Poetry and Prose by Wess Mongo Jolley
Poetry and Prose by Wess Mongo Jolley
Important Note: I edit part-time, alongside my own writing. Depending on my own projects and deadlines, I may not be able to take new clients, or there may be a waiting list. Contact me to check on my current availability.
Let me help you achieve your vision for your poetry collection, memoir, or novel!
I have been a manuscript consultant, copyeditor, and proofreader for many authors over the years, including Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz, Shane Koyczan, Jack McCarthy, Derrick Brown, and Anis Mojgani, and I look forward to working with you!
If you are interested in talking about your manuscript and what services and advice I can offer, contact me using the form at the bottom of this page.
WMJ Manuscript Services charges an hourly rate for both developmental and copyediting services. A typical 50-150 page poetry manuscript can require anywhere from ten to twenty hours of work, and at the end of the review I provide a five to fifteen page report with detailed feedback.
The author always guides my work, and I focus on the areas where the author feels the manuscript needs the most attention.
In addition, I can provide feedback in a variety of other formats, including directly in the manuscript, through embedded notes, via track changes, and/or through an electronically marked up PDF (using standard copyediting and proofreading marks).
Final proofreading of completed and fully edited manuscripts is charged by the word.
Hourly rate for both poetry and prose. A project budget is determined in advanced based on your needs. Every manuscript is unique, so contact me for a free consultation and estimate. Developmental editing varies widely, depending on the kind of work the author wants done. A good rule of thumb for copyediting is that it averages 1,500 words per hour. Depending on the complexity and the number of necessary corrections, that hour can cover as little as 1,000 words, or as many as 2,000. CANADIAN RATE: $70 CAD / hr. Minimum billing: two hours.
Proofreading does not include copyediting or developmental editing. This rate includes proofreading for consistent use of punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and usage; verifying tables of contents with poem titles and page numbers; checking journal titles and spellings in acknowledgements; and any special needs the author identifies. CANADIAN RATE: 3¢ CAD / word. Minimum billing: 5,000 words.
Proofreading does not include copyediting or developmental editing. This rate includes proofreading for consistent and grammatical use of punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and usage, and includes all front and back matter. CANADIAN RATE: 2.2¢ CAD / word. Minimum billing: 7,500 words.
I am so grateful for Wess Mongo Jolley! The poetry books he has edited for me have gone on to win awards! The book proposal he edited for me landed me in a bidding war with nine publishing houses — before I signed a contract with a major publishing house! And the nonfiction book he edited for me went on to spend three months on the New York Times bestseller list! Could I have achieved any of this without his keen eye, his razor-sharp editing skills, and his radiant support of my ultimate vision? Maybe, but Lord knows I wouldn’t want to risk it! I am not kidding when I say when I finish a rough draft of literally any major writing project, Wess Mongo Jolley is always my first call!
New York Times bestselling author and poet
Wess Mongo Jolley is the most thorough and thoughtful editor I have ever worked with. Our press looks more professional, and I have heard from overjoyed authors who were impressed with his keen eye and his clarity on changes. We use him for proofing and editing whenever his schedule opens up every season.
President, Write Bloody Publishing
Wess Mongo Jolley truly brought my book to life! His edits were insightful and precise, and he stayed true to my original vision. You will not find a better manuscript editor, period. My book would not exist without his expertise!
Editor, Allow the Light: The Lost Poems of Jack McCarthy
It is a real pleasure working with Wess Mongo Jolley. He provides prompt, tidy, thorough edits that even the most perfectionist writers fail to notice! All the while maintaining an open mind, with suggestions over instruction where necessary. Mongo asks questions about the work as a whole in order to inform his editing process, and is interested in learning new international colloquialisms! I feel like I got to know Wess personally while working with him, and that he really became invested in the book, keeping in touch long after the edits – even joining us for our book launch! I’ll definitely be working with him again.
Editor and Founder, Write Bloody UK
Wess Mongo Jolley is the very best! He is so much more than an editor, he’s also a wise word wizard! It is joyful to work with him. He is a thoughtful, intelligent, kind, deeply intuitive, and sensitive guide who brings out the best in everyone he works with. I’m pretty sure that Wess Mongo Jolley is magic!
Author: God, Sex, and Musical Theater
Wess Mongo Jolley is an incredible human being and a pure delight to work with! I came to him feeling insecure and terrified but at the end of my project, I was transformed. His encouragement, sincere feedback, and exceptional edits restored my confidence that my story has a place in this world. Working with Mongo will get you the editing expertise that you need, but it’s his gift of seeing beyond the words that sets him apart from others.
Author, Brave Naked Truth - An Uncovering of Radical Love
In only a few hours of his insightful eyes, Mongo helped me find the story my collection wanted to tell. Moving fluidly between small details of word choice to the entire sweep of my manuscript, He was able to provide support and feedback that ultimately led me to the book I hoped to exist within my draft, one I was proud to share with the world. I would recommend his services to anyone who wants to know their work more deeply, anyone who has room to grow, or anyone in need of a fresh perspective.
Author: The Moon and Other Fruits
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