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Chris | Romance editor—all genres

@cmwhearyediting

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Experienced, thoughtful, and compassionate line & copy editing
My assistants are 2 corgis
Contact me for a free 1000-word sample edit
#romanceeditor

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Hey there!

If you don’t know me already, my name is Chris and I’m an experienced romance editor—last year, I edited twenty romance novels. I follow CMOS editing guidelines (the industry standard).

I have nearly six years of experience working as a romance editor. The services I offer are line edits, copy edits, and proofreading. I also have a couple of editing packages that are popular with authors. I’m an avid romance reader, too—I’ve been reading romance novels for over thirty-five years!

I offer an amazing customer service experience for my clients. I’m a pro at tweaking great writing into a story that flows easily and will have your readers losing themselves in your book. I take great pride in providing a quality service for authors. I also believe that communication is key to a great working relationship.

If you’d like to work with me, please feel welcome to contact me at whechris@outlook.com. You can also check out my services provided, including package deals and my rates, at www.cmwheary.com.

#romanceeditor #ameditingromance #amediting #amediting☕ #amproofreading #contemporaryromance #paranormalromance #copyeditor #romanceauthors #romancewriters #indieromanceauthors #indieromancewriters #romanceediting by @cmwhearyediting

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2 years ago

QOTD: do you know the difference between developmental editing, line editing, and copy editing? 🤓

Whaaat? Aren’t all edits the same?

Nope! 🤯

For today’s post, I’m going to talk about copy editing. It’s my most popular service, followed by my line and copy editing package.

Be sure to save this for future reference! ✅

The first step in hiring the right editor is determining what type of editing you need for your book.

Copy editing is checking for repetition, inconsistencies, and mistakes in your manuscript. This service includes correcting grammar, spelling, punctuation, and ensuring technical consistency. For example, did you call the spinster aunt introduced in chapter one “Mrs.” in chapter five? Did your heroine have green eyes or blue? These types of errors can affect your readers’ ratings, and your book will look polished after copy edits are completed by a professional editor.

I offer copy editing as part of my services. My specialty is the romance genre. 💜

Here’s what some of my romance writer clients have to say about working with me:

“Chris is very professional, communicative, and a dream to work with. Her work is always thorough, high quality, and on time. She makes my manuscripts better.”

“It is such a joy working with you! You make my books absolutely SHINE!”

“I highly recommend working with Chris. She’s the ultimate got-your-back editor, and that’s worth its weight in gold to any author looking to make sure they’re putting their most polished foot forward.”

Do you have an editing question you’d like answered? Let me know in the comments or DM me. 😊 by @cmwhearyediting

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4 years ago

I’m often asked — what’s the difference between developmental editing, line editing, and copy editing? 🤓

Wait, what? Aren’t all editors the same? 🤷‍♀️

Nope, there are different levels of editing. 🤯

For today’s post, I’m going to talk about line editing (my favorite!).

Be sure to save this for future reference! ✅

The first step in hiring the right editor is determining what type of editing you need for your book.

Line editing is a sentence-by-sentence review of your manuscript. In this type of edit, I’m down in the weeds, not looking at the big picture (as is done in a developmental edit—see my reel on developmental editing).

Line editing focuses on word choice and restructuring run-on sentences and sentence fragments. I help you clarify meaning, eliminate jargon, and ensure that each sentence flows easily in your reader’s mind.

Line editing should be completed after developmental edits and before copyedits or proofreading. It’s important to hire a line editor that’s familiar with the genre of your book because they understand what readers like, want, and expect.

I offer line editing as part of my services. My specialty is the romance genre. 💜

Here’s what romance writer Emma Blake had to say about my work on her Cape Worth Billionaires series: “Chris is a pro. She's always on time, very communicative, and goes above and beyond. She makes my manuscripts better and I love working with her.”

Do you have an editing question you’d like answered? Let me know in the comments or DM me. 😊 by @cmwhearyediting

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4 years ago

I couldn’t post yesterday because our cell reception was not good, but here’s some pics and a short clip of our 2.1 mile hike yesterday. That distance wouldn’t have seemed very far to me 2 years ago, but it’s everything to me that I can still get out in the woods with my pups. And this was Teddy’s first hike!

