Editing Services

Here you’ll find more information about the range of editing services I offer and what each of these includes. It’s important to be able to identify the type of editorial feedback that will offer maximum benefit at your manuscript’s current stage of development.

As a first step, I’ll ask you to share a little about yourself, your writing, and your manuscript to help me understand your key priorities for this stage in the revision process. I also offer a free 2000-word sample edit for developmental, line editing, and copy editing. This enables me to offer guidance about which level of editing is likely to be most beneficial at your manuscript’s current stage, and to provide you with an accurate quote and turnaround time. Just as importantly, it allows you to get a feel for my editorial style and whether my approach is likely to be a good fit for you.

Ready to find out more? Get in touch.

Developmental Editing

A developmental edit (also known as a structural edit) is an in-depth analysis of the many ‘big picture’ elements of plot, character, and craft that combine to make an unputdownable story. It highlights the manuscript’s strengths as well as highlighting opportunities for revisions to help bring out the very best in your work.

A developmental edit focuses on multiple areas, including:

• Characterisation
• Voice and narrative perspective
• Structure and pacing
• Story and plot
• Setting, atmosphere, and world-building
• Genre expectations (where relevant)
• Style and craft elements
• Sensitivity and authenticity issues

How I Work

I typically work in Microsoft Word, carrying out an intensive reading of your full manuscript and adding detailed commentary throughout the document. Where I identify opportunities for revising and strengthening a particular area, I’ll explain my reasoning and, wherever possible, offer some suggestions on potential solutions. If I pick up on recurring themes throughout the manuscript, I’ll select some specific examples to explore in depth and offer detailed guidance on.

Alongside your fully annotated manuscript, you’ll receive a thorough editorial report – typically at least 5,000 words – focusing both on areas I’ve picked up on during my reading, and any areas you’ve asked for particular feedback on.

After you’ve received your manuscript and editorial report, I offer a 1:1 feedback session of up to 60 minutes (phone or video, depending on your preference).

Line Editing

Line editing comes after the developmental editing stage. This stage is about polishing every sentence until it shines, ensuring consistency of fine details, and maximising effectiveness of word use, tone, and language to create a smooth and enjoyable reading experience whilst centring your unique author voice and style.

I typically offer a combined line and copyedit, which provides greater flexibility and more detailed ‘polishing’ of your manuscript at sentence level, alongside the same in-depth attention to detail you’d expect from a traditional copyedit.

I edit in Microsoft Word using tracked changes and comment boxes. For all line and copyedits, I’ll complete at least two full reads of the manuscript, plus multiple lighter passes focusing on specific issues. During the first full read-through, I’ll compile a list of author queries for you to review and respond to before I complete my second pass. I’ll also compile a detailed customised style sheet for you to keep as a reference guide, along with a reference list for character, plot/timeline, and world-building details.

This stage of editing addresses areas including:

• Sentence structure and flow – ensuring the writing is smooth and polished in keeping with your narrative style. Examples of suggested changes may include things like removing tautologies, cutting or suggesting alternatives to frequently used words or phrases, editing redundant or extraneous adverbs, and tightening sentence structure.
• Clarity of meaning
• Sentence-level slips in narrative perspective or tone
• Looking at the use of individual words, ensuring they have the right impact and nuance in keeping with your work and tone
• Accuracy and consistency of spelling, grammar, and punctuation
• Dialogue and dialogue tags
• Continuity and consistency of character descriptions, settings/locations, and timelines of events
• Fact checking (whether real-world or within the context of your book’s created world!)
• Style consistency – all those little details that provide the reader with a smooth, immersive reading experience. Double or single quotation marks? Oxford comma or not? Closed em-dash or spaced en-dash?