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Lillian Lippold
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©2026 Lillian Lippold
Lillian Lippold

Editorial Services

Contact me via my contact page.

As a freelance editor for self-published authors, I have served over 300 clients across four years. I have edited hundreds of thousands of words, in accordance with CMOS, for clients all over the world. Below are some details on the types of services I offer and my genre specialities.

I work best with writers who believe their words can change people’s minds. This means: writers committed to complicated characters, marginalized stories, underrepresented places, and off-beat styles just outside the mainstream. I believe an editor’s job is to help bridge the gap between a writer’s intentions and a reader’s experience. I aim to help your project feel most aligned with your vision, while also ensuring readers can move cleanly through your final manuscript. I work most frequently on queer romance, erotica, women’s memoir, and YA fantasy.

Aside from my below services, I also offer assistance with comp title research (one of my top gigs on Fiverr), outlining/manuscript organization, and even occasional ghostwriting for the right project.

For all services, I offer free samples of up to 1,000 words. I can always work on projects in installments to offset cost. 

I do not use any AI in my services, nor do I work on manuscripts generated by AI.

Beta Reader & Coach

$0.009 USD per word. Feedback and ongoing discussion.

Think of this service like hiring a beta-reader-meets-workshop-partner. I’ll provide an initial feedback letter on your manuscript or excerpt (one single-spaced page per 5K words), and from that point forward, I’ll be available by email to answer all questions you have as you revise. Not sure what I meant by something? Have an idea you want to run by me? Want to know how well a certain trope is playing in the market right now? Shoot me an email, and I’ll get back to you within 48 hours.

This is a good fit for writers who are just starting out. I’m here as a resource as you work, to answer questions about craft, market, and process. I have more of an industry-focus and editorial leaning than a beta reader, but this service doesn’t cost anywhere near as much as a full developmental edit.

This service is charged based on the word count of the initial manuscript. All questions and email exchanges during your revision process are included in that fee. If you’d like me to read and give feedback on a new draft, that would be billed at the same rate, as another fee.

Quick-to-Publication

$0.017 per word. Comprehensive revisions. 

By far, my most popular editorial service. For writers on rapid release schedules, who have multiple books ready, or who just want to get their writing out there, my quick-to-publication package is for you. This can best be defined as a deep line edit. I’ll read your manuscript, build my own style guide based on your voice, and edit the manuscript line by line, in Track Changes. This includes changes for style, tonal consistency, clarity, grammatical correctness, and general elevation of the prose. I’ll rewrite small sections as needed in particularly gnarly spots.

This is a one-size-fits-all line editing service, and for the right writer, this can be just what you need. This is a good match if you just want an overall polish on the manuscript, and especially if you’re on a tight deadline or rapid releasing. If you’re looking to learn self-editing skills during our collaboration, I’d recommend opting for one of my other services.

The delivered manuscript for this service will be ready to move on to formatting. This can also be used for query sample pages.

Development

 $0.022 per word. Developmental editing.

Ready to dive in and really make your manuscript stronger? I view developmental editing as a committed collaboration, and my editorial approach is human-centered and voice-oriented. We’ll have an initial 30-minute Zoom call, where I’ll ask questions about your book’s intent, approach, and style. Then, I’ll edit the manuscript in full (or in excerpts, if that’s what you prefer) and be there as a resource as you work through revising.

I go all in for my developmental edits, and for this price, you can expect at least two (often, up to six) developmental comments per double-spaced page of your manuscript. I read the full manuscript first and then go page by page, providing line edits in Track Changes and comments that cover everything from character to plot to flow to pacing to genre alignment.

I really emphasize actionable feedback in my developmental comments; this often takes the form of guiding questions. I’ll place clear, concise questions in particular moments of the manuscript when readers will be asking those same questions, so it’s clear to you just what is missing from each paragraph. I strive to balance authorial intent and reader accessibility in my edits. All feedback I provide is intended to bring the manuscript closer to what you envision it to be.

My developmental editing rate does not include an additional round of proofing or line edits after the developmental edit is completed, as is self-publishing industry standard. 

Genre Portfolios

Romance & Realism

It is through literature that we can best come to know other people. Through my work in realism and romance genres, I foster the creation of humane characters, recognizably real-world plots, and accessible language. I’ve worked on realistic fiction of all types, from stories of war and global conflict to stories of family, humor, and connection.

Romance is the most popular genre in self-publishing for a reason, and I love to work on projects that celebrate the beauty of human connection. I have lots of experience editing erotica and bring that to the table for spicier writers (and am even willing to ghostwrite erotic scenes). As a lesbian deeply involved in the queer community, I especially love working on queer romance projects.


Fantasy & Other Magical Genres


One of the most effective ways that fiction can help us see our own world is through the creation of others. Through my work in fantasy, speculative fiction, and science fiction, I help writers shade in the details of their otherworldly visions. I encourage my clients to strike that difficult balance of exposition and action, worldbuilding and in-world living.

I especially enjoy working on first books in these genres, especially books that set the scene for duologies, trilogies, or longer series. It is such a fun challenge to help a writer set the stage for significant writing to come. I’ve worked on epics (over 250K words) and novellas, vampire romances and werewolf stories, and I especially love genre-blends and books with YA or middle-grade protagonists.

Poetry & Memoir


Writing is always vulnerable work, but no genres feel quite as revealing as memoir and poetry. Through my work with memoirists and poets, I help writers feel comfortable telling the stories they want to tell. My clients are empowered and productively challenged in the editorial process, and their ideas are clarified through our work together.

In memoir, I especially enjoy working on women’s stories: journeys toward independence, renewed selfhood, and personal awakening. My clients’ projects are grounded in a strong sense of voice, and we use that voice to ground changes to structure and flow. In poetry, I work primarily with free-verse poets or poets who have experience with slam/spoken word. These more conversational, authentic rhythms need a special touch when being translated to the page. 


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