Line
Editing.
For writers who need to strengthen the writing itself without losing the voice that made the story theirs.
Line editing works at the sentence and paragraph level to refine the language carrying your story. It examines how your prose reads, sounds, moves, and lands so that the writing is clearer, sharper, and more effective.
Maybe your sentences feel clunky or repetitive. Dialogue isn't landing naturally. Paragraphs move too slowly, the prose feels over-written, or the rhythm keeps interrupting the reader's experience.
Rather than applying a generic set of corrections, I work within the manuscript to understand what your writing is trying to accomplish and reshape the areas that are getting in its way.
I look at why the writing is not working, not simply what is technically wrong. The goal is stronger prose, not a manuscript covered in arbitrary edits.
The goal is not to make your prose sound polished but interchangeable. Edits are made with your voice, tone, genre, and creative intentions at the center.
Line-level choices affect character, emotion, pacing, atmosphere, and reader connection. I consider how the prose functions within the larger story rather than treating sentences in isolation.
Make sentences and paragraphs easier to follow without flattening your voice or style.
Punch up weak language, reshape awkward passages, and make the prose carry more impact.
Improve rhythm, flow, word choice, and consistency so the writing creates a stronger reading experience.
Every manuscript needs something different. I'll focus on the areas that will make the greatest difference to the way your writing reads and feels.
- 01Sentence structure
- 02Clarity & readability
- 03Prose flow
- 04Sentence rhythm & cadence
- 05Paragraph structure
- 06Word choice & precision
- 07Repetition & clutter
- 08Awkward or clunky phrasing
- 09Dialogue
- 10Dialogue flow & rhythm
- 11Pacing at the sentence level
- 12Transitions
- 13Tone & consistency
- 14Voice & style
- 15Imagery & description
- 16Show vs. tell
How much support does your manuscript need?
Start with one complete line editing pass, or continue through additional rounds as you revise and refine the manuscript.
One-Pass Line Edit
CoreOne complete line editing pass followed by an editorial consultation.
Two-Pass Line Edit
The initial line editing pass and consultation, followed by a second pass after you have implemented your revisions.
Three-Pass Line Edit
The initial line editing pass and consultation, followed by two additional passes as you revise and refine the manuscript.
Each additional pass gives us the opportunity to evaluate how your revisions have affected the prose, identify what still needs attention, and continue refining the manuscript.
Every engagement is crafted by hand, by one editor, for your story alone.
No templates. No recycled notes. No AI.
What the edit
may address.
The line edit examines your prose through the lens of your goals, focusing on the elements that shape the way your writing reads and feels. Not every element will require the same depth of work, but every element is examined.
Your feedback will be delivered as an annotated manuscript with inline line edits and revisions on the page itself, showing you the craft behind every change. The edit is accompanied by notes explaining the patterns and principles behind the revisions.
The
process.
A complete service from inquiry through revision. Seven steps, one purpose: to understand your prose, identify what it needs, and give you the line-level solutions to make it stronger.
Tell Me About Your Project
Start by submitting an inquiry with your manuscript word count and approximate page count, genre, a 1–5 sentence summary of the book, and the prose-level challenges you are currently experiencing — flow, sentence structure, dialogue, run-on sentences, pacing of paragraphs and sentences, and any other concerns from your standpoint. This gives me an initial understanding of both the manuscript and where you feel it needs the most support.
Initial Consultation
We will meet to talk through the project in greater depth. You will share more details about the manuscript, the struggles you are encountering, and what you feel the writing needs in order to move forward. This also gives us the opportunity to establish the goals for the edit and make sure we are a good fit to work together.
Manuscript & NDA
Based on the goals we set during the consultation, you will send your manuscript. An NDA will be signed before I begin working on your manuscript, ensuring your work is protected and the terms of the engagement are clear.
Line Edit
I will review the manuscript and begin editing — punching up sentences, removing paragraphs where needed, and generally reshaping in-depth the areas that are hindering the story based on the goals we established together. The edit happens on the page itself, with inline revisions and notes that show you the craft behind every change.
Review Your Edit
Once the line edit is complete, I will send it over for your review. You will have time to read through the revisions, process the changes, and begin thinking through how you want to approach your own revisions.
Editorial Consultation
We will meet to discuss the edit together. This gives you the opportunity to ask questions, talk through specific revisions, clarify anything that may be unclear, and make sure you understand the reasoning behind the changes before you begin revising.
Revise & Implement
You will take the edited manuscript and use it to revise and implement the changes in the direction that best serves your writing and your vision. You then have the option to add on two more passes as part of the package, or go with the single pass — depending on how much additional support the manuscript needs.
The process is collaborative. After the line edit is delivered, we discuss the revisions together before you begin implementing — so the changes serve your voice, not someone else’s style.
Choose your
editing depth.
Each additional pass gives us the opportunity to evaluate how the revisions have affected the prose and identify what still needs attention. Choose the level of support that fits where your manuscript is right now.
One-Pass Line Edit
One complete line editing pass followed by an editorial consultation.
Two-Pass Line Edit
The initial line editing pass and consultation, followed by a second pass after you have implemented your revisions.
Three-Pass Line Edit
The initial line editing pass and consultation, followed by two additional passes as you revise and refine the manuscript.
Every engagement is crafted by hand, by one editor, for your prose alone. No templates. No recycled notes. No AI.
Submit Your ManuscriptCommon
questions.
Still have questions? Reach out directly — you will hear back, personally, within one business day.
Ask a QuestionLine editing works at the sentence and paragraph level — prose craft, rhythm, word choice, voice. It asks: is this sentence written as well as it can be? Developmental editing examines the big picture — structure, character arcs, plot logic, pacing, and theme. Developmental editing comes first; line editing comes after the structure is sound. Polishing sentences on a broken foundation is wasted work.
Ready to refine
your prose?
Submit your manuscript for a line edit, or reach out to discuss whether this is the right service for where your prose is right now. You will hear back, personally, within one business day. No chatbots. No junior pass-off.
Story Consultant and Editor · Human-Only · © 2026