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What I Do

Developmental and Line Editing

What is developmental editing?

Think of the big stuff: the structure, the flow, the tone, the plot—essentially, the overall coherence of what you've written. If your manuscript has room for improvement in that department, that's where I can be of service. This is the first step of the editing process following your own revisions, and it can involve moving, adding, or cutting sections; reworking the tone or dialogue in places; or even adjusting the entire point of view or narration style. It sounds scary, but trust me: when done well, it can be one of the most rewarding processes to go through as a writer.

 

What about line editing?

This is another service I'm happy to provide. Slightly more zoomed in than developmental editing, this involves taking a look at the manuscript line-by-line for smaller tweaks. Perhaps you have a penchant for repeating certain words, or maybe there are some references or metaphors that aren't quite clear. Line editing and developmental editing go hand-in-hand, and they often cross over into one another. In my edits, I tend to blend the two of them for a more thorough review of your work.
 

If you're in need of a more thorough grammar or style check (think: MLA, Chicago, APA, etc.), you are likely looking for someone who specializes in copy editing. A copy edit includes the nitty-gritty tweaks like punctuation, grammar, formatting, and spelling. It most often occurs after a developmental and/or line edit (the last thing you need is another close grammar check after reworking a whole section of your prose!). If you are in search of this kind of work on your manuscript, I have plenty of talented colleagues to whom I can refer you. Just let me know! Many publishing houses or journals also have their own pool of freelance or in-house copy editors whom they call upon once they've agreed to take your manuscript forward.
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And proofreading?​

This is the final step. The proofreading phase is where the editor combs through the last revision for any lingering spelling, punctuation, grammar, or formatting errors before the manuscript goes to print. After this step, everything is locked and loaded. Then it's off to the presses!

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One clarification: I am not a publisher, nor a literary agent. Neither developmental, line, nor copy editing can guarantee that a manuscript will be published by a house, journal, or other distributor. It can, however, ensure that your writing is in its best shape possible so that when it does land on an agent's or acquisition editor's desk, it will have its best shot at success. As an editor, my job is to help you take the next necessary steps in your endeavor toward getting published. The editing process is a multi-leveled, often time-consuming journey, and I'm here to help you get started on the right foot so you can reach the finish line strong.

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Interested in working together? Learn more below!

Fountain Pen

So How Does This Work?

Let's say you've written a manuscript—a novel, a memoir, or a nonfiction article about dance history, for example—and now you've found my page. Welcome! I'm glad you're here. Especially if you're new to this, the editing process might feel overwhelming with its various steps, as well as the inevitable element of needing to trust someone else with the precious culmination of hours of your work and creativity. Putting your writing out there can be scary and vulnerable. But in the hands of the right editor, there's no need to worry, or to feel self-conscious. We're here to help shape your work into its best, with care and finesse, maintaining (and elevating) your unique voice and the message it carries.

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That is the standard to which I hold myself as an editor, and should we work together, that is the promise I will make to you.

For new authors, I'll break the next few steps of this process down into a timeline:

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  1. Email Me: If you're interested in working together, send me an email outlining the kind of manuscript you've written and an overview of who you are and what you're looking for. ​Include any pertinent concerns you may have about the draft at hand. (Maybe you just aren't sure about one character's believability, or of the way you've structured your third body paragraph. Perhaps you're unsure whether the chronology of the historical events you're describing in Chapter 7 comes across clearly, or maybe you don't have any specific concerns. Etc.) 

  2. Free 30-minute Consultation: If after our email exchange we feel there's a fit, I'll work with you to schedule up to 30 minutes via video call (I prefer as much "face-to-face" as possible) to discuss details like the timeline, budget, and other expectations. If we agree to move forward with either a chapter/sample edit or a full edit, after confirming our scope and terms we'll move forward with the...

  3. Edit Exchange: You send me your draft, I'll edit, and we'll back-and-forth following the terms of our agreement. This could be once (most usually) or twice, depending on what you and your manuscript need.​​​​​

©2025 by Kyra Laubacher

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