Turn that promising but not-quite-there-yet nonfiction book manuscript into a clear, polished, prime-for-publishing gem.
Hire the eagle-eyed, experienced, and encouraging editor you’ve been looking for.
Trusted by these and other publishers (and dozens of self-published authors)
You’ve been writing a nonfiction book, and it’s time to get it published.
Your book manuscript needs revising. And you need an experienced editor to look it over.
You want your book to be legitimately good.
Effectively organized.
Clear, concise, and consistent.
Engaging. Memorable. Irresistible.
But what you’ve got right now . . . needs an expert set of eyes.
And . . .
You don’t know what to add in or what to leave out. You want to keep your readers’ attention. You want to wow them.
It’s not like you have the time—or patience—to sift through the 1,000-page Chicago Manual of Style and learn all the “rules” and publishing industry standards.
You’ve already self-edited and gotten some feedback. But not from a professional who understands what makes a great book.
Whether you plan to self-publish or traditionally publish, this much is certain:
You’re ready to make it publication-worthy. Publication-ready.
Here’s how it works:
1️⃣Contact and consult: Tell me about your book, your goals, and your timeline and share a confidential sample of the manuscript. We’ll see if we’re a fit.
2️⃣Discuss needs, due dates, and deliverables: We define the project and what’s included.
3️⃣Proposal and payment: You get a quote, a contract, and an invoice payable by credit card.
4️⃣Files and feedback: You send me a Word document/DOCX file. I edit it with Track Changes and Comments. I return it to you—with an editorial letter and relevant materials.* I’ll check in along the way. Projects take 2 to 6 weeks.
*Copyediting clients also receive a copy editor’s style sheet.
5️⃣Revisions and ready to publish: You make your final revisions to the edited file I sent you, creating a beautiful publication-ready manuscript.
Dan Tortora is simply the best. Just hire him. . . .
Brilliant. Wise. Deep. Smart. Knowledgeable. Dependable. And a joy to spend time with.
He worked with me through two award-winning books that I could never have finished without him. When I’m ready for the next one, he’s my first call. . . .
I’ve been a writer for 35 years. . . . He is by far the best editor I’ve ever come across to work with me. You’ll find the same.
—Samantha Shad, author of Write Through the Crisis and The Write to Happiness
Meet your nonfiction book editor…
Hi, Daniel here!
Nonfiction authors’ secret weapon.🥷
You’ve often heard that these days anybody can write a book. But writing a good book—a book that the right people actually want to read—is almost impossible without expert help.
As a nonfiction book editor who’s spent over a decade improving worthy book manuscripts—
I’ve helped dozens of authors produce publication-ready final drafts that stand out from the crowd.
Recent author successes include
favorable reviews in the Wall Street Journal
#1 New Release status on Amazon
200 Amazon reader reviews within two weeks of publication!
interviews in documentaries
speaking gigs galore
great self-published books or traditional publishing book deals that once seemed impossible
second, third, and fourth books planned, published, and well received
Our time together books your skills, your know-how, and your confidence and makes your book better.
Consider us a match if . . .
✓ You’re seeking personalized guidance from a trusted (and friendly) expert to get you to the next level.🚀
✓ Your book is helpful, entertaining, or inspiring, ideally a little unique—something readers are looking for and would love to have.✅
✓ You want to reach more readers, get raving reviews, and be recognized for what you have to offer. No hiding or playing small.👏🤩
✓ You are a motivated American nonfiction author 🇺🇸 with a completed draft ready or about ready.
✓ Your book is under 100,000 words.📝
And . . .
✓ You plan to write multiple books.📚
✓ You’re eager to learn.🏫
I’m here to help you create something that you can be proud of—and to get the most out of this process.
7+ years of full-time experience as a freelance book editor for these authors:
✓ Solopreneurs, coaches, therapists, comedians, attorneys, historians, publishing companies, and professors—and some highly-motivated nonfiction writers for whom writing books is their main hobby.
