A line edit typically follows a developmental edit and focuses on improving sentence-level style. This level of edit is designed to make your story more readable and engaging with the main goal of keeping your reader’s eyes glued on the page. It ultimately strives for helping you achieve that unputdownable book you dream of publishing.
During a line edit, I focus on the following things:
- Flow
You want your words to flow smoothly across the page because it makes your story easier to understand and more enticing for readers to read. Sentences that are too short—or too long—can interrupt that flow, so your line editor will work to create the perfect rhythm for your story. In this way, your manuscript is like a symphony, and all the elements must work together to read beautifully. Line editors also work with wordy sentences, awkward/confusing phrasing, and active voice to ensure your narrative flows well. - Sensory Details
This is simply another way to say “show vs. tell.” There are some instances that telling details in a story work well, but you don’t want your entire story to be written that way. Adding sensory details, action, and dialogue that builds the important parts of your story will keep your readers on the page longer because they can picture themselves in your story world. - Chapter Beginnings
The beginning of each chapter must pull your readers into the scene, so you need an exciting hook that gets that ball rolling. It doesn’t always need to jaw-dropping or the most interesting story detail you can think of, but it should grab the reader’s attention and keep them in your book for as long as possible. It works together with your previous chapter’s ending to create that perfect unputdownable rhythm. - Chapter Endings
Think of your chapter ending as a mini-cliffhanger. It punctuates the scene with something bold and exciting, and it should keep your reader from closing the book. It doesn’t need to be a super shocking plot twist, but it should give some hint as to what’s about to happen next.
What You Get with a Line Edit
- Professional read of your manuscript
- Analysis, feedback, and improvements on various elements of your writing style
- Show vs. tell score
- Chapter beginning workshop for each chapter
- Chapter ending workshop for each chapter
- Passive vs. active voice score
- Dialogue editing for engagement and distinctive character speech patterns
- Editorial comments throughout the manuscript that contributes to your future development as an author and revisions of your story
- Overview of your next steps
Pricing for Line Editing
Project fees range between $1,000 and $3,000, depending on word count and how much work the manuscript needs.
To get started today, email us at tina@writethecrime.com or book a call with us.