Work with me
Maybe you are deep in a manuscript. Maybe you have the idea but not the words. Maybe you just need a second, sharper eye. Maybe you need clear, credible content for your work or organisation. Wherever you are, I help you get to writing that is ready for readers.
Currently open for new projects — get in touch to lock in a slot.
Not sure where to start?
Still unsure? Send me a sample and I’ll recommend the right stage before any commitment.
Services, in detail
Five ways I can help, from a sharper sentence to a whole book written with you. Pick one, or mix them as your project moves.
Book editing
3–12 weeks combinedI work with writers who know what they want to say but need help saying it clearly, confidently, and in a way that holds the reader; writers who care about voice, intention, and craft. Depending on where you are in the process, I support your manuscript in different ways:
Developmental editing
3–4 weeksI act as your manuscript's personal guide, helping strengthen structure, clarity, and focus. Together, we refine ideas, arguments, and themes so your writing communicates its full impact.
- A full read followed by a detailed structural edit letter
- Notes on plot, pacing, character, or argument and theme
- One follow-up conversation to talk through the feedback
Copyediting / line editing
2–4 weeksI smooth sentences, tighten tone, sharpen word choices, and ensure consistency, all while preserving your voice.
- A sentence-level edit for tone, clarity, and consistency
- Tracked changes throughout, with margin comments where useful
- Your voice preserved
Proofreading
4–10 daysI catch typos, grammar and punctuation errors, and formatting issues, giving your manuscript a clean, professional finish ready for publication.
- A final check for typos, grammar, punctuation, and formatting
- A clean, publication-ready copy
- Fast turnaround since it's the last step before release
Most writers move through all three in sequence. Together, they are what most manuscripts need to go from a solid draft to genuinely publish-ready.
Manuscript review
1–3 weeksWant honest, thoughtful feedback on your book before it meets the world? I'll read your book carefully and tell you what's working, what's wobbling, and how to make it even better. Expect real insight like advice from a good friend who knows books inside out.
What to expect
- A full read of your manuscript, cover to cover
- A written report covering strengths and weak points
- Concrete, prioritised next steps, not just impressions
- A good first move if you're unsure what kind of edit you need
Ghostwriting
3–6 monthsNot every story needs to be written alone. If you have the vision but need the right words, I'll help you turn your ideas into a compelling, professionally written manuscript. Through conversations, interviews, and careful collaboration, I capture your voice and shape your story into a book that feels true to you.
What to expect
- Interviews and conversations to capture your voice and story
- Regular drafts shared along the way for your feedback
- A complete manuscript, ready for its next editing pass
- Full confidentiality, respected throughout and after the project
Writing support
Ongoing / by sessionWriting doesn't have to feel like a lonely mountain climb. You might be staring at a blank page, stuck halfway through, or simply in need of a creative push. I'll walk with you through the writing journey: brainstorming, organising ideas, and keeping you accountable.
What to expect
- Regular check-ins to keep your project moving
- Help brainstorming, structuring, and unsticking scenes or arguments
- Someone keeping you accountable to your own deadlines
- Flexible arrangement: a single session or an ongoing package
Content writing
3–7 days per pieceYour audience deserves content that feels like a conversation, not a lecture. I love creating words that connect, move, and get read: a blog post, a feature story, or copy that grabs attention. I do this fluently in both English and Kinyarwanda, making sure your message resonates with your readers.
What to expect
- Blog posts, feature pieces, and brand or website copy
- Written fluently in English and Kinyarwanda
- Clear, readable structure, SEO-aware on request
- Fast turnaround for shorter pieces
Formats & genres
Memoirs, novels, short story collections, and poetry anthologies, plus shorter pieces — essays, short stories, and poems.
Where I work
Based in Rwanda and working with writers based here, while also collaborating with authors worldwide. I team up with fellow editors whenever a project needs teamwork or specialised expertise.
First message to finished work
Say hello
Reach out on WhatsApp or email with a short note on what you are working on (editing, a review, ghostwriting, writing support, or content).
