Hello, my name is Melissa Gray. I have a lifelong love of books, and my goal is to help all the authors who come to me polish their work to near perfection, at an affordable price.

I understand that not all authors have hit it big and do not necessarily have the funds to invest large amounts of money into each project. That's where I come in. I offer professional copy editing and proofreading services at prices considerably lower than most of my competitors.

When a book is published through a professional publishing company, it receives numerous readings-due to the fact that there are several people involved in the process-before being released to the public. However, I have found that most freelance editors only read through a book once before calling it a finished project. Many even charge an additional fee if you want a second reading. In my commitment to my clients, I decided that the service I provide will include two full readings of each book. This extra reading is included in my initial price; there will be no additional fees assessed.

I fully understand that writing is an emotional process, and that it takes a major investment from the author for a project to reach completion. I respect that fact and appreciate all the hard work you, the author, have put into your writing. Writing is very personal-a sharing of oneself with the world. Each writer has their own style, and that style should be allowed, and encouraged, to shine. I always keep that in mind.

I also believe in a hands-on approach and welcome any questions my clients may have. I will do my best to address, in a timely manner, any questions or concerns presented to me.

I would like very much to help you feel more confident in the finished product of your work as you prepare to release your book, short story, or novella to your potential readers.

I offer free estimates and would love to hear from you, so feel free to use any of the contact links to the right of this page to get in touch with me personally and discuss details.

Proofreading:

  • punctuation errors
  • spelling errors
  • grammatical errors
  • typographical errors and inconsistencies
  • errors in consistency and appropriateness of verb usage

Copy editing:

  • punctuation errors
  • spelling errors
  • grammatical errors
  • typographical errors and spelling inconsistencies
  • errors in consistency and appropriateness of verb usage
  • errors in sentence structure and word usage
  • minor sentence restructure to assist paragraph flow, if necessary
  • inconsistencies in storyline details
  • inconsistencies in character details

Prices:

  • Proofreading services: $2.25 per page or .009 per word
  • Copy editing services: $3.13 per page or .0125 per word

* These prices apply to a page with a maximum word count of 250.

*These prices do not apply to non-fiction. Some projects will be priced on an individual basis. In these cases, all prices will be agreed upon with the author prior to beginning editing or proofreading.

* We have a minimum price of $100.00 on all projects.

Customer Testimonials

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* The comments have not been edited or proofread, in order to maintain the authenticity.

Performance, commitment and a friendly service

Zoe Saadia

Zoe Saadia

I had a wonderful experience with Melissa's proofreading services. From the first book I sent her it worked perfectly, with her promising to return the book in two weeks, but actually delivered the finished product in less than six days, keeping me updated on the process all the time.

The first four books I sent her were edited and proofread before, still Melissa caught an embarrassing amount of mistakes, typos and missing punctuation. Since then I knew where to send my newly written books for editing and proofreading and I will definitely continue to use her professional services in the future.

Here is the list of the books she worked on:

Her work was excellent

Glenn Soucy

Glenn Soucy

Here is a list of the books Melissa has worked on for me:

I was very impressed with not only her work, but also the constant updates she gave me. I was never out of the loop while she was working on them. Her work was excellent, and frankly, I was embarrassed by all the mistakes she found.

Job well done, Melissa.

I will be back with more books.

Glenn Soucy

Performance Counts!

Robert Hatting

Robert Hatting

Performance Counts! That is my opinion of Melissa Gray's work.

She performs! Top shelf support for authors.

Here is a list of the books Melissa has worked on for me:

Robert Hatting

Excellent Work

Charles Wells

Charles Wells

The Beginning (Whispering Pines Book One)

Melissa is one of a half dozen editors I've worked with in my 40 plus years of writing in newspapers and then on to novels. I'm a southern writer, and my offerings are southern flavored, which normally would not play well with mainstream editing services. Melissa has proven to me that she is very adept at understanding and balancing my needs to keep the tones southern while still managing to follow the English rules the readers expect.

In the near future, Melissa will be going through the entire 9 book, Whispering Pines Mystery series, as well as keeping pace as book 10 rises out of first draft status. This woman's talent to dress up the drafts I create and make the books sing will be the measure of my future success.

Charles Wells

She's the best!

J. Michael Stewart

J. Michael Stewart

Melissa is not only one heck of a nice person, but she is an excellent editor. Her "eagle eye" amazes me. There is no other way to say it, but she finds errors that others simply miss.

I have worked with her on several projects, and one of the things I love about her is that she is always prompt, and she keeps you updated throughout the project.

I have emailed her numerous times, even outside of a normal "project", and she always takes the time to answer my question, no matter what it is.

Give her a try, and you won't be disappointed. She's the best!

