Do You Need An Editor?
Why work with me?
Sea Change Editing can help you:
–understand the power and the limits of what AI can do for your writing
–improve your story’s impact and resonance, in any genre or format
–save time and money by using AI tools in the places where they really work
–create your best writing, in your own voice, through collaboration
The publishing industry is changing fast, and the use of artificial intelligence in book publishing is surging. Lots of people are discussing the benefits and drawbacks of these new technologies. You’re not alone if you have questions about the ethics and the outcomes of using AI to write and edit, but can also see the speed and ease that it offers.
As a wise friend says, “AI can make bad writing a little better, and will leave mediocre writing the same. It won’t do much for good writing.” Taking your good writing to the next level requires the judgment and synthesis of human-powered analog intelligence.
Do you need an editor?
Yes. Every writer needs an editor!
But human expertise is expensive. How do you know where to invest your time and resources as an author?
The bottom line: AI does not understand storytelling but it does know how to compare language to a rule set.
We’ve been using AI tools for error correction for decades now…spell-checkers, grammar and punctuation screening, and online dictionaries. Those tools still aren’t perfect, and there are differences between them depending on how they were “trained”. But overall, for most copy editing, AI does a decent job, cheaply or for free. (The environmental and energy costs for AI computing are another question, of course.)
But when it comes to the elements of a story, what we call developmental editing, AI falls very short. It doesn’t know what your human readers think and feel. Even if you have good prompts and ask about tone, themes and subtext…AI can only tell you what everyone else has done, essentially crowdsourcing feedback for you.
It takes analog intelligence to ensure that you can convey the message you intend in an interesting and effective way. AI can spell-check and summarize, but when you’ve poured your heart into a piece of writing, you still need someone with a heart to truly read it.
| Sea Change Editing
(powered by humans) |
AI-Assisted Editing | |
| Focus | Big-picture story elements (plot, character, structure, voice, theme) | Grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, consistency |
| Output | Detailed feedback, suggestions for revision, insights into reader experience | Corrected errors, rephrased sentences, stylistic suggestions |
| Benefit | Deep dive into narrative impact, personalized guidance, human intuition | Speed, efficiency, objective error correction, cost-effectiveness |
| Best For | Authors seeking significant structural and narrative improvements | Authors needing a final polish or initial error check |
About Me
Welcome! I’m Nell Stamper (she/her). I’ve been running Sea Change Editing since 2017, helping authors “see change” in their work.
I’m an editor and publishing professional with years of formal and informal education and experience in writing and editing. My strengths include a deep understanding of storytelling and language, excellent empathy and communication skills, and knowledge of the publishing process and industry. You can read more about my background here (LINKED IN)
My goal is to help you transform good writing into great storytelling. I will provide clear and constructive feedback, and respect your vision and your voice as we work together.
Professional Affiliations
Services
These services can be stand-alone, or combined to meet your needs.
A note on pricing: My fees vary by service, based on industry standards. Take a look at this chart for a rough idea of what to expect.
To support diversity and inclusion in the publishing industry, I offer a limited number of pro bono project slots each year. If you are an author from a historically marginalized community and you face financial barriers to publishing, please contact me about availability for free services.
Are you writing a book?
Book Coaching: Focused on you as a writer. You get support with goal-setting and accountability, technical help, writing tools, and insight into the publishing industry (including where and when to use AI, and when to invest in a human editor.) Need to outline a story, reorganize a manuscript, or ask questions about making books? This is for you.
Fee: $100/session, discounts for packages of 3 or 6 sessions
Is your finished draft ready for editing?
Fee: We charge by the hour and normally edit about 7-9 pages/hour; the fee for a typical 80,000-word manuscript will be in the $2500 range. Fee varies with manuscript length and complexity, so please contact me for an accurate quote.
Does your business need editing help?
Retain an Editor: Focused on business-to-business support. For a set monthly cost, your press or business gets premium access to editing services for a set number of work hours. Ideal for double-checking AI products with a human-powered expert…think of this as a cost-effective way to improve the storytelling and quality of your newsletters, blog posts and mailings.
Fee: starts at $99/month; please contact me for a quote.
Community Support for New Authors
To support diversity and inclusion in the publishing industry, I offer a limited number of pro bono project slots each year. If you are an author from a historically marginalized community and you face financial barriers to publishing, please contact me about availability for no-cost services.
What Clients Say
Thank you for your comments. I found your suggestions insightful and appropriate.
— D. Kubli, author
Your edit of “Inside the Tree Line” was exactly what I needed. I felt like you understood both my paranormal romance genre and my writing style. There were no huge changes, but the story is much better for both your in-text edits and the guidance you gave me in your editorial letter. It is a bonus that I enjoy talking to you about my writing. I look forward to working with you again. Thanks for all your hard work.
— PK Stuart, author
Thank you for the care, kindness, intelligence, and diligence that went into your editorial letter. You have done a wonderful job of approaching this manuscript holistically, diagnosing the issues of greatest concern, and walking the author through your suggestions clearly and supportively. You tackle the biggest, most essential questions (audience, thesis, etc.) with candor and insight. I appreciate that you also address important concerns about representation and inclusion.
— A. Ranger, editor
When I reached an impasse on my manuscript, Nell arrived like Gandalf—calm, wise, and at precisely the right moment! She was delightful to work with and I trusted her instincts, ethics, and experience every step of the way. With her guidance and the excellent resources she provided, I reworked a major section of my memoir, identified a list of potential publishers, and drafted a strong query letter. I highly recommend Nell as the first one to call when you’re stuck and need help to forge ahead.
— S. Polizzotto, author
I am so grateful that Nell has been on this journey with me. I did not interview any other editors for my book on grief…I only wanted Nell. Her attention to detail, her compassion and competency are second to none.
-Erin H, author
Books I've Worked On
Contact Me
Ready to get started? Let’s talk about what you need and how I can help. Please use the contact form to provide me with a few details, and I’ll normally get back to you within 2 business days.
