Speculative Fiction Line & Copy Editing

​Speculative Fiction Line/Copyediting Services

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For a combined line/copyedit, when you send us the manuscript:

• You should be happy with the story structure and other big-picture elements

• All the parts of the manuscript should be in the right order

• You will have developed and self-edited the novel, and feel ready for professional editorial help to polish the text before publishing

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Every line/copyediting project for new clients begins with a full read-through of the manuscript to assess clarity, consistency, and overall readiness for line/copyediting. This ensures the edit is effective and aligned with professional publishing standards.

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If, during this initial read, we find that the manuscript would benefit more from substantive or developmental work, we may pause the copyedit and recommend next steps before proceeding. This approach helps authors avoid investing in a service that isn’t yet the right fit for their manuscript.

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What’s included:

• An initial read-through of the full manuscript

• A full line/copyedit focusing on clarity, flow, consistency, and correctness at sentence level

•  Targeted light stylistic refinements, such as tightening prose, removing redundancies, and smoothing awkward phrasing, while preserving the author’s voice

• Sentence-level edits to improve clarity and readability

• Identification (but not correction) of any significant editorial issues that stand out at sentence level—such as inconsistencies or point-of-view slips—with notes for the author where relevant

• A detailed style sheet covering spelling and punctuation preferences, character and place names, worldbuilding terms, and timeline notes to ensure internal consistency

• Consistent application of editorial style, including spelling, numbers, punctuation, abbreviations, and proper nouns. I follow the Chicago Manual of Style for US English and New Hart’s Rules for UK English.

• Correction of spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors

• Application of MS Word styles and a document formatting check, where appropriate

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You receive:

• An edited Microsoft Word document (with changes tracked or accepted, as agreed)

• A PDF of the edited manuscript, with all changes tracked

• A concise editorial summary (up to 500 words) outlining any recurring issues or areas to be aware of

• One hour of post-edit support (a video call or email discussion) to answer questions about the edit and clarify any feedback provided

 

Pricing: £22 / $30 per 1000 words

A 70,000-word novel would cost £1540 ($2100) 

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If you've already purchased an editorial assessment or developmental edit, or we have collaborated previously on a line/copyedit, the rate is £19 / $26 per 1000 words, and there is no initial read-through. In this case, a 70,000-word novel would cost £1330 (approx. $1820). 

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Additional T&Cs:

• We specialise in carefully crafted, revision-ready manuscripts. For that reason, we don’t work on early drafts, AI-generated or substantially AI-assisted texts, or books written for a rapid-release schedule.

• This service does not include developmental editing or writing instruction.

• All projects for new clients include an initial full read-through to confirm readiness for copyediting. If the manuscript is found not to be suitable for copyediting at this stage, the edit may be halted after the read-through. In these circumstances, a fixed assessment fee of £300 will be charged, regardless of the original project quote. You will receive my editorial notes explaining the decision and outlining suitable next steps.

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