Types of Services
We do line editing (smoothing writing) and copyediting (fixing mistakes), ebook and print formatting, and a variety of virtual author assistant tasks. Please click the appropriate button for more information. You can also read testimonials and frequently asked questions and find contact information. I look forward to hearing from you!
Editing
We only work with PG-13-or-milder material for language, violence, and sex. Please contact us for a free sample edit and quote.Different companies define levels of editing in different ways. Here are our definitions.Level 1: Basic Copy Edit (Basic typos, cosmetic errors.) Most authors need more than this.Level 2: Medium Copy Edit (Minor grammar & word choice, punctuation, small story issues at our discretion.)Level 3: Medium Line Edit (Advanced grammar that requires rewriting sentences, writing style, minor continuity, some story issues at our discretion.)Level 4: Heavy Line Edit (Bigger story issues, smoothing paragraphs, logical flow, more continuity, anything at our discretion.)Level 5: Shorten My Story (If you’ve been told your story is too long but you don’t know what to cut without ruining it, this is one of our favorite tasks.)Rush Job (Depends on space in schedule; must be pre-approved.) Extra fee.Teach Me (More explanation of changes, recommendations for study, tips for future improvement. Can’t be combined with Rush Job, Proofreading, or Basic Copy Edit.) Extra fee.
Book Formatting
We format print and ebook for general retailers, using Vellum. We also format specifically for eGlobal, and can make templates for miniature books for marketing purposes (giveaways, etc).We don't do fixed-format ebooks (like picture books, though a few pictures in a reflowable ebook are fine). We only work with PG-13-or-milder material for language, violence, and sex.Fees start at $20 and go up depending on the length and complexity of your project.
Please contact us for a quote.
Virtual Author Assistant
• Our preferred tasks are formatting, editing, and organizing.• We can also work with email marketing services, story bibles, uploads, databases, reader book tracking sites, and basic website maintenance/updates.• We do not do social media and only work with PG-13-or-milder material for language, violence, and sex.EXPERIENCEProfessional editor (line and copyediting). Prefer working on Google Docs.Formatting: Vellum, eGlobal, Marty C. Lee's mini-book template.Organization/scheduling.Google Suite, Asana, and a bit of Notion.MailerLite & Email Octopus. Willing to do any email tasks except writing newsletters. Editing, proofing, assembly, links, scheduling, creating templates or automations, and subscriber management are fine.Amazon, B&N, D2D, Kobo, Payhip, Bookfunnel, PublishDrive, StreetLib, MyBookCave, & ProlificWorks. Old experience with StoryOrigin.Basic WordPerfect.org.Goodreads, Hardcover, & Fiction Database.*Willing to learn other programs. Other tasks can be considered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why shouldn’t I just use Draft2Digital, PublishDrive, Reedsy, or another free formatting service?
If you like their styles and fit their project limitations, go for it! If you want more options or have a more complex project, or just want someone else to do the work, we're here for you. :)How do I know if you are a good fit for my work?
Read the testimonials, ask questions, or ask for a sample edit (1000 words are free, or you can pay for a chapter/short story). Teach Me trials are limited to 1 page.What experience do you have?
We’ve edited novels, novellas, short stories, podcasts, and a children’s book, on adult, young adult, and juvenile levels. Most of them have been fantasy (with or without romance), but we’ve also done historical and contemporary romance, light sci-fi and speculative fiction, historical fiction, contemporary mystery and suspense, and non-fiction intended for a general audience.Why Google Docs instead of Word?
It’s easier to use and gives you-the-writer faster feedback. You can follow along easily as we work and ask questions, and it does have security features. You are welcome to ask questions during the process or to reply to comments if you need clarification/explanation. You can resolve comments as quickly as you’d like once we're finished for the day (except for bookmarks and anything we specifically say don’t resolve yet), which means you can meet your publishing deadlines faster.How do I hire you?
