Line Editing and Copyediting
This type of editing takes place when your book is structurally complete, and you’re confident that the story and plot are sound.
As well as correcting any spelling or grammatical issues, it enhances the readability of your book, ensuring your words flow seamlessly so that your readers stay engaged and immersed.
If you’d like developmental editing for your manuscript, that will need to take place before line and copyediting.
I want to thank you for a job phenomenally well done. Every insight you provided helped the clarity of my meaning.
Guile Branford, March 2024
What you get
1. A line-by-line edit
I’ll edit your book line by line, addressing issues such as:
- pace and flow
- unnecessary repetition, redundancies and clichés
- clarity and ambiguities
- point of view issues
- telling versus showing
- use of tenses
- consistency
- timelines
- dialogue
- spelling, punctuation and grammar
I focus on maintaining your voice and your style. I don’t make changes for the sake of it, and where I do offer solutions, they will be as simple and minimally intrusive as possible. Line and copyediting does not involve rewriting any of your work or adding to it.
I also explain my edits so that you can understand the reasoning behind them and take that knowledge into future writing, and I applaud the stuff that’s great, so you know to do more of it!
I’ll do all this using Tracked Changes on MS Word (the industry standard). If this is not something you’re familiar with, I can help. I can also work in other applications. Please contact me to enquire.
2. An editorial report and style sheet
- My editorial report details my observations and highlights anything which I need to bring to your attention
- The style sheet documents decisions made in regard to spelling, punctuation, capitalisation, word choice and so on – for your reference, and so that consistency can be maintained
If you’re not sure if this is what you need, feel free to get in touch.
I’ll be happy to advise and can offer a free 1000-word sample edit to illustrate.
What happens after a manuscript has been through line and copyediting?
When you receive the edited manuscript, you will need to go through it and decide whether to accept or reject my edits. It’s your book, so the final say rests with you. If you need clarification on anything, you can send me a follow-up email with queries.
Once all the edits have been reviewed and you have made any further changes you wish, the manuscript will be ready for layout and design.
If there were a lot of edits, you may wish to request another round of copyediting before going to the design stage.
Cost and timescale
These depend upon the length of your book and the level of editing it requires. I will need to see your manuscript in order to advise.
I usually quote a project rate, so we both know the cost up front, and I can offer payment in instalments for larger projects.
You will normally need to book your edit in advance so that we can agree on a schedule.
To enquire
Please take a look at my Terms and Conditions for more information about working with me. Then, send me an email! Please include:
- the name of your book
- the genre
- the wordcount
- what your plans are (such as seeking a traditional publishing deal or self-publishing
- whether your manuscript has been through any previous rounds of professional editing
- any other details you feel might be important.
I’ll get back to you and we can take it from there!
If you’re not sure whether this is the type of editing your manuscript needs, don’t worry. Just get in touch and we’ll work it out together.