You want to create clear, vivid, memorable writing, making words into stories that turn readers into fans.
I’m here to help. Understanding the story you want to tell, I’ll share opportunities to strengthen and clarify your manuscript. This editing is an investment in your current book or article and in your career: my suggestions will provide ideas and tools you can apply to future writing.
“[An] editor is supposed to be a book’s ideal reader, the one who asks all the questions and heads off all the problems in a book so that it satisfying—rather than maddening, confusing, or just too dull to finish—to other readers.” – George Witte in What Editors Do
The best way to learn how we’ll work together is to receive a free sample edit on 1,000 words of your manuscript. To streamline sample editing, I’ve created this Google Form (or you can get in touch through email at tarkenberg199(at)yahoo.com).
My Background and Editing Philosophy
I first learned about editing by being edited: through workshopping with other writers and incorporating feedback from the editors at magazines and small presses who published me. These experiences have given me firsthand understanding of how feels to be edited—the effort, the excited nerves, and the satisfaction of knowing a manuscript has been improved with thoughtful input. I earned my Copyediting License from the University of San Diego extension program, and I continuously read and research editing techniques and strategies. I have a deep grasp of the Chicago Manual of Style while remaining flexible to accommodate author preferences in style and formatting.
My clients include indie writers, first-time novelists seeking agent representation, memoirists and activists, two sisters publishing their late mother’s book, romance authors going strong with 10+ novels, and finalists in international short story competitions.
I edit in many genres, in part because many of my clients write in multiple genres! I’m particularly experienced in:
- Science fiction and fantasy
- Romance
- Mystery, crime, suspense, and thriller
- Young adult
- Middle grade and children’s fiction
- Literary and character-driven fiction
- Humor
- Nonfiction
- Memoir
- Self-help
- Business
- Wellness
“Working with Therese was one of the best things I did to launch my writing career. She is more than just an editor; she has also been my writing coach and cheerleader.
I put writing on the back burner for thirty years to teach high school. Therese never made me feel my rustiness. She lovingly edited every single sentence—tweaking words, making suggestions, and even providing a mini-lesson when needed. It was exciting to watch the daily improvements in my writing as we worked together. She offered numerous resources that I use with my students and share with other authors. She edited my debut novel, StumpStrong, and was instrumental in putting together a query package for my Miranda Albright Mystery series. Her suggestions helped me land a traditional contract with my dream publishing house, where I hope to have a long career. I wholeheartedly recommend Therese.” – Nicki Pascarella
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“Thanks for the suggestions and edits! You were the best of the freelancers I hired. You went far more into detail and even explained why you were suggesting this or that. I loved it. That’s exactly what anybody would ask for when asking for help. I hope you keep that up! Helps a ton!” – Diego Saavedra
My Services
Click each service to learn more.
Developmental and Structural Editing
Query Letter Edits, Market Research, and Print or Ebook Formatting
Rate Sheet
The largest bottleneck in my work is scheduling—fitting in each client who wants to work with me while being sure all publishing deadlines are met. Pricing based on schedule helps me ease that bottleneck.
| Pre-Edit and/or “Patient” Discount Rate | Standard Rate | “Rush” Rate |
| $35/hour | $40/hour | $45/hour |
| ‣60+ days for book-length work
‣3+ weeks for short stories ‣Progress on editing this project may be paused while I prioritize rush orders ‣Standard delivery times (<60 days for book-length work and <21 days for short stories) can be available to pre-edited manuscripts at the $35/hr rate |
‣30-60 days for book-length work
‣1-3 weeks for short stories (under 10k words) ‣Progress on editing this project may be paused while I prioritize rush orders, but will still arrive within the listed timeframe |
‣Less than 30 days for book-length work
‣Less than 7 days for short stories ‣24-hour turnaround on short pieces may be possible ‣I may set aside other projects to prioritize yours ‣This rate may have limited availability |
I take payments through check, PayPal, or Zelle (for smaller amounts). A deposit is paid when the manuscript is sent to me, and the balance after I deliver edits. Payments may be made in installments for your convenience. Rates can be negotiated (I’m also open, in some cases, to compensation by royalties or an exchange of services).
With a Pre-Edit, I offer feedback based on a few pages of your manuscript and the advice I’ve found clients most often benefit from. For instance, I’ll highlight commonly problematic words and check your dialogue punctuation. Based on this feedback, you’ll revise your manuscript and send a more polished draft to me for a lighter, faster edit.
I came up with the idea for this service when I found myself frequently making the same suggestions. A guided self-edit reduces my hours, saving you money, while also empowering you to strengthen your own voice.
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I am available to hire on Fiverr and Upwork, and you can browse my services and client reviews, but if you’ve found your way to this website, it will be more efficient to hire me directly (Fiverr and Upwork take fees and surcharges).
Client Testimonials:
[H]ands down one of the top people operating on Fiverr, and you owe it to yourself to hire her.
– Douglas Esper
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Meeting Therese was a God-send. She has prompted, helped and encouraged our efforts to get Mom’s story out of our boxes and hands….Without Therese’s editing help and direction on how to submit work for publication, this story, Shadow, the True Story of a Sandhill Crane, would still be a hidden manuscript in a box in one of our basements or attics… Therese helped us decide what our market audience would be. What age group was this book going to reach? Where there environmental groups that would be interested in marketing such a book? What publishers should we submit the draft to? What would a contract look like with a publisher? What timelines do they use?
Therese gently and logically took us through all the steps we needed to think about when trying to find and publish Mom’s book…Our Mom’s book has been accepted for publication and both my sister and I know this would not have been possible without Therese’s expert help.”
– Sue Wood and Alice Lundstrom
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Alero Dabor says: “I do not think I would have completed my memoirs without Thesere.
From the moment I started working with Therese, she has offered invaluable suggestions that empowered my story. Her understanding of what I was striving to achieve is truly commendable.
Therese is an exceptional editor. I will recommend Therese to anyone I know who is looking for an editor.”
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Cynthia “Cyn” Duby says: “I was very leery of hiring an editor and now I don’t know what to do without one! And, there will never be another editor for me than Therese. She is extremely thorough, makes excellent suggestions, and has tightened up my novel, improved the way the story arcs, and has given me, not only global suggestions, but also incredible line by line edits. My writing has vastly improved and my confidence has grown immensely. She not only is a very talented writer and editor, but she also knows the business and, knowing that I seek publishing, has that in her mind when editing and when we correspond. My manuscripts will never leave home without her expert eye catching my errors, my repeated phrasing, and cutting the unnecessary words and confusing phrasing. If you want your manuscript the best it can be to send to agents or publishers, use Therese. However, if you want a pat on the back telling you how “nice” it is, don’t. Be prepared for corrections, be prepared to hear that there are changes, and then smile knowing every change, every edit is making your work the very best it can be.”
Thank you for reading all the way to the end of this page! You must be very interested in my services—why not fill out this form to receive a free sample edit?