Offering editing in these nonfiction genres:
✓ Self-Help & Personal Development, Dating & Relationships, US History, Politics, and Culture; Biography; Humor/Comedy; Health and Wellness; New England Travel, Culture, and History; Law/Legal; Popular Science; Reference; and Academic books for a general audience.
Nonfiction Book Editing Services
Choose your path below, or request a quote that blends more than one of the types of editing.
Get clear, concise, and consistent 💎
Deep-dive feedback 🔍
Fine-tune your pitch to publishers💯
Copy Editing
Get clearer, more concise, and more consistent.
Correct your typos, spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, hyphenation, numbers, and internal inconsistencies. Polish your prose.
Apply Chicago Manual of Style publishing industry standards.
Ideal for most authors. For traditional publishing and self-publishing. For those who want their manuscript fine-tuned to impress readers and to get ready to publish.
Line Editing
Tighten your prose, pacing, and flow.
Make it more concise; improve the flow/transitions between paragraphs, sections, and chapters; get suggested fixes confusing, unclear, repetitive, bland, or poorly paced sentences and paragraphs.
Great for first-time authors, for those with a broad audience, and for those who want to improve their writing style.
Includes:
- corrections in your document with MS Word Track Changes
- a cover letter
- (for copy editing) a copy editor’s style sheet listing the key edits and standardizations applied
Copy editing rates: $0.025 per word
Line editing + copy editing rates: $0.030 per word
Add a book description for self-publishing or pitching to publishers: $75
Yes, I format captions, notes, and bibliography entries in Chicago style.
Developmental Editing (aka Substantive Editing)
Offered in these genres only: Self-Help and Personal Transformation; Dating & Relationships; US History, and Biography for a general audience
An in-depth critique—of your structure, style, and presentation of ideas—with detailed suggestions.
What to move, add, delete, or expand upon. How to improve the transitions and flow. How to optimize chapter titles, introduction, conclusion, and other elements of the book. Tips on better structuring the book.
Ideal for new authors, for those who need help with organization, and for those seeking thoughtful and thorough feedback to make the book the best it can be. Also useful for books that are “too long” or “too short.”
Includes:
- comments and sample revisions in your manuscript document
- a lengthy editorial letter
Developmental editing rates: $0.035 per word
Book Proposal Editing
Fashion and fine-tune a compelling book proposal.
Includes copy editing, line editing, and substantive content suggestions based on what traditional publishers are looking for.
Your proposal will be refined, section by section.
“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” So get the expertise you need—and pitch your book with confidence.
Typically done in a shared Google Doc or a Word document and completed within two weeks.
Includes:
- edits and comments in your manuscript document
Book proposal editing rates: $179 $149
with a query letter review: $199 $179
Dan doesn’t just read your material, he thinks about it. He cares about it. He checks sources, he fixes grammar, and he considers how the reader will react.
He gives direction, while still respecting the author’s vision.
Dan is an outstanding editor and I will be working with him on all of my future projects.
—Stuart Teicher, author of Addicted to the Dogfight: The Crash and Burn of Superlawyer F. Lee Bailey
I can’t thank Dan enough for the diligence he put into this. He has is an incredible gift to be able to hold attention to such details. . . .
As many times as I went through it, I still can’t believe how many missing words and typos there were. That’s why authors need to recruit a strong team. . . . It is so very worth the investment!
The manuscript looks great and I couldn’t be happier.
—Melissa M. Carvalho, author of Purpose Forward: The Ultimate Career Starter’s Guide to Finding a Career (and Life) of Purpose
With these nonfiction book editing services,
You get a polished manuscript that’s aligned with US publishing industry standards: The Chicago Manual of Style, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, and the serial comma (aka the Oxford comma).
You’ll get edits and comments and actionable feedback so you can write better and publish smarter.
You’ll get support and encouragement, clear communication, and regular updates along the way.
You’ll be working with an experienced editor who has edited dozens of nonfiction books (please see the list of genres above).
You’ll get your deliverables within 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the type of editing and the length of the project.
Let’s talk about your project!