Book Editing Services

Structural editing, copy editing and proofreading for authors.

Structural editing, copy editing and proofreading for authors.

From first draft to final polish – choose an editing package that fits where you are in your writing journey.

Whether you're an indie author self-publishing or preparing for submission to agents, my freelance book editing services are designed to strengthen and refine your manuscript.

I edit Junior Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult (YA) and Adult books, and specialise in Fantasy and Sci-Fi novels.

Fantasy

Sci Fi

Dystopian

Epic Fantasy

LGBTQ+

Fairy Tales

Cosy Fantasy

Speculative

Urban Fantasy

Romantasy

Structural Editing

Structural editing (sometimes called developmental editing) is a ‘big picture’ assessment of your manuscript, looking at plot, characters, theme, worldbuilding, point of view, pace and more. A structural edit identifies what’s working in your novel, and offers suggestions for areas that might not be working as they should. If you've just finished your first draft (or your seventh draft that you're finally ready to share with someone else), this is the edit you need. I’ll provide you with a detailed editorial report to guide you in refining your manuscript. I will discuss your story’s elements in detail, outline any areas that could be improved, and provide options for how you can make those improvements. Alongside your report, I’ll make notes on the manuscript itself with Microsoft Word’s review functions. These on-page edits offer practical and specific suggestions for where I think elements can be made stronger or clearer.

What's included:

  • Structural editing report

  • On-page comments, queries and suggestions

  • Follow-up consultation via email, phone call or Zoom

What's not included:

  • Heavy rewriting

  • Identifying and/or fixing grammar, spelling and punctuation errors

Start a project

Structural Editing

Structural editing (sometimes called developmental editing) is a ‘big picture’ assessment of your manuscript, looking at plot, characters, theme, worldbuilding, point of view, pace and more. A structural edit identifies what’s working in your novel, and offers suggestions for areas that might not be working as they should. If you've just finished your first draft (or your seventh draft that you're finally ready to share with someone else), this is the edit you need. I’ll provide you with a detailed editorial report to guide you in refining your manuscript. I will discuss your story’s elements in detail, outline any areas that could be improved, and provide options for how you can make those improvements. Alongside your report, I’ll make notes on the manuscript itself with Microsoft Word’s review functions. These on-page edits offer practical and specific suggestions for where I think elements can be made stronger or clearer.

What's included:

  • Structural editing report

  • On-page comments, queries and suggestions

  • Follow-up consultation via email, phone call or Zoom

What's not included:

  • Heavy rewriting

  • Identifying and/or fixing grammar, spelling and punctuation errors

Start a project

Structural Editing

Structural editing (sometimes called developmental editing) is a ‘big picture’ assessment of your manuscript, looking at plot, characters, theme, worldbuilding, point of view, pace and more. A structural edit identifies what’s working in your novel, and offers suggestions for areas that might not be working as they should. If you've just finished your first draft (or your seventh draft that you're finally ready to share with someone else), this is the edit you need. I’ll provide you with a detailed editorial report to guide you in refining your manuscript. I will discuss your story’s elements in detail, outline any areas that could be improved, and provide options for how you can make those improvements. Alongside your report, I’ll make notes on the manuscript itself with Microsoft Word’s review functions. These on-page edits offer practical and specific suggestions for where I think elements can be made stronger or clearer.

What's included:

  • Marked-up manuscript using the Track Changes feature

  • Corrections to grammar, spelling and punctuation

  • Enhancing the overall clarity of your manuscript

What's not included:

  • A ‘big-picture’ assessment of your manuscript

  • Suggestions about plot, character, world-building and other elements

Start a project

Copy Editing

A copy edit (sometimes called a line edit) works at the sentence level of your manuscript, focusing on grammar, spelling and punctuation, as well as fact-checking, continuity and narrative flow. For authors seeking publication, a polished manuscript lets you present your best work to agents and publishers. And if you’re planning to self-publish, a professional copy edit is essential. Using Microsoft Word’s Track Changes feature, I’ll correct any grammatical errors, check for repetitious words and phrases and clean up any formatting issues. I’ll also suggest ways to improve the readability of your manuscript, making it more engaging for your readers. My aim is to ensure your writing looks and sounds its best.

