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Editing Services

I provide professional proofreading and editing services for writers who desire to submit clean, concise, and compelling manuscripts that will attract publishers and intrigue readers.

Quality work, quick results.

Don’t settle for mediocrity.

Introductory Critique

E-mail 3-5 pages of your WIP (work in progress) to denise@lightningeditingservices.com.

Cost is $50, which will be credited to your account if you sign a contract for one of the packages listed below:

Basic Proofreading

This option includes correction of typos as well as errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Cost: $30/hour or flat rate of $85 per 5,000 words.

Substantive Editing

This option includes line-by-line editing using track changes and comments. Cost: $35/hour or flat rate of $105 per 5,000 words. Includes one complete line-by-line edit of manuscript as well as one or two additional readings of manuscript after the author has made revisions.

Manuscript Editing

This option includes substantive editing, two readings of the complete manuscript after the author has made revisions, and formatting the manuscript as an e-book or print book for Kindle Direct Publishing. Cost is $40/hour or flat rate of  $165 per 5,000 words.

Are you ready to start a conversation?

Get in Touch

The difference between the almost right word and the right word is … the difference between
the lightning bug and the lightning.

— Mark Twain —

Meet Denise

She loves books, biscuits, and barbecue.

Denise Loock

Denise Loock

After 29 years of teaching English grammar and composition on the high school and college level, Denise became a book editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas in February 2012.

She is the author of two collections of devotions, Open Your Hymnal and Open Your Hymnal Again. Her work has also appeared in a variety of publications including The Upper Room, EFCA Today, Vista, and two Chicken Soup for the Soul compilations.

She is the founder of DigDeeperDevotions.com, a website dedicated to encouraging and enabling Christians to dig deeper into God’s Word.

Most days she’s cocooned in her office, writing and editing. When she takes a break, she enjoys taking long walks around Lake Junaluska and watching the clouds dance with the mountains.

Editing Experience

Denise has served as a general editor for LPCBooks (a division of Iron Stream Media) since February 2012. She has worked on several dozen books, including these award winners: Bury Me with My Pearls by Jane Jenkins Herlong, Running from a Crazy Man by Lori Roeleveld, and I Am Cyrus: Harry S. Truman and the Rebirth of Israel by Craig von Buseck.

As a freelance editor, she helps both fiction and nonfiction writers produce professional-quality books—everything from lighthearted romance (The Invisible Woman in a Red Dress by Zoe McCarthy) to theology and apologetics (Equipped: Basic Training in Apologetics for Evangelism by Steven Garofalo).

She served as the editor of The Journey Christian Newspaper from December 2013–October 2016.

Professional Organizations

Denise is a member of the Christian Proofreaders and Editors Network (Christian PEN) and an instructor for the PEN Institute.

She is also a columnist for Christian Communicator, a publication of the American Christian Writers Association. Her column, “Mind Your MUGS” addresses grammar, usage, and sentence structure conundrums that all writers encounter.

Writing Credits

The Secret Place devotional magazine
The Upper Room devotional magazine
Penned from the Heart annual devotional compilation
Christian Communicator
Cross and QuillA
Cup of Comfort for New Mothers
Chicken Soup for the Soul: What I Learned from the Cat
The Lighthouse Christian Magazine
EFCA Today
Vista
Chicken Soup for the Soul:New Moms
www.christiandevotions.us
A collection of Denise’s devotions, Open Your Hymnal: Devotions That Harmonize Scripture With Song, was released by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas in May 2010. A second volume of hymn devotions, Open Your Hymnal Again, was released in June 2012.
Open Your Hymnal: Devotions That Harmonize Scripture and Song (Lighthouse, 2010)
Open Your Hymnal Again: Devotions That Harmonize Scripture and Song (Lighthouse 2012)
Restore the Joy: Daily Devotions for December, co-authored with Nancy J. Baker (2018)
Restore the Hope: Devotions for Lent and Easter, co-authored with Nancy J. Baker (2019)

  • Not only is Denise a good editor, she brings joy to her projects. I greatly enjoyed working with her on my newest book, and I felt enriched by her heart for God. I was also impressed by her knowledge of the craft and enthusiastic work ethic.
    You’ll love working with her.
    www.pamthorson.com

    — Pam Thorson - Author of Out from the Shadows —

  • I can’t say enough about the meticulous editing job Denise did on my book, “Double Vision: Seeing God in Everyday Life Through Devotions and Poetry.” She is very detail oriented and took the time to work on my book as if it were her own.
    The finished product is all I wanted it to be and more. I can assure you that she will do the same for you.
    www.francesgregorypasch.com

    — Fran Pasch —

  • Denise is an amazing editor!
    While editing my book, “Bury Me with My Pearls,” she was mostly concerned that her edits would not “lose my voice.”
    Don’t you just love that?
    She is kind, encouraging, and just THE BEST!
    www.janeherlong.com

    — Jane Jenkins Herlong —

  • Denise Loock was my editor for “Messiah to the Messed Up.” I am amazed at her tenacity and vigilance. I have seen her strengthen the impact of my writing with the addition of a single word or the suggestion of an alternate angle.
    The job of editing can be thankless. Let there be no mistake, Denise is deserving of my thanks.
    www.sueciullo.com

    — Sue Ciullo —

  • Denise did a wonderful job editing the manuscript for my book, “Grits & Grace & God.” Her suggestions were always pertinent, her eye for typos sharp, and her interaction with me kind and compassionate.
    The final copy was much improved thanks to her diligent work.
    www.lovelinesfromgod.blogspot.com

    — Martin Wiles —

  • Denise Loock is an editor with an eye for detail and a heart for excellence.
    She is a joy to work with and someone I would highly recommend for your editing needs.
    www.andreamerrell.com

    — Andrea Merrell - Author, Murder of a Manuscript - Editor, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas —

  • Denise has been a blessing to our ministry. Her attention to detail has allowed us to present a more professional appearance. Her dedication to making each article grammatically accurate, down to the smallest punctuation, and structured in a way that best conveys the writer’s intentions has set our publication apart from others. I have personally been blessed in gleaning from her vast knowledge of grammar, punctuation, and syntax.
    www.journeychristiannews.com

    — Jeff Brostrom - Publisher, Journey Christian Newspaper —

  • An editing wiz, Denise Loock takes ordinary words and polishes them to a glossy shine. Her work is efficient, timely, and detailed. Denise has edited for me at ChristianDevotions.us for several years. I highly recommend her if you are looking to take your work from ordinary to extraordinary.
    www.christiandevotions.us

    — Cindy Sproles - Executive Editor, ChristianDevotions.us —

Contact

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Ask a question or two. I’ll respond within 48 hours.

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