(also referred to as line editing and mechanical editing)

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What Is Copy Editing?

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Copy editing looks at improving the quality and readability of your text. This step ensures your novel is ready for literary agents and acquisition editors by correcting and flagging errors in grammar, style, and accuracy. 

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As Your Copy Editor, What Do I Provide?

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I improve the quality of your text by ensuring your novel is free of:

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• Spelling inconsistencies (it's common to correct to American spelling, but I ask your preference)

• Unclear meaning

• Confusing run-on sentences

• Inaccuracies with names, titles, and locations  

• Inconsistency in formatting numbers, dates, and times

• Inconsistency in character descriptions (for example, your MC has brown eyes  on page 2 and blue eyes on page 31)

• Inaccurate historical facts or world specific facts (for example, the dates of a monumental event in your world building lack consistency)

• Improper usage of punctuation, capitalization, italicization, and quotation marks

• Improperly titled chapters

• Confusing speech tags 

 

Getting edits back after a full copy edit can be nerve-wracking, specifically because this is your baby and it's SO HARD to see so much red. Because of this,​ and as a writer who understands, I will:

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• Honour the authenticity of your authorial voice (for example, if your voice uses sentence splices that add credence to the work, I will not correct or flag those sentences.

• Provide you with two copies of my edits. One free of track changes and one with visible track changes. You choose which one to review.

• Provide you with a style sheet to reference the edits I've made to your manuscript. 

 

When Should You Hire A Copy Editor?

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Once you are satisfied with your final draft, before proofreading, and never before developmental editing.