Services & pricing
A full editorial toolkit,
tailored to your story.
From shaping a first draft to polishing a final manuscript, every service is designed to meet your story where it is and move it closer to the version you want readers to hold in their hands.
Understanding the levels
Where does your
manuscript stand?
Editing happens in layers. Most manuscripts move through them in order — from the broadest strokes of story shape, down to the smallest typo before publication.
Still not sure?
Send the first few pages and I’ll point you to the right level at no cost.
Request a Free Sample Edit01 Story level
Developmental
Editing
The architecture of your story, examined and shaped from the inside out.
What it is
A big picture evaluation of your manuscript focused on the bones of the story: plot structure, pacing, character arcs, emotional payoff, narrative logic, and overall cohesion. I read with an eye toward what’s working, what’s missing, and where the story might be asking for more from you. Developmental editing is the deepest, most immersive level of editing — the place where the story itself is still being shaped.
What you receive
- An editorial letter of three to ten pages addressing structure, pacing, characters, themes, and revision priorities.
- Inline comments throughout your manuscript flagging scenes, beats, and moments that support or undercut the story.
- A revision roadmap with prioritized suggestions so you know exactly where to start and what to tackle first.
- Honest, supportive feedback in a tone that respects both you and the work you’ve already done.
How I work
I read your manuscript end to end before writing a single comment, so my feedback reflects the whole arc rather than first impressions. I pay close attention to genre expectations — what romance, mystery, or paranormal readers come for — and weigh every suggestion against your story’s own intentions. My goal is never to rewrite your book in my own voice. It’s to help you tell the story you set out to tell, more clearly and confidently than before.
02 Sentence level
Line
Editing
The rhythm beneath your prose, refined sentence by sentence.
What it is
Sentence level refinement focused on the music of your prose: voice, tone, clarity, rhythm, pacing, word choice, and flow. Line editing is where the writing itself gets sharper. I look for sentences that work harder than they need to, paragraphs that lose momentum, dialogue that doesn’t quite land, and places where your unique voice is being softened by phrasing it doesn’t need.
Not the same as copy editing
A common mix up worth clearing up: line editing is about the art of the prose, while copy editing is about correctness. A line edit asks whether a sentence sings. A copy edit asks whether it’s grammatically right. Most manuscripts benefit from both, and they happen in that order — line first, copy second.
What you receive
- Inline edits and suggestions throughout your manuscript using tracked changes, so every revision is visible and easy to accept, reject, or refine.
- Margin comments explaining the why behind larger stylistic suggestions and offering options when a sentence could go in more than one direction.
- A short editorial summary at the end noting recurring stylistic patterns to watch for in future drafts.
- Consistency tracking for voice, tense, point of view, and tone across the full manuscript.
How I work
Line editing is the place where I’m most cautious not to overwrite your voice. My job is to polish, not replace. When I suggest changes, I aim to make them light enough that the page still sounds like you — only clearer, tighter, and more confident. For romance specifically, I pay close attention to the rhythm of emotional beats and the cadence of intimate scenes, where pacing matters as much as word choice.
03 Mechanics level
Copy
Editing
Clean, correct, and consistent across every page.
What it is
A thorough, sentence by sentence pass for grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntax, and usage, paired with a consistency review across the full manuscript. Copy editing is where the mechanics of the prose are checked against an editorial standard so your story reads smoothly and professionally without small errors pulling readers out of the moment.
What it covers
- Grammar and syntax — subject verb agreement, tense consistency, sentence construction, modifier placement.
- Punctuation — commas, semicolons, em dashes, ellipses, quotation marks, and dialogue formatting.
- Spelling and word usage — including frequently confused pairs (lay vs lie, that vs which, further vs farther).
- Style consistency — hyphenation choices, number formatting, italics, capitalization, and treatment of invented or genre specific terms.
- Continuity checks — character names, hair and eye color, timeline, ages, place names, and other small details that drift over the course of a long manuscript.
Style guide & preferences
I work to the Chicago Manual of Style by default, with Merriam Webster as the primary dictionary, which is the standard for U.S. fiction publishing. If you have a different preference, a series style sheet you’ve already established, or an author quirk you want preserved, I’ll honor it. Every project ends with a personalized style sheet you can use to keep future books in the series consistent.
