Copy-editor extraordinaire since 2017

I am a South African born and raised proofreader and copy-editor. It started out with a love for books and reading that turned into a full-blown career, and now I get to do what I love the most every day! I operate as a freelancer on Fiverr, but I also take on private clients.

I have worked as a proofreader and editor since 2017, specializing in both fiction and non-fiction work. I have completed courses in Copy-Editing and Proofreading, Mastering Punctuation, and Grammar for Writers, as well as a Bachelors Degree in Psychology, and a couple happy clients who swear by me to get their books edited quickly and professionally.

I also offer beta-reading services, where I review clients' manuscripts and provide a lengthy feedback report (5-10 pages) detailing parts I enjoyed, parts I didn't, questions I had about the work, and general notes I picked up while reading.

Pricing & Delivery

My process of fiction editing involves the correcting of surface errors such as grammar, spelling, taking care of comma splices, split infinitives, and dangling modifiers, but also delves into syntax correction, general flow, and optimizing for better readability. I make use of the 'track changes' function in MS Word when I edit, giving the client a full account of what changes I've made a where, as well as other feedback and commentary. When I deliver your polished work back to you, I deliver two separate files: one with the tracked changes on, allowing you to see the error marks, and the second with the tracked changes accepted, which is the finished product with all changes already incorporated. This process has a turnaround time of 3,000 words per day.

My current rate is $125/10,000 words.

Beta-reading is a secondary service I also offer, but it is not my main focus. This process involves me reading your book without making any changes or correcting any errors, and then leaving a 5-10 page feedback report detailing possible plot holes, loose ends, ways in which the story could be improved, and where I feel it fell short. For this, I only deliver one file containing my feedback, and my turnaround time is 5,000 words per day. For editing and beta reading together, I offer a combo with a 90% discount on the beta reading price.

My current rate is $50/10,000 words.

A deposit of 50% is required to begin the edit, with the other 50% payable on delivery, if not ordering through Fiverr, which would charge in full up front.

Fiverr Reviews

Since joining Fiverr, I have been awarded Top Rated Seller status, earned the "recommended" bade multiple times, and have been a Fiverr Pro seller since 2021, which means I operate in the top 1% in my field, and my portfolio, experience, and qualifications have been thoroughly vetted by their onboarding team. I have maintained a 5-star average since joining the platform in 2020 with over 650 orders under my belt to date. But don't take it from me!

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So, why work with me?

Because you want the best, right?

Since learning to read at a young age, I've always had a book within arm's reach. In the first grade, I was plowing through 500-page novels within a week, always hungry for more knowledge and information. This avid reading is what sparked my love for books, and in turn, polishing them and allowing them to live up to their fullest potential. I always had a keen eye and great attention to detail, forever pointing out grammar and spelling errors in books and newspapers I read, which most people didn't take too kindly to (I wonder why?).

A few years after I first learned to speak, I developed a stutter that I still live with today. I was constantly frustrated growing up because I couldn't relay the thoughts in my head out loud the way I wanted to. I've always said that I'm smarter on paper than I am in person, which is what eventually pushed me to become an author. Because of my speech difficulties, finding a job that I was not only good at but also capable of doing, proved almost impossible. People have told me "no" to even the simplest jobs. I would go on to get a degree, but still couldn't get a job bagging groceries. It would seem the trick was to find a career that limited my verbal communication, but highlighted my written communication.

At 15 years old and in the eleventh grade, I decided to job-shadow at my local classifieds, the Action Ads. Because I was still in school, I had set out to work with them for a week as I didn't want to get under anyone's feet, and I thought even a week would be enough to give me a glimpse inside the world of publishing. As it happens, the Editor-in-chief was so impressed with my work, they asked me to stay on for another few weeks, which I happily obliged.

​After high school, I decided to go into the field of psychology as I never thought my dream job of being a freelance editor was something I could make a decent career out of. In 2018, I graduated from the University of South Africa (UNISA) with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology done through correspondence, which I believe speaks to my ability to be self-motivated, focused, and diligent. During that same year, I fell into some financial issues as I lost the part-time job I held as an e-mail marketer, and a dear friend of mine (who is an editor himself) reached out to me and offered me a job, allowing me to finish my studies. I later enrolled at the South African Writers College to do a course in Copy-editing and Proofreading, which I completed in the same year. In 2023, I enrolled for two more courses with SAWC—Mastering Punctuation and Grammar for Writers—and received distinctions for both.

