EDITING SERVICES FOR YOUR WRITING
Writing is a journey and a craft. You may have heard the famous saying, “Writing is rewriting” but often we need another pair of eyes to help us find the areas that need revision. Having spent many years as an editor at publications, I know the value of a good editor. (See bio below.) We can help organize, sharpen and polish your stories to make them shine brighter.
Full Professional Edit: $250-950 depending on the length of your manuscript or screenplay. I’ve written and/or edited every type of writing from picture books to nonfiction to screenplays to reports. This edit includes copy editing which is line edits of grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.; big picture comments (building on strengths and identifying weaknesses); an analysis of the narrative arc, emotional arc, emotional resonance, voice, pacing, and character development; an exploration of where your manuscript fits into the market; ideas about writing in a visual way in case your story might be a great candidate for the screen; ways to craft cliffhangers; and craft resources.
Full Professional Follow-Up Edit: $150— This detailed edit is available after your manuscript has received a Full Professional Edit and has been revised. Let an editor give you feedback on if your revisions satisfied the issue or how a bit more polish can make it shine.
Query Letter Edit Package: $150 — This edit helps get your query tip top. You only get one shot with agents and editors. It they don’t like what they see, the conversation ends. Make sure your query letter hits the way you hope— engaging, intriguing and irresistible.
60-minute Zoom Consultation: $150 — Working live together can be an easier way to get to the heart of identifying writing strengths, areas to revise and marketability brainstorming while getting feedback in the moment and clarifying critiques.
Please contact me to join the Wait List. Paypal is the preferred form of payment.
In the meantime, some great resources for editing are: Stage32, AustinFilmFestival, OnThePage.tv, and ScriptReaderPro.
AVIATION CONSULTING SERVICES
Would you like to learn to fly? Or are you considering a career in aviation for yourself or your child? There has never been a better time to start your flight plan for an exciting life in the skies. I’ve enjoyed running an aerial surveillance business protecting national security assets and flying as Chief Pilot for over 8 years. I hired and trained pilots, enjoyed about 5,000 hours, mostly as Pilot In Command and worked with the Department of Transportation (DOT). In good standing with the FAA, I have my commercial pilot’s license, multi-engine rating, instrument rating, ground instructor certificate and commercial UAS (drone) license.
I also teach aviation at the local high school. We use AOPA (Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association) and King Schools curriculum. (See bio below.)
Private and Professional Aviation Career Initial Information Consulting: $55 introductory Zoom meeting. The process to becoming an airline, charter, cargo and air taxi pilot can be overwhelming. There are so many paths but which one is the fastest, most economical and best? It depends on many of your circumstances and preferences. In this introductory meeting, I’ll help you decide how you want to create a flight plan for your life or your child’s. Can be a stand-alone meeting or count towards a package. This meeting is up to 45 minutes.
Private and Professional Aviation Career Consulting Package: $2500-5000. Guidance throughout the process of starting an aviation career. I’ll help you pick a path— aviation college, flight school, university with a flight program, self-study at one of the 5,200 municipal airports across the country? Which path gets you the most experience and prepares you the best for a flying career? So many resources and pathways. I’ve seen it all. One of my brothers went into the Air Force, one is a Captain for Southwest, one is an aerial firefighter. We all chose different paths for a fantastic life in the skies. This packages includes up to 20 Zoom meetings. Cost varies on how much help you want with applications, scholarship applications, testing strategies, pathway plotting, essay reviews, interview coaching, etc. Some just want resources, deadlines and self-study. Others need closer supervision, support and guidance.
Please contact me to join the Wait List.
Bio:
Aviation teacher at Big Bear High School, currently.
Chief Pilot, January 2007 to April 2015, Pegasus II Aviation & Pegasus Aerial Inc.
- Commercial pilot in good standing with FAA and DOT with a perfect safety record.
- Instrument-rated.
- Multi-engine rated.
- Certificated Ground Instructor.
- Nearly 5,000 flight hours, mostly as Pilot In Command.
- Managed corporation, pilots and planes.
- Managed the business of 30-year-old aerial surveillance company that protected U.S. infrastructure of national security assets.
- Followed all FAA rules; supervised compliance in maintenance and operations.
- Wrote manuals, policies, legal agreements and daily reports for company, including training manuals, patrol and low-level flying manuals, management manuals, etc.
- Created reports and presentations to leaders of $71B corporation, which contracted me as the sole Southwest surveillance company.
- Negotiated with Deputy Director to be the only civilian permitted to fly through Camp Pendleton practice war zones.
- Commercial UAS (drone) pilot.
Writer, Editor and Producer, 2002 to present, Syd Blue Productions
- Producer of The International, The Bank Job, Get Smart, Seasons of the Witch, Three Kings and Scooby Doo, Alan Glazer is setting up one of my screenplays as a family film.
- Producer Tova Laiter (Nixon, Varsity Blues, The Scarlet Letter), who was a VP at Warner Bros, Imagine and Cinergi, has my teen movie screenplay (based on my novel) in development.
- Paid to develop a feature film script with producer who has 1.2B at the box office, Jennie Lew Tugend (Lethal Weapon, Free Willy, Return to Me) and producer Lauren Weissman (One Missed Call, The Vanishing, V.I. Warshawski).
- I wrote two novels that are read in middle schools nationally, promoting science and literacy, and made the top 1% of Amazon books!
- My STEM curriculum is used in middle schools.
- Keynote speaker at schools, airshows and events to encourage kids to take on a challenge like flying. Spoke at Humans to Mars Summit, AAIA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics), San Bernardino College & SB State University, to name a few.
- 40 published articles. 2 optioned scripts. 5 scripts have placed in top contests (finalist, semifinalist, 2nd rounder) in the NY Writers Lab supported by Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman, Page, Scriptapalooza, Final Draft Big Break, Screencraft, LA ISA, Cinestory and Austin Film Festival.
- Freelance projects, including DVDs, ads (one aired during the NFL), interviews, trailers and other media. Produced award-winning documentary.
- Ran local TV station, produced ads, shows and programming.
- Social Media Influencer for aviation events. YouTube channel has had a quarter-million views. YouTube.com/SydBlue
- For list of media appearances— radio, magazine, newspaper, TV and blog interviews, and speaking presentations, please visit: SydBlue.com/news/
- Wrote and produced short film with multi-Emmy-nominated Patrick Hogan as director.
Copy Chief, IDG News Service including InfoWorld, The Industry Standard, Computerworld, PC World, Macworld.
Editor for Jet Settin’ the West magazine, Guru.com, IDG’s InfoWorld, Shepard’s/McGraw-Hill and EGW Publishing.
Managed by Ignited Management.
Education:
- B.A., English. California State University Fullerton.
- UCLA Continuing Ed, voted “Best in Class” in screenwriting.
- California credential.
- FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) licenses and ratings. (See above.)
Please contact me to join the wait list. Paypal is the preferred form of payment.
