Client Testimonials

Read what people are saying about my professional editing services.

COMPREHENSIVE EDITING CLIENTS

"I discovered Liz after an extensive search for an editor, and I must say that finding her was a game changer. Having sampled a multitude of editors, Liz stood out by not only rectifying my numerous mistakes but also by seamlessly preserving my unique voice. Her attention to detail is unparalleled—I mean, she delves into the minutiae, identifying issues as subtle as catching a straight vs. curly apostrophe or quotation. What sets Liz apart is her commitment to transparency; she meticulously explains every change made, fostering a deeper understanding and contributing to the enhancement of my writing skills.

Navigating the editing process can be a vulnerable experience, but Liz approaches it with a gentle touch, making the necessary revisions while ensuring the integrity of the manuscript is maintained. Following her initial edit, I opted for the proofreading service she offers, and once again, Liz exhibited her thoroughness. She uncovered mistakes that had eluded me despite countless read-throughs post-editing. I wholeheartedly recommend Liz to fellow authors. Her expertise, meticulousness, and considerate approach make her an invaluable asset in the journey to polish and perfect any book.”

Atlas Creed, author of Armitage: Children of Arcanum

“Working with Liz Merck was an absolute joy. Her sharp, thoughtful edits honored my voice while elevating the structure and flow of my story. She brought out the best in my manuscript and pushed me to grow as a writer. Add in her quick, clear communication, and you’ve got a truly exceptional editor. I can’t recommend her enough and can't wait to work with her on my next project.”

Samantha Swanner, author of I’ve Done It Again

“I cannot recommend Liz’s editing services enough! She communicated every week on her progress, completed it within the agreed-upon timeframe, and helped me with questions as I was going through her edits. She always kept "my voice" in mind, gave extremely detailed notes on why she was suggesting each edit, and (maybe my favorite part) gave examples to consider. Instead of saying "This has a preposition," she would follow it up with a suggestion of how to change it, which I loved because I'm a writer, not an editor. Some things I would've had to have researched to figure out, or I would have struggled trying to reword things without making the same mistake. Liz ensured I didn’t have to do any of that.

She is very thorough and will send back a TON of edits, but that’s a good thing because she catches so much! She is very kind and compassionate about it, and you can feel her genuine desire to make the work the best it can be. When she gives suggestions, she also tells the writer to do what they think is best for their character/work. She does not try to force anything or change the voice or story. I am planning to make corrections on my previous two books and re-release them. I fully intend to have Liz edit those as well, along with the rest of my future work.”

H.B. Tyler, author of the Steele series

“Liz has been a godsend. Her kindly worded and well-explained edit notes left me with a clear understanding of the rationale behind her suggestions, which made it easy to decide whether or not to implement the changes. Not only are her edits relevant, thorough, and thoughtful, but she's a wonderful communicator. At no point during this process was I worried I wouldn't get my manuscript back on time or that I would be unsatisfied with the quality of her work. Not only will my book be a more enjoyable read, but I have no doubt that working with Liz will make me a better writer in the long-term.

I have already booked Liz to edit the next installment of my series, and I fully intend to work with her as long as she'll have me!”

Jessica Rosenberg, author of the paranormal women’s fiction series Baking Up a Magical Midlife

“Liz is the editor you want and the editor you need. She will hold your hand as much or as little as you require during the editing and rewriting processes. She takes the time to educate you and offer suggestions, and I always felt like she genuinely cared about my story. You don't have to worry about giving her your babies because they will come back better, neater, and faster than you can imagine. Editing is daunting, but using Liz makes it much easier and much more enjoyable. I feel like I have come out the other side a better writer. I can't wait to finish my next story and have her expertise help me with it too!”

Emery Luna, author of the Shackles and Stars trilogy

“‘You don't know what you don't know.’ That is how I would sum up my experience in working with Liz, who edited my first foray into fiction. Simply put, there was a lot in the world of grammar and style that I simply didn't know (i.e., use a comma to end this type of quotation and a period to end another), and because I was working with Liz, she caught and corrected all of these mistakes so that I didn't have to! And as a bonus, I learned a lot through the process. Liz was thorough, delivered edits when she said she would, and had a lot of great insight. I will definitely use her services for my next book!”

Jennifer Milder, Author of The Epilogue of August

“I was referred to Liz by a fellow author and am so grateful I took that suggestion! Liz was not just incredibly thorough in her editing of my novel Love Always, but her notes were detailed with full explanations of why she was making suggestions as well as giving alternatives. She deeply understands and respects that your work is not just a novel or product but that it is something the writer has created, and she treats you with enormous care and respect. You will not lose your voice; your voice becomes clearer. One of the things I genuinely appreciated and never expected was the amount of additional research she puts into her editing with regard to the writer's content. My novel was based on true events, and Liz even performed fact checks for me and verified information, offering edits based on that level of care and detail. It was incredibly helpful. My novel is a better book because of her, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. I will absolutely use her again for all my future work.”

