Editing services

“If the grape is made of wine, then perhaps we are the words that tell who we are.”

Eduardo Galleano

Your story matters

Congratulations! You’ve already achieved what many of us only dream of: you’ve penned your memoir, your novel, your thesis.

You’ve poured your heart into your work and forged elegant constellations of characters and ideas from (what is for most of us) a messy, easily distracted mind, creating something pagebound and new. 

But what comes next? Is your work ready to be shared with the world? Is it ready for its readers?

Editors exist to turn the answer to this latter question into a resounding absolutely. We work tirelessly to ensure your manuscript goes out into the world as the best possible version of itself, with the best possible chance of finding success in a highly competitive market.

We’re here, because after spending weeks, months, even years getting your story down on paper, it can become incredibly difficult to really see your own work, whatever the stage of your writing or editing journey.

Please explore the details of my services below, which can stand alone or be customised and combined to suit the needs of your manuscript (and accommodate your timeline and budget). I make sure to keep things flexible because no two manuscripts are the same, and it’s my job to help you chart a course that’s exactly right for you as you navigate the world of writing, be it for the first time or the fiftieth.

Still not sure what you need? Just drop me a line and we’ll formulate a plan together. And because good chemistry between your writing and your editor is essential, I’ll also offer you a free sample edit, up to 400 words, so you can see how I operate and ensure I’m the best match for your manuscript.

Contact me here for a no-obligation consultation and I’ll be in touch within three working days.

Here for every stage of your manuscript

Manuscript critique

The big-picture assessment

Developmental editing

The substantive deep-dive

Line and copyediting

The forensic fine-tuning

Proofreading

The final polish

Manuscript Critique

What is it?

A critique is all about the big-picture storytelling arc of a piece and should be conducted during the early drafting phase. Your editor evaluates what works and what doesn’t among your project’s macro-level elements — focusing on structure, character development, worldbuilding, and more – and outlines what steps can be taken to resolve any issues and fix any flaws.

Manuscript critique by Night Owl

My critique will provide an unbiased critical assessment of your manuscript’s large-scale strengths and weaknesses. I’ll evaluate the structure and unfolding of your argument or plot, the substance and coherence of your ideas, and the consistency of your voice.

For fiction, I’ll also assess the depth and believability of your worldbuilding; your evocation of setting and atmosphere; the plausibility and fullness of your characters; your pacing and chronology; your narrative style. For nonfiction, I’ll evaluate the structure and presentation of your material, the clarity and tone of your message, the lucidity of your conclusion, the power of your hook.

You will receive:

  • a multi-page editorial letter that delves into the large-scale strengths and challenges of your manuscript.

  • detailed suggestions and ideas for changes and improvements, including tips for strengthening your writing style and honing your craft.

  • a follow-up call to discuss any questions or specific concerns you may have.

Please note that a critique doesn’t include line-level edits, which would be a waste of time and money when structural changes are in play. In fact, it’s likely no explicit changes will be made to your manuscript during a critique: instead of in-line changes and annotations, you’ll receive an extensive report combining high-level commentary with suggestions for improvement and development.

Ideal for you if

Your manuscript isn’t ready for a full developmental edit, but you’d still like some actionable feedback on its big-picture storytelling aspects.

You’re on a strict budget or are simply looking for a ‘lighter’ version of a full developmental edit.

You want to evaluate your work in a way that goes beyond the subjective opinions of those who love you.

You have a killer idea but are stuck in a creative rut and would like some tips for helping your story grow.

Developmental Editing

What is it?

The ultimate in big-picture editing, developmental editing examines your manuscript in greater depth and detail than a critique. It dives deep into the substantive heart of a piece, appraises the larger architecture of the story, and addresses high level issues such as plot consistency and stylistic coherence.

Developmental editing by Night Owl

As your developmental editor, I’ll provide you with an in-depth running commentary on the working parts of your narrative. My goal is to help you unlock the potential of your writing by working through any big-picture weaknesses, such as under-developed arguments or flat characterisation. I will consider:

  • clarity and cohesion of overarching themes and ideas

  • chronologies and settings (with an eye to possible incongruities and timing issues)

  • tension, momentum, and narrative shape

  • narrative distance and POV

  • consistency of voice and writing style

  • plot beats and transitions

  • the genre and purpose of your writing (and how your manuscript aligns with reader and publisher expectations).

