Transform your draft into a publish-ready manuscript through the magic of editing.
What I Do
Many authors don’t know how to prepare their manuscript for the publication process and feel insecure about whether their work is good enough to publish. I guide them through the editing process, provide my expert skills in refining their manuscript, and help them become a better writer. Whether your project is in the concept phase, is partially written, is a complete manuscript but you don’t know what the next step is, or anywhere in between, let’s talk about it and get your manuscript ready to publish. I can also refer you to resources for the successful publication and marketing of your book.
I provide developmental, line, and copy editing services to authors of novels, memoirs, inspirational, and business books to prepare their manuscripts for publication. I also proofread formatted books prior to publication.
What Is Editing and Why Do You Need It?
If you ask one hundred editors what they do, you'll get one hundred different answers. To find out what I'll do for you when we work together, download my free guide. Even if you decide to work with another editor, please read my guide so you know what questions to ask during the selection process, and what you should expect from the editor you choose.
What Your
Fiction Editor
Does
What Your
Nonfiction Editor
Does
My Clients Say...
Her meticulous attention to detail and relentless fact-checking were challenging, but her dry humor made the editing process fun. I learned a lot about what goes into editing a book. Ultimately, our collaboration produced three excellent books. All three received five stars on Amazon, and I look forward to working with Monique again on my next project! - Anita Dixon Thomas
I can’t recommend Monique Huenergardt highly enough. I’m a writer, and I’m pretty darned good at it. But I’m not a proofreader, and I’m not an editor, so I hired Mo. She’s really good at those things. That would be enough to earn her kudos from 90% of the writers out there. But Mo has an incredible ability to read a story and offer easy-to-implement suggestions that improve it. She’s extremely professional in everything she does, and when offering suggestions to improve pace, heighten suspense, reveal backstory, you name it, she hits the nail on the head. - Anna Bendewald
When I hired Mo to edit my manuscript, it was “mostly there,” with a few bits and pieces still in progress. I was a first-time author learning about the process of self-publishing, and she was very patient and supportive. She took what I gave her and not just polished it, but made suggestions for improvements. After the interior book design was formatted and all of the worksheets inserted, she proofread the pdf. That’s when her relentless attention to detail really paid off. This book is my passion and my life’s work, and Mo helped me make it the best it could be. - Sue Day
What I'll Do for You
Developmental Editing
When your manuscript is as good as you can get it, it's time for developmental editing. I'll look at the "big picture" items like theme, plot, story arc, character development, structure, tempo, and narrative voice to ensure your intended audience resonates with your story and enjoys your storytelling.
$0.04 per word
Line Editing
Your story is sorted out, but will your storytelling delight your reader? If you're not sure, it may be time for line editing. This is where your narrative voice and your Ideal Reader meet.
$0.04 per word
Copy Editing
This is the technical part. Correcting inconsistencies, discrepancies, contradictions, redundancies, repetitions, overused or unnecessary words, fact checking, etc. This is where you establish yourself as a writer.
$0.04 per word
Proofreading
When your book is ready to go, it's time to hit "pause" before you hit "publish." Errors often sneak in during the editing, design, and formatting processes. I'll perform an old-fashioned proofread to be sure everything is in order. You might be surprised the errors your proofreader finds.
$0.02 per word
Manuscript Evaluation
After your beta readers have approved your manuscript, I'll give you specific feedback and resources to help you improve it with self-editing.
$300-$500
Beta Reading
If you’ve finished your manuscript and want to know if it’s worth investing more time and effort perfecting it, I'll give it a "quick read-through" and give you some general feedback from the perspective of your intended reader.
Usually Free
Shadow Writing Sessions - Getting It Done!
If you just can't seem to finish your manuscript or “find time” to write, let’s make time together and get it done. We’ll book a set number of one-hour sessions using the Pomodoro Technique, and I'll be on standby in case you need immediate input. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised how much you can accomplish in an hour. And because you're paying for your sessions up front, you're gonna show up with your game face on, ready to put in your best effort.
$20 per session
Who's Mo?
I'm Monique Huenergardt. I have a knack for spotting errors just about everywhere. I've always been an avid reader and love being pulled into someone else's mind, their ideas, their world. I adore a lovely turn of phrase, a delightful word, a perfectly expressed sentiment. I hate garden path sentences, confusing punctuation (don’t get me started on non-serial commas), and anything else that interrupts immersion in the reading experience. Whatever stage your manuscript is in and whatever condition it’s in, I can help you prepare your book for publication. For the past decade, I’ve been helping independent authors tell their stories as clearly and seamlessly as possible in a way that delights their readers. I'd like to help you, too.