My Editing Services
Line Editing, Copy Editing, and Editorial Reviews, Oh My!
Read below for the type of edits I offer, what you can expect with each type of edit, and what the process is if you book me as your editor.
Types of Editing Services
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What a Line Edit is NOT:
-Developmental editing: Which focuses on larger structural issues like plot, character arcs, and overall story development.
OR
-Copy editing: An edit primarily concerned with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors.
Line Edits from Me:
Line Edits can take up to a ten week turnaround and are the most intensive of sentence-specific edits to complete. Comments are made throughout the entirety of the manuscript, and a Style Sheet is created for the manuscript, as well.
Common Line Edit Items/Feedback:
Show, Don’t Tell (SDT)
Description vs Dialogue
Passive Voice
Wordiness
--ly adverbs
Weasel Words
Action Tags
Dialogue Tags
Point-of-View(POV)
Writing Tense
Chapter Hooks
Author Intrusions
Deep POV/POV slips
Scene Transitions
Resist the Urge to Explain (RUE)
Benefits of a line edit:
• Enhanced readability: Improved sentence structure and word choice make the text easier for readers to understand and engage with.
• Stronger character development: Consistent voice and perspective throughout the story.
• Professional polish: A refined manuscript with a polished writing style.
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A Copy Edit with Me: For a full-length manuscript I may take up to an 8 week turnaround timespan.
This edit occurs between a Line Edit and a Proof, and it essentially cleans up the manuscript after an author has edited with the feedback of a Line Edit.
A good copy edit catches final inconsistencies, elevates final word choice, and readies the manuscript for Proofreading. The novel must be nearing the publication stage and should’ve been through several edits to be ready for a Copy edit.
Common Copy Edit Items:
Grammar
Spelling
Punctuation
Story Inconsistencies
Punctuation
Capitalization
Story World Terms
Description Clean Up (-ly words, imagery, SDT)
Dialogue/Dialogue Tags Clean Up
*Additionally, if you do not have a Style Sheet already created for your manuscript, one can be added on to your Copy Edit service for $50. I typically begin the Style Sheet at the Line Edit stage with my authors
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An Editorial Review may take up to a 4 week turnaround period
An Editorial Review includes Feedback on the overall story, as well as identifications of strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript. While some of the same topics discussed in a review may be similar to those addressed in a Content[aka Developmental] Edit, the review will be briefer and less detailed. The editorial review is written to the author in letter form after an initial reading of the manuscript and does NOT include edits within the manuscript like a content edit would.
What’s an Editorial Review for?
An editorial review would be useful if you’re determining the viability of a story draft, have received inconsistent alpha/beta reader feedback, or don’t have a network yet for good alpha/beta feedback, and if you want an industry professional’s eyes on it before you are too far into the revision process. If you can’t afford a Content Editor but want a place to start with your own developmental edits, or if you are someone who can take critiques and who has decent self-editing skills, you might be able to substitute those with an editorial review.
What content should I expect in a Review?
General story overview, strengths and weaknesses, and will consider topics from this list*:
Plot Arc
Plot Twist and Holes
Character Arcs
Story World/Setting
Pacing
Story Hook & Engagement
Villian/Antagonist
Writing Strength & Prose
Romance and/or other subgenre considerations
Theme/Message
Audience
Genre/Tropes
Other*
*Feedback will vary depending on the nature of the manuscript, but you can anticipate your review to provide feedback on the story as a whole, its strengths and weaknesses, and to be between 600-750 words in length.
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FORMATTING is an “add-on” service I offer for authors whose manuscripts I’ve worked with. I ask for a 4 week turn around to be safe.
Who needs this?
Indie authors who don’t want to also pay for their own software and take their time to learn yet another skill can now reach out for formatting services to get their manuscript into the proper book layout according to the size and type of book desired, whether you plan to work with KDP, Ingram or more.
Formatting Terms:
I use Atticus software. You can see samples I’ve formatted and uploaded to Amazon here.
Any client who has booked their manuscript with me for a line or copy edit can choose to add formatting to their editing services. For me, I think it helps to have worked with the author and manuscript before to collaborate with them and help produce the final vision of their work.
ISBN not provided by me. I also do not create covers.
I can insert images, maps, special artwork for chapter headings, parts, scene breaks, etc.
You will receive the formatted book in both EPub and PDF formats so that you can publish both print and e-books.
*Prices start at $50 for formatting services. For a standard novel layout of up to 80,000. Additional fees may apply depending on length or complexity of the project.
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After you’ve explored your options, select that “Book with Me” button and reach out for a quote and/or clarification on any services.
Once we’ve settled on which edit you want/is best for the stage of your manuscript and the date you’d like to book (I’m happy to book a year+ out in advance), I will send you a contract, which we’ll both sign outlining what we’ve agreed upon, payment, any discounts, etc.
I ask for your manuscript to be emailed to me in either google docs or word files. The reservation deposit must be paid 30 days prior to your start date to hold your spot.
I will begin the selected edit once I’ve received your deposit and have your manuscript in hand.
I may email or message you with questions and updates occasionally, and I will let you know as I am nearing the end. I always hope to be done earlier than my outlined turnaround time, but ask that my authors don’t plan for an early return, as life does happen, so schedule accordingly. Manuscript will be sent back along with any add-ons, such as Style Sheets, once payment has been received in full.
Finally, if you have questions regarding any of the feedback, I am happy to schedule a complimentary phone session with you up to 45 minutes to talk out and clarify any of the edits needed.
