Suzanne Doukas Niermeyer, Freelance Editor

I am Suzanne Doukas Niermeyer, a freelance editor from Mystic, Connecticut, providing editing and ghostwriting services to local authors to help them produce publishable manuscripts. I have worked with author Lisa Saunders on her historical – and hysterical - tourist guide, The Mystic Seafarer’s Trail, and am currently ghostwriting a client’s memoir.

I graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in English from Connecticut College (Conn) in New London where I learned the mechanics of writing and literary analysis. The coursework at Conn was as challenging as it was rewarding. And I loved every minute of it!

In addition to the expertise attained from the rigorous coursework at Conn, I authored, edited, and proofread communications, funding proposals, standard operating procedures, quality assurance reports and a myriad of other work related materials during my fourteen years with a global pharmaceutical company.  

Aside from my education and work experience, I am proficient in many editing software applications - from word processors to imaging software to multi-media publishing. Whatever the vision for your book, I can deliver an array of layout options for your book’s development, whether in hardcopy or eBook format.

Read more about my rates, services, and software proficiencies...

2014 Rates based on definitions from the Editors’ Forum Editorial Services Guide

Type of Work	Estimated Pace	Fees
EDITING
Editing, basic copyediting	5-10 ms pgs/hr	$15/hr
Editing, heavy copyediting	2–5 ms pgs/hr	$20/hr
Editing, developmental	1–5 pgs/hr	$25/hr
FACT CHECKING		$15/hr
INDEXING	8-20 pr pg/hr	$15/hr
LAYOUT
Layout, books	6-10 pgs/hr	$20/hr
Layout, newsletters	1-4 pgs/hr	$25/hr
MANUSCRIPT EVALUATION		$20/hr
PROOFREADING	9-13 ms pgs/hr	$15/hr
RESEARCHING		$20/hr
WRITING	1-3 ms pgs/hr
Writing, fiction		$30/hr
Writing, ghostwriting		$30/hr
Writing, nonspecified		$30/hr
Writing, technical/trade		$35/hr

Software Expertise

Microsoft Office; Word, Publisher, Excel, Project, Visio, Internet Explorer

Adobe; Photoshop, Dreamweaver, X Pro
Cyberlink; PhotoDirector, PhotoPower
Movie Editors, HP, Cannon
Online Applications; YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter

Ideas for the Mystic Writer’s Colony

What is the Mystic Writer's Colony?

A collection of resources for writers who journey to the shores of Connecticut to get inspired and published.

Once We Have a Central Location:

Sample Events

Drop-in events include Writer’s Open Mic, Writer’s Network (like the Chamber’s networking events), and conferences. For example, at one Mystic Chamber networking event I attended, I met the president of a local theater group who went on to produce my Civil War play. Editors and illustrators would want to attend these networking events as they and writers need each other.   

 Sample Workshops

·        How to Get Published

·        How to Self-Publish

·        How to Write a Memoir

·        Journaling

·        How to Write a Play

·        Improv

Benefit to the Community

·        Encourages writers from New York and Boston to travel to Mystic for support and inspiration.

·        Brings area writers to downtown Mystic.

·        Mystic Community Bikes is a nice way to promote travel by Amtrak and Peter Pan Bus.

·        Tourists sometimes complain there is nothing to do in Mystic at night (other than pubs). Now, they can attend open mics and improvs until 8pm.

If there is ever an annual membership fee, it can include:

·        Discounted price at networking events.

·        Listing in the Mystic Writer’s Colony website.

·        Ability to post an event on the Mystic Writer’s Colony website.

·        Listing in the Mystic Writers Speakers Bureau (I organized and promoted one at the New York college I write for. Writer’s need to speak to sell books and organizations need to know where they can find authors to speak at their events).

About me: Lisa Saunders teaches writing and publishing workshops to children and adults and recently started the newsletter Mystic Seafarer’s Trail to reach tourists and locals with ongoing fun in the Mystic area, which includes items of interest for the Mystic Writer’s Colony. She is the author of several traditionally published and self-published books including How to Get Published and Mystic Seafarer’s Trail.  Visit Lisa at www.authorlisasaunders.com or write to: saundersbooks@aol.com.