If you have a mystery that needs editing,
you have come to
the right place!
Most other genres accepted, too.
Who am I? I am Dawn Dowdle. I have reviewed mysteries for years and have been editing since 2004. Please see my references listed below. Even though I specialize in copyediting mysteries, I look forward to assisting you with your copyediting needs for most fiction genres. I will mark your printed manuscript with proofreaders' marks in red, checking for spelling, grammar, and punctuation. You will also receive a write-up from me with general suggestions and comments about your manuscript. This will also have specific notations of content issues or questions with page numbers. For more information, please click here or send me an e-mail. If you'd like, you can attach a sample (1-2 pages in length) of your work for a free edit.
I charge $2.50 per double-spaced page + $10 shipping your manuscript by via Priority Mail flat rate. If you want it returned a different way, you will pay actual shipping costs.
Click here for additional information.
References from authors Lela DeNavas, Bo Parker, Paul McNabb, Philip Watson, Cheryl Hollon, Kathleen Delaney, Alan Cook, Anna M. Stevens, Coco Ihle, Jacklyn Brown, Marti Tucker, Pamela Samuels-Young, Lesley Diehl, Sev Moro, Terrie Moran, Bryson Fields, Terri McCord, Maria Hudgins, Jean Steffens, Lorie Ham, Annie Hunter, Mark Sheneman, Sherry Harris, and Michael P. Veglia:
Dawn's evaluation and analysis of my book have all been inspiring. I have learned more about writing just from Dawn helping me with all of her edits. I am eternally grateful to Dawn for reading and editing my book and pointing out issues within the chapters. Thank you. I hope to work with her again in the future.
Lela DeNavas, author of The Spells Of Edgewater
From Bo Parker:
Editing, done accurately, and done in a timely fashion. One cannot ask for more from an editor than was done by Dawn Dowdle. It wasn't just the commas, the dashes, and the other grammatical gravel swept from the pages. It was improved sentence structure and all the things that take the bumps out and let the story flow. If the bird ever flies, Dawn will share in the credit.
Bo Parker, author of The Tundra Swan
From Paul McNabb:
As a first time writer, I was overwhelmed with the task of polishing my manuscript to a professional level. I searched for quite a while just to find an editor. Dawn far surpassed any expectations I had for the editing process. I had rewritten my novel four times and was pretty proud of the final result. I got back a manuscript with literally thousands of red marks. She offered far more than simply fixing spelling, grammar, etc. She also took a keen interest in my story and offered many, many suggestions for improvement. I resubmitted to her for a second editing because the changes to the manuscript were so dramatic. There was a lot of work to do, even on the second time through. However, I ended up with a marketable manuscript that is acceptable to literary agents. I simply could not have done it without her help.
Paul McNabb, author of The Jaguar Affair
From Philip Watson:
Thank you! For showing me the editing warts that I swore had been zapped. Through her ruthless red ink she has elevated my manuscript and my confidence as I submit for publication.
She gave me exactly the kind of attention to detail and conceptual feedback that I needed. And thanks for delivering the fresh plot ideas plus the excellent examples of dialogue technique. She is a seasoned, skilled editor, and I’m so thankful to have found her.
Philip Watson, author of Roadkill
From Cheryl Hollon:
Sleuth Editing performed a small miracle in taking my manuscript to the professional level needed for submissions. The editing was skilled, focused and professional. The suggestions for plot clarification and character development were accomplished without risk to voice and style. I highly recommend Sleuth Editing and will take advantage of this service with my next project.
Cheryl Hollon, author of Shooting Brides
From Kathleen Delaney:
I got my last manuscript back from my publisher, saying it was too full of grammatical and spelling errors, and to please fix it. I couldn't believe it. I had gone over it carefully and thought it was perfect. So, for the first time, I sent it out to a professional editor, thinking it would come back with corrections on a couple of pages. Try 300 pages. Dawn also made some really good suggestions that tightened up the story and, in general, made it a much better and more professional book. I will never again send out a manuscript that hasn't passed through her hands first.
Kathleen Delaney, author of Give First Place to Murder, Dying For a Change, and, hopefully soon, And Murder For Dessert
Thank goodness for Dawn Dowdle. Not only does she catch basic errors, such as calling a character by the wrong name or using words that don't fit, she also finds those plot problems I've missed, that would otherwise haunt me forever more. Oh, and she knows about grammar and commas, too. Because of her experience editing mysteries, she is the logical person to go over any mystery before it is published.
Alan Cook, author of Hotline to Murder, Hayloft, and Honeymoon For Three
Imagine my surprise when the editor that I had wanted to edit my book could not do it! I was on a deadline to get 1/3 of my first novel to a prospective agent. Dawn was recommended to me. I was immediately taken with her professional approach and kind disposition. Not only did she accept the job in the middle of the year-end holiday season she allowed me to send the MS in two sections. Moreover, she returned it EARLY. She is simply amazing! Considering the inconsistencies she found, I believe she knows my characters better than I do. It's been a pleasure to do business with her. I highly recommend her work.