J. Michael Stewart

A black pearl

Jesse Giles Christiansen

Jesse Giles Christiansen

Here is the first book Melissa has worked on for me:

Generally, there are two kinds of people, those who are able to see what is really there, and those whose minds fill in what they think should be there. Then there are those who are able to do both, and they are the black pearls of the literary world.

I brought my manuscript to Melissa after many keen eyes, including my own, had looked at it, and she final-proofed it and found things that I could not believe were there. I bet that she could take time-tested classics off of my shelf and find many things. Unbelievable.

Go with the best, or settle for the rest. The choice should be easy.

Yours in literature,

Jesse Giles Christiansen

Your book is in good hands.

Douglas E. Richards

My last book was published by Macmillan, one of the top five publishers in the world, and Melissa was every bit the equal of the proofreaders there. Thorough, meticulous, professional, and impressive in every way, Melissa went beyond the call of duty in proofing my novel, Mind's Eye, and was an absolute pleasure to work with from start to finish.

Douglas E. Richards

Your book is in good hands.

J.D. Redhawk

If you are looking for the best - it's Melissa. Her work and expertise were beyond editorial expectations for me. A writer can always find a "proof-reader." It is far harder to find an editor that strives to maintain the writer's "flavor" while they employ the strict rules of the English language. I employed a unique style in The Cambodian Connection, that I wanted to remain in place even though it sometimes crossed those 'rules.' Melissa recognized my intent, gently guided me through the, sometimes frustrating, attempt to find the elusive combination of style and proper English/writing/editing that would produce the product desired. She's not just an editor - she's an extension of you, the writer. Hard to find that kind subject matter expert in this day and age. I highly recommend Melissa. Her attention to detail, from the MS end of things, to the conscientious contact and update throughout, was of the highest quality. Thank you very much, Melissa, for helping make the MS what it became.

J.D. Redhawk

Your book is in good hands.

Julie Mornelli

Your book is in good hands.

Let's face it, you can't publish your book before having it proofread and edited by someone you trust. You want a competent, dedicated and reliable professional. That's where Melissa comes in: she's all that, and more. I can tell she loves her work by her keen attention to detail, and the advice she gives to help you improve your copy.

Melissa has worked on three books for me so far, and I'll rely on her for the upcoming ones as well. In fact, I feel so much better now, as I write, knowing that she'll be there to catch my mistakes, typos and inconsistencies. It's the peace of mind every writer wants. She's also a delight to work with. If you have her on your team, you're lucky.

Thanks Melissa,

Julie Mornelli

08 May 2013, 20:45

Wendy Sexton (W.L. Sexton)

I gave Melissa my first baby. She took such great care of her for me. Working with Melissa is like working with your Best-Friend. It was as if she read my mind. I must say after working with Melissa I would call her a very good friend she can have my babies any time. Thank you for taking care of my Raven. Raven's Quest

Much Love,

Wendy Sexton

29 Apr 2013, 09:26

J. Michael Stewart

I can't say enough about Melissa's proofreading service. I recently published my first short story and was in the process of adding some updates to it. It had already been through numerous edits by other people, but I decided to have Melissa go through it one more time, and to my surprise, she found errors that I had no idea were present. She is very thorough and prompt and she keeps you updated throughout the process. I can't wait to send her my novel in a couple of months.

J. Michael Stewart

27 Apr 2013, 12:16

Robert Colton

Melissa did a fantastic job of proofing two books for me. She kept to the deadlines and gave me updates as she did the work. After seeing what she caught, and reading the spot on recommendations that she made,I have to say she is a tremendous bargain - but let's not have her find that out. I look forward to working with her in the future...and I hope she proofs this testimonial!

Robert Colton

10 Mar 2013, 15:53

Ronn E Taylor

The best piece of advice I was given after deciding to become a writer was to have a great Editor. I have found one in Melissa. Very reasonable price for the services provided. Very professional. My first soon to be published novel was completed within the timeline she provided. We will be working together again very soon. :)

Ronn E Taylor

31 Jan 2013, 12:19

Ben Graziose

I have been very impressed by Melissa's work, and I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a solid proofreading and/or editing experience. Speaking with Melissa a few times over the months about some of my other projects kept her in my mind when I needed a fast turnaround of a manuscript to reach a deadline. I reached out to Melissa to see what she could do for me. Melissa responded to my every email question that I had very quickly, was able to work within my budget, commit to a timeline that was quite short and deliver on every single promise she committed to. I have a few more projects in my pipeline and as they get closer to the proofreading/editing phase I will not hesitate to work with Melissa again. The edited manuscript Melissa turned in was amazing. The devil is in the details and the errors she caught on my behalf were great. Personable, Professional, and her commitment to my project were greatly appreciated. If you have a book project, you need to talk with Melissa about your project. You will not regret it.

Ben Graziose, CEO/Author/Screenwriter

02 Jan 2013, 14:53

Gregory G. Allen

Melissa was so easy to work with! A keen eye, great editing suggestions, and very supportive about the story being told. I highly recommend her!