Despite the rain, we had a great time, but we were all tired afterwards. I’m looking forward to hiking more in the Lyman Run and Cherry Springs State Parks. It’s beautiful country and the trails are well marked (necessary for someone directionally challenged like me! 😆).

Day 2 of the #americancancersociety September Dog Walk Challenge completed! We’ve logged 4 miles so far, with 41 to go until we reach our goal! Link in the comments if you’re able to help this fantastic charity. taken in Lyman Run State Park by @cmwhearyediting

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a month ago

Hey romance writers!

Have you ever wondered how to typeset words, letters, sounds, and shapes?

Keep reading for this pro-writing tip for romance (and all fiction) authors!

How to format words as words, words as sounds, letters as letters, letters as sounds, and letters as shapes and grades:

—Words as words: usually set in italics.

—Words as sounds: generally speaking, these are also set in italics.

—Letters as letters: you guessed it, also typically italicized (seeing a pattern yet?)

—Letters as sounds: usually lowercase and italicized.

—Letters as shapes and letters as grades: here’s the exception! Both are typically in caps and the same font as the body text. Also, when writing plural grades, no apostrophe is used (e.g., her grades were mostly Cs and Bs).

Follow me for more writing tips (and cute corgi pics!).

Writing tips, fiction editor, editing fiction, romance editor, romance writers, romance authors, line editor, copyedits, copy editor, romance books, romance reader. by @cmwhearyediting

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2 months ago

Hey there!

It’s been a minute since I’ve done an intro post, so I thought I’d share a “get to know me.”

My name is Chris, and I’m a line and copy editor. I’ve been editing for 7 years and have worked on more than 150 manuscripts. I especially love working with indie authors, and my favorite genres are romance, women’s fiction, and suspense. 💕

But I’ve also worked on horror, sci-fi, cozy mysteries, and several biographies. I’ve created content and edited two medical terminology textbooks for educational publishers. I’ve even written a module on blood gas analysis for Vastian. 🤓

I also work part-time in healthcare, in a medical laboratory. We’re the detectives of the healthcare world. I love this job, too!

I’ve been reading romance books since I was a teenager, which for me is 35+ years. 😲 This genre is so beloved to me because I love the strong heroines, sexy heroes, and HEA’s. My philosophy is that life needs more happy endings!

I’m happily married to my husband of 32 years. We have two adult children, and one of my greatest joys is spending time with them. 🥰

We camp regularly in the New York Finger Lakes region (in the summer months), and enjoy spending time with our friends there.

I’m also mom to my corgi fur babies Lola and Teddy. 🐾

Fun fact: I used to be a ghostwriter for New York Times bestselling author, Chris Guillebeau. I wrote scripts for Chris’s podcast “Side Hustle School.”

How about you? What’s a fun fact you’d like to share?

Have a pic of your fur babies? I’d love to see them!

I look forward to learning more about each of you and connecting here on IG!

About me, romance editor, am editing, line editor, romance reader, copy editor, corgi mom, romantasy, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, dark romance, romantic suspense, clean romance. by @cmwhearyediting

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3 months ago

Life this week…

Walking the pups is a daily routine for me. Since we got Teddy, I often walk in the morning and evening (to help burn off some of that puppy energy!).

I just finished listening to “The Coworker” by Freida McFadden. This is the first of her books that I’ve read. I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump, and thought I’d change things up a bit. Wow, what a great book! Talk about plot twists, right up until the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Over the weekend, I started reading “Pretty Little Scars” by Kristen Proby. No reading slump with this one! This writer knows how to hook you right from the get-go.

And of course, I’m editing this week, which is one of my favorite things to do! I’m starting edits on a contemporary romance for @meaganiveyauthor. I’m so excited to work on line and copy edits on this manuscript! Head over to Meagan’s page to learn more about this amazing book.

That’s life this week for me. What are you up to? Drop your reading recs in the comments!

