Which level of editing does my book need?
That is exactly what the free assessment answers. Broadly: if you are unsure whether the story works, you need developmental editing. If the story works but the prose feels flat, you need line editing. If it reads well but you are worried about errors, you need copy editing and a proofread. Many manuscripts that have already been through beta readers and a few drafts need only the last two — and we will tell you that rather than sell you all four.
Will editing change my writing style?
No. Our editors are trained to strengthen your voice, not replace it with theirs. Every change arrives as a tracked suggestion you can reject with one click, stylistic preferences are agreed before work starts, and if you want to keep a deliberate sentence fragment or an unconventional rhythm, you say so and it stays. If an edit ever comes back reading like someone else wrote it, that is a failure on our part and we will redo it.
How much does book editing cost?
It depends on length and which levels the manuscript needs, so we quote per project rather than publishing a rate that would be wrong for most books. Editing is also bundled into our publishing plans — the Classic plan at £999 includes an editorial evaluation, and the Signature plan at £2,199 includes a full edit alongside design, distribution and a video trailer. The assessment and quote are free and carry no obligation.
How long does professional editing take?
A typical 70,000 to 90,000 word manuscript takes two to four weeks per pass. Where several levels are combined they run back-to-back with your review time in between, so a full developmental-plus-line-plus-copy journey usually spans eight to twelve weeks. You get exact dates in writing before we begin, and if you have a hard deadline, say so early and we will tell you honestly whether it is achievable.
Do you edit in UK or US English?
Both, and we apply whichever you choose consistently across spelling, punctuation, date formats and quotation style. UK English is our default. If you are publishing on both sides of the Atlantic we will discuss whether a single consistent variant or two separate editions serves you better — for most independent authors, one consistent variant is the right call.
What file formats do you work with?
Microsoft Word with tracked changes is the standard and what we recommend, and we also work in Google Docs. If your manuscript currently lives in Scrivener, Pages, PDF or even typed pages, send it as it is — converting it cleanly into an editable file is part of the service, not an extra.
Can you edit a book not originally written in English?
Yes, and we do it regularly. Translated and second-language manuscripts get an editor experienced in smoothing phrasing into natural, idiomatic English without flattening the cultural texture that makes the book distinctive. Where a phrase does not carry across, we flag it and ask you rather than guessing.
Do you use AI to edit manuscripts?
Your manuscript is edited by a named human editor. Software has its place for mechanical consistency checks — catching a character whose eyes change colour, or a hyphenation pattern that drifts — but every judgement about your prose, structure and voice is made by a person who has read the whole book. Your manuscript is never used to train anything.
Edited to trade standard
