Our editorial services
At The Book Edit we’ve designed a range of editorial services to help get your manuscript into its best possible shape.
Developmental Editing
Sometimes called structural or content editing, developmental editing is our most intensive service and involves an editor going deep into your novel or short story and helping figure out what’s working and what needs reworking. Typically a developmental editor will:
read your manuscript paying particular attention to story, genre, plot, pace, character, dialogue, setting, voice, structure and tone.
produce detailed notes on your manuscript, including areas that need developing and suggestions for rewrites.
provide tracked changes and comments embedded into the text to illustrate areas in need of further work.
“My debut novel is based on a story I first showed to Emily. Her perceptive feedback and support gave me the courage to expand it into a book. ”
Line Editing
If you’d like more input on your writing on a line-by line basis, then you may want to consider a line edit. Our line editors will look at the way you use language to communicate your story and suggest changes to the writing where they see potential for that language to be clearer.
You will receive two documents on return of the line edit: one with tracked changes so that you can see what the suggested changes might be. The other a ‘clean’ copy with the suggested changes accepted so that you can read how it might sound should you accept all the edits.
“Emily’s editorial advice has always been invaluable to me. She takes your project as a given, and then sets out to help you perfect it on its own terms. She has helped many writers and has a wealth of experience and insights. And her skills extend to the deepest editorial issues,”
Proofreading
Proofreading is the final polish on your manuscript. If you’re ready to submit to an agent or publisher or are ready to self-publish, you’ll need that final pair of eyes on your work to make sure there are no pesky errors. Typically a proofreader will look for spelling mistakes, typos, punctuation errors; correct page numbering; text alignment and spacing; headings; font size and style.
“Solid and reliable partners with a great eye for detail...The Book Edit help us deliver professional books and publications... ”
Agent Submission Package
If you’re ready to submit to agents, we can provide detailed feedback on your first three chapters, synopsis and covering letter. We can also help you to target your submissions to particular agents who might be interested in your work.
“I was extremely happy with the agent submission package from start to finish. Emily also went above and beyond the call of duty answering a few follow-up queries. The feedback on my opening chapters made perfect sense and was easy to follow, she helped me fine-tune my covering letter and was enormously helpful with the tricky process of writing a decent synopsis. I have recently been put in personal contact with a best-selling author who described my synopsis as ‘perfect’. I would strongly recommend The Book Edit and if you’re hesitating, I’d urge you to take the plunge. ”
Book Proposal Package
For anyone with an idea for a non-fiction book, our editors can provide detailed feedback on your proposal, ensuring it’s in the best possible shape before you approach agents or publishers.
“The Book Edit helped me refine a book proposal with detailed edits and expert suggestions. Their work went beyond what I was expecting, completely transforming the proposal. I have also been able to apply the feedback to other writing – I wish I’d contacted them sooner!”
Mentoring for writers
If you would like to work one-to-one with a mentor on your writing project, we offer monthly sessions which include pre-reading of an agreed number of words from your work-in-progress and a 50 minute Zoom meeting to discuss the feedback and suggest redrafting strategies.
“With Emily’s encouragement I have completed the first draft of a lengthy novel. As a mentor and editor, Emily has always been very empathetic and encouraging. She always provides excellent input on both the finer detail and bigger picture of what is required to get a story to the very best it can be.”
Self-publishing PACKAGE
While it’s never been easier to get your work out into the world, ensuring your book is the best version of itself can be difficult, especially when you’re responsible for every part of that process.
We can help make that process easier. Our self-publishing package includes the following:
Copy and line editing
Typesetting and formatting of manuscript ready for Amazon KDP (or other platforms)
Book cover design
Proofreading final manuscript before publication
Each service is available individually but if you opt for the total package there is a 10% reduction in the cost.
EDITORIAL CONSULTATION
If you’re not sure which service you need, or just want to book in some time to discuss your emerging ideas, get in touch to see how we can help.
“Emily has been helpful at every stage of the process, from generating ideas to finding the right publisher: I was really impressed by her attention to detail and knowledge of independent presses.”
industry contacts
We also provide advice on literary agent submissions, including synopses and covering letters, book proposals, self-publishing, and marketing yourself as an author.
If we spot serious potential in your writing, we are well connected to top UK-based literary agents to whom we can make recommendations.
THE ACADEMIC EDIT
Our latest offering is The Academic Edit: The Book Edit’s academic editorial service. We provide developmental editing, line editing and proofreading for academics and universities on Research Proposals; Impact Case Studies; Unit-level and Institutional-level Environment Statements.
Our Academic Edit editorial team have written for the likes of The Independent, The Times, The Financial times, The Washington Post, New Scientist, and The New Statesman and have provided editorial services across a range of sectors from universities to financial institutions.
To see how The Academic Edit can help you or your institution, email info@theacademicedit.co.uk