Levels of Editing
Which level of editing is right for you?
We all know writing is a journey. Editing is no different. Traditionally, writers take their manuscripts through a journey of four steps: developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, and proofreading. These steps help writers and editors focus on different aspects of the manuscript in the most productive way possible. That being said, some authors prefer to to pick and choose. Whatever steps you choose for your journey, I’m here to help!
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Developmental Edit
THE STARTING POINT
A developmental edit looks at the big picture. In this edit, I will focus on providing a manuscript report and helping writers tackle their “big idea” goals.
Curious about your content? This is for you!
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Line Edit
BEYOND BASICS
A line edit focuses on readability. In this edit, I will focus on style and flow (beyond standard grammatical mistakes). This may include rearranging sentences, deleting overused or unnecessary phrases, and anything else for your manuscript’s spring cleaning needs.
Want a thorough dissection of your writing? This one is for you!
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Copyedit
CONSISTENCY IS KEY
A copyedit fixes single sentence–level mistakes. In this edit, I remove myself from analyzing the style of writing and only focus on the grammar and spelling of each separate sentence.
Feel good with your writing style and just want another set of eyes for the basics? This one is for you!
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Proofread
LAST LINE OF DEFENSE
A proofread is the final look to catch any minor issues. At Estel Edits, I only proofread texts that have completed a line or copy edit.
Want to make sure you applied all the first editor’s notes and then finalize your manuscript? This one is for you!
Not sure which service best suits your words? No worries!
I offer free sample edits of up 1,000 words to evaluate your manuscript’s needs before creating an estimate. I believe in best value and greatest fit. Please reach out with any questions about my editing philosophy or editorial process.