VS Editorial
VS Editorial
Freelance Editing & Graphic Design

Vivian Shaw offers developmental editing, line editing, and proofreading for a wide range of fiction and non-fiction projects.

On the fiction side, she is especially interested in science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and horror work, of any length. On the non-fiction side, she specializes in rapid-turnaround editing and proofing for projects including scientific and academic journal articles, magazine pieces, fundraising proposals and reports, and campaign collateral materials.

Some of her recent projects include Nebula-Award-winning author John Wiswell’s novel Someone You Can Build A Nest In, and a consulting contract with the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s Office of Philanthropy.

Vivian also offers graphic design services, including cover design and layout. She works in InDesign and Illustrator.

Vivian Shaw

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… wears way too many earrings and likes edged weapons and expensive ink. She was born in Kenya and has lived in Cardiff, Oxford, and Baltimore. She has a BA in art history, an MFA in creative writing and publishing arts, has considerable experience in academic and scientific publishing and development, and offers freelance editing services.

As an author, she writes about monsters, machines, disasters, and found family. Her short sci-fi/horror fiction has appeared in Uncanny and Pseudopod; she reviews for the Washington Post Book World, and she is the author of the Dr. Greta Helsing trilogy (STRANGE PRACTICE, DREADFUL COMPANY, and GRAVE IMPORTANCE). In her spare time she collects terrible vintage cookbooks and very nice fountain pens, and writes fanfiction (pen name: Coldhope). She lives in Santa Fe with her wife, the Hugo- and Locus-Award-winning author Arkady Martine.

Select Editorial Projects and Clients

Amanda Downum, The Poison Court — developmental & line edits, proofreading

H. Birchwood, Key Dyson, & Raymond Roach, After the Storm — developmental & line edits, proofreading

John Wiswell (winner of the 2020 Nebula Award for Best Short Story), Someone You Can Build A Nest In — developmental & line edits

Farah Rose Smith, Lavinia Rising — developmental & line edits

Selected Non-Fiction & Design Projects

Session Proofreader, New Mexico State Legislative Council Service
Provided intensive, comprehensive proofreading and fact-checking for documents throughout the first session of the 55th New Mexico state legislature, including bills, amendments, memorials, and resolutions.

Logo & Graphic Design
Provided graphic design, logo design, copywriting, and proofreading for 4th Street Fantasy Society and Convention, as well as maintaining the organization’s website.

Art Cataloguing & Photography
Catalogued, photographed, and documented art collections, including the dissident Soviet-era collection of Norton Dodge and the works of Barbara Smukler.

Managing Editor (Epidemiology Division), Journal of Applied Immunodeficiency Syndromes
Processed manuscript submission and review, serving as point of contact between authors, reviewers, editors and publishers. Designed, produced, and edited materials for the Division and IHV Nigeria, including brochures, conference display posters, newsletters, promotional materials, and bid requests.

Education

M.F.A., Creative Writing & Publishing Arts (2013)
University of Baltimore

B.A., Art History (2002)
St. Mary’s College of Maryland

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Services & Pricing

Editorial Rates

I will occasionally take on pro bono work — please reach out to me and we can discuss re. individual projects

FICTION (proofreading or line editing)

  • short fiction (100-7,000 words): $25 - $150

  • long fiction (7,000-40,000 words): $150 - $800

  • short novels (40,000-70,000 words): $800-$1400

  • full-length novels (70,000 words and up): $1400 and up

FICTION (full developmental/structural editing)*

  • short fiction (100-7000 words): $50-$210

  • long fiction (7,000-40,000 words): $210-$1200

  • short novels (40,000-70,000 words): $1200-$2100

  • full-length novels (70,000 words and up): rates negotiable

*Rates are flexible and vary based on type and complexity of project

NON-FICTION

  • proofreading: $.02/word

  • line editing: $.03/word

  • developmental editing: $.04/word

  • consulting & contract work: negotiable

All rates are negotiable by wordcount/pagecount and turnaround time.

Graphic Design Rates

  • cover design: $50-$250

  • layout: $25 per page, discounts for larger projects

  • other graphic design: negotiable

Contact

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