What you receive
- A fully marked manuscript with tracked changes for every correction and margin notes where a choice could go more than one way.
- A custom style sheet documenting character names, world specific terms, formatting choices, and any unique conventions your manuscript uses.
- A short closing note flagging patterns to watch in future drafts and answering any open questions.
04 Final pass
Proofreading
The last set of eyes before your manuscript meets its readers.
What it is
A meticulous final sweep of an already edited manuscript, hunting for the small things that almost made it through: typos, missed punctuation, doubled words, stray formatting, and the kinds of errors that hide in plain sight after you’ve read your own pages dozens of times. Proofreading is the last quality check before your book reaches its readers, and it’s the most important pass for protecting all the work that came before it.
Why it’s a separate step
By the time a manuscript reaches proofreading, the author and the editor have both read it many times. Familiar pages stop reading like new text and start reading like memory, which is exactly when small errors slip through. A proofreader comes to the manuscript cold and rested, with no investment in the prior decisions, which is what allows the missed details to finally surface.
What it covers
- Typos and spelling errors that slipped through earlier passes.
- Missed or doubled punctuation, stray commas, unmatched quotation marks.
- Repeated or dropped words, especially across line and page breaks.
- Formatting inconsistencies — spacing, indentation, chapter breaks, scene dividers, and italics.
- Final consistency check on names, dates, and details that may have shifted in late revisions.
- Layout review if you send a typeset proof, catching widow lines, awkward page breaks, and stray spacing.
How I work
Proofreading is the one stage where I work most slowly and least creatively. The job is to catch, not to revise. I read at a deliberate pace and don’t make substantive changes unless they’re unmistakably errors. If something feels off but isn’t technically wrong, I flag it as a margin note rather than a correction, so you can decide.
Additional services
Beyond the edit,
everything else your launch needs.
Two finishing services that pair beautifully with editing — or stand on their own when you already have an editor and need a hand with the last steps.
05 Post edit
Manuscript Formatting
A clean, professional interior layout for both print and eBook.
Once your manuscript is edited and ready, formatting is what turns it into a finished book. I prepare print ready and eBook ready interior layouts with proper typography, scene breaks, chapter openers, headers, and pagination — designed to read smoothly on Kindle, Apple Books, paperback, and hardback alike.
What’s included
- Print interior (PDF) sized for KDP, IngramSpark, or your preferred POD service
- Reflowable eBook file (ePub) compatible with all major retailers
- Custom chapter headers, scene breaks, and front and back matter
- Drop caps, ornaments, or stylistic touches on request
- One round of revisions after your review
06 Launch copy
Back Cover Blurbs
A genre savvy hook for your back cover and sales page.
Your blurb is the single most important piece of marketing copy you’ll ever write for your book — and it’s also the hardest to write about your own work. I craft blurbs that hook readers, honor your genre’s conventions, and reveal just enough to convert a browser into a buyer, without spoiling the story.
What you receive
- A polished blurb of 100 to 200 words for back cover or sales page
- A short tagline or hook line you can use across marketing
- Two rounds of revisions to fine tune voice and emphasis
- A brief from me on the blurb’s structure and the reader it’s written for
- Optional adaptation for Amazon, BookBub, or newsletter copy
Save with bundled services
Combine services for a
reduced rate.
Pair two or more services for a personalized quote that fits your manuscript, your timeline, and your budget. Below are three popular combinations — or build your own.
Bundle 01
The Publication Ready Pair
For polished drafts heading into the final stretch.
Includes
- Copy editing of the full manuscript
- Proofreading after your revisions
- Custom style sheet for series consistency
- One rush turnaround option available
Bundled rate saves 10–15% over individual pricing.
Request a QuoteBundle 02
The Full Creative Edit
For manuscripts that need shaping and polish from end to end.
Includes
- Developmental editing with editorial letter
- Line editing after your structural revisions
- Copy editing once the prose is settled
- Custom style sheet at completion
- Priority scheduling across all three passes
Bundled rate saves 15–20% over individual pricing.
Request a QuoteBundle 03
The Launch Ready Package
For authors taking a manuscript all the way to release.
