Copy Editing for Fiction Novels

Bren Bradley

Starting at

$

400

About this service

Summary

I offer professional copy editing services that refine your manuscript for clarity, consistency, and polish, ensuring it’s ready for publication.
My eagle eye brings a keen sense for detail and a deep understanding of storytelling to enhance grammar, flow, and style while preserving your unique voice.
What sets me apart is my collaborative approach, delivering not only clean prose but also insightful feedback to elevate your writing to its fullest potential.

Process

Initial consult: We begin with a discussion to understand your manuscript's purpose, target audience, specific preferences, and style guidelines. This is also where we confirm the scope of the project.
Proposal & Contract: I send through a proposal detailing the timeline, pricing, and deliverables. Once approved, a contract will be signed to start the project.
First Read: I'll do a preliminary read-through to assess your manuscript's overall structure and style. I'll note areas that need attention, like grammar, punctuation, and tone.
Editing with Track Changes: I'll edit the manuscript line by line, addressing everything from spelling to sentence structure and consistency. I'll also make sure the manuscript adheres to whatever style guidelines e.g. CMoS.
Style Sheet: I'll create a custom style sheet that documents key decisions, suggestions for refinement, and any other notes I have. This is an ongoing process throughout the project from start to finish.
Check-in: I'll share the edited manuscript with track changes for you to review and provide feedback. Edits are finalized.
Final edits: Your feedback is incorporated into the final edit of the manuscript, and all mark-ups are removed. I give it a final once-over to make sure changes maintain flow and add to the overall elevation of the script.
Clean Copy & Sign-off: Deliver the final clean manuscript with all accepted edits. The style sheet is included for your reference.

FAQs

  • What is copy editing?

    Copy editing looks at the nuts and bolts of your story, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, tone, style, and sentence structure.

  • Will my novel still sound like me after you've edited it?

    My job as a professional editor is to enhance your writing, while maintaining your unique voice and style. No move is made without your approval.

  • What type of manuscripts do you work with?

    Fiction is my wheelhouse, and romance in particular, but I'm willing to edit any written word on any page, in any category. I edit the words from my friends' mouths too, much to their chagrin.

  • What style guide do you use?

    I use the Chicago Manual of Style, an industry standard. If a client wants to use alternate guidelines, I'm more than happy to work with that.

  • How long does it take to edit a complete novel?

    Timelines depend on the length and complexity of the novel. This will be discussed and decided in our initial consult, before the project starts.

What's included

  • Edited Manuscript with Track Changes

    A thoroughly copy-edited manuscript with changes and suggestions marked using the Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word. Edits will address grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntax, word choice, and consistency in style, ensuring the manuscript adheres to professional publishing standards. Format: Docx with track changes enabled Quantity: 1x fully edited manuscript Revisions: 1 round of edits based on feedback to address changes

  • Clean Copy of Edited Manuscript

    A finalized version of the manuscript with all edits accepted and integrated. This clean copy will be ready for submission, formatting, or publication without visible markups or comments. Format: Microsoft Word or PDF (client’s preference) Quantity: 1x clean copy of edited manuscript

  • Style Sheet and Editor's Notes

    A detailed style sheet outlining the rules and decisions applied during editing, such as preferred spellings, hyphenation, punctuation styles, and character name consistency. Includes a summary of key edits and recommendations for further refinement, if needed. Format: PDF Quantity: 1x style sheet with editor's notes

Duration

5 days

Skills and tools

Copy Editor

Writer

Editor

Copyscape

Google Docs

Hemingway App

Microsoft Word

Industries

Publishing

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