Line Editing Services

Punch up your manuscript one line at a time.

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Editing Services Quote (04.27.2024)

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Halfway through the Roaring Twenties, F. Scott Fitzgerald finished the rough draft of his next novel, Trimalchio in West Egg. He mailed his manuscript to his trusted editor, Maxwell Perkins, and the two would exchange letters sharing praise over the book’s astounding storytelling, and concern over its title.

Unable to pick a name for his baby, Fitzgerald’s list of potential titles kept growing. This continued until Perkins (with support from Zelda, Scott’s wife) convinced him to choose a more reader-friendly title. One month later, The Great Gatsby was born.

Behind every great author is a great editor—someone whose judgment you can trust, even when you’re not sure yourself. Line editors provide the critical eye that elevates your book to its peak, and BookBaby is here to pair you with a trusted professional. Whether you're looking for copy editing, or structural editing, our professionals are here to help elevate your work.

Trimalchio in West Egg. Under the Red, White and Blue. Gold-Hatted Gatsby. The High-Bouncing Lover. The Great Gatsby.

What’s Line Editing?

Line editing concentrates on your story’s creative elements, like the writing style and language usage in each sentence (or every line). While your line editor will also catch simple grammar errors, the main focal points are:

Run-on sentences and unnecessary/overused words
Information redundancies
Shifts in tone
Unnatural/inconsistent phrasing
Confusing narrative and character dialogue
Pacing improvements
Overall story communication

Download proofreading sample (Microsoft Word doc).

Line Editing vs. Copy Editing

While copy editing combs through every sentence, word, letter, and punctuation mark to look for errors, line editing takes a more holistic approach. Your line editor will answer these key questions when examining your manuscript’s writing:

Is your language clear, fluid, and pleasurable to read?
Do you convey a sense of atmosphere, emotion, and tone?
Do your words convey a precise meaning, or are you using broad generalizations and clichés?

Want more explanation about our different editing services? Check out this BookBaby blog post.

What do Line Editing services include?

Your line editor will uncover improvement opportunities throughout your manuscript. Along with suggesting different words, phrases, and ideas that can clarify or enhance your book, your line editor will review these elements:

Correcting awkward writing constructions
Eliminating redundancy to tighten up sentences
Reviewing key manuscript aspects—narrative, vocabulary, structure, characterization, style, and development
Editor's notes, suggestions, and overall comments

I used the Editing Services for my eBook. I chose Line Editing, which was perfect for me. I found the comments and the editor’s notes to be very valuable. I understood where the changes needed to be made, in addition, it was nice to find out that I was on course with my work.

Kim, BookBaby author

How BookBaby’s editing process works

1. Choose the book editing service you need.

Select Line Editing from the menu.

2. Upload your Word document.

You don’t have to place a book order to take advantage of our book editing services. All you need is your finished manuscript to get things started.

3. Get your professionally edited manuscript in 8-10 days.

Review your fully proofed manuscript along with your editor’s notes.

Edit your book

More to discover:

What is the difference between copy editing and line editing

Copy editing is a basic word-by-word edit that addresses grammar, usage, and consistency issues. Your copyeditor will correct continuity issues in your story and ensure your manuscript is free of technical problems or major loose ends that’ll confuse your readers.

Line editing is an intensive structural edit that focuses on the finer aspects of language—the flow of ideas, transition elements, tone, and style. Your line editor will take a critical look at your manuscript’s writing flow, language usage, and character development, and make suggestions that ensure that you’re communicating your story effectively while maintaining your voice. Read More