Editorial Services
Every novel requires a distinct level of craft intervention. From high-level story architecture to sentence-by-sentence prose cadence, our senior human editors provide the exact degree of discernment your manuscript needs.
Diagnose Macro Structure Before Polishing Sentences
Polishing prose in a scene that may be cut during structural revisions is wasted investment. We always recommend confirming your story foundations first.
Explore Manuscript Assessment →Comparative Craft Matrix
Compare our five editorial tiers across scope, timing, deliverables, and approximate investment.
| Service Tier | What It Addresses | When You Need It | What You Receive | Approx. Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Manuscript Assessment 01 · Diagnostic |
Macro story architecture, pacing, character agency, POV consistency, market positioning, narrative tension. | Completed draft; seeking objective professional clarity before investing in intensive revision. | 10–15 page bespoke Editorial Dossier & prioritized revision roadmap. |
From $250 $0.006 / word (80k: $480) |
|
Developmental Editing 02 · Structural |
Deep narrative surgery: chapter-by-chapter scene restructuring, subplot integration, plot hole repair, character motivation. | Second act sags, stakes collapse, character arcs feel unearned, or major rewrites are underway. | Extensive in-text margin notes throughout manuscript + 15+ page Editorial Letter. |
From $1,000 $0.020 / word (80k: $1,600) |
|
Line Editing 03 · Stylistic |
Sentence cadence, authorial voice elevation, rhythm, dialogue subtext, sensory detail, psychic distance calibration. | Plot and character structure are resolved; prose feels flat, repetitive, or needs literary polish. | Line-by-line Track Changes markup + sentence alternatives + voice calibration memo. |
From $680 $0.0135 / word (80k: $1,080) |
|
Copyediting 04 · Mechanics |
Chicago Manual of Style rigor, grammar, syntax, internal timeline auditing, spelling, hyphenation, continuity checking. | Revisions are finalized; draft is structurally and stylistically complete, ready for typesetting. | Fully corrected Word manuscript with style queries + bespoke Editorial Style Sheet. |
From $340 $0.0085 / word (80k: $680) |
|
Proofreading Pass 05 · Pre-Press |
Final typographical sweep, stray punctuation, layout defects, bad line breaks, pre-publication quality assurance. | Immediately prior to publication, print run, or EPUB release, after copyediting is complete. | Typographical audit report or annotated proof document. |
From $200 $0.005 / word (80k: $400) |
Explore Each Editorial Service
Detailed craft scopes to help you choose the exact intervention for your current draft.
Manuscript Assessment
What it addresses: Macro architecture, narrative drive, character agency, point-of-view discipline, thematic resonance, and commercial readiness. A senior editor reads your entire novel from beginning to end to evaluate whether the story holds together as a cohesive piece of art.
When you need it: You have finished a complete draft and need an objective, expert diagnostic before committing thousands of dollars to intensive editing. Essential if beta readers have provided conflicting opinions.
What you receive: A 10–15 page bespoke Editorial Dossier detailing foundational strengths, structural friction points, chapter-by-chapter diagnosis, and a prioritized revision roadmap.
Learn More About Assessment →50k words: $300 · 80k words: $480 · 100k words: $600
Editor: Senior Fiction Editor
Developmental Editing
What it addresses: Substantive narrative reconstructive work. Your editor audits scene causality, plot pacing, stakes escalation, character motivations, narrative perspective, and subplot weaving across every chapter.
When you need it: Your story loses momentum in Act II, beta readers express confusion over character actions, the climax feels unearned, or you are preparing for a major structural overhaul.
What you receive: Comprehensive margin commentary throughout your manuscript text + 15+ page Master Editorial Letter + written follow-up consultation with your editor.
Learn More About Developmental Editing →50k words: $1,000 · 80k words: $1,600 · 100k words: $2,000
Editor: Dedicated Genre Specialist
Line Editing
What it addresses: Sentence-by-sentence prose refinement. We elevate authorial voice, prose rhythm, dialogue subtext, diction, imagery, and emotional resonance while eliminating awkward phrasing, clunky filtering, and repetitive syntax.
When you need it: Your plot and character arcs are firmly settled, but your prose feels unpolished, monotonous, or lacks the literary distinctiveness required for commercial or traditional publication.
What you receive: Fully marked Word document with line-by-line Track Changes, stylistic alternatives, voice calibration commentary, and margin queries.
Learn More About Line Editing →50k words: $680 · 80k words: $1,080 · 100k words: $1,350
Editor: Prose Stylist Editor
Copyediting
What it addresses: Rigorous mechanical quality control. We enforce Chicago Manual of Style adherence, grammatical precision, syntax correctness, and complete internal timeline consistency (auditing character eye colors, ages, travel durations, and dates).
When you need it: Your manuscript has completed all structural and stylistic revisions; the words are set, and you need publication-grade mechanical accuracy before formatting or distribution.
What you receive: Fully annotated Word document with corrected grammar, spelling, and punctuation + a comprehensive bespoke Editorial Style Sheet.
Learn More About Copyediting →50k words: $425 · 80k words: $680 · 100k words: $850
Editor: Senior Copyeditor (CMoS Specialist)
Proofreading Pass
What it addresses: The final safety net before publication. We catch stray typos, missing quotation marks, awkward line breaks, duplicate words, and formatting glitches that slipped through earlier passes.
When you need it: Your manuscript has already been copyedited and is either in final galley proof format or ready for immediate upload to IngramSpark, KDP, or printing.
What you receive: Marked PDF proof or Word document with exact typographical corrections and a clean final confirmation report.
Learn More About Publication Prep →50k words: $250 · 80k words: $400 · 100k words: $500
Editor: Production Proofreader
Agent Submission Preparation
If your manuscript is completed and polished, prepare your pitch package for traditional literary agency submissions.
We offer targeted critique packages for your Query Letter, Novel Synopsis, and First Three Chapters, backed by two rounds of review from editors with deep publishing experience.
View Submission Packages ($165–$495) →How to Choose Where to Begin
Not sure which service matches your draft? We built two dedicated resources to help you decide:
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What Does My Manuscript Need? →
An interactive self-assessment based on draft status and revision history. -
Word Count Rate Calculator →
Enter your exact word count to view transparent quotes across all five services.
Not Sure Which Service Fits Your Draft?
Start with The First 1,000 Words. Send us your opening chapter. Our senior editors will read it, provide sample margin annotations, and deliver an honest recommendation on the ideal editorial path — free and with zero obligation.
Submit the First 1,000 Words — Free →Every Serious Manuscript Begins with Assessment
Gain a definitive, objective evaluation of your full novel before investing in extensive developmental surgery or sentence-level polish.
Assess My Manuscript →