Nonfiction is a broad category that includes snarky self-help books, inspirational memoirs, and practical business guides. But these diverse titles have a few things in common:

• A specific, compelling topic
• Presented in a clear, cohesive way
• With solid structure
• And well-organized writing

Content Editing puts these pieces in their proper places, so you can share your unique perspective.

See, readers want to hear what you know, believe, and feel; that’s why they picked up your book. But without the right framework, unedited nonfiction can easily become unfocused, unclear, or uninteresting…

… which is unfortunate for you and your readers.

Content editing saves you both from this terrible fate by keeping your book on track.

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YOUR MANUSCRIPT NEEDS CONTENT EDITING IF

• You’re a first-time writer;
• It’s a first draft;
• This is your first time writing nonfiction;
• You are writing about a personal experience; or
• You have revised it several times, but it still doesn’t feel “right.”

CONTENT EDITING INCLUDES

• Three full read-throughs of your manuscript;
• Detailed analysis of content/topic, structure, organization, and cohesiveness;
• In-line comments on how to address any issues;
• A detailed editorial letter with clear next steps; and
• A 60-minute call to discuss the feedback.

CONTENT EDITING DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Rewrites or revisions; or
• Assessment of or corrections to clarity, tone, flow, style, diction, grammar, syntax, or punctuation unless related to the included areas.

Once you are satisfied with what you wrote, it’s time to address how you wrote it—your word choice, narrative clarity and flow, correct spelling, and so on.

This is accomplished through Line Editing and Copy Editing, two separate services I perform at once.

Line editing addresses

• Clarity, which is how clearly your words convey what you mean;
• Tone, which is the feeling or mood your writing creates; and
• Flow, which is how well each word, sentence, section, and chapter connects to the next one.

Whether a historical romance or a humorous memoir, your work could be ruined by confusing word choices, repetitive passages, and clunky writing. Line editing cures these ills, so your voice can shine.

Copy editing complements this work by correcting grammar, spelling, punctuation errors, and typos. It also ensures consistent spacing and formatting choices.

The wonder twins of editing, these two services will whip your work into publish-ready shape.

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YOUR MANUSCRIPT NEEDS LINE AND COPY EDITING 

• After you revise your first draft;
• If you are confident in what you wrote but not how it’s written;
• If editors or prereaders said the concept is good, but the writing needs work;
• If it is longer than you’d like; or
• If it has not been line and/or copy edited before.

LINE + COPY EDITING INCLUDES

• Line-by-line correction of issues with clarity, tone, flow, diction, syntax, grammar, punctuation, spelling, formatting, typos, missing, incorrect, and/or extra words;
• In-line comments, questions, and suggestions; and
• A style sheet outlining grammatical, spelling, punctuation, formatting, and other choices.

LINE + COPY EDITING DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Feedback on the manuscript’s content unless related to the included areas.

If you’re a seasoned author who has published a few books, you may have a clear writing voice and style and little need for line editing.

You might, however, suffer from problematic punctuation or shaky spelling.

In that case, you need Copy Editing.

Copy editing only focuses on the rightness of what appears on the page, the “copy” as they say in newspaper-speak. It corrects and standardizes grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting while catching missing or extra elements.

Copy editing ensures word, line, and space is just right before your work heads into the next phase of publishing.

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YOUR MANUSCRIPT NEEDS COPY EDITING

• If it has never had copy editing or proofreading; or
• If you’re catching errors as you read through it.

 COPY EDITING INCLUDES

• Line-by-line correction of issues with grammar, punctuation, spelling, formatting, typos, and missing, incorrect, and/or extra words;
• In-line comments, questions, and suggestions (if needed); and
• A style sheet outlining grammatical, spelling, punctuation, formatting, and other choices.

 COPY EDITING DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Feedback on the manuscript’s content unless related to changes in the included areas; or
• Feedback on/changes to the manuscript’s clarity, tone, flow, diction, or syntax unless related to the included areas.

Despite being taught to “write what they know,” more and more writers recognize the value of writing about who and what they don’t know. This can be especially impactful (and challenging) when writers include characters from marginalized groups they’re not a part of—that is, when a white writer includes a Black character or a neurotypical writer includes an autistic character.

If you choose to do that, your editing process should include a step where someone can catch the biases, stereotypes, or inaccuracies that may seep into that character’s role and representation in your book.