Romance editing, romance editor, romance reader, romance books, audiobook reader, suspense books, thriller books, line editor, copy editor by @cmwhearyediting

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3 months ago

Have you ever wondered what are some of the most common errors copy editors find?

For myself, the error I see in almost every manuscript I copy edit is—drumroll, please!—timeline errors.

For example, are you writing a romance that includes a surprise pregnancy? Does the gestational period line up with the rest of the story?

Or are you writing a sports romance? Does the hockey season line up with other elements of the plot?

If your timeline doesn’t add up and forces your readers to continually reread, trying to make sense of the story, it can generate bad reviews. Or worse, cause them to become so frustrated, they DNF your book.

So, how do you avoid these types of errors?

Here’s some suggestions:
1. Create a comment each time you write something involving the timeline. Then you have an easier way to double-check that everything adds up.

2. Comment where you’re at in the timeline at the beginning of each chapter.

3. Highlight anything involving the timeline.

4. Use a style guide that includes a section for the timeline. Want to know more about style guides and how they can help you? Check out my post here: https://cmwheary.com/style-guides-sheets-what-are-they/.

5. Hire a quality copy editor. ☺️

Did this common error surprise you?

What’s your most common mistake?

#romancewriters #romanceauthors #ameditingromance #copyeditor #fictioneditor by @cmwhearyediting

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3 months ago

What I’m up to this week!

What I’m reading: “Hart’s Landing.” This one is sweet, sexy, and thoroughly entertaining—exactly what you’d expect from a Melanie Harlow book. The chemistry between Mila and Everett is palpable. I highly recommend to anyone who likes spicy contemporary romance.

What I’m listening to: “A Wilderness Within” by Emma Castle. I’ve read this book twice and have now listened to the audiobook twice. I love post-apocalyptic romance stories and this is one of my favorites. I highly recommend this one, too. And Jeremy York is an excellent voice actor.

What I’m working on: line and copy edits of a MFM baseball romance. I’m loving this contemporary romance story and I know you will, too!

I’m also doing a follow-up proofread for a steamy paranormal romance. This one is SO GOOD, y’all! You’re not gonna want to miss it.

And I’m also completing a sample line edit for a potential new client. This one is a sci-fi novel, and I’m excited to dig in!

So, what are you all doing this week?

#romanceeditor #ameditingromance #amediting☕ #romancereader #romancereadersofinstagram by @cmwhearyediting

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3 months ago

Today I’m sharing some professional pics I had done for my website update!

When I started my editing business seven years ago, I knew I wanted to keep my costs low. That meant building my own website. And that was good enough at the time. But I knew one day, I’d want to have it updated by professionals.

I’ve been low-key looking for someone to do exactly that for a year or two now. After an editing colleague made a recommendation, I decided to go with Snellville Websites. Criss and Satish did an amazing job and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.

I also have to give a shoutout to my daughter’s boyfriend for taking the photos. Noah, you did a great job!

I’d love it if you’d check out the final version here: cmwheary.com.

Let me know what you think!

#romanceeditor #romanceauthors #ameditingromance #corgisrule #fictioneditor taken in Pennsylvania by @cmwhearyediting

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3 months ago

This week’s projects include line and copy edits on a romantasy novel, copy edits on a reverse harem romance, and line and copy edits on a secret project. 🤫

What are you working on this week?

I still have a few more openings in my calendar this year if you’re in need of an experienced editor.

I perform line &/or copy edits. My specialty is the romance genre, but I also have experience editing women’s fiction, cozy mysteries, suspense, sci-fi, and nonfiction books.

#romanceeditor #ameditingromance #amediting☕ #romancewriters #copyeditor by @cmwhearyediting

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7 months ago

More days like this, please!

Hiking in the woods with my girl and our fur babies feeds my soul. Lola’s still recovering after our 3.5 mile hike yesterday. ☺️

@whebroo

#hikingwithdogs #hikingadventures #hikingdogsofinstagram #livingwithspinalstenosis #spondylolisthesisaintgotnothingonme taken in Zindel Park by @cmwhearyediting

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7 months ago