Anna M. Stevens, author of Metamorphosis In Cayman
If any of you writers out there want to solve the mystery of who to have edit your work, I can certainly recommend Dawn Dowdle. For me, she was meticulous, diplomatic with her comments whether they were good or constructive, and she worked quickly. She is affordable, too. When she sent my manuscript back, she marked each page that had punctuation mistakes and such, but she also attached separate pages of comments, questions, or suggestions. She was enthusiastic and professional, and I will definitely use her services again.
Coco Ihle, author of She Had To Know
Promises, promises; but Dawn Dowdle goes far beyond. I expected a line edit and perhaps a little help with the opening. It was the follow-through which amazed me. She didn't generalize, but pointed out specific items needing change with five pages of notes. In addition, she responds quickly to questions. Why would anyone send a manuscript without her help. Thanks Angel.
Jacklyn Brown, author of A Deadly Cure
Marti Tucker, author of The Mayor's Wife
Pamela Samuels-Young, author of Every Reasonable Doubt and In Firm Pursuit
When you think you've ferreted out all those grammatical errors, tracked down all your plot holes, and staked out spelling errors, Dawn Dowdle will rescue your manuscript from the slush pile with her eye for errors. Not only did she handle the details with precision, she also provided me with questions that encouraged me to more fully understand my characters from the reader's point of view. How does she do this without interfering with the writer's voice? It must be good detective work! Actually, it's great editing from someone who knows the mystery genre.
Lesley Diehl, author of The Multiple Connection
Just a word of thanks for the thorough job Dawn Dowdle did with the editing of my story. I am brand new in the writing field, so she had her work cut out for her. I was very happy with her expertise and the fact she took her time to suggest possible changes for the betterment of my story. I loved the way she made comments and the special page for proofreading marks. She also completed my story in a timely manner, just as she said she would.
She is truly excellent at what she does. I know she specializes in mysteries and my story was different than what she is used to, so thanks for that. I would definitely recommend her to other first-time authors. Once again, thank you very much.
Sev Moro, author of Inner Reflection
My manuscript is tighter and sharper with Dawn Dowdle’s corrections. I will save hours of work in the future because her edit pointed out my repetitive mistakes--things I would have sworn were correct. Now I can stop doing them. I am comforted by the fact that, in the future, she will see my completed work before anyone else does. She also pointed out my biggest error. Somehow during revision I accidentally had a character mention the victim by name before the body was identified. In all my re-reading, I never caught the error, but, thankfully, she did. You can bet I'll be back for more high quality help.
Terrie Moran, author of Driven To Death
Bryson Fields, author of The Tale of Terra: For Love
While reviewing my manuscript,
Murder Takes A Toe Pick, Dawn Dowdle caught typos and content errors I had
missed in prior edits. I'm thrilled that I found Dawn, and I highly recommend
her services. I plan on using Sleuth Editing for all my future manuscripts.
Terri McCord, author of Murder Takes A Toe Pick
Dawn has a sharp eye for those little inconsistencies I read right over. She understands what makes a mystery novel work and gives concise, positive suggestions. I want her to edit my next book as well. Dawn finds plot glitches that the writer is too close to the work to see and she fearlessly points to them.
Maria Hudgins, author of Wolf Trap Light, finalist in Murder in the Grove contest, and Day 4: Florence
Dawn edited my latest novel and caught things I never saw, as many times as I went through it. I plan on using her with every book from now on.
Lorie Ham, author of The Trouble with Tenors, Murder in Four Part Harmony, Deadly Discrimination, and Out of Tune
While attending Sleuthfest 2005, I had the fortune to win the raffle for editing services from Sleuth Editing. What a lifesaver! With an editor request for the first thirty pages of my novel, I had a deadline to meet and no editing assistance. Dawn Dowdle came to the rescue. She caught all of my errors and made clear recommendations to improve my manuscript. Thanks, Dawn, for coming to my aid!
Annie Hunter, author of Carneyville Crusade
The
copy edit you did on my new novel, The Internet Murders is terrific.
I can now send my manuscript to agents and publishers alike with renewed
confidence. Thank you again for your attention to detail and the effort
you put forth.
Mark Sheneman, author of
Murder By Suicide
Professional, accurate, and service oriented, Dawn edited my first manuscript after five friends and family members had. She recommended a large number of changes in the punctuation and found inconsistencies in the story line. I will use her in all my future manuscripts and am recommending her to my other writing friends.
Sherry Harris, author of Diamond Solitaire
I have found Sleuth Editing to be an excellent editing source for mystery stories. Dawn Dowdle presents a concise and professional critique that points out the errors and flaws in your writing. She made me feel more confident that my work would be acceptable to publishers after I have made the suggested changes and corrections. I will certainly continue to use her services and would urge anyone writing in this genre to do the same.
Michael P. Veglia, author of short story Dead Man Tells