Michelle Brown, author of Love Always

“I'm right at the beginning of my publishing journey, so a good editor is a must. Liz is that editor.

I started out with a very long list of potential editors. Editing is not inexpensive, and I wanted to make sure I was getting the most for my money. I looked at multiple factors such as price, genre specialty, years of editing experience, and what specific types of editing they offered. I narrowed it down to three individuals, Liz being one of them. All of them responded to my inquiries, but Liz stood out. She was extremely friendly and conversational; it felt like I was talking to a friend. That's what ultimately decided it for me, but her excellent prices and extensive services made me certain this would be a good fit.

Getting a book published is a long, arduous journey and more than a little nerve-wracking at times. Being so new to this world, I was anxious about handing my beloved novel away to be marked up and dissected. But Liz is NOT the scary, fire-breathing dragon you might picture, burning out whole sections of your work and swatting down every character and plot twist, telling you it's the worst thing she's ever read (my fear!). She is so incredibly considerate and kind, gently asking questions and moving forward with the edit based on your answers. I also appreciated that she asked what I thought needed work on the piece, which made me really think critically about it as a whole in ways I wouldn't have on my own.

When I got my edit back from Liz, she had not only provided the edited manuscript (almost 400 pages!), but she also included a “report,” which basically summarized the big points of what she noticed throughout (for example, I have trouble with tenses, so she noted this and why it didn't work to switch that around constantly). I could go on and on about how wonderful working with Liz has been, but I'll finish by saying this. HIRE HER! She will make you feel so great about your book, and she will work with you to make it even better than you ever could have imagined!”

Hazel Dehn, author of a (hopefully) soon-to-be-published psychological thriller titled Another Like Him

COPYEDITING CLIENTS

“Working with Liz has been an extraordinary experience that has not only improved my manuscript but also enriched my growth as a writer. Liz’s kindness and professionalism shine through in every aspect of her work. She goes above and beyond to ensure that each detail is meticulously addressed, always taking the time to explain her edits with clarity and patience.

Liz is incredibly thorough in her approach, finding and correcting even the smallest errors while offering insightful suggestions on any other aspects of the manuscript that may need attention. What sets Liz apart is her commitment to helping you improve your writing for future drafts. She provides a separate document filled with detailed editorial notes, offering guidance that extends beyond the current project.

Her edits and recommendations are delivered with a kindness that is both encouraging and empowering. Liz’s constructive feedback has not only polished my manuscript but also strengthened my confidence as a writer. I am deeply grateful for her support and highly recommend Liz to any author seeking a skilled editor who truly cares about the success of their work.”

S.H. Blodgett, author of the Ruined Destiny series and Legacy of the Dragon series

"I was fortunate to connect with Liz Merck through the Northern Virginia Writers Club when I was looking for a professional copyedit of my second book, Santa Overboard. As a seasoned editor myself, I had specific standards, and Liz exceeded them in every way. Her meticulous attention to detail and insightful explanations made her more than just an editor; she became a valuable partner in the editing process, and I requested her eye on other materials as well, including the book jacket copy. I'm now hesitant to release anything without her expert guidance."

Carolyn McBride, author of the Potomac Shores series

ALPHA & BETA READING CLIENTS

“I can't sing Liz Merck’s praises enough. Her beta reading and appraisal of my book was not only encouraging, but it gave me some very specific pointers for simple ways in which I could immediately improve the quality of my writing. As well as drilling down into the finer details, she had a thorough overview of the piece and clearly understood what I was trying to achieve. She was very generous in sharing her knowledge and experience, not only of the genre I'm writing in but of the publishing business in general. She also offered some very valuable advice about what would make my book even more marketable. Thanks to her detailed help and guidance, I now feel well-equipped to make my book the best it can be and, in time, submit it for publication. I couldn't have been in safer hands.”

Stewart Arnott, author of Beginners to the Stage, Please

"I published my first book in April 2025. That milestone wouldn't have been possible without Liz's invaluable support, feedback, and encouragement. Thank you once again, Liz, for being part of this incredible adventure. Your contributions have truly made a difference, and I'm so grateful to have you in my corner."

Gabrielle A. Hunter, author of On My Mind and in My Heart

"I am a South African author, and after getting my manuscript as far as I could, it was time for me to get some professional feedback. I discovered Liz on Twitter (X) while sifting through loads of potential editors, and she easily rose to the top of the pile. Put it this way: the algorithm was right. I chose to utilize her beta reading services as a start and was blown away by the annotated manuscript containing detailed commentary as well as her report, which was brilliantly insightful. I now have some clear direction as I begin another round of self-editing. I will certainly be back for a line and copy edit before I pursue publication. She also went above and beyond by filling out a short questionnaire I created for all my betas, which I greatly appreciated. Thank you, Liz! I cannot recommend her enough!"

Jamie Hadley-Grave, author of Midnight Rain (not yet published)