Developmental Editing
Are you wondering if the pace of your book keeps readers hooked? Does your book make sense to new readers with no background knowledge on your subject? Are there loose ends in your novel that you forgot to tie up?
Developmental editing looks at your big-picture story and structure. It is the first step in the editing process, usually after an author has done some of their own revisions.
For fiction, developmental editing takes an intensive look at the characters, plot, and world of your book before diving into the details of line editing.
For nonfiction, developmental editing looks at your book’s organization, structure, clarity, and readability.
I’ll mark up your manuscript and provide an editorial letter with an overview of your book.
Examples of what’s covered in developmental editing:
- Structure
- Organization
- Character analysis
- World building
- Pacing
- Plot holes
- Clarity and readability
Rates at .03/word. Free 30-minute consultation available.
Line Editing
Are you wondering if your prose flows well and is easy to read? Does your dialogue actually sound natural? Did your character just reference ice fishing on a lake that didn’t exist yet? (Looking at you, Titanic.)
While developmental editing looks at your story, line editing looks at your writing. I’ll make suggestions about your prose at both the paragraph-level and the sentence-level, and include corrections on spelling, grammar, punctuation, consistency, and fact-checking. I’ll mark up your manuscript and provide you with a custom style sheet.
Examples of what’s included in a line edit:
- Voice
- Word choice
- POV and tense
- Natural dialogue
- Repetitive words or overused phrases
- Grammar, spelling, and punctuation
- Syntax
- Consistency in numerals and fonts
- Fact-checking
- Citations and end notes
Rates at .025/word. Sample edits available for line edits.
Proofreading
Is your book all formatted and ready to publish? Do you need a second set of eyes before sending your book out into the world?
Proofreading is the very last step of the editing journey, and includes looking for any errors that may have been missed during line or copy editing. Proofreading includes all front matter, appendices, and cover materials.
Did you know: “Proofreading” literally meaning reading proof copies. Proofreading should occur after you format your manuscript, since the formatting process can introduce new errors to your book.
An example of what’s included in proofreading:
- Spelling, grammar, punctuation errors
- Typos
- Inconsistencies
- Spacing of typography
Rates at .012/word.
Manuscript Critique
Are you looking for big-picture feedback on your manuscript, but aren’t ready for a full edit yet? With a manuscript critique, I’ll read your manuscript and provide an editorial letter addressing big-picture points like characters and story structure, as well any recurring things I noticed in your prose. I won’t mark up your manuscript.
Manuscript critiques can provide feedback to authors who still plan to revise their work before starting the rest of the editing process.
Rates at .01/word.
First Three Chapters Critique
Let’s make your first chapters shine! The first few chapters of your book are incredibly important: they are given as samples to potential buyers online, and are often requested by agents you may be querying. In other words, you want to hook your reader with these chapters!
With the First Three Chapters Critique, I’ll provide feedback on your hook, how you introduce your characters and themes, and anything else that will make your chapters stronger. I will do some mark-ups within the manuscript, depending on what stage of the editing process you’re at.
Flat rate: $65