Line Editing and Copyediting

Line editing and copyediting take place when your book is structurally complete, you’re confident that the story and plot are sound, and you’ve finished your own editing.

This type of editing is about making sure your words flow and your readers stay engaged and immersed.

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
• worldbuilding
• 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. You remain in charge of your manuscript, including deciding which edits to accept and which to reject.

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 talk you through it and can offer a free 1000-word sample edit to illustrate. 

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

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.