That step is Sensitivity Reading, and it’s crucial.

Of course, no group of people is a monolith, so no single character could—or should be expected to—represent the rang and diversity within their own group.

That said, your Black, fat, or autistic characters should feel conscientiously crafted to be their layered, unique selves with relatable goals, fears, and wants wrapped in a package authentic to them as individuals and as a member of their group.

In nonfiction or narrative sections of a fictional story, the writing itself should be free of outdated, inflammatory, or otherwise problematic language, imagery, or beliefs, except in cases where such things are mentioned and deemed wrong.

Sensitivity reading ensures all of the above occurs in a way that is clear on the page.

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YOUR MANUSCRIPT NEEDS SENSITIVITY READING

• If you’re writing about a culture, people, group, or topic you are not a part of;
• If you’re concerned you may have missed something along those lines; or
• If you’re getting negative or concerned comments about how your work includes or represents a different culture, group, people, or topic.

SENSITIVITY READING INCLUDES

• One full read-through of your manuscript;
• Feedback and suggestions on the areas of concern you mention in your Sensitivity Read Questionnaire; and
• In-line comments; and
• A brief editorial letter about those areas.

SENSITIVITY READING DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Any changes to the manuscript; or
• Feedback or suggestions on areas not mentioned in the Sensitivity Read Questionnaire.

Sometimes you just want to know where your manuscript stands. Is it solid or shaky? Nearly there or way off the mark? Should you keep going with this idea or switch to something else?

A Manuscript Evaluation can answer these questions by doing two things:

• It states how well your project aligns with expectations of your chosen genre(s)—that is, does your cozy mystery have the elements expected of a cozy mystery?
• It suggests which edits your manuscript needs—developmental editing, line + copy editing, copy editing, and/or manuscript evaluation—and indicates why.

A manuscript evaluation reveals the areas of your project needing attention, so you can reconsider, revise, or rewrite them accordingly.

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YOUR MANUSCRIPT NEEDS AN EVALUATION

• If you’re not sure about it;
• If you haven’t had any professional feedback yet;
• If this is your first book; or
• If you’re getting mixed feedback from your prereaders.

A MANUSCRIPT EVALUATION INCLUDES

• One full read-through of your manuscript;
• An indication of how your manuscript aligns with genre expectations;
• A checklist suggesting which editing services are needed; and
• A 15-percent discount on your first editing service if it begins within 30 days of the end of the manuscript evaluation.

A MANUSCRIPT EVALUATION DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Feedback or suggestions on specific parts of the manuscript;
• Any changes to the manuscript;
• Inline comments on the manuscript;
• An editorial letter; or
• A post-evaluation phone call.

Poetry editing is different than editing prose. It’s not about proper grammar, perfect punctuation, or similar rules.

It’s about combining those choices—along with diction, sentence structure, spacing, and other elements—to echo the poem’s themes, invoke certain imagery, and enhance the reader’s experience. When applied to an entire book or anthology. poetry editing promotes clarity and cohesiveness across the collection.

Whether you want a light review or a in-depth assessment, poetry editing is a helpful option that can be customized to support your creativity.

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YOU MAY WANT POETRY EDITING

• If you new to writing poetry;
• If this is your first collection; 
• If you’d like another set of eyes on your work; or
• If you’re preparing to query or trad publish.

POETRY EDITING INCLUDES

• A pre-poetry editing questionnaire assessing your needs and the level of editing you’d like; 
• Assessments, suggestions, and/or revisions of your poetry (depending);
• In-line comments explaining the above;
• A brief editorial letter; and
• A post-edit call to review the feedback (optional).

Writing can be a lonely endeavor. You plan alone, research alone, and write alone, often having no one to talk to about your project but you.

You need another perspective.

A Project Consultation provides that perspective and feedback, so your project can move forward. Whether you’re working on an outline, your fifth draft, or something in between, a project consultation will ensure you know exactly what to do next.

YOU NEED A PROJECT CONSULTATION

• If you don’t know how to approach your book;
• If you’re confused or uncertain about what to do next;
• If you have too many ideas; or
• If you want a clear plan before you start writing.

A PROJECT CONSULTATION INCLUDES

• A pre-consultation form including your three concerns/questions;
• A 30- or 60-minute phone call covering those concerns/questions; and
• A post-call email summary including solutions and next steps.

A PROJECT CONSULTATION DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Any reading or evaluation of your work