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Children’s Book Editing

Emma Walton Hamilton / Children’s Book Editing

Proofreading a Manuscript beside LaptopNeed an Experienced, Effective Editor?

Emma Walton Hamilton is a best-selling children’s book author (7 times on the NY Times Bestseller list, including twice at #1). And, as both Editorial Director of the Julie Andrews Collection publishing program and a private consulting editor, she’s shepherded hundreds of books by other authors through the publication process. Because she is an author as well as an editor, Emma uniquely understands the challenges and nuances of creating a successful children’s book…

Click here to see Emma’s books.  Click here to see books edited by Emma.

“Emma is a talented developmental editor. She is adept at giving editorial feedback in a constructive way to authors; has a strong sense of plot, character development, and dialogue, and is particularly good at line-editing so that a story’s shape emerges more clearly (her suggestions for cutting and streamlining are particularly effective). Emma also has a strong marketing sense; unlike many editors, she has a talent for conceiving, writing, and excecuting marketing materials for both print and electronic mediums.” – Katherine Tegen, Vice President, Editorial Director – HarperCollins Children’s Books

Children’s Book Editing Services:

NOTE: Page counts are based on an average of 250 words per page, Times New Roman size 12 font, double-spaced.

Manuscript Evaluation

Comprehensive written evaluation of manuscript, with specific recommendations as to how to strengthen and improve plot, narrative, character development, theme, structure and presentation.

Fees:

  • Picture Book (up to 1,500 words) – $850
  • Early Chapter Books (up to 6,500 words) – $1200
  • Chapter Books (6,500-15,000 words) – $1200 – $2800
  • Middle Grade Novels (15,000 – 35,000 words) $2800 – $3999
  • Middle Grade, Young Adult (YA) (more than 35,000 words) – Starting at $4000

Line Editing

Line-by line recommendations to focus and tighten the story, strengthen the themes, enhance readability, improve grammar and sentence structure and maximize sales potential.

  • Picture Books (up to 1,500 words):   Narrative Prose – $1200    Rhyming Verse – $1500
  • Early Reader/Chapter Book (up to 6,500 words) – $1800
  • Middle Grade Novels, Chapter Books (6,500-35,000 words): $75 per page
  • Middle Grade & Young Adult Novels (more than 35,000 words): $65 per page

Editor in a Box – $197

Not quite ready to hire a private editor? This soup-to-nuts kit containing everything you need to take your picture book through the revision process and prepare it for submission to editors and agents, including:

  • A comprehensive 6-step revision process with specific recommendations for revising your story as well as your storytelling – in video, print and checklist form.
  • Lists of overused and unnecessary words, basic grammar and punctuation rules and commonly made errors
  • Manuscript formatting guidelines
  • Finding, Hiring and Working with Freelance Editors and Manuscript Submission Guides
  • Recordings, Transcripts and Takeaways from Interviews with three esteemed professional children’s book editors

Click here to find out more, or purchase Editor in a Box:  https://emmawaltonhamilton.com/emmawaltonhamilton/store

Query Critiques – $350

Often called “The Query Whisperer” by those who have worked with her, Emma has critiqued hundreds of queries for events such as WriteonCon and Julie Hedlund’s 12X12 Picture Book Challenge as well as for students and editing clients.   A query critique is $350, and includes a line-by-line edit and polish of your query or cover letter to agents or editors for a picture book, chapter book or novel. (Note: It is highly recommended that you view Emma’s short video on Writing Queries prior to requesting a query critique.)

One-to-One Consultation

One-to-one consultation for writing and publishing projects on an hourly basis. Get more information on Emma’s Mentoring and Consulting.

EDITORIAL INQUIRY PROCEDURE:

If you are interested in obtaining editorial services, please email an inquiry to [email protected] Include the following in your email:

  • a brief description of the project
  • number of pages and word count
  • sample chapter or 3-5 sample pages of the manuscript

“A good editor can improve a piece of writing; a really good editor can improve the writer. Emma Walton Hamilton was such an editor for me. She possesses that rare blend of detached professionalism combined with an understanding of the creative process. It’s no wonder that she brings out the best in the writers she works with.” – Susan Milord, author of “Pebble – A Story of Belonging”

See what others are saying about Emma’s Editorial Services