Collaboration. Expertise. Reliability.
Since 2008, our team of expert editors has helped writers achieve
life-changing representation and publication of their work.
Will you be next?
ORDERING IS EASY AND AVAILABLE 24/7. QUALITY AND TURNAROUND ARE FULLY GUARANTEED. CHOOSE ONE OF THE SERVICES BELOW TO GET AN INSTANT QUOTE.
Manuscript Evaluation includes a positive, respectful read-through of your book. It provides a supportive, big-picture overview of your book's strengths, weaknesses and marketability.
Developmental Editing starts with a conversation to get to know you and your goals for your book. We follow this with a positive, in-depth review of your book in which we provide big-picture edits and feedback.
Copyediting/Line Editing provides a thoughtful, line-by-line edit of your book, covering aspects such as paragraph structure, syntax, internal consistency, punctuation and grammar.
Proofreading provides a final review of your book to correct any last punctuation, grammar, spelling, and typographical errors.
Formatting & Layout prepares your book for printing.
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MEET YOUR DLA BOOK EDITORS
David Lombardino, Editor in Chief
My passion for writing started from a young age, from my mother’s rule of needing to read for 2 hours to earn just 1 hour of “screen time” to the joy of annually winning our local library’s summer reading competitions. I love anything character-driven, whether that character is you, your subject or a character you have created. My favorite authors span many genres and are too many to name, from Faulkner, Tolkien and Nabokov to Dostoevsky, Garcia Marquez and Ferrazzi. Whatever project you have, I’d love to learn more about what inspires you and how I can collaborate with and empower you to achieve your dream.
Fiction Genres: Any genre other than Erotica; no graphic or hate material
Nonfiction Genres: Any non-academic genre (e.g., Biography/Memoir, Personal Development, Self-Help)
Terry Cummings
Terry loves reading in many genres, including historical and humorous fiction, young adult literature, and nearly any story with a dog in it, although she refuses to read the chapter in which the dog dies. Among her favorite authors are Patrick McManus, Ann B. Ross, Richard Peck, and the author/illustrator team of Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger. In her free time, she enjoys serving new recipes to friends and family, training and showing dogs in AKC Obedience, and making animal-assisted therapy visits.
Fiction Genres: Fantasy, Historical, Romance, Young Adult
Nonfiction Genres: Autobiography/Biography, History, Religion/Spirituality, Personal Development
Nicholas Machida
A lifelong lover of buildings who pored over castle floor plans and elevations in his youth, Nico has developed an approach to editing based on spatial thinking. Like a practical yet beautiful work of architecture, a strong manuscript has a sound foundation, a transparent structural logic, and strategically placed moments of surprise or flourish. As importantly, both buildings and manuscripts should be easily navigable and readily comprehensible, with clear markers for the user or reader of what to expect, where to go next, and how a discrete element connects to the whole.
Fiction Genres: Historical, Literary, Fantasy, AAPI, LGBTQ+
Nonfiction Genres: Autobiography/Biography, History, Cultural Studies, Education, Humanities
Lynda Dietz
Lynda has been fascinated with the written word ever since her earliest years of reading the back of the cereal box at the breakfast table. That passion has stuck around, and in 2013 she edited her first book. Since then, she’s helped authors across many genres improve their writing craft, even while pursuing specialized editing courses to improve her own. One of the biggest compliments she’s received was when an author told her, "You’re not scary, even for an editor."
Fiction Genres: Fantasy, Historical, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi, Thriller/Suspense, Young Adult
Nonfiction Genres: Autobiography/Biography, Parenting/Development, Self-Help
WE HELP GET YOU PUBLISHED
Or at least your book judged on merit. Publishers accepting
books we’ve edited include:
ARE YOU A FIRST-TIME CLIENT?
Great! Can we start you off with a free sample edit to see if we'd be a good fit?
Email us your request, and we'll copyedit the first 1,000 words of
your book for free (min. 3,000 words).
WANT HELP SECURING AN AGENT?
See our services for query letters and synopses.
HAVE A PARTICULAR APPROACH YOU'D LIKE US TO TAKE WITH THE EDITING?
We'd love to hear about it! Speak with one of our editors over the phone, by live chat or via email.
Our telephone hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CT Monday through Friday, our live chat hours
are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM CT Monday through Friday, and email is available anytime.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
We are proud to support these great organizations:
We are committed to your success.
When you become a client of DLA Editors & Proofers, your goal becomes our goal. Our editors are handpicked not just for their speed, expertise and reliability, but also for a genuine passion to see you succeed.
Still have questions? We would love to hear about your goals and collaborate with you in achieving them. Speak with one of our editors today over the phone, by live chat or via email.