Editing
Professional Book Editing Services
Your manuscript, read closely by an editor who works on books for a living. Choose the depth of edit you need and pay by word count — no hourly estimates, no surprises.
At a glance
- Price
- Quoted per book
- Turnaround
- 3–18 business days depending on depth and word count
- Priced by
- Manuscript word count
You receive
- Edited manuscript with tracked changes (.docx)
- Clean copy with all changes accepted (.docx)
- Editorial summary covering recurring issues and patterns
- Style sheet recording spellings, names and formatting decisions
What this service actually does
Editing is the difference between a manuscript that reads like a draft and one that reads like a book. We offer three depths of edit, and the right one depends on how finished your writing already is.
Every edit is returned as a tracked-changes document plus a short editorial summary, so you can see exactly what changed and why. You accept or reject every single change — the manuscript stays yours.
Right for you if…
- You have completed a full draft and revised it at least once
- You want a professional read before querying agents or self-publishing
- You need clean copy before formatting and Amazon KDP upload
Choose your depth
Which edit does your manuscript need?
Each level includes everything in the one before it. If you are unsure, send us a sample and we will tell you honestly.
Proofreading
The final check before publication.
A last pass for spelling, punctuation, grammar and typographical errors. Proofreading assumes the writing itself is settled — we are catching what survived earlier drafts, not reshaping sentences.
Includes
- Spelling, punctuation and grammar
- Typos and doubled words
- Consistency of names, places and capitalisation
- Basic formatting inconsistencies
Priced per manuscript, from 0 words upwards. Send us your word count and we will quote it.
Ask about ProofreadingCopy Editing
Correctness, consistency and clarity, sentence by sentence.
Everything proofreading covers, plus sentence-level repair: awkward phrasing, tense slips, repetition, unclear pronouns and factual inconsistencies. This is the edit most completed manuscripts actually need.
Includes
- Everything in proofreading
- Sentence structure and awkward phrasing
- Tense, voice and point-of-view consistency
- Repetition and redundancy
- Continuity errors in names, timelines and details
- Style sheet for your book
Priced per manuscript, from 0 words upwards. Send us your word count and we will quote it.
Ask about Copy EditingLine Editing
Rhythm, voice and impact, line by line.
A close creative edit focused on how your prose reads: pacing within scenes, word choice, sentence rhythm, dialogue that lands, and passages where the writing is working against the story. Line editing changes how the book feels to read.
Includes
- Everything in copy editing
- Sentence rhythm and paragraph flow
- Word choice and tone
- Dialogue naturalness
- Tightening overwritten passages
- Margin notes explaining substantial changes
Priced per manuscript, from 0 words upwards. Send us your word count and we will quote it.
Ask about Line EditingDevelopmental Editing
Structure, plot and argument at the whole-book level.
A full structural assessment: what the book is doing, where it loses the reader, and what has to change. Delivered as an editorial report with chapter-level notes rather than tracked changes. Priced individually because scope varies enormously.
Includes
- Full editorial report
- Chapter-by-chapter notes
- Structure, pacing and arc analysis
- Character or argument development notes
- Concrete revision plan
Priced individually. Early drafts, or a finished book that is not working and you cannot say why.
Ask about Developmental EditingHow it runs
How book editing works
No mystery, no waiting in the dark. You deal with the specialist doing the work, by email or WhatsApp, for as long as the project runs.
- 01
Send your manuscript
Upload your file and tell us the edit depth you want. If you are unsure, ask — we will tell you honestly which one your manuscript needs.
- 02
Assigned to an editor
We match your book to an editor who works in your genre and category.
- 03
The edit
Two passes: one for substance, one for consistency and detail against your style sheet.
- 04
Delivery and review
You receive tracked changes, clean copy, the summary and the style sheet. Ask the editor anything on your order page.
Questions
Book Editing questions
The things authors ask us most about this service.
Which type of editing does my manuscript need?
If you have revised it and want it correct, choose copy editing. If it is already edited and you want a final safety net, choose proofreading. If you want the prose itself to read better, choose line editing. If you are not sure the structure works, start with developmental editing. Send us a sample and we will tell you honestly.
Will editing change my voice?
No. Every change arrives as a tracked change you can reject. Our editors work to preserve how you write while fixing what is genuinely wrong. Voice is the thing we are most careful with.
How is the price calculated?
By word count and edit depth. Choose your service, enter your word count, and the exact price is shown before you pay. Manuscripts above 80,000 words are quoted individually so the price reflects the real work.
What file formats do you accept?
Microsoft Word (.docx) is preferred because tracked changes work properly. We also accept .doc, .rtf and Google Docs links.
Is my manuscript kept confidential?
Yes. Files are stored privately, access is restricted to the editor assigned to your project, and download links are short-lived. We do not share, publish or reuse any part of your manuscript.
After this
What usually comes next
Each of these is a separate order, placed whenever you are ready — not a bundle you commit to now.
Beta Reading
Honest feedback from real readers, before you publish.
Learn moreBook Formatting
Clean, reader-friendly formatting for print and eBook.
Learn moreBook Cover Design
Stunning, genre-specific covers that sell your book.
Learn more
Not a standard job?
Need something custom?
Every book is different. Tell us what you need — length, genre, deadline, anything unusual — and we will send you a fixed quote with a fixed delivery date. Accept it and pay in one click, or ignore it entirely. No pressure, no obligation.
Or talk to us first
+1 (501) 477-0429WhatsApp — usually fastestagencymarlowe@gmail.comWe reply within one business day.Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (EST)