Services: Line Editing

Line Editing

Rate begins at .02 per word. Includes copyediting (except for heavy line editing).

I’ll focus on these areas at the paragraph level:

  • Awkward sentence construction
  • Choppy sentence flow and pacing
  • Word repetition and wordiness
  • Consistency of spelling, hyphenation, numbers, names, and facts (is your main character a blonde in one chapter and a redhead in another?)
  • Showing vs. telling
  • Excessive and incorrect dialogue tags
  • Adherence to current style manuals (Chicago Manual of Style, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Garner’s Modern American Usage, and more)
  • Point-of-view inconsistencies
  • Tense shifting
  • Extraneous language, jargon, and ambiguities
  • Overused words and crutch words
  • Repetition and redundancies
  • Overused adverbs and adjectives
  • Punctuation
  • Minor fact-checking via Google

Light and medium line edits include copyediting. Because heavy line edits often involve substantial line-by-line changes, copyediting is not included with this heavy-lifting service and may be booked separately.

Line editing does not focus on big picture elements, for example, plot, characterization, conflict, worldbuilding, and point-of-view problems such as head hopping. Pervasive issues of this type are best addressed prior to line editing during a developmental edit, manuscript critique, or beta read.

When you’re finished incorporating all edits, you’ll still need proofreading. Please see the Proofreading page for more about this service.

The per-word rate listed is a starting rate. I will individualize your quote based on a manuscript assessment and brief sample edit, so I can determine how long it will take to complete your project. All editing quotes reflect my hourly rate of $50. There is a $75 minimum for all projects.

Thorough, Thoughtful Word-Prowith a
specialized
editing certificate

Line Editing

Addresses tone, flow, pacing, dialogue and narrative structure, repetition, and more at the sentence and paragraph levels. Click here for more details and rates.

DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING

Tackles story-level issues such as plot, conflict, characterization, worldbuilding, credibility, showing vs. telling, and point of view. Click here for more details and rates.

INDIES-ONLY COPYEDITING

Designed for indie authors on a budget, this basic service focuses on mechanical errors in grammar, syntax, punctuation, consistency, spelling, and style. For indie fiction only. Click here for more details. Click here for more details and rates.

Proofreading

A final check for straggling errors, typos, missing words, and punctuation and spelling errors. Click here for more details and rates.

Other Services

Other available services include manuscript critiquing, help with your book blurb, book synopsis, query letter, or book proposal, and writer coaching. Click here for more details and rates.
My schedule fills quickly. Please book early.