This is the big-picture edit involving a comprehensive breakdown of plot, characters, setting, story arc, pace, narrative style, POV and chronology – this edit is designed to shape your manuscript, so you can be ready to pitch or move onto copy-editing.  My work begins by reading the manuscript chapter by chapter and making comprehensive editorial notes. I will address plot points and character development. I may also do some light copy-editing (spelling, grammar etc), but a full copyedit would be needed once you have completed your next draft. A structural edit is important before you start a copyedit because there may be sections of your manuscript to be modified, rewritten, deleted or expanded. There may be plot points to be addressed before a copyedit. When I have finished the structural report, and you’ve had the opportunity to read it, we can have a further discussion. The aim of this edit is to assist you in re-drafting and developing your script to a professional standard to then either pitch or publish. A Structural Edit is $1500* for 40-60 000 and $1600 for 65-100,00 words and takes 3-4 weeks to complete, depending on the genre and the standard of writing. Payment plans are available. Please contact me for a list of rates

A copy edit will improve grammar, style, punctuation, spelling and sentence construction, remove unnecessary text and highlight repetitive words, phrases and ideas that may slow the pace of your story. My copyedit covers basic fact-checking, language efficacy and layout suggestions. I will copyedit your entire manuscript once, then offer one more pass after you have read it and made changes. A copy edit is charged by the word. Line editing is more detailed and can improve the overall style, quality, pace and clarity of your writing. Depending on the genre and style of your fiction or non-fiction work, charges for a line edit may vary.

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As Beta reader, I provide feedback from a reader’s point of view. I report on the following: Does the plot make sense? Is the story engaging? Is the story well-paced? Is the ending predictable? Does the story take me on a journey with the protagonist? How do I feel about the characters? – Who do I like and who do I dislike? Is the author’s aim clear to me as a reader? Does the story fit the proposed story genre? Beta reading can take place before or after a structural edit or manuscript assessment. Beta Reading is charged by the word

Proofreading

Proof-reading is the final part of the editing process before your book goes to print. This is the time to pick up the small glitches, the spelling errors; the misplaced comma, the doubling up of words or phrases (it happens!) Always get a second pair of eyes on your work. Before you do that, you can also use Grammar and Spellcheck in Word to pick up common errors and clean up your work before handing it over to a proofreader.