Line Editing Service

Developing your manuscript?

Line editing is a developmental editing service that not only strives to enhance language at the sentence and paragraph level but also aims to improve your narrative by addressing your scene work and any chapter-level storytelling issues, ensuring both your prose and your narrative flow flawlessly. I'll edit your novel chapter by chapter, providing a detailed markup with in-text changes, comments, and suggestions for revision. After you've read through your edits, I'll participate in a one-hour follow-up session to address any questions or concerns you may have.

Together, we'll make sure your new manuscript is your best work yet.

• Line editing digs deep into the structure of your writing to evaluate its strength, organization, and overall clarity. As your line editor, I'll work to eliminate wordiness and redundancies, improve word choice, and ensure artful transitions while eliminating obvious errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

• I'll also work to develop your storytelling skills by evaluating the quality of your narrative at the chapter and scene level. Issues you can expect me to address while line editing include, but are not limited to, the following:

—narrative voice and point of view

—character (e.g., motivation, authenticity of action, action-reaction cycle, development opportunities)

—dialogue (e.g., character and plot development, voice authenticity, blocking, mechanics)

—description (e.g., telling versus showing, purple prose, effective use of figurative language)

—minor plot holes, story lag, etc.

• I'll ensure consistency of details (character names, descriptions, settings, etc.) and carefully monitor your story's timeline so your readers always know where and when the action is taking place.

• I'll provide light fact-checking for general fiction. (The level of fact-checking required for historical fiction and other research-heavy genres may fall outside of this scope, but I will flag areas that need attention.)

• Before the red pen ever hits the page, I'll read every word of your manuscript and take careful notes. I'll then perform a chapter-by-chapter edit using both Microsoft's "review" function and "track changes." The markup you receive will feature my comments on a sidebar and note any changes made directly to the text. (You are free to reject changes you don't agree with, which will restore the original text.) Any additional thoughts about the chapter will be noted on the last page.

• Service includes a one-hour follow-up phone conference where you may ask for clarification or pose any additional questions.

• Line editing is the second stage of the developmental process. It addresses your narrative at the chapter and scene level only and is not designed to address broad, structural issues related to character arc, plot development, overall pacing, etc. These issues typically require revision across multiple chapters and need to be addressed earlier, during developmental evaluation. (I also offer a Developmental Editing Package, which includes a comprehensive developmental evaluation and a chapter-by-chapter line edit for a discounted package price.)

• Line editing is not the same as copyediting. A copyeditor seeks to eliminate errors and finalize your manuscript's language. A line editor makes editorial suggestions to help you improve your manuscript, resulting in revisions. While I will certainly correct any obvious mistakes I encounter while line editing, the language will change as you edit, and new errors may be added. Your revised manuscript will still need to be copyedited and proofread, especially if you plan to self-publish. (Ask about multiservice discounts.)

• I'm happy to re-read and edit as many drafts as my authors want, but I can't do it for free. While I've been known to make the occasional exception, I typically charge one cent per word (per chapter) to read and edit additional drafts. (If I ask you for it specifically, you will not be charged.)

• Regrettably, I am not an author/editor and a lawyer, and I cannot provide any legal answers or advice regarding copyrighted material or anything else.

$0.03 Per Word

• A 25 percent deposit is due at the time of submission. The remaining balance is due upon completion of the project.

• Turnaround time will depend on the length of your submission and my current editing queue, but four to six weeks is a solid estimate for a novel-length manuscript.

• Interested clients should submit an inquiry below. I will reach out soon after. If you have questions or would prefer to chat before submitting a formal inquiry, please feel free to contact me.

• All manuscripts must be submitted electronically as a Word document (.doc or .docx) via the provided submission form, which will be sent to you via email.

• All story submissions must adhere to professional manuscript formatting standards (Arial, Courier, or Times font; size 12 text; double-spacing throughout with one-inch margins). Please name your file in the following manner: Last Name-Your Story Title

Submit a Project Inquiry