I offer three levels and types of editing services because writing and editing are not one-step processes. As most writers can attest, writing, improving, and revising constitute a never-ending quest for perceived perfection. My services make this journey a smooth, efficient, and positive one.
As recommended by Brian Klems of Writer’s Digest, as an author, “[b]efore you hire an editor, know what kind of help you are looking for.”*
By focusing on one level at a time, I allow the author to remain the voice of the text while acting as a reader, inconsistency-checker, and grammar corrector.
As the author, you would have the choice of utilizing my services for one, two, or all three levels.
(See my “Fees” page to learn more about pricing of individual/grouped levels)
Below, I have listed general information about each level (click on the Levels of Editing to download a more detailed list*).
Developmental Editing: Story Structure
- Structure of the book.
- Reorganizing events.
- Overall tone, style and voice.
- Character depth issues.
- Overall amount of dialogue, scene and character description.
- Issues of ‘show vs. tell’ in a large sense
Line Editing: Paragraph Structure
- Adequate scene and character description on an individual case basis.
- Confusing or awkward sentences or passages.
- Conflicting or inaccurate information.
- Cutting paragraphs within a scene or reorganizing a scene’s paragraphs.
- Cutting or reorganizing sentences within a paragraph.
- Point of View violations.
- Verb tense disagreement.
Copy Editing or Proofreading: Sentence Structure
- Spelling
- Grammar (according to the publisher’s style standards. Ex: MLA vs. Chicago vs. APA)
- Typos
- Verb tense disagreement within a passage.
With a Stroke of the Pen 