After you’ve read the Notes and Services, you can email us or send us a FB message to start the process. Once your project has been approved, we will send you an invoice for the down payment and add you to my schedule. When you’ve paid that, you send me your document and we start working on schedule.I see you are already affordable compared to average editing rates (https://www.the-efa.org/rates/), but is there anything I can do to make you even cheaper?
Yes! You can use any of the following strategies:
Get a friend or beta reader to point out as many problems as possible and fix them first.
Select the At Leisure service if you aren’t in a hurry.
Don’t initiate multiple rounds of editing (don’t Reply to Comments/Changes except where you need clarification or we ask for info).
Ask for a cap on costs (we’ll work that much and then stop).
Do a section of your work at a time (doesn’t reduce total cost, but does spread it out).
Select a “Teach Me” add-on (for more $) for a smaller section of your work, then see how much you can learn to apply to your work yourself.
We have a Referral Discount. If you refer someone who hires us, after their job is finished & paid, your next job can get a discount. You must both mention the referral.
Testimonials
VIRTUAL ASSISTANT TESTIMONIALSI wholeheartedly recommend Martha for any role requiring meticulous attention to detail and unwavering reliability. She consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic and a commitment to accuracy, making her an invaluable asset in situations where even the smallest detail can have a significant impact. Martha excels at following instructions precisely and possesses a remarkable ability to focus on the intricacies of complex tasks, ensuring that everything is completed to the highest standard. Her dedication and precision make her a truly dependable and highly effective individual. —Erin Wright, USA Today best-selling romance writerEDITING TESTIMONIALSMartha is an excellent editor. I gave her my 84K manuscript and she worked through it thoroughly and quickly. I got her edits back in a couple of weeks. In her edits, she caught many large and small things that Grammarly missed, as well as pointed out style items (such as dialog tags) that could be eliminated and make the story flow smoother. She didn't just correct my mistakes, but she also taught me why they should be changed and what to look for so I could go “search and destroy” similar mistakes in future manuscripts. She did everything in edit/comment mode so I could decide whether or not I wanted to make the changes (though most often I did accept her suggestions). I fully recommend her as an editor. She was worth every cent! —Maria Farb, author of The King’s Trial and The King’s ShadowMartha has a great eye for detail and a talent of interpreting the author's vision. She uses her expertise in smoothing out rough edges while maintaining the established tone. She has the heart of a teacher, using her knowledge to help writers improve their craft. While using her services, I've discovered the traps I tend to fall into and am able to solve more problems before the manuscript goes through the editing process. I know Martha will tell me the truth, and she'll work hard to help me make my writing the best possible. Martha was instrumental in revisions on a short story I submitted to the Writers of the Future Contest and received an Honorable Mention Award for 2019. She's my secret weapon in writing.
—Michelle Henrie, author of “Fire and Beads”Whatever I write, I bring to Martha for her approval. Not only does she have an impeccable sense of grammar, she understands how to sculpt a narrative. Whatever advice she gives, from word choice to plot development, I can trust her opinion to be well-reasoned and thoroughly researched. Most importantly, though she critiques my work with courtesy, she pushes me to never settle for “good enough.” —Chris Cornetto, author of “Heart of Stone”Martha was so helpful to me when I was editing my latest novel. When she offered to beta-read my book, I wasn’t expecting anything close to the level of detail and professionalism she gave me. She was able to point out many problems with my manuscript that I hadn’t noticed on my own, and offered ideas for fixing problems and plot holes. I can definitely say that my novel is much better because of her suggestions and corrections, and I would be very happy if I were ever able to have her edit for me again.
—Dale Britton, author of Watching Amy and Everybody Knows JaneOver the last two years, Martha has helped me with several projects, showing me just how to polish my tarnished manuscripts into shiny new stories. I can’t recommend her editing skills enough. If you’re looking for a line editor who can apply meticulous attention to detail and who will straighten out your grammar, Martha is it.
