Need an editor?
Writing is an act of vulnerability, and I’m always honored when someone asks me to read a work in progress. I’m a compassionate and thoughtful reader, and I’m proud to be trusted by a wide span of students, emerging writers, creative professionals, and bestselling novelists alike.
My ethos: I work from generosity, and build on a writer’s unique voice to help them deliver their very best work. No matter what your project is, we’ll focus on finding and centering its heart, and we’ll do that by organizing the narrative, enhancing the right story elements, and removing the things that get in the way.
I offer a range of services, from big-picture problem solving, to sentence-level refinement. If you need support for your writing project, please get in touch.
Testimonials
“Tess Canfield is the best kind of reader: passionate about character and story, attentive to language and image, and possessing a sharp and intuitive editor's eye. When I entrust Tess with a draft, I know I'll receive the most thoughtful, considered, and valuable feedback. I can't recommend her highly enough!”
— Nina LaCour, bestselling and award-winning author of Yerba Buena
“Tess is one of the best editors I’ve ever worked with. Even when a story is set in a foreign landscape, she goes the extra mile to educate herself about its background and culture. Her sharp editorial insight transformed my manuscript by clearing redundancy, strengthening dialogue, and bringing clarity to places I never knew needed attention.”
— Karanbir Singh, author of Salt. Water. Pepper.
“Revision is a scary thing. As a writer, you’re at your most vulnerable. But Tess left me feeling like revision was a collaboration. Her edits and feedback helped me bring cohesion and clarity to my first draft. I feel fortunate to have the sharp eyes of Tess Canfield as an editor, and can’t thank her enough for the confidence it brought to my work.”
— Lisa Ferguson, emerging writerServices
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An in depth, top-to-bottom dive into your manuscript, this structural edit begins with a 30-minute introductory meeting to assess the status of your project and your goals. Then, after a close read of the work, I’ll provide a comprehensive editorial letter (4-6 pages) identifying its strengths and offering actionable suggestions for improvement, focusing on structure, character, pacing, theme, style, and voice. I’ll also provide a summary of key ways to strengthen your prose, and offer examples for improving your work on a sentence level via MS Word Track Changes. The edit will conclude with a 90-minute meeting to discuss the letter in detail, and create a plan for the next stage. Rates range from $.03 to $.07 per word, depending on length of manuscript and depth of work. Minimum: $550.00
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For writers on a tighter budget. After an initial 30-minute meeting to discuss your goals, I’ll closely read and assess the strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript. In a 75- to 90-minute follow up meeting, I’ll recommend changes for the next draft, including structure, character, pacing, theme, voice, and style, as needed. Please note, a manuscript consultation does not include an editorial letter, edits on the manuscript itself, or Track Changes. Rates range from $.015 to $.04 per word, depending on length and depth of work. Minimum: $425.00
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Whether it’s for an application or a creative project, crafting a personal narrative is a unique challenge. After an initial 20-minute meeting to discuss your goals, I’ll closely read and assess the strengths and weaknesses of your essay. I’ll provide a 1-2 page edit letter, identifying its strengths and providing actionable suggestions for improvement, focusing on structure, character, pacing, theme, style, and voice, as needed. I’ll also provide a summary of key ways to strengthen your prose, and offer examples for improving your work on a sentence level via MS Word Track Changes. A follow-up meeting can be scheduled at an additional cost. Rates range from $.02 to $.05 per word, depending on length and depth of work. Minimum: $200.00
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Ideal for projects in their final stages, or for writers for whom English is a second language. After an initial 20-30 minute meeting to discuss your goals, I’ll provide a line-by-line edit of your writing project aimed at polishing and readying the piece for submission or publication. Why not just use ChatGPT or Grammarly? Compelling and effective writing is voice-driven. Generative AI is an excellent tool to catch errors or suggest grammatical improvements, but these tools are not currently equipped to edit for genre, tone, or rhythm—all which should enhance your unique voice and preserve your artistic vision. Rates range from $.03 to $.09 per word, depending on length and depth of work. Minimum: $200.00