Apocalypse Layout & Editing
Hi! I'm Cryptid, an editor and layout designer based in Minnesota. Together, we can turn your manuscript into your best work.
Qualifications
I hold a degree in Creative Writing and Editing & Publishing from Pacific University. My editorial experience includes serving as an editorial assistant for Silk Road Review and PLUM, and copyeditor and proofreader for various anthology projects. My layout design experience spans across print and digital literary magazines, print and digital anthologies, websites, zines, and promotional graphics. I am happy to take on both long-form and short-form projects.
Specialties
I have editorial and layout experience across genres, including: fiction, memoir, poetry, and stage plays. My fiction specialties include literary fiction, gothic, horror, mystery, romance, and fantasy, but I am happy to work in other genres. I am comfortable working with explicit content!
I am particularly interested in hybrid and experimental forms. Think your project might be the next House of Leaves, Ella Minnow Pea, or Crossings? I'd love to chat!
I offer authenticity reading for stories featuring physically disabled characters (particularly those using mobility aids or service dogs), characters with bipolar disorder and/or OCD, and transgender characters. My feedback is based in lived experience as someone to belonging to these communities, and as a former Disability Advocate for Pacific University.
More About Me
Want to know more about me? Check out my Curriculum Vitae, or shoot me an email at [email protected]! Always happy to chat and answer questions.
Services
I have listed my services in what one might consider the traditional "order" if you chose to do each one. It is not necessary to go through each type of service. It's your manuscript, choose what works best for you!
Not sure which service is right for you? Contact me and we can outline your goals to find the perfect fit!
Editorial Assessment
An editorial assessment is an overarching evaluation of your manuscript strengths and weaknesses. The purpose is to provide direction regarding your manuscript, and often comes before late-stage editing. An editorial assessment does not include in-text edits or comments, and focuses on big picture ideas regarding plot, characters, narrative, structure, and theme. You can expect a 2-4 page single spaced letter following a thorough reading of your manuscript.
Developmental Editing
Developmental editing might be considered a 'step up' from an editorial assessment. You will receive everything provided by an editorial assessment, in addition to chapter-by-chapter notes and in-text big picture edits. A developmental edit does not include copyediting, line edits, or proofreading.
Copyediting
Copyediting exists to make sure the text works on a sentence level. Rather than focusing on the big picture, a good copyedit will ensure that your writing is clear, coherent, and adheres to your desired style. Before edits begin, we will work together to create a style sheet based on your preferences and my professional knowledge. This might include: American vs. British English, the use of the Oxford comma, regional dialects and spelling, etc. A copyedit covers misspelled words, missing words, consistency with the spelling of names and places, correction of punctuation, and general flow of sentences.
Line Editing
A line edit includes everything a copyedit does, but with more attention to the relationship between each word and each sentence. This would include a deeper dive into grammar, sentence structure, and overall form. Line editing is best for really digging into the nitty-gritty of your manuscript to make it the best it can be.
Authenticity Reading
You might also know this as sensitivity reading. Authenticity reading helps to evaluate and offer advice on identities and communities being represented in the text which the author might not belong to. My services include reading for:
characters with physical disabilities who use mobility aids or service dogs
characters with mental illnesses including: bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), vocal and physical tics, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation
transgender and genderqueer characters
From an authenticity reading, you can expect comments and suggestions throughout the manuscript and a 1-2 page write up on strengths, weaknesses, and suggestions.
Proofreading
Proofreading is what many consider to be the 'final' step before publication. This can be done before or after the work is formatted into it's final layout, but it can be beneficial to have your proofreader look at your manuscript after layout so they can catch anything that might have shifted during the formatting process. You can expect a proofread to catch any weird word breaks, issues with page numbering and headers/footers, glaring spelling errors, missed capitalizations, and issues with the table of contents. The proofreading stage is NOT for large edits or to make major changes to the text. Your layout designer might cry if you do.
Layout Design and Formatting
Layout design and formatting is one of the final steps before publication. You can expect your manuscript to be formatted in a genre-appropriate manner, either for digital publication, print publication, or both. We will collaborate on certain elements such as font preferences and detail work. I am happy to collaborate with an artist for interior artwork if you so desire. Layout design does not include any editing.
Pricing
Have a project that falls outside of these genre categories (i.e. a comic book or graphic novel, something more experimental, prose poetry)? Reach out to me and we can discuss what is most appropriate for your project!
All pricing in USD. Contact me to convert to your local currency.
Fiction and Memoir
| Service | Per Word |
|---|---|
| Copyediting | 2.5¢ |
| Line Editing | 3¢ |
| Authenticity Reading | 1¢ |
| Proofreading | 1¢ |
Academic Writing
| Service | Per Word |
|---|---|
| Copyediting | 3¢ |
| Line Editing | 4¢ |
| Proofreading | 2¢ |
Poetry and Stage Plays
Please reach out to me for more information regarding pricing for poetry and stage play editing. Because these art forms are not usually as rigid as fiction or memoir, pricing can vary depending on your project.
Editorial Assessment
This service has a base price of $300 for a manuscript ranging between 50,000-100,000 words. An additional fee may be discussed for longer projects, and a lower fee may be possible for novellas under 50,000 words and for poetry collections. Contact me for more information regarding an editorial assessment for stage plays.
Developmental Editing
This service has a base price of $150 with an additional 0.5¢ per word for fiction and memoir. Contact me for more information regarding developmental editing for poetry collections and stage plays.
Layout Design and Formatting
Please reach out for more information on layout and formatting pricing. I will be able to give you a pricing estimate once we discuss the parameters of your project. A novel or memoir has a very different design process than a comic book or graphic novel, and as such, are priced and handled differently.
Terms & Conditions
Pricing will be determined before work begins, based on the project and word count/page count you supply. If you would like to add additional words/pages after the initial project fee has been agreed upon, an additional fee will be discussed.
A 50% downpayment of your quoted fee is due upon contract, with the remaining 50% due upon completion. Please let me know if you would like to discuss a payment plan. The initial downpayment is nonrefundable.
We will discuss the project and mutually agree upon a reasonable deadline. In the unlikely event that I will not be able to meet the deadline (major illness, bereavement, natural disaster, etc.) I will contact you as soon as possible and we will discuss how we would like to move forward.
If the start date is delayed due to the manuscript not being delivered to me, I reserve the right to charge a rush fee in order to meet the agreed upon deadline, or to push back the deadline. I will contact you to determine which avenue you would like to pursue. In some cases, the delay may make it impossible to meet the initial deadline.
I do not subcontract to anyone else and will not feed any part of your work or our communications into generative AI. All work will be completed by me (Cryptid Parke).
Editing, proofreading, and layout does not include any fact checking. You are responsible for the factual content of your work (if applicable).
Your work will be kept confidential at all times.
I will keep a backup copy of your work (both the initial draft and edited draft) up to 6 months following completion of contract. This copy will not be shared with anyone and only serves to ensure a backup exists in the case of system failure on your end. If you would not like me to do this, please just let me know, and I won't keep a backup copy!
While I endeavor to deliver the best completed project possible, some errors and missed edits are to be expected. If you are unsatisfied by my work, please contact me and explain why so I can do my best to rectify the situation.
If desired, I offer the option of a physical edit where I print your manuscript and go through with a pen and mail you the edited copy. If you would like a physical edit, there is an additional printing and shipping fee.
Contact
Send me a message to discuss which services might be best for you and for a free, no-obligation quote!
Form not working? Shoot me an email at [email protected]