Gregory G. Allen

12 Dec 2012, 02:27

Rebecca Scarberry

I have never enjoyed my work being edited more. I was so happy when I got my short story, RAG DOLL back from Melissa, and saw she hadn't torn it to shreds. She didn't ask me to do anything more than correct my puncuation and grammar. What was icing on the cake was when she told me the twist caught her by surprise! She reads alot, so this was thrilling to hear. Then Melissa wrote a 5 star review for my little book...the same day it posted on Amazon!! She is one special person and I now call her my friend.

Rebecca Scarberry

11 Dec 2012, 23:40

Thomas Ryan

I asked Melissa to edit a short story for me. I was notified when the work began and within twenty fours hours it was completed. The work was to the highest quality and my story is now ready. Melissa picked up a number of errors and clearly identified problem areas. I am more than satisfied with the result and will continue working with her. I would recommend Melissa to anyone wanting to present a flawless manuscript for publication.

Thomas Ryan

02 Dec 2012, 08:18

Quarto Barto

Melissa did a fine job on my novel. Her turn around was quick and she kept me informed of her progress during the process. I wholeheartedly recommend Melissa's services!

Quarto Barto

10 Nov 2012, 16:44

Maria Piork

Melissa is great to work with. She's efficient and works in a timely fashion.

I highly recommend Melissa for any editing work needed. I will certainly be using her services again!

Maria Piork

07 Nov 2012, 12:37

Sandra Fiannaca

I highly recommend Melissa if you need quality proofread services. She is fast, efficient and always available if you need any information. She really cares for our work and puts all her effort and love in it. With Melissa, you feel that your "baby" is in good hands! It's really a pleasure to work with her!

Sandra Fiannaca

23 Oct 2012, 22:18

Dauson Stimpson

I entrusted a very, very, VERY special manuscript of mine in the hands of Melissa. Honestly it was a long process of finding just the right person to help me with my work and when I finally selecting Melissa, after a year of searching, I couldn't have been more pleased with my decision.

Melissa has a fantastic open door policy and was in constant communication with me- I don't know if she suspected that this project was my baby or if this is just how she operates in general but I like it! I like it so much I have every intention of seeking her assistance in future projects.

If you're looking for someone who takes your writing just as seriously as you do I highly recommend Melissa

Dauson Stimpson

23 Oct 2012, 07:40

Alysia Stern

Melissa is a pleasure to work with. She works in a timely fashion and never hesitates to answer any question or change any dialogue. I highly recommend Melissa for any editing work needed.

Alysia Stern

18 Oct 2012, 07:47

Kate Bloomfield

My experience with Melissa was very professional. Her communication was excellent, her rates are a bargain, and her work was second to none. I am really impressed with her attention to detail, and will not hesitate to use her again.

Kate Bloomfield

18 Oct 2012, 07:47

Marie von Minden

I enjoyed working with Melissa. She was very thorough and completed my edit before the agreed date. This was my first book, and I was nervous about the mode of communication between us. However, her notes and corrections were very clear and easy to understand. I was impressed to see that she also fact-checked some of the nonfictional information included in my book, even though our agreement called for proofreading only. I was thoroughly impressed with the professional and easy communication, Melissa was always very prompt in answering any questions. I am sure I will use Melissa's services for future books.

Marie von Minden

18 Oct 2012, 07:47

Anne Victoria Gerdes

I was very satisfied with Melissa's proofreading and attention to detail. She picked up on the tiniest errors that I didn't spot myself, which improved the flow of my book. The cost of service was also affordable and the communication was consistent and fast, despite the fact that we live in different timezones.

Anne Victoria Gerdes

Your book is in good hands.

E.M Wynter

Melissa is a fantastic, fun, prompt and thorough editor. Her professionalism shows in every aspect of her work and you can trust her to pour through your manuscript with great care and diligence. I feel lucky to have her on my team.

E.M Wynter

Your book is in good hands.

USA Today Bestseller Madison Johns

When it comes to editors, Melissa Gray is tops in my book. Her attention to detail is amazing. Not only was she spot on, but also challenged me to bring my book up to a professional level. She'll definitely be my go to person for editing in the future.

USA Today Bestseller Madison Johns

Your book is in good hands.

Denisa Melinte

The first word that comes to mind when I think about Melissa's work is: Vital. I am not a native English speaker, and my manuscript was translated to English, so her keen eye and her editorial experience were very much needed. Apart from all the mistakes she found, apart from all the missing or extra punctuation, Melissa polished each and every sentence and gave me valuable editorial advice. She pointed out any inconsistency and assisted me with their correction. Melissa is a talented and dedicated Editor, and a wonderful person to work with. I hope we shall work together again on the second book of the series.

Denisa Melinte

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