I worked in non-fiction and academic editing as a freelancer from 2017, and even though I loved it, I loved editing fiction writing more. So, in June of 2020, I created a freelance account on Fiverr where I could market my services as a fiction editor. In September of 2021, I became a Fiverr Pro Seller, and became a Top Rated Seller in May of 2023.

The bottom line: I am passionate, hard-working, and I get the job done. I am educated, qualified, and have proven myself a worthy and successful freelance editor, with years of experience and unmatched determination.

Genres I've dabbled in

Below are among some of the genres I have experience with, but romance (dark, romantasy, historical, contemporary, paranormal) is by far the one I'm most learned in. These are the clients whose work motivated me to write my own romance novels!

  • Romance
  • Fantasy
  • Sci-Fi
  • Adventure
  • YA Fiction
  • Thriller
  • Memoirs
  • Horror

Clients I've worked with

Sedona Ashe — Sedona Jade — Darci R Acula

An international bestseller with books translated into multiple languages worldwide, Sedona has been my most prolific client since she first contacted me in 2020, and I'm proud to call her a dear friend as well.

"Maxine is quick to communicate, easy to work with, and always delivers a beautifully edited manuscript faster than expected! I cannot recommend her enough! She always exceeds my expectations. I love working with her. I keep saying I will become organized and less on a time crunch, and every single time I'm writing until minutes before the deadline. Yet, she still somehow manages to work my chaotic self into her schedule (all while smiling and pretending like she believes I can actually change). I appreciate her so much!"

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EP Bali

Ektaa is an award-winning romantasy author from Australia whose "Her Vicious Beasts" why-choose series made waves on social media when released.

"It's always an exceptional experience working with Maxine, she has such wonderful attention to detail that's really helpful and makes comments to bring my attention to anything that looks odd. I highly recommend for any project, big or small. She's brilliant to work with and always works with me so I can meet my deadlines. I'm thankful for her attention to detail and thorough work. I recommend working with her for high quality copy edits."

Kerk Murray

Kerk is a bestselling author and philanthropist whose books have even been featured in Times Square in New York. He writes clean, contemporary romance well loved by fans around the world.

"You're the best! Appreciate you a ton!"

Tiffany Shearn, Robert A Walker, David Wallen, B Williams & JJ White

Robert is a multi-award-winning author for his fantasy series. Tiffany, David, B Williams and JJ White have all independently climbed the Amazon ranks for years with a multitude of dedicated readers.

"This is the second time I have worked with Maxine for my final proofreading/editing of a fantasy novel manuscript. This one was at 123k words with an estimate of a 21-day delivery. She sent the edited files back a couple of days ahead of schedule without issue, including a final version and one with the track changes so that I could review them. Great communication throughout the process. I hope to work with her again for book 3!" — Tiffany Shearn

"Ms. Meyer's service is top-notch! Extremely thorough and detailed, she not only identified and corrected my numerous errors, but took the time to offer explanations when she noted repeat offenses. I received not only superlative editing, but a tutorial in writing. My future works will be that much stronger thanks to Maxine. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone in need of copy editing! I write fantasy novels, and partnering with Maxine is always a pleasure. Her work is polished and professional; her attention to detail is amazing, and she has never missed a deadline. My father was an editor by trade, and he would have been proud to work alongside her. Many thanks, Maxine!" — Robert A Walker

FAQs

Do you offer sample edits?

Of course! I do 1000 words for free, but any more than that will incur a cost. It's helpful to both of us to see if we're a good fit beforehand so I can ensure your manuscript is ready for editing, and you can get a taste for what to expect!

How can I place an order with you?

If you don't want to order through Fiverr, just pop me an email at editing@maxinemeyerauthor.com. We can exchange samples, then I'll send you an invoice and we can get started.

How do I find you on Fiverr if I prefer to order there?

Click here!

Can you edit US and UK English?

Yes, we use UK English here in South Africa, but most of the professional editing work I have done in the last four years have been for American clients using US English, so I am proficient in both, as well as Australian English and Canadian English.

What format must I submit my document in?

You must submit your document as an MS Word (.docx) file so that I can edit using the 'Track Changes' function. This will allow you to see how many changes I've made and why.

What if I have a really long book?

I work with any length novel. My rate is $125 / 10,000 words, but that does decrease with a higher word count. I've edited books that were upwards of 300,000 words, so I definitely have what it takes.

Can you add sections to my book to help flesh it out?

Unfortunately, that is the job of a ghost writer. As an editor, I can only work with what is there, not with what could be.