Substantive Edit Two Short Stories

I have two contemporary short stories—one at roughly 2,000 words, the other at about 1,600—that need a thorough substantive edit. I’m looking for more than a surface-level proofread; I want fresh eyes on structure, word choice, and overall readability, with special attention paid to pacing and narrative flow.

Please flag areas where the rhythm drags or races ahead, re-work transitions if needed, and trim any repetition that slows momentum. I’d also like concrete suggestions on sharpening dialogue—tone, authenticity, and balance with exposition—so the characters feel natural and the conversations move the plot forward.

Deliverables:
• Clean, fully revised drafts of both stories
• Copies showing tracked changes and margin comments that explain the bigger structural or stylistic moves you made
• A brief editorial note (a few paragraphs per story) summarising key recommendations so I can carry them into future work

Microsoft Word with Track Changes is ideal, but Google Docs works too if that’s your preference. Let me know your turnaround time and any clarifying questions; I’m ready to start as soon as we agree on the details.