LINE EDITING
What is line editing?
A line editor helps you to find exactly the right words to tell the story in the most effective way.
While it does involve some error-correction, it is mostly about making the words sing from the page in a way that brings out your authentic author voice. I work line by line through your manuscript, tightening the structure, tweaking the rhythm and helping you to hone your individual style. I also help with pacing, logical flow, and the tone and emotions of the piece.
Line editing should take place after developmental editing and before copyediting for the most efficient publishing workflow.
STYLE SHEET
A document outlining the choices that have been made, such as spelling, punctuation and other preferences.
MARKED UP MANUSCRIPT
Your text with the changes tracked and visible so you can approve them or reject them. It’s your book, and you always have the final say.
Report
Detailed notes on your writing to help you make informed choices as you review the edits or do your own revisions.
What kind of software do I use?
For line editing, I’ll work on the text in Microsoft Word so I can make the changes directly on the manuscript with Track Changes turned on so you are always in control of the creative process. I’ll make changes on the text as well as suggestions in the comments. For example, I might explain a technique in a comment and then line edit a paragraph to demonstrate that technique.
Rhythm and sounds are also important at this stage, so I also use a text-to-speech reader to listen to how the words sound when they’re put together. This can help catch awkward accidental alliteration or rhyming that can distract the reader or spoil the flow of the story.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
My rates are based on the suggested hourly rates put forth by the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading, and are competitive. However, each project is unique, so I prefer to give an estimate by doing a free 1000-word sample.
It’s better to send your whole manuscript so I can get a full picture of your manuscript’s needs. On top of that, sometimes line edits require more context, so having the full manuscript lets me know if the next scene needs this one to build some suspense, for example.
During a line edit, I’ll give sentence-level suggestions about things like adjectives, idioms, sentence structure, paragraph order and word usage. I might also suggest tweaks to characters’ voices to make them more distinct, or changes that make the dialogue more punchy, or how to make exposition more evocative and compelling. I won’t make big-picture suggestions like changing the ending or filling in a plot hole; if that’s the sort of help you need, I can refer you to a developmental editor.
Line editing is an art in itself and requires specialized training and experience. I’ll work hand-in-hand with you to guide you in this revision process, and it may often involve a bit of back-and-forth as we trim away the things getting in the way of your voice. Can your great aunt do that?
They’re pretty close to each other in terms of how the editor works line by line and makes sentence-level changes, but line editing is more about how the story sings through the words used to tell it, whereas copyediting is more about making sure errors and inconsistencies aren’t getting in the way of the story.
This depends on so many different factors, especially the type of writing it is, how complex the sentences are, and how much help the text needs. I can give you a time estimate by doing a free 1000-word sample for you.
Katherine Kirk has done a superb job. Professional yet warm, knowledgeable but also understanding the frailties of the words an author has birthed; she gave my work the strength to stand on its own four legs and gallop.
Finding your unique voice
The first rule of writing fiction is that the rules are more like gentle suggestions, and subverting them can be a way to express your creativity. I have the right kind of expertise needed to help you break the rules consistently and effectively without having those deliberate choices read as errors.
I’ll help you to know when to show and when to tell, or when a sentence can be allowed to run on and when it might need to be reined in. My goal is to chip away the fluff that is stifling your voice so your vision can come through for your reader, the same way it does in your head.
Find out more about the publishing process
Proofreading, copyediting, line editing, developmental editing—it’s all so confusing. I’ve written this handy guide to help you know what should happen, and when.
Send me a sample
The best way for me to get an idea of how much work needs to be done on your manuscript so that I can give you a quote and estimate the time, is by sending me your manuscript. I’ll choose a key scene that shows off the range and depth of my skills while giving you some great advice, and I’ll edit up to 1000 words of it.
An added bonus? You get to have a peek at the quality of my work, so you can see if my editing style is a good fit for your needs.
Discover your unique author's voice
Tell me about your book, send me a sample, and let’s get to work!