Marcia Trahan, Memoir and Fiction Editing Services

Testimonial

"Working with Marcia on my memoir was one of the most clarifying experiences of the entire writing process. Her precision is exceptional: nothing slips past her. But what set her apart was the quality of her questions. She didn't just catch errors; she asked the questions that pushed me toward greater honesty and specificity, the ones I didn't know I needed to answer. There were moments when I was struggling to find the right word or phrase, something that fit the emotional weight of what I was trying to say—and she found it. Not by imposing her voice, but by listening so carefully to mine that she could hear what was missing. If you are working on something that matters to you, something that requires both technical rigor and genuine understanding, she is the person you want in your corner.

"Thank you, Marcia. I’m so grateful I found you."

— Kam Nuon, author of the forthcoming ReFused: A Memoir of War, Fatherhood, and the Silence Between Generations (2026)

Copy Editing

Close up black and white photo of typewriter keys

What is copy editing?

Thorough copy editing corrects grammar, punctuation, spelling, usage, and sentence and paragraph structure. It can also include rephrasing for clarity and flow, plus help with standard publishing industry manuscript formatting. It's an important part of editing services for short and book-length works, including memoir, fiction, and essays.

Copy editing appeals to writers who have already received extensive feedback on the content of their work and want to polish their prose before they approach agents, publishers, or magazines, or before they begin the process of self-publishing.

I mark all changes in colored font so that the writer can clearly see my revisions and compare them to the original draft.

How much will it cost?

I charge the same rate for both levels of copy editing: $30 per hour, with a 1-hour minimum.

If you have a group of short works or one book-length work, keep in mind that I offer a 10 percent discount for prepaid totals of $300 or more.

NOTE: The following are general examples, not actual quotes. To determine the fee for your project, I'll consider your word count, your specific needs, and your budget.

Option: Basic copy editing

Say you have an 80,000-word manuscript, and you need help only with grammar, punctuation, spelling, usage, sentence and paragraph structure, and light rephrasing here and there for clarity.

80,000 words divided by 3,000 words per hour = 26 hours. 26 x $30/hour = $780 in 2 installments, or $702 if prepaid (10 percent off).

Option: Intensive copy editing

Take that same 80,000-word manuscript. Say you need help with grammar, punctuation, spelling, usage, and sentence and paragraph structure, plus extra time for rephrasing or help with formatting. This means I work at a slower pace.

The math: 80,000 words divided by 2,000 words per hour = 40 hours. 40 x $30/hour = $1200 in 2 installments, or $1080 if prepaid (10 percent off).

Not sure which option you'll need?

I can give you quotes for both basic and intensive copy editing and help you determine which is best for your project.

If you have a specific amount budgeted, let me know what it is, and I'll let you know what I can provide for that amount.