Share what you have
Send a manuscript, a draft, an idea, or a brief. Whatever fits the service, even if it's still rough.
Get a plan & quote
I look over what you've sent and come back with the right approach, a realistic timeline, and a clear quote.
We agree scope
Once you're happy, we settle the details such as scope, timeline, and terms, so both of us are working from the same page, literally.
Delivered
You get the finished work back, an edited manuscript, drafted chapters, or content, plus a follow-up round to talk through anything that needs revisiting.
What I bring to your manuscript
The short version of my editing record, for writers who want to know who they are handing their work to.
Memoir, novels, poetry collections, self-help and non-fiction.
Short stories and poems, edited for voice, flow and polish.
Alongside more than ten years of writing, so I edit as a working writer.
Including first-time authors, guided through their manuscripts.
Awards and recognitions, plus 2 books published and 5 ghostwritten.
Want to see how I would work on yours? Send me a sample
What writers say
“Patrick explained the editing process simply and worked patiently with me on my memoir without changing my voice. He guided me through the entire publication journey.”
“Tom showed me where scenes dragged and where the story needed more focus. His feedback helped me tighten the plot. The novel reads much better now.”
“Patrick edited my debut poetry collection with care, patience, and a genuine understanding of my voice, giving me confidence as a first-time author.”
“He removed repetition and fixed awkward, weird sentences. The self-help book I'm releasing is now more direct and practical for my readers.”
“Tom has been a great mentor and editor, catching every error while preserving my voice. He gives you space to agree on terms that work for both parties.”
“Patrick was essential in making my ideas more accessible, removing repetition, and fixing awkward phrasing. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to speak clearly to their audience.”
“I really thought my manuscript was ready, but Patrick still found many small mistakes. After proofreading, it looked clean and professional.”
“Tom pays close attention to detail. He helped me strengthen sentences and fix flow issues. Even my shortest essays improved a lot after his edits.”
“I was worried about giving my poems to an editor, but Tom respected them and didn't over-edit. The collection finally feels complete.”
“Patrick was more than an editor. He was also a mentor and a friend. His attention to detail and commitment to excellence greatly improved the quality of my work.”
Your story could be next.
Send me a sampleBefore you reach out
How long does editing usually take? +
Most manuscripts take 4 to 12 weeks depending on length and how much work the stage requires. Developmental editing runs longer than a proofread. You'll get a specific timeline after I've read a sample of your work.
Do you work with authors outside Rwanda? +
Yes. I work with writers across Rwanda and internationally, over email, video calls, and WhatsApp, so location isn't a barrier to working together.
I'm not sure what kind of edit I need. Can you help? +
Absolutely, this is one of the most common starting points. Send over a sample and a short note about where you're stuck, and I'll recommend the right stage (developmental, copyediting, or proofreading) before any commitment.
Do you work with self-published authors? +
Yes, a large part of my work is with independent and self-publishing authors, from first draft through to a manuscript that's ready for print or upload.
How much does it cost? +
It depends on your manuscript's length, condition, and the stage of editing it needs. I don't quote a flat rate upfront. Send a sample and I'll come back with a clear, no-obligation quote.
Do you only work on books, or can you help with shorter writing too? +
Books are a big part of what I do, but not all of it. I also write blog posts, features, and website copy, and offer ongoing writing support for people who just need help staying on track, not a finished manuscript.
How does ghostwriting work? Will it still sound like me? +
Through conversations and interviews, I get to know how you think and speak before I write a word. You'll see drafts along the way and give feedback, so the finished manuscript reads like your story, in your voice, even though I did the writing.
I just want feedback, not a full edit. Is that an option? +
Yes, a manuscript review is exactly that. I read your book and send a written report on what's working and what isn't, with no commitment to a full edit afterward.
Let's talk about your project
Send a sample, a few lines about where you are, or just a hello. I'll come back with a plan and a clear, no-obligation quote.
Patrick Nzabonimpa