Every manuscript is different—and so is the kind of support it needs. I provide thoughtful editing for fiction and nonfiction authors, helping them strengthen their stories, refine their writing, and bring their vision to the page.

I offer editorial assessments, developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, and proofreading, with each service designed to address a different stage or aspect of the editing process.

Whether you're shaping your first draft or polishing a nearly finished manuscript, I offer thoughtful editing that meets you where you are.

Not sure which service is right for you? That's completely normal. You don't need to have it all figured out before you reach out. Tell me about your book, where you are in the writing process, and what you hope to accomplish. I'll help you determine the best fit for your manuscript.

Editorial Assessment

(A Roadmap for Revision)

Not sure what your manuscript needs before investing in a full edit? An editorial assessment provides a comprehensive evaluation of your manuscript, giving you a clear picture of its strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.

You’ll receive:

A comprehensive assessment of your manuscript
An in-depth editorial letter outlining strengths and areas for improvement
Feedback on structure, pacing, organization, character development, clarity, and other elements relevant to your book
Specific, actionable recommendations for revision
Guidance on what type of editing or revision may be most helpful next

What's not included:

Line-by-line editing
Copyediting or proofreading
Rewriting the manuscript
Implementing revisions
A second complete review after revisions

Best for: Authors who want professional guidance before deciding what their manuscript needs next.

Developmental Editing

(Big-picture feedback)

For authors who want to strengthen the foundation of their manuscript.

Developmental editing looks at the big picture: structure, pacing, organization, character development, narrative or argument, clarity, and overall reader experience. I’ll identify what’s working, what could be strengthened, and where revisions can make the greatest difference.

You’ll receive:

One complete developmental review of your manuscript
An in-depth editorial letter with actionable feedback
Comments and recommendations throughout the manuscript
Guidance on structure, pacing, flow, character development, organization, and reader impact
One editorial consultation to discuss the feedback and answer questions

What's not included:

Rewriting the manuscript
Implementing revisions on your behalf
A second complete review after revisions
Line editing, copyediting, or proofreading
Formatting or publication preparation

Additional revision support is available upon request and will be quoted separately.

Line Editing

(Style, voice, and clarity)

For authors who want their prose to be polished, engaging, and compelling while preserving their unique voice.

Line editing focuses on how your writing works at the sentence and paragraph level, improving clarity, rhythm, flow, word choice, and readability without flattening the personality of your writing.

You’ll receive:

One complete line-editing review of your manuscript
Sentence-level edits for clarity, rhythm, and flow
Suggestions for stronger word choice and phrasing
Attention to tone, voice, and consistency
Comments where a sentence, passage, or scene may need further attention

What's not included:

Major structural or developmental revisions
Rewriting the manuscript
A second complete review after revisions
Copyediting or proofreading
Formatting or publication preparation

Copy Editing

(Accuracy and consistency)

For authors whose manuscripts are structurally complete and ready for a detailed check of grammar, mechanics, usage, and consistency.

Copyediting focuses on correctness and consistency while preserving your voice and intended meaning.

You’ll receive:

One complete copyediting review of your manuscript
Corrections to grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntax, and usage
Consistency checks for capitalization, terminology, numbers, hyphenation, and other style elements
Light edits for clarity where needed
Attention to internal consistency and obvious errors

What's not included:

Developmental editing
Extensive rewriting
A second complete review
Proofreading after you make revisions
Formatting or publication preparation

Copyediting and proofreading are different stages of the editorial process. Copyediting addresses correctness and consistency; proofreading is the final check for errors after the manuscript has been edited and formatted.

Proofreading

(Final polish)

For manuscripts that have already been edited and are nearly ready to publish, print, or submit.

Proofreading is the final quality-control stage. I’ll look for remaining typographical, grammatical, punctuation, and consistency errors that may have slipped through earlier stages of editing.

You’ll receive:

One complete proofreading review
Corrections to remaining typos and minor errors
A final check for punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and consistency
Identification of obvious formatting errors or inconsistencies
A polished manuscript ready for its next stage

What's not included:

Developmental editing
Line editing
Copyediting
Rewriting
A second complete review
Major document formatting or typesetting

Additional Manuscript Services

Some authors need more than a single editorial service. Additional services are available upon request and will be quoted separately based on the scope of the project.

These may include:

Implementing editorial revisions
Follow-up manuscript reviews
Additional editorial passes
Manuscript formatting
Table of contents creation
Additional editorial consultations
Other manuscript-preparation needs

If you need something that isn’t listed here, feel free to ask. I’ll let you know whether it’s something I can help with.

A Note About Scope:

Each editing service includes one complete review of the submitted manuscript unless otherwise specified in your project agreement. Additional reviews, revision implementation, consultations, formatting, and other services are available upon request and will be quoted separately.

Working Together

I know that sharing your writing with an editor can feel like a big step. My goal is to make the process encouraging, thoughtful, and collaborative. I’ll provide honest, constructive feedback while respecting the voice, vision, and hard work behind every manuscript.

Every project begins with a conversation about your book and what you hope to accomplish. From there, I’ll recommend the editorial approach that best fits your manuscript and provide a clear project scope before we begin.

What Authors Say

“Without question, S.E. made my year. I deeply appreciate the hard work and dedication she put into my manuscript, as well as her thoughtful feedback. It truly reminded me why I write.”
— M.C., Author

“Wow, I’m so impressed with all S.E. did. It was much more than I expected, and her impressions of the material were exactly what I was hoping to achieve with readers, which is very encouraging.”
— B.S., Author

Rates & Inquiries

Every manuscript is unique, so projects are individually quoted based on manuscript length, the type of editing needed, the condition of the manuscript, and the scope of the project.

I don’t publish a standard price list because I want your quote to reflect the actual needs of your manuscript.

Ready to talk about your book? Complete my project questionnaire, and I’ll review the information you provide and follow up with a recommended service, project scope, and personalized quote.

📝 Request a Quote

💼 Connect with me on LinkedIn

📩 hello.barefootedits@gmail.com