About the book
I am a self-publishing author finishing a nonfiction book called It Takes a Valley: Stories, frameworks, and hard-won lessons for the connectors and conveners building thriving, equitable ecosystems in our communities. The book is written for entrepreneurial ecosystem builders: practitioners who design programs, build networks, and support entrepreneurs in communities across the United States.
The book is grounded in seven seasons of my podcast, Ecosystems for Change, and draws on interviews with more than 50 practitioners across the country. It blends narrative storytelling with practical frameworks. The voice is conversational but substantive: warm, direct, and written from inside the field rather than above it.
The manuscript has completed one round of developmental editing and 2 rounds of additional revisions. It is approximately 70,000 words in its current draft and is being prepared for a self-published release in August 2026 across print, hardcover, and ebook formats.
What I need
I am looking for an experienced nonfiction copy editor and proofreader to work with me in two phases:
Phase 1 — Copy Edit
A thorough line-level edit of the full manuscript for grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, word choice, consistency, and style. I'm using Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition) as my style guide. I want my voice preserved; this is not a rewrite, it is a polish. Please flag any passages that feel unclear or structurally weak without rewriting them unless we discuss it first.
Phase 2 — Proofread
After the manuscript has been laid out by my book designer, I need a final proofread of the print-ready PDF and the EPUB file. This pass catches anything introduced during layout: spacing errors, widows and orphans, incorrect page numbers, hyphenation issues, and any remaining typos. This phase will occur approximately 6 to 8 weeks after the copy edit is complete.
Scope of work — Phase 1 (Copy Edit)
- Full manuscript copy edit, approximately 70,000 words
- Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition
- Tracked changes in Google Dos, accept/reject format
- Style sheet delivered at end of edit documenting decisions made (spelling preferences, hyphenation choices, recurring terms)
- One round of author queries for anything ambiguous; please flag rather than guess
- Turnaround: 3 to 4 weeks from manuscript handoff
Scope of work — Phase 2 (Proofread)
- Proofread of final print PDF (6x9 trim, IngramSpark specs) and EPUB file
- Errors marked using PDF annotation tools or a clean error log document
- Turnaround: 1 to 2 weeks from file receipt
You are a strong fit if
- You have copy edited at least 5 full-length nonfiction books and can provide titles and/or portfolio samples
- You are fluent in Chicago Manual of Style — not just aware of it
- You have experience with practitioner-focused, field-specific nonfiction (professional development, social impact, business, or adjacent genres)
- You understand the difference between copy editing and developmental editing and will not rewrite passages without discussion
- You deliver a style sheet as a matter of course, not as an extra
- You have proofread print-ready PDF files before. This is not the same as proofreading a Word document
You are not a fit if
- Your portfolio is primarily fiction, academic journals, or technical documentation
- You cannot provide examples of nonfiction books you have edited
- You use AI tools to perform the editing work; I will ask about this directly
Budget and timeline
- Phase 1 (copy edit): Please quote your rate per word or per project for a 70,000-word manuscript
- Phase 2 (proofread): Please quote separately for a ~200-page PDF and EPUB
- Manuscript ready for handoff: May 15, 2026
- Phase 2 files ready: Approximately July 2026
I'm not looking for the lowest bid. I'm looking for the right person. Please price your work at your standard professional rate.
What to include in your proposal
-Two to three titles of nonfiction books you have copy edited, include genre and approximate word count
- A brief description of your process for handling author voice: how do you decide when to change something versus flag it?
- Your familiarity with Chicago Manual of Style. Do you own a copy? What edition?
- Confirmation that you do not use AI tools to perform editing work
- Your estimated turnaround time for a 70,000-word copy edit
Your separate quote for Phase 2 proofreading
Proposals that do not address these six points will not be reviewed. This is not a large project for a generalist; it's a specific project for a specialist.
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