Editorial Services

EditsI love working with authors and helping them bring out the best elements of their stories while cutting back on errors and problem spots. I cannot, however, guarantee that my services will result in your story being published. Acquisitions are made based on the personal tastes of editors and upon their knowledge of the market, which is ever-shifting.

Also, one editorial pass will not always catch all errors or fix all problems. Sometimes the editorial process can even create more errors as words are shifted around and sentences are rewritten. It often requires several passes to get a manuscript completely up to speed.

What I Provide:

I am prepared to work with stories of all lengths and genres, though my specialty lies in the realm of speculative—especially fantasy—fiction. I provide the following editorial services:

Copyediting: identifies and corrects typographical and punctuation errors, misspellings, and formatting inconsistencies. Also includes grammatical issues, word usage, capitalization, tone, and format.

Substantive Editing: seeks to achieve clarity of subject, logic, and consistency. This involves imagery, point of view, characterization, dialogue, and plot. Suggestions for the rewriting of sections to improve readability and emotional impact are included.

All manuscript evaluations will include line edits and notes throughout the story, as well as general comments about the strengths and weaknesses in the writing. All of this will be provided electronically, in an MS Word document with changes tracked and comments embedded, or in a PDF file viewable with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, based on your preference.

The First Step:

Please use the editing contact form to send a brief description of your story, and I will respond with an estimate as to when I can begin work.

Your description should include: story length, a brief synopsis (nothing more than a paragraph or two), what you think are the story’s strengths and weaknesses, and what you are hoping to achieve (publication in a literary or consumer magazine, publication by one of the big NYC houses, self publication, etc.).

The Second Step:

When we decide to work together, I’ll ask you to send a MS Word .doc or .rtf file to the above email address. I will take a quick look at the story and give you an estimate as to how long it will take for me to finish the project.

Editorial Prices

$0.01 per word is my standard rate. If, as I am evaluating your manuscript, I find that it does not require as much work as I am used to, I will reduce the price accordingly.

Editorial and Payment Schedule:

First ½ of the total charge for the job is due before I will begin editing.
Final ½ of the total charge for the job is due upon receipt of the first half of the critique.

Payment can be made with a check or money order, or with a major credit card or electronic funds transfer through PayPal.

Payment Schedule Example:

36,305-word ms. = $363.05
First ½ payment due with submission = $181.52
Final ½ payment due upon receipt of ½ of edited ms. = $181.53


  • “Over the years I’ve worked with very good editors at major houses and I’d easily place William Horner among the best. His energy and enthusiasm are remarkable, and I’ve never had a more meticulous copyedit.”
    —Elaine Cunningham, New York Times bestselling author of Shadows in the Darkness

    “I’ve been in this business thirty years, I’ve worked with many of the top science fiction and fantasy editors, and I’m here to tell you that William Horner is one of the best. If you ever get the chance to work with him, jump at the opportunity.”
    —Lawrence C. Connolly, author of over 40 short stories and novellas, and of Veins

    “William Horner helped sharpen the direction of my plot, and had some incredible insights into my characters. My novel is much more focused and has an added depth that wouldn't have occurred without his feedback.”
    —Patrick Parr, ESL Lecturer at Central Washington University

    “William’s dedication to professional copyediting is refreshing. He really cares about the job, and this showed in the final product. Once my story was published, I had confidence that it read as I had originally intended.”
    —James R. Cain, editor of Dark Animus and author of Ek Chua

    “Even stories published by famous editors sometimes contain glaring errors. The only story I published from 2003–2005 that I can look at with perfect joy was edited by William Horner. The story that he pulled out of me is better than it would have been had he not loved my story enough to work so patiently to perfect it.”
    —Carole McDonnell, author of “Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair” in Fantastical Visions III and Wind Follower