Bring your project from seedling to full-grown flora with the thoughtful “pruning” of editing services.
In the life cycle of a writing project, we have first the outline—the idea stage, and when structure is sketched out. Next is a first draft where the ideas are there but not necessarily fleshed out where we want, or perhaps too fleshed out in tangential ways. The paragraphs still need to be situated and the structure is still a moveable piece. Your own patient, diligent work (with or without a developmental editor cheering you on) can see these stages through. The next step is where I come in!
Line Editing
Put more order into your writing by reworking paragraphs and sentences to improve flow and clarity. This step includes more substantive review on a manuscript’s sentence structure and phrasing to ensure it clearly conveys your expertise.
Do you have a manuscript that is close to ready but still seems to have something missing? In this level of editing, I strengthen at the sentence level and make suggestions to guide the writing closer to meeting your goals. Get more hands-on support to reduce awkward phrases or misplaced sentences that slow the flow of ideas.
Line editing is considered a deeper level than a copyedit when you may be too immersed in the project to step back and see it from the reader’s perspective. I provide direct interventions and ideas to fully develop your voice in the project.
Natalie was my go-to freelancer for a long, complicated English language arts project. She mastered the complex guidelines with ease, and simply put, her writing was unparalleled. Her strong work made the project go more smoothly and earned praise from the client. Overall, Natalie is smart, talented, reliable, conscientious, and easy to work with. I would not hesitate to work with her again, and you shouldn’t either. —Jessica Rzepka, textbook project manager
Copyediting
Copyediting includes a full review of the mechanics of your writing, such as spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation.
I check for consistent formatting and content throughout the project, such as matching headings or consistent character details. This stage also includes flagging unclear sentence structure and awkward phrases. As part of my approach, I work lightly to ensure I preserve your authentic voice, and I incorporate conscious language principles so that readers feel included and respected throughout.
Are you looking for a grammar-conscious review now that you’ve nailed down your draft? This stage makes sure that the writing is clear and correct so that your ideas shine through.
What I appreciated the most was that she preserved my voice in my manuscript, rather than taking apart the character to fix mechanical issues that were also acceptable. —Amanda B., independent writer
Proofreading
This is the final step in polishing your manuscript before publishing. It includes basic checks for grammar, spelling, capitalization, and typographical errors. Anything that would irk the eye of a reader, such as poor spacing or improper hyphenation, may be addressed at this stage to make sure that you have a polished piece of writing.
The proofreading was very meticulous and specific, even adding suggestions about correct language adjustments to ADA preferences. . . . I also really appreciated her prompt attention and follow through ensuring that I felt clear on the edits. Thank you, Natalie. —Cecilia P., business owner and writer
A note on process
A typical line or copyediting pass for nonfiction writing is made in Microsoft Word, while proofreading refers to a final pass in Adobe Acrobat pdf. I most often use The Chicago Manual of Style, but I also follow APA, AP, and personalized style guides according to the project.
Natalie was highly professional, detailed, and speedy with her proofreading and feedback. I appreciated her thoughtfulness. For example, she identified one example in the manuscript that was not gender-neutral enough. It was a helpful catch. —Gregory C., independent writer
Not sure where your project falls in these categories? Just ask! Email NatalieRothEditor@gmail.com with details about your project and any questions. You could be one step closer to the final project you envision.