Of course all return clients are eligible for my return client discount even as prices go up, and they will have the chance to book ahead of public advertising if they are on my email list.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Frequently Asked Questions ~
I’m new to the editing lingo—What Really is the difference between a Line and Copy edit?
How Do I Decide what kind of edit is right for me?
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When editing a fiction book, "copy editing" focuses primarily on correcting technical aspects like grammar, spelling, and punctuation, while "line editing" delves deeper into the writing style, addressing sentence structure, word choice, and overall flow to improve readability and the story's impact, making line editing a more subjective and nuanced process compared to copy editing.
Key differences:
Focus:
· Copy Editing: Technical accuracy, ensuring consistency with style guides, fixing grammatical errors, punctuation, and spelling. In general, cleaning up the prose as needed.
· Line Editing: Improving the writing style at a sentence level, suggesting changes to word choice, sentence structure, pacing, and overall clarity, as well as identifying any remaining inconsistencies.
Level of Intervention—Example scenarios:
Copy editor: "Change 'their' to 'there' in this sentence."
Line editor: "Consider replacing 'walked briskly' with 'hurriedly strode' to create a more dynamic image."
LINE EDIT:
A "line edit" for a fiction book involves a detailed examination of the manuscript at the sentence level, focusing on improving the clarity, flow, and overall quality of the writing by suggesting changes to word choice, sentence structure, tone, and pacing, while ensuring consistency in character voice and perspective throughout the story.
Key aspects of a line edit for fiction include Sentence structure, Word choice, Consistency in voice and perspective, Pacing and flow, Dialogue, Descriptive language, Plot holes, Character Notes
COPY EDIT:
A fiction copyeditor, is expected to guide the author through a full technical edit of the manuscript, including working with the author on sentence structure, word choice, consistency, timelines, and other fact-checking—all while maintaining the author's voice. A copy editor’s job land between the line editor and proofreader, so a CE still dabbles in some word choice and story consistencies, while also beginning to lean heavier into the technical aspects of a manuscript.
Copy editing a fiction book includes: Correcting errors, Formatting in spacing, spelling, grammar, and more, Modest Fact-checking, Structuring of paragraphs and sentences, streamlining punctuation, Maintaining consistency in spelling, world details, etc, Addressing any lingering plot inconsistencies, Maintaining the author's voice, Working with a style sheet
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Read the timeline, and determine where you and your story are and what you need.
Have you finished the story? Yes!
Congrats! That’s a big achievement. You could submit for an Editorial Review if you are unsure on the viability of the manuscript or want a professional’s overall feedback. OR You can spend some time with beta readers for feedback and do a quality Self-Edit. (see my Self-Edit pdf on my Resources page for a place to start with self-editing).
You’ve tackled the feedback in an Editorial Review or from solid beta work and completed a Revision based on those notes and then a Self-Edit of your Novel. What Next?
The Content Edit or what some call the Developmental edit comes next. Depending on how strong your story is and how good you are at revising, you might be able to do this type with another beta and more good self-editing. (*a note about beta readers: make sure they are in your target audience and/or know your genre well if you are relying heavily on them over regular editors.)
So I feel good about my story now and have gotten feedback on it from more than one reader/editor and have made several editing passes on it, what now?
It’s time for a Line Edit! Find someone you feel like you can work well with and who understands your genre. Of course, make sure you’re comfortable with the availability, contract, and the fees.
Okay, Revisions on the Line Edit have been completed, and I’m feeling really confident in the manuscript, so what’s a Copy Editor for?
SO, best way to understand a Copy Editor’s role is to think about the difference between the focuses of the Line Edit before it and the Proofread after it. . . Know that a Proofreader is only proofing; they will not be making story or phrasing comments, just formatting and grammar and typo-type corrections. If you made any content changes through the course of your revision after your line editing, your Self-editing game needs to be strong! Another thing to consider: the higher quality of condition the manuscript was in for the Line Edit, the more elevated and cleaned up a Line editor can make it. A Copy Editor wraps up final story work and begins the technical work your story needs to get it near to publishing. Often the CE will also finalize your Style Guide for you.
Your Proofreader is just that: final technical proofing—the manuscript can’t have story changes at this point, and it is not a proofer’s job to do so. A proofer will do his or her best to get your manuscript technically accurate.
Final Note about hiring editors: I do highly recommend that you have someone different for one of your final edits. So either your copy editor or your proofreader should be different from your Line Editor. Fresh eyes see and catch different things! This is another reason I don’t want to lock writers into a bundle deal.
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Great Question!
The Short Answer is “no.” No one is forcing you to have all these edits or to hire all these different types of editors.
The Long Answer is: All editors have a certain job, and your manuscript changes with each revision, and we also get used to our work and miss things that others will catch. How many other editors, friends, beta readers, etc, you choose to work with to get your manuscript to where you want it to be depends on your skills, your budget, and your goals.
If you want to traditionally publish and get a contract, you will likely receive at least Line and/or Copy Edits plus Proofing. Consider then what you need to make it submission-worthy. For some that’s simply beta readers and really great self-editing. For others, they’ll choose to get help with an Editorial Review or Content Edit.
If you plan to indie/self publish, you are responsible for all steps of your manuscript and getting it ready for publishing.
SO, to sum up, how much you do yourself or hire for depends on your network, your budget, your skills and your manuscript’s needs.