Amy Leskowski

I specialize in manuscript editing, instructional design, and marketing. My genres include the following: picture books, middle grade, YA, speculative fiction, trade nonfiction, biographies, memoirs, cookbooks, academic essays, manuals, devotionals, and corporate blogs and ebooks.

I hold a manuscript-editing certificate from the University of Chicago. I’m proficient in The Chicago Manual of Style and AP style, and I’m able to adapt to house styles as needed.

I also hold a BSE (degree in computer-science engineering) from the University of Michigan, and I’ve completed ten seminary courses.

****CURRENTLY BOOKED. Estimated availability: summer 2022****

 

When inquiring, please include a brief description of your project, including word count, deadlines, style requirements, and the level(s) of edit you’re requesting. Feel free to use this as a guide when you’re describing the level of edit needed:

CONTENT EDIT
Many writers jump quickly into having their work copyedited only to discover that what they really needed was a content edit. With a content edit, I’ll help you bring the proper pieces in place before they get smoothed out with a copyedit. I consider the big picture, suggest manuscript improvements, and provide a second edit line by line to make already-excellent writing shine.

A content edit includes: improving style, voice, pacing, word choice, characterization, plot, and showing versus telling; eliminating ambiguity; reorganization; ensuring continuity and consistency; and assessing grammar and punctuation needs.

Ideal for unpublished authors or writers who are writing in a new genre

COPYEDIT
With a copyedit, I’ll bring your writing into glorious conformity with industry standards. I’ll eliminate issues that would otherwise make your manuscript stand out in a bad way, and I’ll polish it so the entire work stands out in a good (publish-me or read-me) way.

A copyedit includes: conforming grammar, punctuation, spacing, tenses, dialogue, quotations, documentation, spelling, capitalization, word treatment, numbers, compounds, usage, abbreviations, and titles to the agreed-upon style guide.

Ideal for authors wanting to give their manuscript or proposal the best shot at getting contracted by a traditional house or literary agency and for self-published authors who want to publish a polished product

CONTENT AND COPYEDIT
Providing all of the content editing and copyediting services described above at a discounted rate

Ideal for authors who do not want to pay for a separate copyeditor 

PROOFREAD
Correcting typos and errors only

Ideal for writing that has already been content edited and copyedited in its current form

INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN, PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS, AND MARKETING COPY
Inquire about hourly or per-project rates

WORK FOR HIRE, SPECIALIZING IN CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOKS
Inquire about project rates