Types of Editing Services

Let’s take a look at the details…

The editing services I offer typically include content editing (also called substantive editing) and copy editing (also known as line editing), with the focus tailored to each author’s needs. My most popular service is a combined content and copy edit, delivering both story-level and sentence-level feedback at once.

Most of the authors I work with have already revised their manuscripts multiple times. They’ve brought their stories as far as they can on their own, and they’re usually confident in the core narrative—but also a little too close to the work to see what still needs fixing. That’s where I come in: to provide a fresh perspective, spot any remaining plot holes or inconsistencies, and catch lingering typos, punctuation slips, and grammar issues.

Since editing terms can vary across the industry, here’s how I define them based on the way I work…

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Content Editing

Content editing can be as intensive as the author wishes and focuses on such aspects of a story as:

• Characterization
• Plot development
• Narrative flow
• Tone
• Pacing
• Plot holes (identifying them and filling them)
• Ensuring consistency throughout the document in all aspects (e.g., characterization, logic, objects and locations within the plot, avoiding Chekhov’s guns, etc.)
• Dialogue (crisp, clear, authentic)
• Character development
• Themes
• World building
• Assistance with building or preserving voice and style
• Ensuring readability and clarity of content
• Appeal to target markets
• Compelling hooks
• Feedback on what works and what doesn’t in the story from a reader’s perspective
• Feedback on your strengths and how to elevate them further
• Feedback on areas you could improve and how best to go about doing so

Content editing takes a deeper, slower dive than copy editing, as it involves a detailed examination of the story itself—its pacing, character development, plot logic, and more. If your manuscript has already gone through several rounds of revisions and you’ve incorporated feedback from early readers, content editing is generally a great next step.

This shouldn’t be your first draft—you should already feel fairly confident in your plot and the overall direction of your book. As an analogy, you don’t need to tear up the foundations of your house (they’re solid!), but you may want to adjust the cabinetry or take down a wall or two.

A combined content and copy edit is my most popular service because it offers both types of feedback at once, which saves time and money. You’ll get insights on big-picture story elements alongside attention to sentence-level clarity, grammar, and mechanics. If your story is already in strong shape, you may only need to make minor refinements based on the content edit suggestions. When paired with copy editing, this often leaves you with a clean, polished manuscript that’s ready for a final proofread or even to go straight to the next stage of your journey—whether that’s self-publishing or seeking agent representation.

If you know your manuscript still needs significant story work, you may prefer to do content editing first, then return later for a dedicated copy edit once revisions are complete. After all, it doesn’t make sense to spend time tweaking sentences that are going to get completely thrown out in a major overhaul. Why paint your cabinets if you’re going to rip them out, right?

If you’d like to run your post-edit changes by me, I do offer a second-pass review. Just be sure to track your changes and highlight specific sections for review—this follow-up is billed at an hourly rate but is usually much faster than a full re-edit.

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​Copy Editing

Copy editing conforms to the Chicago Manual of Style unless otherwise requested (MLA, APA, AP, and In-House Style Guides can all be accommodated), and includes a review of:

• Grammar
• Spelling
• Punctuation
• Occasional tense slips*
• Occasional point of view inconsistencies*
• Basic formatting
• Word choice (“confusables” and appropriateness of vocabulary)
• Sentence structure
• Rhythm and flow at a sentence level
• Paragraph structure
• Text and paragraph spacing
• Clarity, accuracy, and consistency
• Consistent use of UK/Canadian/US English
• Style Guide conformity

Copy editing is a quicker process than content editing, focusing on the sentence level rather than the story as a whole. It ensures your writing is clear, polished, and contains minimal repetition or awkward phrasing. This stage also catches most typos, spelling mistakes, and grammar issues. If your manuscript is already structurally sound and you’re confident in your story, this is likely the next step.  

Copy editing pairs well with content editing in a combined edit, which is the most popular option among my clients. It allows you to receive both big-picture story feedback and meticulous sentence-level corrections in one efficient edit—saving you time and money.

If your manuscript is especially clean, you may decide to skip a final proofread. However, if you make substantial changes after the copy edit, it’s a good idea to do one last proofing pass before publishing, since new errors often sneak in during revision. A combined edit gives you a strong foundation, but a final proofread ensures you’re truly ready for submission or print.

*A quick note on POV and tense: While occasional slips in point of view or tense are common and easily managed during editing, manuscripts with significant or persistent issues in these areas may require a more foundational revision (akin to a mold problem in your home). If POV or tense inconsistencies are widespread, it can result in the need for large-scale rewrites—which isn’t typically cost-effective or time-efficient at the editing stage. In these cases, I may recommend revisiting the manuscript before moving forward with a full edit, to ensure you’re getting the most value out of the process.

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Other Services: Developmental Editing

Developmental editing happens at the earliest stages of your project. This is a collaborative process that focuses on shaping your story from the ground up—working through characters, arcs, plotlines, timelines, worldbuilding, and more. It’s ideal for writers who are still drafting or outlining, or who want help identifying and solving story-level issues early in the process.

This is not ghostwriting. I won’t write the book for you—but I will be your brainstorming partner, sounding board, and guide as you draft. You might share early chapters for feedback, or we might meet to troubleshoot sticking points together. This stage is hands-on, fluid, and time-intensive. It’s charged at an hourly rate and often involves multiple rounds of review.

Because developmental editing is such a personalized service, I only offer it by request and after a sample edit and consultation to ensure it’s the right fit for you and your manuscript.

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Other Services: Proofreading

Proofreading is the final step in the editing process—the last set of eyes before your book goes to print. This is not the stage to make content changes. At this point, the story and sentence-level writing should be complete. Proofreading is strictly for catching lingering typos, minor formatting issues, punctuation errors, and other last-pass polishes.

You might want a different editor to proofread than the one who did your earlier edits, to ensure fresh eyes—but that’s not mandatory. I offer proofreading by request, after reviewing a sample to confirm that the manuscript is indeed ready for this final step.

Keep in mind: even with the most thorough editing, it’s impossible to catch every error. That’s true for all editors—even the teams behind traditionally published books. The goal is excellence, not perfection. Bad reviews, occasional typos, and reader opinions are part of the publishing journey. What matters most is that your work is thoughtful, intentional, and the best it can be. Readers will forgive the odd typo—but not a story without heart.

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