Editing
We offer the following editing services for our authors, as well as for self-publishers. Depending on the condition of your manuscript and your preference, we will recommend a particular level of editing that will bring your manuscript to the highest standard. Whether you are self-publishing or submitting your manuscript to publishers, hiring a professional editor will greatly improve the probability of success of your book. All of our editing recommendations are made with the goal of giving you a significantly better, stronger, more engaging, and more marketable book.
All of our editors are Chicago Manual of Style qualified and offer a combined 50+ years of experience.
Turnaround time for an edit is determined by the condition, readability, and length of your manuscript, and our current workload. Once we review your manuscript and discuss your needs, we’ll establish a completion time for the edit.
Developmental Edit
This is the most rigorous form of editing for manuscripts in need of significant revision and reorganization. In a developmental edit, we will make substantive suggestions aimed at sharpening your work as a whole. For works of fiction, we examine plot, pace, tone, dialogue, setting, and character development. For works of nonfiction, we make sure all ideas are fully and clearly developed, materials are well-organized, and visual aids are effectively used. In most cases, a developomental edit requires 2-4 rounds of edits by one of our editors. Once your manuscript meets our high standards, the file is passed to one of our copyeditors/proofreaders. If you accept our editors’ suggestions, the result will be a dramatically improved manuscript ready for publication.
Line Edit
In this edit, our editor focuses on your manuscript line by line to call your attention to major issues that require revision or correction. For nonfiction, these include clarity of purpose, appropriateness for and consideration of your audience, syntax, pacing, flow of ideas, paragraph structure, and organization, as well as a cleanup of grammar, mechanics, usage, and style issues. For fiction, this includes development of characters, clarity and pacing of plot, as well as those items listed above. We highly recommend a professional proofread after this stage has been completed. Even gifted editors can overlook typos, missing words, or formatting issues.
Copyedit
This edit includes a rigorous cleanup of grammar, mechanics, and usage, as well as minor syntax problems and redundancy, incorrect words (effect/affect, elicit/illicit, etc.), unclear pronouns, verb tenses, capitalization, spelling, and punctuation. This edit includes one pass by the copy editor. For manuscripts intended to reach a large audience, we highly recommend a copyedit at minimum. We often recommend a professional proofread after this stage has been completed.
Proofreading
At this stage, a proofreader will focus on cleaning up typos, including missing spaces and words, and formatting errors. A proofread includes one pass by the proofreader.
Complete Editing Package
Our Complete Editing Package includes two to three rounds of editing to prepare your manuscript for publication. Most manuscripts chosen for publication under Brandylane or Belle Isle Books pass through this complete process. Our complete package includes a professional line edit, copyedit, and proofread to ready your work for publication.
Editorial Evaluation (cost is based on manuscript length and genre)
This is a detailed, written analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of your work. We will examine all aspects of your work, from basic grammar, mechanics, and usage to more sophisticated aspects like voice, tone, development, pacing, and organization. We will assess your work’s appropriateness and appeal to your intended audience. Whereas in a full professional edit, an editor works with you to implement these suggestions, the editorial evaluation acts as a guide; it is up to you to carry out the recommended changes.
All of our editors are Chicago Manual of Style qualified and offer a combined 50+ years of experience.
Turnaround time for an edit is determined by the condition, readability, and length of your manuscript, and our current workload. Once we review your manuscript and discuss your needs, we’ll establish a completion time for the edit.
Developmental Edit
This is the most rigorous form of editing for manuscripts in need of significant revision and reorganization. In a developmental edit, we will make substantive suggestions aimed at sharpening your work as a whole. For works of fiction, we examine plot, pace, tone, dialogue, setting, and character development. For works of nonfiction, we make sure all ideas are fully and clearly developed, materials are well-organized, and visual aids are effectively used. In most cases, a developomental edit requires 2-4 rounds of edits by one of our editors. Once your manuscript meets our high standards, the file is passed to one of our copyeditors/proofreaders. If you accept our editors’ suggestions, the result will be a dramatically improved manuscript ready for publication.
Line Edit
In this edit, our editor focuses on your manuscript line by line to call your attention to major issues that require revision or correction. For nonfiction, these include clarity of purpose, appropriateness for and consideration of your audience, syntax, pacing, flow of ideas, paragraph structure, and organization, as well as a cleanup of grammar, mechanics, usage, and style issues. For fiction, this includes development of characters, clarity and pacing of plot, as well as those items listed above. We highly recommend a professional proofread after this stage has been completed. Even gifted editors can overlook typos, missing words, or formatting issues.
Copyedit
This edit includes a rigorous cleanup of grammar, mechanics, and usage, as well as minor syntax problems and redundancy, incorrect words (effect/affect, elicit/illicit, etc.), unclear pronouns, verb tenses, capitalization, spelling, and punctuation. This edit includes one pass by the copy editor. For manuscripts intended to reach a large audience, we highly recommend a copyedit at minimum. We often recommend a professional proofread after this stage has been completed.
Proofreading
At this stage, a proofreader will focus on cleaning up typos, including missing spaces and words, and formatting errors. A proofread includes one pass by the proofreader.
Complete Editing Package
Our Complete Editing Package includes two to three rounds of editing to prepare your manuscript for publication. Most manuscripts chosen for publication under Brandylane or Belle Isle Books pass through this complete process. Our complete package includes a professional line edit, copyedit, and proofread to ready your work for publication.
Editorial Evaluation (cost is based on manuscript length and genre)
This is a detailed, written analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of your work. We will examine all aspects of your work, from basic grammar, mechanics, and usage to more sophisticated aspects like voice, tone, development, pacing, and organization. We will assess your work’s appropriateness and appeal to your intended audience. Whereas in a full professional edit, an editor works with you to implement these suggestions, the editorial evaluation acts as a guide; it is up to you to carry out the recommended changes.
