. It is a cleanup round. It is important and ideal for the editor to see the manuscript again after handing it over to the author, which is why we include this second round, but some authors can’t afford two complete rounds. Thus, I essentially only charge you for the first round since this is just a courtesy cleanup.
- If you or I think another full editing pass is needed rather than just a cleanup, that will be done for a discounted per-word rate.
Both Services in Separate Rounds
(3.5 passes in three rounds)
Round One: Focus on substantive editing. The process is the same as the combined or one service process round one with two passes.
- To the Author: Done the same way as the combined package or one service process.
Round Two: After receiving the manuscript, it’s time for the copyediting round, one full pass.
- To the Author: Done the same way.
Round Three: Half pass, edit any newly added material, make changes agreed upon ahead of time (e.g., rearranging content), check all comments and your responses and add anything as needed, run grammar and spelling checks, and check consistency (e.g., spelling, formatting, etc.).
Fiction process
This is my usual process, but I can adjust it to fit your needs. This has just been the workflow that has worked best for the majority of my clientele.
Combined Package (3.5 passes in two rounds)
or One Service Process (2.5 passes in two rounds)
Round One: Two full editing passes. Complete a first pass, double check the work and add any additional edits during a second pass, then send the manuscript to you. If you got developmental editing, you will receive an editorial letter that gives context for the changes and suggests some ways to fix big-picture issues.
- To the Author: Your job is to accept/reject changes and add any additional material or changes per the suggestions.
Round Two Combined Package: One full pass to check for remaining errors and to perform an assessment on the big-picture items and how well they were incorporated. After the full pass, a half pass is done to check consistency. If a lot of big-picture items remain, I will recommend an additional pass at a discounted per-word rate. But, of course, it is up to you.
Round Two One Service: Half pass, edit any newly added material, check to see how well you applied the suggestions in the editorial letter, respond to comments, and check consistency. This second round is just a half-pass courtesy cleanup round, not a full read through. I also do an assessment and let you know if I think a full round rather than just a half pass would be in your best interest.
(4.5 passes in three rounds)
- To the Author: Your job is to accept/reject changes and add any additional material or changes per my suggestions.
Round Two: Two full editing passes focusing on copyediting while also noting any remaining big-picture issues. You may also receive another shorter editorial letter with any remaining big-picture issues for you to fix.
- To the Author: Your job is to accept/reject changes and add any additional material or changes per my suggestions
Round Three: Half pass, edit any newly added material, check all comments and your responses and add anything as needed, run grammar and spelling checks, and check consistency.
Resources
Visit my writer’s resources center for articles and ebooklets focused on helping you.
My resource center offers resources in a variety of categories:
- Working with an editor
- Self-editing
- Style sheets
- Self-publishing tips
- Fiction writing tips
- Nonfiction writing tips
- Grammar and punctuation help