Includes
- Copy editing and proofreading
- Print and eBook formatting
- Back cover blurb and tagline
- Optional Amazon and BookBub blurb adaptations
Bundled rate saves 10–15% over individual pricing.
Request a QuoteDon’t see your combination? Tell me what your manuscript needs and I’ll put together a custom quote.
Build a Custom BundleFrequently asked
Questions before we begin.
Common questions about how I work, what to expect, and what makes editing with Heart & Quill different.
About the work
What genres do you specialize in?
I specialize in all subgenres of romance — contemporary, historical, paranormal, romantic suspense, dark romance, and everything from sweet and clean to steamy and explicit. Outside of romance, I also edit cozy mysteries, paranormal fiction, suspense, and select contemporary fiction.
If you’re writing in an adjacent genre and not sure whether we’re a fit, send me a few pages. I’m happy to be honest about whether your manuscript is in my wheelhouse.
Do you edit steamy, dark, or explicit content?
Yes — all heat levels are welcome here, from closed door to explicit. I’m comfortable with dark romance, intense psychological dynamics, morally gray characters, and the full range of romantic suspense.
The one thing I ask is that the content treats its characters and its readers thoughtfully. Subject matter doesn’t scare me; carelessness does.
Do you use AI tools in your editing?
No. Every edit is done by me, by hand, with the care and nuance your manuscript deserves. I don’t run manuscripts through AI editors, paraphrasers, or rewriting tools at any stage of the work.
The only tools I use are the standard ones a human editor uses: tracked changes, a good dictionary, a style guide, and a careful reading.
Will you change my voice?
Never on purpose. My job is to preserve your voice, not replace it. When I suggest changes, I aim to keep the page sounding like you — only clearer, tighter, and more confident than before.
If a suggestion ever feels like it’s pulling your voice in a direction you don’t want, push back. Editing is a collaboration, and the final call is always yours.
Logistics & timing
How much do you charge?
Rates vary by manuscript length, the level of editing required, and your timeline. As a general starting point:
Developmental editing from $0.03 per word. Line editing from $0.03 per word. Copy editing from $0.02 per word. Proofreading from $0.01 per word. Back cover blurbs at a flat $300. Formatting by custom quote.
Bundles combining two or more services receive a reduced per word rate. Every project gets a personalized quote after I’ve seen a sample of the manuscript.
What’s your typical turnaround time?
Turnaround depends on length and scope, but here’s a general guide:
Developmental editing: 3 to 5 weeks. Line editing: 2 to 4 weeks. Copy editing: 2 to 3 weeks. Proofreading: 1 to 2 weeks. Blurbs: typically within 1 week.
Rush turnarounds may be available for an additional fee — ask when you reach out.
Do you offer free sample edits?
Yes. I offer a free sample edit of up to 500 words for every new client, so you can see exactly how I work before committing to a full project. It’s the best way to know whether we’re a good fit.
What does the booking process look like?
The usual flow looks like this:
1. You reach out through the contact form with a few details about your manuscript and what you’re looking for. 2. I send a free sample edit and a personalized quote within 1 to 2 business days. 3. If we’re a fit, you sign a simple contract and pay a 25% deposit to reserve your spot in my schedule. 4. I edit your manuscript on the agreed timeline and return it with everything described in the service deliverables. 5. Final payment is due on completion.
Working together
What file format should I send my manuscript in?
Microsoft Word (.docx) is the standard for all editing work, and what I’ll return your manuscript in with tracked changes enabled.
For proofreading, I can also work directly on a PDF proof if you’ve already typeset for print. For formatting, you’ll send a clean Word file and receive print ready PDF and ePub files back.
How do payments work?
A 25% deposit reserves your spot in my schedule and confirms the project. The remaining balance is due on completion, before final files are delivered.
For larger projects, I’m happy to split the balance into milestone payments. Just ask when you reach out.
Is my manuscript kept confidential?
Absolutely. Your manuscript is treated as completely confidential from the moment it arrives. I don’t share, quote, or discuss client work publicly without explicit written permission, and any portfolio listings happen only after your book is published and only with your okay.
What if I have a question that isn’t answered here?
Just send a note through the contact form and ask. I read every inquiry myself and reply within 1 to 2 business days. No question is too small.
English