—Liz McCraine, author of The Pirate and the Princess and Beyond the SandsMartha read the first chapters of my manuscript, Super, Naturally, for me before I submitted it to an agent. She was very thorough. She excelled at line edits and proofreading. I respect her work and opinion, and I would absolutely recommend her to someone looking to refine their writing. —Marion BoydBookaholics Press worked magic for my ghost story. I can't say enough good things about Martha's editing skills. She's especially great at trimming the fluff and finding the snags. I highly recommend her! —Robin CranneyI am extremely pleased with the editing job performed by Martha. She is thorough in her knowledge of the ins and outs of genre fiction writing, even with my unusual genre of a midcentury 50s L.A. historical detective story, so unfamiliar to most editors. I am impressed with her grasp of grammar and sentence structure. Even after running my manuscript through two critique groups of highest caliber, Martha found plenty of those pesky bits and pieces of grammar errors still clinging to my work long after I’d gone “Book Blind” to my own writing. She helped me see that some chapters needed extra help in trimming out the unnecessary parts, so the writing flowed better and is crisp and clean. Martha is pleasant and easy to work with. She uses her expertise to help me be a better writer by pointing out annoying tropes that appear in my writing and weaken it. I am very happy with Martha, her editing expertise, and the efficient way she helped to make my writing as perfect as it could become. I would highly recommend Martha and her editing services to anyone looking to polish up their manuscript and get it ready for publication.
Like other writers who have used Martha Rasmussen, editing services at Bookaholics Press, I too have been greatly thrilled with her efficiency and proficiency in all things grammar. She took a "polished" manuscript and still found those sneaky little grammar errors that always trip up the writer. I can't thank Martha enough for her help in getting my third book in a series published AND made it look fantastic. Thanks, Carol
—Carol Malone, author of Fight Card Romance: Sunday PunchThis book wouldn’t have been possible without my editor, Martha Rasmussen, who helped give my story a solid spine and whose opinions and advice shaped my ideas into a better story.
Nora Rainbow, author of A Yellow Afternoon with Inventors Dr Giorgio von Tick and Fifi JellyfishI cannot recommend Martha at Bookaholics Press enough! I had struggled to find an editor that I could work with- who could edit my manuscript without trying to rewrite it, who understood my voice without trying to silence it, and whose edits I could trust without constantly second-guessing. Martha hits all three!
She is an absolutely fantastic editor, works quickly, and is friendly and easy to work with. Give her a try, you won't be disappointed! —Morgan J. Muir, author of The Zyanya CycleMartha did an excellent copy edit on my manuscript, making it tighter and read so much better. She picked up things I didn’t even know about. Highly recommend!
—Robyn Enlund, author of Whiff of ScandalMartha’s edits are phenomenal! She was quick, sharp, professional, and amazing. She made my story so much better than I could imagine. She gets five stars from me!
—Lisa Higgins, author of The Heart of a ViscountMartha was knowledgeable and thoughtful. She found many things in my writing. Best of all, when we hit places where we disagreed, we worked through our disagreements without rancor. Martha was interested in my story and helped in areas such as basic grammar, action beat placement, clarifying confusing passages, and many other items. She's a definite 5 out of 5.
—Andy Clark, author of ElexashaFORMATTING TESTIMONIALSBookaholics Press is easy to work with, quick to respond to my questions, and does quality work. She took my novella of 10K words and formatted it in one day (based on my request for a rush job). I'm impressed with her work and her customer service.
—M L Farb, author of “East of Apollo's Palace”I was impressed with the professional formatting performed by Martha Rasmussen of Bookaholics Press LLC. All the forms of my book that she formatted for me came back in a timely manner and I was pleased with each of the versions of eBook, Kindle, and ready-for-print edition. I would highly recommend Bookaholics Press for your formatting needs.
—Carol Malone, author of Sunday Punch
Contact
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