Once I’ve read your manuscript multiple times, I’ll write up my feedback to help improve your work on a global level. I’ll provide you with:

  • a multi-page editorial report that discusses the strengths of your manuscripts, offers constructive feedback on any weaknesses, and provides personalised guidance on any specific concerns you may have.

  • in-line comments and detailed suggestions for reworking any problems in your narrative written in the margins

  • a follow-up call at a time of your choosing to discuss possible publishing pathways and ensure you’re on the right track with your revisions.

As with a critique, a developmental edit doesn’t delve into the nitty-gritty of grammar and spelling as there’s little point in perfecting the finer details while cuts and sweeping changes are on the table.

Ideal for you if

You’ve completed a thorough self-edit of your draft and want some professional feedback on your progress before you start polishing and revising at a sentence level.

You’re a first-time author and would like to brush up on areas of the craft that you struggle with, with guidance from an editor well-versed in the principles and techniques of creative writing.

You’re interested in querying specific concerns about your manuscript.

You’re not confident that your work is organised effectively, or you’ve written yourself into a corner and don’t know how to fix it. Perhaps you simply can’t see the wood for the trees and need an objective, professional perspective on any tangles of plot or character motivation that seem to be growing stubbornly among the roses.

You’ve had some negative feedback and would like some suggestions for improvement and development.

You’re writing in a genre you’re unfamiliar with.

Line and Copyediting

What are they?

These are sentence-level edits with some meaningful key differences. Both ensure clarity, consistency, and correctness, but where copyediting focuses on the mechanics of writing — the nitty-gritty of grammar, spelling, and punctuation — the primary focus of line editing is style, rhythm, and flow.

Copyeditors root out stylistic inconsistencies, flag factual errors, and correct grammatical missteps, such as subject-verb disagreement, faulty parallelism, or dangling modifiers. They ensure that your manuscript accords with your preferred industry style guidelines, such as Chicago, Oxford, or APA, tending only to make changes that improve a text’s accuracy, consistency, and logical flow.

Line editors go deeper. They look at the creative side of prose, studying those more experimental and idiomatic elements of style — sound, sense, rhythm, tone — that inform the lyrical nuances and emotion of a piece.

Line editing usually comes before copyediting. However, it is possible to offer line and copyediting services in combination, which can greatly benefit authors on a tight budget and a strict deadline.

Line and copyediting by Night Owl

My job as your editor is to ensure consistency, clarity, and technical accuracy in your work while preserving your voice and elevating your style. This means adapting the level of my focus to the needs of your manuscript rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach. So, whether your manuscript requires a light copyedit or thorough line edit (or some combination of the two), I’ll brush away any potential errors or inconsistencies that might distract from your message, ensuring that your words connect with your intended readers.

With fiction this means focusing on a sentence-level edit of your story, reading for consistency in grammar, syntax, and tone, ironing out any unnatural dialogue or overexposition, and flagging any mixed metaphors or clichés. For example, I may attend to

  • spelling, punctuation, grammar, and hyphenation

  • rhythm, tension, and pacing

  • narrative voice and POV

  • consistency in tense and detail

  • authenticity of dialogue; your use of beats and tags

  • balance of showing and telling.

With non-fiction this means ensuring systematic treatment of numbers, symbols, fonts, and capitalisation, and helping your language and style match your messages and meaning. I pay special attention to issues of usage and style, checking for (and offering suggestions on how to fix)

  • inappropriate word choice for your intended readership

  • faulty parallelism and awkward syntax

  • gaps in logic and basic factual errors

  • potential legal and sensitivity issues (this includes flagging basic violations of privacy and copyright, and instances of obscenity and libel, but please note that it will be your responsibility to arrange any copyright permissions that are needed)

  • minor structural issues and organisational errors.

This service includes verification of links and citations and correct formatting of footnotes (or endnotes) and lists of references. I can also edit for inclusive and bias-free language and offer plain-English compliance for writing in business, education and the social sciences.

You will receive the following:

  • your annotated manuscript, including tracked changes and queries in the margins (you’ll be able to accept or reject all significant in-line changes).

  • a clean version of your edited text so you can review your work with all changes added.

  • a style sheet (with list of terms) recording notable preferences and principles of style that apply to your manuscript, especially where they deviate from your chosen style guide.

