Line Editing & Copy Editing for Fiction and Nonfiction
Are you happy with your manuscript's big picture but struggling with any of the following?
- Your prose could benefit from being more concise, and you're seeking help with "tightening things up."
- You tend to reuse the same sentence structure(s) over and over, and the flow of your writing feels choppy instead of smooth.
- Your book is almost ready for publication, and you need someone to catch spelling, punctuation, or typographical errors.
Depending on which issues you're noticing, it sounds like your manuscript could benefit from a line edit (which deals with "tightening," sentence structure, flow, and more) or a copy edit (which focuses on basic spelling, grammar, and punctuation). I offer both services, with the intention of respecting your creative vision and unique voice.
I work in American English, and my line editing and copy editing services focus on these genres:
- Speculative fiction (especially fantasy, mythological retellings, magical realism, and science fiction)
- Literary fiction
- YA fiction, including YA fantasy and YA contemporary fiction
- Historical fiction
- Memoir
- Self-help and personal development nonfiction
- Business books
- Creative nonfiction
Typically, I work on novel-length manuscripts. But if you've got a great short story or essay collection, an individual short story or essay, or a hybrid collection (e.g., poetry and memoir) that falls under these genres? I love working on those, too!
And which themes am I experienced with as an editor? Or which topics am I most EXCITED about? If your manuscript explores any of the following, chances are it'll be a good fit:
- Grief and loss
- Trauma recovery
- Family stories (including loss of a child and miscarriage)
- Spirituality and spiritual growth
- Mental health
- Holistic health and wellness
- Creativity and/or the craft of writing
- Travel stories (especially international travel)
- Music
- The natural world, including the environmental crisis
Here are the line editing and copy editing services I offer. If your project involves two or more rounds of work (e.g., developmental edit followed by a line edit, line edit followed by a copy edit), I can offer a combo package of all the services you're considering at a discounted rate.
Please note that while I don't list my rates here, I'm happy to discuss them with you privately. That being said, if your manuscript is about 80,000 words long, expect an estimate between US $2,800 and US $3,000, depending on the service(s) you're interested in.
Line Editing
Pricing varies depending on manuscript length and amount of time needed. I'll provide an estimate upon completion of a sample edit.
I’ll mark up your manuscript and suggest ways of strengthening your prose. This can include improving flow, voice, concision, and word choice; addressing grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage issues; and ensuring your manuscript's format conforms to industry standards.
This service includes:
- Two (2) pass-throughs in a single round of editing.
- Three (3) copies of your manuscript in MS Word: one containing tracked changes and comments, a clean copy of the edited version containing only comments, and (as a courtesy) your original manuscript.
- UPON REQUEST: A custom style sheet that lists names, special spellings, and other standardized terms that appear in your manuscript.
- OPTIONAL: A 1-hour follow-up call (phone or webcall) within 2 weeks of project completion to discuss any questions you have.
Copy Editing
Pricing varies depending on manuscript length and amount of time needed. I'll provide an estimate upon completion of a sample edit.
Like a line edit, a copy edit addresses your language, but it's less in-depth. I’ll mark up your manuscript to address grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage issues; catch any typos; and ensure your manuscript's format conforms to industry standards.
This service includes:
- Two (2) pass-throughs in a single round of editing.
- Three (3) copies of your manuscript in MS Word: one containing tracked changes and comments, a clean copy of the edited version containing only comments, and (as a courtesy) your original manuscript.
- UPON REQUEST: a custom style sheet that lists names, special spellings, and other standardized terms that appear in your manuscript.
- OPTIONAL: A 1-hour follow-up call (phone or webcall) within 2 weeks of project completion to discuss any questions you have.
Does either service sound like what your manuscript needs?
Great! Send me an email or book your free consultation call now. Make sure you share with me your manuscript’s title, genre, target age group, word/page count, and project deadline. I'm happy to provide a free sample edit of a 2,000-word excerpt of your manuscript and/or (upon request) other samples of my work.
Testimonials for Line Editing & Copy Editing
“How Do I Know If You’re the Right Editor for My Work?”
I expected thoroughness during my manuscript editing, but what surprised me about Sara was the compassion and human connection she brought to the process. She listened carefully to my goals for my first book, then professionalized and polished it. I appreciate her industry and technical knowledge, but more valuable to me was how I feel after working with her–confident in the final product!
Kris Jennings Corporate change consultant and author of Inspired By Fear
Hiring Sara as my line editor was the best decision I could have made for my book. Sara didn’t just work on my project. She invested in it, providing detailed and insightful feedback that strengthened my manuscript while respecting my voice and mission. Sara’s professionalism and passion for her work is unparalleled, as is her expertise and encouragement. I can’t wait to work with her again on future projects.
Kristen Kieffer Creative wellness coach and author of Build Your Best Writing Life, Self-Publishing Simplified, and Beneath a Mourning Sky
I really enjoyed working with Sara. She’s a very careful and thorough editor, and I am grateful for her attention not only to basic wording, spelling, and grammar, but to other important details such as accuracy of references and reference formatting. She made the manuscript better without treading too heavily on voice or meaning, helping me to create the best book possible. I’ll be happy to retain her services again in the future.
Colleen M. Story Author of Your Writing Matters and others
For more testimonials about my line editing, copy editing, and other services, click here to visit the Testimonials page.
So, is it time for us to talk about your project?
If your answer is yes, that's great! Send me an email or book your free consultation call now to start the conversation.
