Kerry Aberman
Fiction, Nonfiction
United States English (US)
About Kerry
I am a full-time book editor with nine years’ experience specializing in developmental and line edits. Books I’ve edited have won numerous awards and reached New York Times best seller status. I also offer professional proofreads, manuscript evaluations, and query and synopsis packages. When I agree to work with an author, I see myself as a vital part of their book’s team, and I offer immersive edits catered to their publication goals, whether that’s to become agented and publish traditionally or to write a self-published masterpiece that can compete in the marketplace. I am an award-winning narrative nonfiction writer, so I understand the heart, hope, and vulnerabilities that go into writing a book, regardless of its genre, and I love to bring my experience to authors at all points of their careers.
Services Prices in US dollars. Your written quote confirms the final price.
Developmental Editing
I'll assess your manuscript to determine its strengths, weaknesses, and prose-level issues. Then I'll tackle each "big picture" element (plot, character development, voice/style, structure, setting, sensitivity issues, etc.) in an immersive developmental edit letter which offers copious, actionable feedback and an action plan. Your manuscript will also be full of notes to direct your revisions!
Line and Copyediting
I will interrogate every word and phrase to maximize your manuscript's unique voice and style while improving its readability. I'll correct objective errors, finesse cumbersome sentences, eliminate unintentional redundancies, and leave comments anywhere a larger revision might be beneficial. You get to approve or reject each edit. This step gets your manuscript submission ready!
Proofread
Make sure your manuscript is error free before sending it out into the world! I've proofread (pre- and post-layout proofs) for multiple publishing houses, including books that have become New York Times best sellers. I'll catch objective errors and leave comments should I find any lingering issues (such as sensitivity issues). You'll be sure every nook of your manuscript has been considered!
Manuscript Evaluation
Want to know if the big-picture elements of your manuscript are working? I'll evaluate for voice, structure, plot, character development, setting, and any other applicable element, and provide you feedback and a targeted action plan. You won't get individual manuscript notes (that'd be a developmental edit) but you will be sure your manuscript's biggest issues and strengths have been addressed!
Query and Synopsis Packages
The query is your key to opening a door with agents. I will help you with this notoriously difficult copy so that your manuscript can stand out from the slush pile and generate agent interest! Each package includes a phone call and three rounds of edits to make sure your query is tight, polished, riveting, and accurate.
Portfolio Books Kerry worked on
Work samples
PDFSample Includes: Before, After, and Track Change copy w/further suggestions for author.Read sampleClose
PDFExample of developmental letter and action plan for a historical fiction novelRead sampleClose
PDFSample includes: Author's draft and Revised CopyRead sampleClose
Achievements
- AwardMinnesota Book AwardTitle confidential · Developmental Editor and Copy Editor, 2024
- AwardIPPY AwardEscaping Limbo · Developmental Editor and Copy Editor, 2023
Experience
- Developmental Editor, Beavers Pond Press2018-present
- Copy & Line Editor, Beavers Pond Press2018-present
- Developmental Editor, Proofreader, Copy Editor, Marketing Writer, Wise Ink Media2023-present
- Copy & Line Editor, Urano Editions2023-2024
- Freelance Editor2018-present
- Freelance Ghostwriter2018-present
- Ghostwriter, Beavers Pond Press2018-present
- Developmental Editor, Blue Pen2020-present
Education
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