  • a cover letter providing further context and explanation for my edits, as well as further editorial suggestions for elevating your style and strengthening your story.

Ideal for you if

You’ve finished your manuscript and are completely satisfied with the content and structural flow of the story as a whole.

You’ve already had a developmental edit or manuscript critique; revisions are complete, queries have been resolved, and you feel ready to begin polishing your work at a line level.

You’re an ESL or EFL author and would like a professional hand t ailoring your work to the expectations of an English-speaking audience.

You’re an experienced writer and would like a second set of eyes to ensure that your style is consistent, your voice clear, and your writing the best it can be.

You’ve self-edited as far as you’re able but simply know your text too well to see any remaining issues or weaknesses objectively.

Proofreading

What is it?

The last editorial step before publication, a final quality control check for any mistakes that slipped through the net during the previous stages.

Proofreading by Night Owl

As your proofreader, I’ll deliver the final polish and review of your manuscript before you share your work with the world. I’ll scour your writing for grammatical missteps, marking up every line and detail for correctness and consistency until I’m satisfied that your manuscript is clean, credible and gleaming, ready for its readers.

You will receive:

  • annotated and clean versions of your proofread manuscript.

  • an appraisal of any formatting quirks and typographical concerns, such as widows, orphans, runts, and rivers.

Ideal for you if

You’re ready to publish and start marketing your work.

You’re on the precious final draft of, well, anything to be published or printed — a novel, short story, article, or newsletter, or some less conventional form of content writing or corporate comms: flyers, white papers, annual reports — and would like an expert eye to ensure that your writing is polished and professional, free from any embarrassing typos or flaws.

What does the editing process look like?

Step One — First forays

We discuss your goals and establish expectations. You complete a questionnaire to help me best focus my feedback. I look over a sample of your work to establish a quote and a completion date, and to verify that we’re a good fit to work together.

Step Two — It’s official

I send you a contract that clearly states the cost and level of editing involved, and whether any additional passes of your manuscript will be included.

Step Three — Off to the races

You send me your manuscript and specify any style guides you’d like me to follow. I’ll begin editing in earnest while you sit tight, relax, or begin your next masterpiece.

Step Four — Back to you

I return the edited project to you. You now have the opportunity to accept or reject the suggestions I’ve made; we decide on a deadline for your revision submission (if applicable).

Step Five — Multiple passes?

If the job includes two or more rounds of editing, you resend me the project after you’ve made your revisions. I begin the next round of editing. We rinse and repeat as arranged.

Step Six — Job done!

I send you the completed project and my final invoice — edit complete! However, you are more than welcome to reach out over email to pick my brain or ask for clarification on my notes up to six months after our work together has concluded.

A note on pricing

My fees vary according to the length of material and the depth of editing required. For lengthier works, I’ll request a 1,000 word excerpt from the middle of your manuscript to determine how much time your project will take and establish the cost. But for a rough idea of what to expect, please take a look at the industry standard rates for editing, proofreading, and other forms of manuscript review provided here and here by the Chartered Institute for Editing and Proofreading (UK) and the Editorial Freelancers Association (US) respectively.

FAQs

  • Absolutely, and free of charge. I believe it’s important to establish in advance that we’re a good fit to work together. Please contact me to find out more.

  • It really depends on the level of editing involved and the length and complexity of the manuscript. For a typical 90,000-word novel, expect about a week for a proofreading edit, two to three weeks for a line or copy edit, four weeks for a critique, and nine to ten weeks for a developmental edit. Please contact me for more information about shorter pieces.

    I'm occasionally able to accommodate ‘rush jobs’ for clients requiring an urgent turnaround, so please get in touch if this applies to you.

  • I mostly work with Track Changes in Microsoft Word, so please send me your manuscript as a .doc or .docx file if possible. I'll gladly convert the file if you send it to me in another format, or I'm happy to work with other file types, such as PDF or Google Docs, if you have a different preference.

  • Yes. When uploading your manuscript, please make sure it is in 12pt text size in Times New Roman font and double-spaced.

  • I do, but this is not mandatory! If you’d rather only use your microphone during consultion calls, simply chat over the phone, or limit our conversations to email, all options are totally fine.

  • As a member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), I abide by its Code of Practice. This means you can be confident that all my work meets the high standard set by the CIEP, an organisation of editorial excellence and integrity.

Don’t see your question? Please contact me!