why is it necessary?

A line edit analyses your manuscript at a line and paragraph level. It focuses on sentence structure, flow, wording, style, and more. The aim with a line edit is to ensure your writing is concise and coherent, while maintaining your individual voice and style. Your manuscript should still feel like it’s your words, even after an editor has worked on it. Whether you choose to have your writing professionally edited or self-edit, a detailed line edit could hugely improve the readability of your manuscript.

A line edit and copy edit go hand-in-hand and there are some aspects of copy editing (such as the flagging of confusing language) that are addressed in line editing (adjusting sentences for coherency, style and word choice). I offer a service which combines the two; there are more details on a line and copy combo edit further down this page.

if you go through with a line edit, this is what you will receive from me

An initial 1000 word free sample edit

A fully edited manuscript using track changes with in-line comments

A separate commentary document detailing changes/suggestions

A line edit involves the following, and more:

– Adjusting sentences for coherency, style and suitability

– Checking for accuracy across points of view and tense

– Highlighting sections that may be unclear or misplaced

– Ensuring dialogue is clear, natural and not awkward-sounding

– Considering the appropriateness of tone and mood for the scene and genre

– Evaluating pacing for flow and emotional impact

– Checking for inconsistencies across the text.

Additionally, I offer multiple revisions. We can go back-and-forth until you are fully satisfied with your manuscript and are ready to move on to the next stage of the editing process.

Finally, I have an open line of communication that lasts beyond the completion of my work with you. If at any point leading up to publication or after, you would like some advice or support — even if you just want someone to be excited about your manuscript and progress with you — please do get in touch. I would love to hear from you!

what you can expect while working with me

Once you have filled out the form below, I will get in touch to arrange a call. We will go over where you’re at with your manuscript and what service(s) you’d like. I offer a free sample edit with a line edit so you can see how I work, I can assess your manuscript, and we can decide if we’re a good fit for each other.

Following that, if you decide to continue working together, I’ll go over your entire manuscript and return it, fully edited, alongside a commentary document. As I offer multiple revisions, you can return it to me with your amendments and we can repeat the process until you are satisfied. If you have any questions about my feedback, don’t hesitate to reach out!

line & copy combo edit

Line edits and copy edits are often combined into one service as they complement each other well. There are various ways to do this — some like to do the technical copy edits while they are doing line edits simultaneously. As I offer multiple revisions of your manuscript, my preferred method is to complete the line edit and, once you are happy with the outcome, do a couple rounds of copy edits. The reason for this is that, while we pass the manuscript back-and-forth during the line edits, we may unknowingly add typos and other errors which I can later address in the copy edit.

I have more information on copy editing below. If you have any questions, please get in touch via the contact form or email me at hanan@hananeditor.com.