Line and Copy Editing
Line & Copy Editing
Line and copy editing often overlap but serve different purposes in refining your manuscript. Line editing focuses on style, flow, and expression—how your sentences read, sound, and connect. I’ll go through your manuscript line by line to strengthen clarity, rhythm, and meaning while maintaining your unique voice. This includes attention to elements like:
• Word choice in relation to character voice
• Cliché and awkward metaphors
• Effectiveness of sentence-level narration
• Letter, word, line, and paragraph spacing
• Pace and flow, with attention to repetition and overwriting
• Problematic representation, stereotyping, and othering
• Told versus shown prose
Copy editing, on the other hand, fine-tunes grammar, spelling, punctuation, and consistency. It ensures your manuscript reads smoothly, aligns with your chosen style guide, and is ready for professional presentation. I’ll address technical details like:
• Syntax
• Word usage
• Internal consistency
Together, these edits bring your manuscript close to publication-ready, but a proofreader should still review it as the final step. A proofreader provides that last quality check to catch any small errors or formatting inconsistencies that remain.
TAKEAWAYS
- Your manuscript document with many many comments and tracked changes
- A style sheet that records decisions about language preference/style, big-picture elements, and formatting and layout
$0.020 per word | $1000 per 50k words
The editing process
- Free sample edit — Send 1,500 words so we both know the fit is right. No commitment.
- Book your edit — Sign the contract and pay the 50% deposit on estimated word count.
- Two-pass line and copy edit — I work through your manuscript line by line: tightening prose, smoothing flow, fixing grammar and punctuation, and flagging inconsistencies. Then I do a second sweep for cleanup and consistency. You get the manuscript back with tracked changes and comments explaining my reasoning.
- Almost ready to publish — Your manuscript is polished and ready for a proofreader’s final check before publication.
Booking & Payment
- I require a 1,500-word sample edit for developmental and line edits to ensure your writing style and my editing process align.
- I will require a signed contract and a 50% deposit on the estimated word count
- Payments can be made through Stripe or bank transfer
- Payment plans available through request