developmental editing
A read-through of the whole manuscript commenting on characterisation, pacing, plot and other story elements.
line editing
A read-through of the whole manuscript showing suggested amendments to make the text read more clearly.
I offer both a standard and an enhanced edit. Please see my Terms of Business for more details.
Copy editing
A read-through of the manuscript noting minor inconsistencies, checking grammar and spelling and flagging possible issues with libel and copyright.
As with a line edit I offer both a standard and enhanced version.
Usually I carry out a line and a copy edit at the same time.
proofreading
A read-through of the manuscript checking for any errors that might have been missed during previous edits or introduced during typesetting.
Proof-edit
Now more books are being published by authors themselves rather than by publishing houses, the industry has identified a need for a further service, the proof-edit. The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading helpfully explains that this is when a manuscript is submitted for proofreading but needs some editorial intervention because it has not been copy edited. A proof-edit will address these minor editorial inconsistencies but is not the same as a full line or copy edit.
As with line and copy edits, I offer both a standard and an enhanced version.