with professional editing for travel & adventure writers
Does this sound like you?
You’re worried about publishing a book…
- with plot holes, typos, and inconsistencies
- that doesn’t look professional
- that isn’t as engaging as it could be
You want to…
- improve your writing and your story
- make sure you have the best possible version of your story
- get your story one step closer to publishing
- keep your readers turning the page
- go beyond feedback from friends, family, or your highschool English teacher
- have the confidence to share your story
- make your book the best it can be
Get the support of a professional editor who understands your genre and goals.
“Without Deborah’s amazing help my book Chasing Tigers would never have been as good. That’s a fact. She’s so damn good that I’ve already hired her awesome services for my future book projects.”
Stu Tripney, author of Chasing Tigers and Out Come the Dogs
How it works
- Apply for a free sample edit right here.
- I’ll edit 1,000 words from your manuscript so you can see how editing can strengthen your writing.
- If you like what you see, we can confirm dates and you can lock in your spot with a deposit.
- I’ll edit your manuscript and provide you with an editorial report and style sheet unique to your project.
- If you have questions about the edit, we can hop on a Zoom call or we can chat over email.
My editing style
| What editing with me won’t look like | What editing with me will look like | |
|---|---|---|
| Comments that tell you what to do and what to change. |  | Constructive, kind feedback that goes far beyond just catching typos and fixing grammar. |
| Pointing out plot holes, flat dialogue, or dull descriptions and leaving you to figure it out. | | Suggestions to fix issues like plot holes, flat dialogue, or dull descriptions. You can use them word-for-word or as inspiration for new ideas. |
| Changes that strip out your writing voice and personality. | | Suggestions that enhance your voice and personality so your story sounds like you. |
| Strict adherence to grammar and punctuation rules. | | Encouragement to bend conventions when it works |
“Deborah helped me bring a book to market that I can be really proud of. Having never written a book before I was unsure what to expect from working with Deborah. My experience was wholly positive.”
Hannah Powell, author of The Cactus Surgeon
Frequently Asked Questions
I’ve got my sample edit. What’s next?
You can get a bite-sized edit, where I’ll edit the first 10,000 words of your manuscript for NZ$700. This is right for you if
- you have a short piece of writing
- you want to see what editing looks like before committing to a full edit
- you’re working to a budget
You’ll get changes and suggestions that will help you
- tighten up prose
- untangle complex sentences
- immerse your readers strong, vibrant scenes
Or if you want to dive all in, you can get the full adventure edit. I’ll edit your whole manuscript, offering changes and suggestions throughout. Prices start from NZ$2,000. This is right for you if
- you’ve written your manuscript and you’re happy with the structure
- you want professional and objective advice to improve your story
By the end of your time working together, you will have
- a professionally edited manuscript
- feedback on what’s working and what’s not
- Suggestions to improve your story
Who do you work with?
I work with new authors who’ve never been edited before and authors who have a book or two (or more!) to their name.
I love helping new authors through the editing process and seeing how their writing style develops. It’s so rewarding to see authors build confidence!
For authors with more experience, I love digging into a manuscript and pulling at the threads to tighten up prose and create a great reader experience.
I work with authors from anywhere in the world who have gone on any type of adventure. Maybe you’ve written about your thru-hike or you’ve recreated your grandmother’s cross-country journey, or you’ve kept your travels to your own backyard (perhaps even literally!) – wherever you’ve been, I’d love to hear from you.
How long does editing take?
I require about five working days per 20,000 words, but my schedule can vary.
- 60,000 words will take around three to four weeks
- 100,000 words will take around five to six weeks
How much does editing cost?
The cost depends on how long the story is and how much editing is needed. I work out the price based on my sample edit so you know exactly how much the edit will cost.
As a guide,
- a 60,000 word manuscript starts from NZ$3,000
- a 100,000 word manuscript starts from NZ$5,000
What can I expect when I work with you?
I’m all about collaboration and choice and confidence. I give you suggestions and explain what conventions readers may expect, but I don’t tell you what to write or how to tell your story. You’re free to ignore my suggestions if they don’t feel right.
My aim is to give suggestions that enhance your voice and personality so your story sounds like you.
I also give you an editorial report that breaks down my edit and lets you see your manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses at a glance.
Will my manuscript be perfect and error free after editing?
I can’t guarantee that your manuscript will be completely perfect and free from errors after editing. I am human, after all (ChatGPT, Grammarly, and ProWritingAid can’t guarantee perfection either). But I do ensure that your manuscript is as error free as possible.
Proofreading is another good line of defence against typos. It’s best done after layout (usually on PDF), and with a fresh pair of eyes. Proofreading can also catch funky issues with the layout.
Typos even slip their way past editors and proofreaders in professionally published books. As frustrating as they are, they’re unavoidable. But just think of the hundreds of other typos that could have slipped through without editing.
Will my manuscript be ready for publishing once you’ve edited it?
As I edit, I’ll leave questions and comments for you to consider. Some of the queries will be solved with quick changes, but some may need deeper changes and recasts. My aim is to get your manuscript one step closer to publishing.
What credentials do you have?
I received my graduate diploma in publishing (online) from Whitireia’s highly regarded publishing programme here in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2014.
I’m also a professional member and an accredited editor of the Institute of Professional Editors.
And I received a first class honours degree in philosophy from the University of Otago. For my fellow philosophers, my dissertation was about feminist epistemology.
What do you look out for when you edit?
Copyediting is all about readability, flow, and word choice. When I edit, I look out for:
- point of view
- filter words, adverbs, and over description
- balanced showing and telling
- effective section and chapter endings
- realistic dialogue
- vibrant descriptions
- consistent tense (past, present, future)
- sentence length and rhythm
- consistently punctuated dialogue
- clichés, stereotypes, and conscious language
- spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
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Deborah Shaw Adventure Editing 