Featured Clients
Parallel Circuits
by Jose Sotolongo
Dirty Frenemies
by Arianna Quinn
You got this!
by lisa bartley
Fresh start
by Arianna Quinn
Ready to share your story with the world?
You did it! You wrote the book. That’s worthy of a massive celebration. But the work isn’t over yet.
It’s often at this stage—after months or possibly even years of staring at your words, breathing life into your story, making sure it’s compelling and unputdownable—that it’s hardest to see the forest for the trees.
Repetition, awkward phrasing, garden-path sentences, head-hopping, timeline slips, spelling inconsistencies—these are a fraction of the details that often get overlooked when you build a world from scratch. They’re also the first thing readers notice.
What happens during the line and copyediting stage?
I begin with a full read through of your manuscript, making minor notes along the way. Here’s where I am able to get a full picture of your story, your characters, your writing style, and your unique voice.
When that’s complete, I begin building out your personalized style sheet. Here’s where I’ll record any preferences you might have already communicated to me. Everything from typographical choices (how text messages are styled, punctuation preferences, etc.) to a master word list recording every word variation—it all goes in the style sheet, which you will receive upon completion of the manuscript and can pass along to any other editor at any time.
Then I go back in and begin the formal editing process, line by line, word by word.
My in-line edits are rendered using Microsoft Word’s Track Changes feature, and any queries I have are offered in the document’s marginal comments. Any larger comments, questions, or concerns will be noted in the editorial report, which you will receive with the edited document and your style sheet.
Unless otherwise specified, I edit using the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), 18th edition, as a base style guide, since this is the style guide used predominantly throughout publishing. I also lean on the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition, for spelling, as this is the predominant dictionary used for US-published books.
Kind Words from Clients
Line and Copyediting
When you work with me, I will focus on the following:
- Clarity and flow
- Dialogue tags and punctuation
- Fact-checking information and quotations
- Formatting as needed (chapter names, headings, and subheadings; letter, word, line, and paragraph spacing)
- Grammar, syntax, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and hyphenation
- Repetition, wordiness, clunky sentences, and pet phrases
- Scene transitions, ensuring they flow and are logical
- Tense usage
- Told versus shown prose
- Tracked changes you can review, accept, or revise further
What you get with this service:
- Your edited manuscript
- An editorial report summarizing my feedback on the flow of content, what’s working, what could be stronger, and how to interact with your edited document
- Custom style sheets that record:
- capitalization, spelling variations, hyphenation, numbering, punctuation style, and more
- characters trait consistency
- places
- timelines
- world building
- Email access to me throughout the project
$0.025–$0.031/word
(Dependent upon the state of the manuscript)
Round 2 (Add-On)
Editing doesn’t end after I return your manuscript. If you feel like you need a little extra guidance, a second round of edits could be a great option for you.
What I do during Round 2:
- Review your updates made in response to the initial edit
- Clarify lingering manuscript-specific questions
- Lightly refine newly revised passages
- Ensure no new errors were accidentally introduced
- Continue conversations within comment threads
I strongly recommend having your manuscript proofread even after going through Round 2. A proofreader provides a fresh set of eyes and serves as the last line of defense before your work goes out into the world.
$0.009/word
Line-level copyediting is the right fit for you if . . .
01
Your story is in great shape and you feel good about its structure
02
Your manuscript has gone through a previous round of editing (e.g., developmental editing)
03
You're ready for a professional polish that focuses on readability, clarity, and accuracy
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an edit take?
Turnaround times range from two and a half to four weeks, depending on the word count, genre, time of year, and shape of the manuscript. I will be able to offer a more concrete timeframe after completing the sample edit.
Do you work in Google Docs?
At this time, I work exclusively in Microsoft Word. I understand the convenience of Google Docs, but to provide the highest standard of service, Word is essential.
How do you communicate feedback? (Track Changes, comments, calls?)
Before your project begins, we’ll connect for a discovery call to ensure we’re a good fit. Once the project is underway, most communication takes place via email. During the edit itself, I use Track Changes and in-document comments within Microsoft Word. When an edit requires clarification or a question, you’ll see it directly in the manuscript. This keeps feedback contextual and easy to review. If you choose the Round 2 add-on, we’ll continue those conversations within the comment threads during round two. Any additional questions before, during, or after the edit can always be handled via email.
What happens if I have questions after the edit is complete?
I welcome your questions. If you need clarification about an edit, a comment, or a style decision, feel free to email me. I’m happy to explain my reasoning. If questions begin to involve additional rewriting or new editing beyond the scope of the original agreement, we can discuss options for a second round or additional services. My goal is to be supportive while also maintaining clear boundaries around the work included in your project.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes. All projects require a nonrefundable deposit to secure your place on my calendar, with the remaining balance due upon completion. If helpful, I’m happy to arrange up to three installment payments to make the investment more manageable.
Do you accept credit cards?
Yes!
How far in advance should I book?
I typically book several months in advance, depending on the season and project length. If you have a desired deadline, I recommend reaching out as early as possible to secure space on my calendar. If your timeline is flexible, let me know—I’m always happy to explore options.
Will you change my voice?
Absolutely not. My job isn’t to stiffen your prose with grammatical accuracy or erase (or impose) commas where you did or didn’t intend them to be. Grammar rules can and should be broken where creative prose is concerned. Doing so delicately and judiciously, however, is the difference between a messy manuscript and an artful one. Preserving your voice is my top priority.
Is my manuscript ready to be edited?
A line-level copyedit is most effective when a manuscript has already been revised for structure and big-picture issues. If you’ve worked with beta readers, a developmental editor, or feel it is ready to be dissected at a sentence level, you’re likely in the right stage. If you’re unsure, feel free to reach out—I’m happy to meet for a discovery call to help you determine whether copyediting is the right next step.
Do you guarantee a completely error-free manuscript?
No editor can ethically guarantee perfection—publishing is a human process. That said, my two-pass copyediting process is thorough and meticulous. I approach each manuscript with great care and attention to detail. I also strongly recommend a professional proofread as the final step before publication to ensure the cleanest possible result.
Ready to take the next step?