Thoughtful editing helps readers stay with the story—and understand what you want to say.
The right edit for the right stage
Every manuscript arrives with different strengths and needs. We first discuss the book’s purpose, intended reader, genre, length, and condition. Then we recommend an editorial scope that addresses the work in the right order.
Understand the editing stages
- Manuscript assessment: an overview of the book’s strengths, structure, and development priorities.
- Developmental editing: attention to the larger shape of the book, including organization, argument, narrative, character, and pacing as relevant.
- Line editing: sentence-level attention to expression, flow, clarity, and tone.
- Copyediting: grammar, punctuation, consistency, and style.
- Proofreading: a final check of the prepared text or layout for remaining errors.
Know what is included before you begin
Your proposal identifies the editing stage, manuscript length, number of passes, review process, and deliverable files. It can include editorial notes, a style sheet, and guidance for author revisions. Additional rewrites, research, permissions clearance, and specialist fact-checking are scoped separately when needed.
Prepare for the next stage
Major revisions should usually be resolved before cover and interior production are finalized. When the text is ready, we can discuss print and ebook preparation. If significant new writing is needed, ghostwriting or collaborative development may be the better starting point.