Professional Editing Services
​(for when you feel your work is going to overwhelm you)

As Managing Editor of Bundoran Press, I’ve edited more than 70 short stories in five anthologies and readied 19 novels for publication. As a mentor and teacher, I’ve worked with dozens of writers at all stages of their career, helping them shape their fiction and non-fiction and improve their writing. I spent 25 years writing research papers and editing a wide range of materials for senior bureaucrats and politicians, from speeches to articles and books.

I’ve published four novels of my own as well as nearly 30 short stories and have had several of my plays professionally produced on stage and radio. I’ve written numerous reports and articles on public policy.

I might be the editor you're looking for to bring your work to the next level.

And what will it cost (the gory details)?
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My rates are competitive and generally comparable to industry standards. For each individual project, I provide an estimate of cost up front based on word count and the difficulty of the work. The more work the writer has done to prepare their final manuscript, the less they should expect to pay me.

My services include substantive or structural editing of fiction (clarifying manuscripts for theme and structure), stylistic editing of non-fiction (for structure, clarity and language), and copy-editing of both fiction and non-fiction (grammar and other mechanics of style as well as consistency of content). I do not provide proof reading services.

For substantive and structural editing of short fiction I charge a flat fee of $140 for works up to 7500 words.  

For works longer than 7500 words, including novels, my rates range from $15 to $22 per thousand words, depending on the state of the submitted manuscript. An 80,000 word novel would cost between $1200 and $1760 (all figures are in Canadian dollars). My rates for non-fiction are similar but may vary depending on the complexity of the document.

For copy-editing, I charge a flat fee of $90 for works up to 7500 words. For longer works, my rates range from $13 to $16 per thousand words. An 80,000 word novel would cost from $1040 to $1280 to copy-edit.

For those who require substantive and copy editing combined (often in two rounds of editing), I charge a flat fee of $175 for short fiction and a rate of $22 to $31 per thousand words for longer works. 80,000 word novel = $1760 to $2480.

A quote for the exact fee will be given after examining the first 20 pages of the manuscript. A contract outlining the work to be done and the payment schedule will be provided at that time.

GHOST WRITING
I am available for ghostwriting contracts for both fiction and non-fiction. Fees vary depending on topic and complexity and are negotiated on a case by case basis. However, ghostwriting is considerably more expensive than editing a manuscript.

Payment can be made by PayPal, Interact e-transfer or personal cheque. For short fiction, payment must be made in advance. For longer work requiring one round of editing, payment is 50% in advance and the remainder on completion of the edit. For combined editing requiring two rounds, payment is 40% in advance, 40% immediately after the first round and the remainder on completion. For ghostwriting, payment schedules will be negotiated as part of the contract.

Contact me at [email protected]

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TESTIMONIALS

Hayden Trenholm brings a sharp, experienced eye to every editing project, and to every aspect of that project, from the line-by-line level, where his suggestions for tightening and improving language are always spot-on, to the content level, where his suggestions for improving structure, characterization, plot, and more are always incisive and helpful. As an award-winning author himself, Hayden also understands the creative process, and uses that knowledge and empathy to tease the very best out of the authors he works with. I highly recommend him!

Edward Willet
Award-winning author of The Cityborn (DAW)
 
Hayden provides substantive edits that vastly improve manuscript clarity, story arc and character development. If you need help bringing your vision to life, hire him! He's one of the best in the business.

Jennifer Rahn
Author of The Cyanide Process (Bundoran Press) and The Longevity Thesis (Dragon Moon Press)
 
If you are in the market for an editor, I would highly recommend Hayden Trenholm. His edit of my work led to my first professional sale at Asimov's. Top drawer.

Susan Forest
Three-time Aurora Award finalist

Trenholm's thorough and insightful substantive edit molded my writing into a submission-ready product. I will be calling upon his professional services for future works.

Chad Ganske
Author of Idyllic Avenue

Hayden Trenholm has a knack for incisive suggestions that get to the kernel of a strong story buried in a first draft. He consistently helps me extract the best version of my story while respecting my vision. My work has benefited significantly every time I've worked with him -- and I've got the Aurora Award nominations to prove it.

​Brent Nichols
Author of the Aurora-nominated novels, Stars like Cold Fire and Light of a Distant Sun (Bundoran Press)

If a writer is doing their job, they’re probably worried about a hundred potential problems with their book. And while it’s unlikely any editor will find a problem not already on that list, a great editor has the insight to reveal which fifteen problems are real. That’s Hayden. His guidance gave me the focus I needed to transform my book, attract interest from several publishers, and take my shot as a novelist.

John Walsh, San Francisco

Hayden’s wealth of knowledge and insightful editing took my novel to the next level. Authors who have used Hayden as an editor will tell you how amazing his skills are, and I agree. His suggestions showed me many improvements I wouldn’t have found on my own.
J.M. Dover, Aurora Award Finalist