Book Editing
Helping thoughtful authors shape meaningful books—from first draft to publication.
Writing a book is a journey of many drafts. At different stages, your manuscript needs different kinds of editorial support.
Professional editing isn't about changing your voice or taking over your story. It's about helping you communicate your ideas more clearly, strengthen your manuscript and create the best possible reading experience for your audience. Even experienced authors work with editors because every manuscript benefits from fresh, objective eyes.
Perhaps you're unsure whether your structure is working. Maybe you've finished your first draft and need objective feedback before investing in editing. Or perhaps your manuscript is structurally sound and ready for refining and polishing.
My role is to meet you where you are in the process and help you move confidently to the next stage.
I specialise in editing thoughtful non-fiction that seeks to inform, inspire and create meaningful change, particularly in the areas of:
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Mind, Body & Spirit (health, wellbeing, spirituality and religion)
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Self-development and personal growth
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Business and marketing
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Memoir and life story
I also work with fiction authors, particularly in adult fantasy romance, providing copyediting and proofreading while preserving your unique world-building, pacing and voice.
Not sure where to start?
Most first-time authors aren't sure which type of editing they need—and that's perfectly normal. That's exactly why I offer a Roadmap Review.
Rather than guessing or paying for editing too early, you'll receive a professional assessment of your manuscript together with a personalised recommendation for the most appropriate next step.
Depending on your manuscript, I may recommend:
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self-revision based on big-picture guidance provided in my Editorial Assessment & Manuscript Coaching
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developmental editing
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copyediting
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comprehensive editing
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collaborative writing or ghostwriting
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proofreading (post design)
Every manuscript and author's situation is different, so not every author needs the same editing pathway. Your starting point depends on how developed your manuscript is, the type of feedback you're looking for, your publishing goals and your budget.
Most authors follow a pathway similar to this:
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Just finished your first or second draft? → Start with a Roadmap Review.
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Need help with structure, content or clarity? → Consider Developmental Editing.
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Happy with your structure but want your writing refined and polished? → Choose Copyediting or Comprehensive Editing
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Ready to publish? → Finish with Proofreading.
If your manuscript would benefit from more than one stage of editing, I can often bundle services together at a reduced rate. Bundled editing not only saves money but also provides a smoother editorial process and greater consistency from first draft through to publication.
My goal isn't to sell you more editing than you need; it's to help you produce the strongest possible book in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
Working together
Below are details of the editing services I offer. Editing is a collaborative partnership built on trust, respect and a shared commitment to creating the strongest possible book. I offer thoughtful, constructive feedback that respects your voice while challenging your manuscript to become clearer, more engaging and more effective for your readers. Every edit is tailored to your goals, audience, publishing plans and preferred style guide (Australian, UK or US English). I refer to your Author Questionnaire while I edit, to ensure I am in step with your goals and message.
Most hands-on editing services involve two run-throughs. After the first run, you have the opportunity to accept or reject my suggestions and perform any necessary re-writes. You then send the manuscript back for me to review your new writing before I return the final copy.
Every suggestion is made using Microsoft Word's Track Changes and Comments. You remain in control throughout the process and decide which changes to accept. My goal is never to rewrite your book in my own voice, but to help your writing communicate more clearly while remaining authentically yours. You, as the author, have the final say.
EDITORIAL ASSESSMENT
& MANUSCRIPT COACHING
A comprehensive editorial assessment of your manuscript to identify its strengths, highlight areas for improvement, and recommend the most effective path forward before investing in detailed editing.
What you'll receive
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A strategic editorial assessment of your manuscript with assessment and writing coaching notes directly in manuscript
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Structural, content and reader-experience recommendations.
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Clear revision priorities and next steps.
Through this assessment, I help authors understand why their writing works, and how to make it even stronger.
Many authors are then able to revise their manuscript independently and move directly to copyediting, avoiding the need for a more extensive developmental edit.
From $459
COPYEDITING
Your manuscript is carefully refined for clarity, consistency, readability and correctness, while preserving your unique voice and intended meaning. It helps ensure your writing flows naturally, reads professionally and provides your readers with the best possible experience.
