​Manuscript Editing

You can rely on my expertise and experience to improve the readability of your writing without compromising your unique style. With each level of editing, I provide two to three editorial passes, both on-screen and on paper, confidentiality, a style sheet, and feedback. Together, we'll get your story reader-ready!

How it works

Line Editing

If you're satisfied with your overall story and structure but need help with the details, line editing is the service for you. As your line editor, I'm your ideal reader. I go through your manuscript line by line, ask all the tough questions and point out possible issues. A line edit focuses on:
  • Voice and style
  • Refining character, setting & sensory details
  • Dialogue & dialogue tags
  • Hooks & prompts
  • "Comfort" writing habits (overused words & phrases, clichés, imprecise adjectives, and similar sentence structures)
  • Consistency
Line editing is performed on a MS Word document utilizing track changes and comments. 
You'll get:
  • An all-marked-up copy of your manuscript
  • A manuscript with any copyedits applied but the comments will remain
  • A style sheet
  • An edit summary + feedback

​Investment:
Novel: $0.015USD/word ($1,200/80,000-word novel)
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Keep in mind that a line edit usually results in a revision or rewrite. If you want to prepare your manuscript for publication, check out my copyediting service.
"I am a repeat customer and love working with this seller. Sarah provided me with so much helpful advice about my middle grade novel and I'm extremely happy I found her on this site. She has excellent communication and checked in with me frequently about her progress with the gig, which was delivered before the date I expected it. She pointed out a timeline error in my novel and gave me a detailed breakdown of what events happen on what days in my novel's world, giving me detailed and actionable advice on how I can effectively improve my timeline. I have never received such helpful and detailed advice on this site before and I am beyond grateful for Sarah's work."
- Marie K., Middle Grade author (from Fiverr), Line Editing 

Copyediting

You want a copyedit if you're almost ready to prepare your manuscript for publication and need a check for grammatical accuracy. A copyeditor's goal is to improve the writing and presentation. Copyediting works on:
  • ​Correcting grammar, punctuation, and spelling
  • Performing some light line editing and fact checking
  • Checking internal formatting and consistency of timeline, character, setting, and voice/tone
As your copyeditor, I take the Typographic oath: I will not make a change unless I can site my source. My base sources are The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), and Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. However, I also understand your manuscript and writing style is unique, so it may "break" some rules. Those style differences will be documented on your style sheet.
You'll get:
  • An all-marked-up copy of your manuscript
  • A clean copy of your manuscript (some comments may remain)
  • A style sheet
  • A edit summary + feedback

Investment:  $0.01USD/word ($800/80,000-word novel)
"Sarah was amazing! She did everything she said she would and more. She was on time or early with her work. She kept me updated on the steps of the process, she communicated well and listened to my thoughts and ideas. She was super understanding and helped address any concerns or worries I had. I will 100% be using her services again. I can't recommend her high enough. I am so thrilled by the work we did together. Thank you so much!"
- Jesse H., author of Scythia, copyediting

Proofreading

If you need a final check of your manuscript before you hit "publish," you need a proofread. As your proofreader, I find all those pesky last errors lingering in the hidden depths of your manuscript, including:
  • ​Typos
  • Double-words ("the the")
  • Grammar, punctuation, and spelling
  • Internal formatting issues (i.e., chapter headings, orphans, and widows)
Unlike line editing and copyediting, a proofread should be done on a proof copy. Therefore, I do accept both MS Word documents and PDFs. I utilize iAnnotate to mark up PDFs. My base guides will be The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) and the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. If you have a style guide/sheet, please provide it! 
You'll get:
  • An all-marked-up copy of your manuscript
  • A clean copy of your manuscript (some comments may remain)
  • A style sheet
  • A edit summary + feedback

Investment: $0.0075USD/word ($600/80,000-word novel)
"Sarah is an amazing editor! I am so lucky to have found her to proofread my supernatural short story. She is extremely detailed and thorough in her reading and feedback. She has a keen eye for missed or misplaced commas and pointed out some inconsistencies that I missed in the story itself. Sarah is both professional and encouraging. I plan to use her editing services for many projects to come!"
- @wredit on Fiverr.com, proofreading

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