Chapter 2: Part 3
Line Editing
“Josiah has helped me to recognize my weaknesses
and polish my writing style so that I can put my best foot forward.”
What is Line Editing?
A line edit is generally the default approach when someone asks for “editing.” Some people refer to this as a copy edit, but they are not synonymous. A line edit addresses every aspect of the writing that does not involve the actual storytelling: the basic stuff like grammar, punctuation, and typos, but also the elements that will make your writing polished and professional, like word choices, repetition, paragraph pacing. , and sentence flow. This will also identify bad habits or misconceptions in the rules you may have. If you truly want to grow as a writer, this is the type of edit you will need.
Line Editing
My rate for Line Editing is $16.50 per thousand words for first-time clients and $14.50 for repeat clients.
A line edit addresses any grammatical issues within your manuscript, especially focusing
on punctuation, typos, tense consistency, sentence flow, and word choice/repetition.
First Time Working with Me?
Want to request a sample? Send the first 1,000 words of your manuscript along with your inquiry to get started for free!
Track Changes versus New Comment
I structure my entire approach to editing using the New Comment feature in Word. The general trend for editors currently is to use Track Changes, which would have the editor inputting all of the necessary corrections and then allowing the author to hit “Accept Changes” and move on from there. I view that approach as detrimental to the growth of an author. I put all of my changes in New Comments, which helps to show recurring errors to the author as they go through and make the corrections. Hitting a button to accept a change does not have near the same impact on your growth as seeing the same issues arise and correcting them on your own. I want every author I work with to grow, and I’ve seen vast improvements when authors are willing to take the extra time to work through the recurring problems. At the end of the day, the manuscript is yours, and it is your book. I’m simply here to help guide and refine you along the way.
“Comments help writers become better authors. That alone is reason enough.“
– Best-selling author, Stuart Thaman
“With track changes the author won’t learn from his mistakes and their writing isn’t going to improve. Comments allow an author to grow.“
– Best-selling author, Hugo Huesca