Editing.
I do line editing, which is editing on the level of the sentence (and sometimes the paragraph). I offer a double-pass service and a single-pass service. The right service for you depends on the quality of your prose, your goals, and, of course, your budget. Request a free sample to see first-hand how my editing can help improve your book!
Single-Pass Editing
My single-pass service focuses on correcting grammar and spelling, ensuring internal consistency, and conforming the text to major style guides (usually The Chicago Manual of Style). I recommend the single-pass service for books with a low frequency of corrections.
Double-Pass Editing
Most authors go with my double-pass service. In addition to everything included in the single-pass service, double-pass editing aims to improve the prose by enhancing flow, readability, and clarity. The second pass catches any final mistakes before the book goes to formatting.
My Philosophy
I follow Merriam-Webster’s approach to language: regular, sustained usage determines correctness, not the preferences of long dead-grammarians. I believe it’s fine to split your infinitives, end your sentences with prepositions, or use sentence fragments. Clarity is king. “Correctness” is secondary.
My Tools
I embrace technology and use most tools at my disposal. These include Grammarly Premium, ProWritingAid, and even Microsoft Excel. However, I will not input any part of your book into an LLM such as ChatGPT without your express written consent. Even then, I prefer other tools over LLMs.
My Best Friend
By far my best friend in editing is text-to-speech. I listen to every book at least once. Hearing a book helps me catch so many missing words and sneaky misspellings that my eyes alone would simply gloss over. Text-to-speech is so effective that, in my opinion, editors who don’t use it are dinosaurs.
Portfolio.
Here are some of the books I’ve edited. Click the book cover to view the book’s Amazon page. Check out the sample to get a sense of my editing. If the book is the first in a series, I’ve also edited all subsequent entries as well!
Editing FAQ.
What genres do you edit?
I mostly edit science fiction, fantasy, and LitRPG. Because of my background in military history, authors who write books with military themes find me particularly helpful. However, I love a good mystery, and I’ve done my fair share of horror and romance as well. No matter what you write, I can most likely help.
Do you edit non-fiction?
Although I come from a background in non-fiction editing, it is no longer my specialty, mostly because I am not well-versed in the conventions of too many subjects. If I’m at least somewhat comfortable with the subject matter or the field, then yes, I will edit it. If you’re writing a history book, then I’m your guy. If you have a non-fiction project and think I can help, send me a message and I’ll take a look!
Do you edit erotica or books with explicit sex?
I do not. I do, however, edit romance if there is no explicit, graphic sex. I also do not edit books containing harem elements or male wish-fulfillment fantasy.
Can I add a second pass after a single pass?
Yes! While I prefer to know in advance if I will be reviewing a book twice, you can absolutely order a single pass and then add a second pass later. The price is the difference between the two services, plus $1 per 1000 words.
Do you comment on plot, characters, pacing, etc.?
Unfortunately, I do not; that is the domain of developmental editing. In a perfect world, line editing happens after all the developmental editing is done, and I don’t think it’s possible (or economical, from the author’s perspective) to do both at once. If you need help with the bigger issues of your story, send me a message. I know someone who can help.
How far in advance does your schedule fill up?
Typically, my schedule fills up two or three months in advance, but sometimes it’s longer and sometimes it’s shorter. Sometimes I can squeeze you in between projects or I have cancellations. If you send me a quick message, I’d be happy to give you an exact date.
What types of English can you edit?
Despite the fact that I’m Canadian, I’m most comfortable with U.S. English; it’s the variant I work with most often by far. That being said, I’m competent in International English as well, although I may leave more comments than usual to make sure my own Pacific Northwest dialect isn’t getting in the way.
Why don't you call your services "copyediting" and "proofreading"?
I used to call my services “stylistic editing,” “copyediting,” and “proofreading,” but those terms come from the traditional publishing world. They don’t mean much in the self-publishing world, where budgets are lower and goals are different. Plus, every book has different editing needs. I abandoned the traditional labels and went with “double-pass edit” and “single-pass edit” because it gives me the maximum amount of flexibility when reviewing a text.
Can you edit blog posts or short stories?
I do not accept editing projects with word counts under 15,000, so if your blog post, short story, etc. is longer than 15,000 words, yes, I can edit it!
Free sample.
I’ll edit a sample of your book for free! Just fill out this form and attach your file. I prefer about 1500-2000 words, ideally from the middle of your book. The file must be in Microsoft Word format (DOC or DOCX). If you don’t want to attach a file here, that’s okay; you can just send me a message or email me directly.
Email: bodie@bdauthorservices.com
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