May include:
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Correcting grammar, spelling and punctuation
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Improving sentence structure and readability
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Eliminating unnecessary repetition and wordiness
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Improving consistency of terminology, capitalisation, hyphenation and style
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Identifying inconsistencies in names, dates, facts and timelines
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Improving clarity and removing ambiguity where appropriate
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Querying anything that appears confusing, contradictory or incomplete
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Applying your preferred style guide (Australian, UK or US English)
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Ensuring consistency throughout the manuscript
4c per word
PROOFREADING
This final review helps catch the small details that can easily be overlooked before your book goes to print or is released as an eBook.
May include:
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Correcting spelling, grammar and punctuation
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Identifying typographical errors
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Checking for missing, repeated or incorrect words
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Ensuring consistency of capitalisation, hyphenation and formatting
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Checking headings, page numbering and spacing for consistency
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Identifying obvious layout or presentation inconsistencies
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Querying any remaining errors or anomalies
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A final quality check before submission, publication or distribution
1.5-2.5c word
DEVELOPMENTAL &
CONTENT EDITING
A Developmental Edit focuses on the big picture. I'll work directly on your manuscript to strengthen its structure, content and reader journey, helping you shape a clearer, more engaging book.
This may involve:
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reorganising content
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identifying gaps or unnecessary material
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improving logical flow and chapter structure
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refining arguments, themes or narrative development
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strengthening transitions and reader engagement
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reducing repetition
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suggesting rewrites where needed.
Rather than simply identifying issues, I'll make comments and practical suggestions throughout your manuscript so you can clearly see where improvements can be made. I may rewrite selected passages as examples of one possible approach.
Throughout the process, I'll preserve your unique voice while helping your ideas communicate more clearly, cohesively and effectively to your intended readers.
5 cents per word
COMPREHENSIVE EDITING
A comprehensive edit is a 2-in-1 edit, combining copyediting and line editing, for manuscripts that need both technical accuracy and stylistic refinement.
In addition to everything included in a standard copyedit, this service may also include:
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More substantial refinement of sentence flow and expression
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Removal of repetition, wordiness and awkward phrasing
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Greater attention to consistency of tone and style throughout the document
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Improved transitions between ideas where appropriate
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A more detailed review of formatting consistency
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Additional quality-control checks before final delivery
The result is a manuscript that reads smoothly, communicates more effectively and remains true to your unique voice and writing style.
5.5 cents per word
MANUSCRIPT FORMATTING
During editing, I'll ensure your manuscript is a professional, publication-ready file that is well-organised and easy to navigate:
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Applying consistent heading styles
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Standardising fonts, spacing and paragraph styles
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Setting page breaks and section breaks
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Formatting tables, images and captions
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Creating or tidying bulleted and numbered lists
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Formatting front matter (e.g. title page, copyright page, table of contents, acknowledgements)
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Formatting back matter (e.g. appendices, glossary, references, index placeholders)
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Ensuring consistent page numbering and document layout
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Preparing manuscripts for submission to traditional publishers
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Basic preparation for professional book design and publishing
Approx. 10% of editing fee when combined with an editing service.
BUNDLED RATES
Save money by bundling multiple editing services. I'll recommend the most effective combination for your manuscript and budget.
COLLABORATIVE WRITING / GHOSTWRITING
Sometimes editing naturally evolves into writing. Some manuscripts need more than editorial guidance. As we work together, you may decide you'd like help rewriting sections, strengthening your storytelling, expanding ideas or developing new content.
Over the years, some of my editing projects have naturally evolved into collaborative writing partnerships. Depending on your needs, my contribution may range from rewriting selected passages to ghostwriting chapters.
Every project is different, so collaborative writing is quoted individually after we've discussed your manuscript and goals. The need for this may become apparent once I am deep into editing. It may include:
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I ghostwrite new sentences or paragraphs during my editing process, to expand existing material where I feel it is needed. These are examples you are free to keep as is or re-write, or disregard. We work together until we get it right.
or
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I interview you and write new scenes or other content, which you then tweak (collaborative co-writing).
