Copy editing is, as Anne Lamott says, a line-by-line process during which an editor “checks every tooth” of your manuscript.
This put-on-our-strongest-reading-glasses edit is when our editors get persnickety.
During the copy editing phase, we check for and adjust:
⇒ Mechanics and Rules: Going line-by-line, we ensure the sentences are clear, clean, and correct.
⇒ Flow and Clarity: We refine the sentences as needed so they are logical, transition smoothly from one to the next, and are tonally consistent throughout.
⇒ Details and Consistency: Using our comprehensive One Lit Place Style Sheet, we note and fix all standardization issues: names and continuity problems, timelines and dates, and other style issues in line with our house style guide (Chicago Manual of Style), APA, MLA, or other client-preferred style guide.
Above all, our goal is to ensure the reader remains immersed in the reading environment, engaged but never jarred out of the “dream” of the work by a wobbly phrase, a mistake, or anything that’s tonally off.
When your reader feels comfortable because the writing is well-designed and fluid, their comfort will influence how effectively and warmly they take in your ideas (and receive you as an author of note).
Whether your reader is a potential literary agent, publisher, or the reading public, above all, you want them to feel safe, cared for, and in authoritative hands—give them that, and they will follow you anywhere.
The quickest way for your work to be discounted and for you to lose out on valuable publication opportunities is to submit work that’s anything less than pristine.
Even a few missed commas or a typo may lead an agent or editor to believe your ideas are sloppy as well.
If you try to cut corners and think “I’m in a hurry,” or “That’s why they have editors,” or “The agent will ask me to revise the work anyway,” think again. When agents and editors receive hundreds of manuscripts in a week, you don’t want to be the one that goes in the bin because you had an ambiguous pronoun and a weirdly placed semi-colon in your first graph.
Having your work copy edited is a sound investment and insurance policy that you’ve done everything you can do to get your work where you want it to go.
If you’re taking a pass yourself before handing it over for professional copy editing, be sure to use our detailed style sheet.
This reusable, fillable sheet enables you to stay organized, keep track of all your work’s particularities such as proper noun spellings, stylistic usages, locational elements, and much more, and use as a reference for subsequent projects or books in the series.
Your editor will first discuss your work with you, your budget, and your timeline, and confirm that your work is ready for a copy edit.
Using the Track Changes/Review feature of Microsoft Word, they will edit the work at the sentence level along with flagging any areas they’d like your feedback on. When they’re done, they’ll discuss the edit and any notes with you and next steps.
Our hourly pricing allows your editor to meet your manuscript’s exact needs. If you want or require a lighter copy edit or a heavier/hybrid line and copy edit, they can do this without pausing the work or referring you to another editor. This makes the collaboration much more seamless and organic.
Your editor will keep track of their time in a timesheet shared with you.
If you wish to get a project rate before going too deep into the editing, your editor can edit for a period of time (1, 3, or 5 hours) and multiply their rate of speed across the full manuscript, so you can budget accordingly.
Every manuscript is unique, and we do our utmost to balance artistic integrity with your budget and goals for the project.
Let’s talk! If you’re not sure if your manuscript is ready for copy editing, once you sign on to work with us, your editor will dive in and discuss with you whether the work should go back a step and be substantially (developmentally) edited first so the structure, purpose, and flow are sound prior to the line and copy edit, or confirm that the work is ready to be smoothed out and finessed at the line level for the line and copy edit.
You can confirm where your piece is in its development by checking out this article on the 5 Stages of Editing. If you are still not sure, book a free consultation and tell us all about your project!
You are welcome to get started by buying a block of time, after which we will reach out to you to invite you to our editors’ platform and get you started on the work. You will also be sent our Terms and Conditions, which explains the details of the relationship and what you can expect from us.
Alternatively, please reach out to us directly to let us know you’re ready to begin, and we’ll send you some documents to sign you on and have you up and running straight away.
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The first important step before editing: get a clear read on how your work is coming across and suggestions for editing the draft.
After the copy edit comes the all-important proofread. This last pass ensures your very best work is the work you're sending out.
Getting your work into the world is yet another taxing step on the road of being a writer, but we're here to make it as easy and impactful as possible.
For the book you're wanting to write or to enjoy brushing up on your creative self, enjoy our book writing programs or our self-guided online courses.
Our 4-month Mentored Book Programs, Online Courses, & Writing Coaching and Editing Hours. From November 21-27, 2023
