​Full line and copyedit – who it’s for

You’ve nailed your story and are happy with the structure. Now it’s time to focus on readability so that your readers want to stay on the page and immerse themselves in your prose.

A line- and copyedit corrects and smooths artfully but invisibly. Retaining the integrity of your style and narrative voice will be key. So will ensuring that your writing flows well and that any distractions are removed.
PRICE: Subject to review of a sample
FORMAT: Microsoft Word doc

​What you get

1. A full line-by-line edit

I'll edit your novel line by line, word by word. Front of my mind will be clarity and flow. I'll address the following:
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  • Chapter sequencing
  • Character-trait consistency
  • Cliché and awkward metaphor
  • Dialogue expression: particularly authenticity of phrasing and word choice in relation to character voice, mood and intention
  • Effectiveness of sentence-level narration, including an assessment of word choice, repetition and overwriting, especially in action and suspense scenes
  • Effectiveness of suspense and thrill points
  • Layout guidance
  • Letter, word, line and paragraph spacing​
  • Problematic representation, stereotyping and othering
  • Sentence pace, rhythm and flow, and whether it reflects the setting and mood of a scene 
  • Speech tagging and punctuation
  • Spelling, grammar, syntax, punctuation, hyphenation and capitalization
  • Standard document formatting using Word’s styles palette: indentation, paragraph style, section breaks
  • Told versus shown prose
  • Use of tenses
  • Verb use, especially to create tension and suspense
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​2. An editorial report and style sheet

  • My extensive report details my observations while editing your book.
  • The style sheet records decisions about hyphenation, numbering, capitalization, spelling variation, punctuation style and idiom usage so that we can bring common-sense consistency to your writing.

Andy Maslen, bestselling crime author

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Cooking for Cannibals is a better book because of your careful, professional edit. And I'm a better writer. I can’t think of a higher compliment. But that’s the truth of it ... I'm a better writer because you edited my book.​

RICH LEDER, NOVELIST & SCREENWRITER

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Andy Maslen, bestselling crime author

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The most wonderful thing of all was the way she kept my voice intact. ... Louise is the bright light that guides us to our end goal: to be a published author.

DARE ROGERS, CRIME THRILLER WRITER

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Andy Maslen, bestselling crime author

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I saw the art of skilful editing at its best. Louise was meticulous, but so thoughtful. She eliminated the mistakes, but looked beyond them, too, amending without compromising the voices of the characters or the atmosphere in the scenes.

AYSHE GEMEDZHY, INDEPENDENT AUTHOR

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Guidance on inclusive and respectful writing
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This service includes a free booklet featuring resources that help writers work to actively consider whether the words in a novel are driving story forward and enriching readers, or causing unintended harm. 

​The tools linked to in this booklet aim to help you apply good judgement to your fiction from a conscious language perspective.

Andy Maslen, bestselling crime author

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SERIOUSLY IMPROVED THE WRITING
​I'm just going through the edits now and I'm extraordinarily grateful for the work you've put in on this project. You've seriously improved the writing and enhanced everything about the story. Thank you.

PETER FOLEY, THRILLER WRITER

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Andy Maslen, bestselling crime author

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THE INSIGHT YOU PROVIDED MAKES ME EXCITED TO JUMP RIGHT IN
Thank you so much for all of your hard work on my manuscript. As a new author I was really nervous going into this part of the process but you have been an absolute joy to work with. Your advice and encouragement is something that I really value, and the insight you provided (I loved the report you sent) makes me excited to jump right in. I hope that we get to work together again soon!

PENNY LARAZA, FANTASY THRILLER WRITER

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Fancy working with me?

If you'd like to discuss a line editing, copyediting or proofreading project, get in touch so we can have a chat.​