What's included:

  • Marked-up manuscript using the Track Changes feature

  • Corrections to grammar, spelling and punctuation

  • Enhancing the overall clarity of your manuscript

What's not included:

  • A ‘big-picture’ assessment of your manuscript

  • Suggestions about plot, character, world-building and other elements

Start a project

Copy Editing

A copy edit (sometimes called a line edit) works at the sentence level of your manuscript, focusing on grammar, spelling and punctuation, as well as fact-checking, continuity and narrative flow. For authors seeking publication, a polished manuscript lets you present your best work to agents and publishers. And if you’re planning to self-publish, a professional copy edit is essential. Using Microsoft Word’s Track Changes feature, I’ll correct any grammatical errors, check for repetitious words and phrases and clean up any formatting issues. I’ll also suggest ways to improve the readability of your manuscript, making it more engaging for your readers. My aim is to ensure your writing looks and sounds its best.

What's included:

  • Marked-up manuscript using the Track Changes feature

  • Corrections to grammar, spelling and punctuation

  • Enhancing the overall clarity of your manuscript

What's not included:

  • A ‘big-picture’ assessment of your manuscript

  • Suggestions about plot, character, world-building and other elements

Start a project

Proofreading

Proofreading is the final stage of editing and occurs after a manuscript has been typeset for printing. A proofreader goes over the eBook or print-ready pages with a fine-tooth comb, catching any final errors that might have been missed in the copy edit or any formatting errors that may have been introduced during the design stage. I’ll proofread your typeset pages in PDF format using standard proofreader’s marks. I’ll check elements like page numbers, margins, contents pages and indents as well as being a fresh set of eyes for any grammatical errors. This final polish of your manuscript is crucial, especially for self-publishing, and ensures your work is ready to be sent out into the world.

What's included:

  • Marked-up proof pages of your typeset book

  • Final check for errors of grammar, spelling and punctuation

  • Identifying any errors in formatting or design

What's not included:

  • A structural assessment of your manuscript and/or structural changes

  • Suggestions or corrections to narrative flow

Start a project

Proofreading

Proofreading is the final stage of editing and occurs after a manuscript has been typeset for printing. A proofreader goes over the eBook or print-ready pages with a fine-tooth comb, catching any final errors that might have been missed in the copy edit or any formatting errors that may have been introduced during the design stage. I’ll proofread your typeset pages in PDF format using standard proofreader’s marks. I’ll check elements like page numbers, margins, contents pages and indents as well as being a fresh set of eyes for any grammatical errors. This final polish of your manuscript is crucial, especially for self-publishing, and ensures your work is ready to be sent out into the world.

What's included:

  • Marked-up proof pages of your typeset book

  • Final check for errors of grammar, spelling and punctuation

  • Identifying any errors in formatting or design

What's not included:

  • A structural assessment of your manuscript and/or structural changes

  • Suggestions or corrections to narrative flow

Start a project

Structural Editing

Structural editing (sometimes called developmental editing) is a ‘big picture’ assessment of your manuscript, looking at plot, characters, theme, worldbuilding, point of view, pace and more. A structural edit identifies what’s working in your novel, and offers suggestions for areas that might not be working as they should. If you've just finished your first draft (or your seventh draft that you're finally ready to share with someone else), this is the edit you need. I’ll provide you with a detailed editorial report to guide you in refining your manuscript. I will discuss your story’s elements in detail, outline any areas that could be improved, and provide options for how you can make those improvements. Alongside your report, I’ll make notes on the manuscript itself with Microsoft Word’s review functions. These on-page edits offer practical and specific suggestions for where I think elements can be made stronger or clearer.

Start a project

What's included:

  • Structural editing report

  • On-page comments, queries and suggestions

  • Follow-up consultation via email, phone call or Zoom

What's not included:

  • Heavy rewriting

  • Identifying and/or fixing grammar, spelling and punctuation errors

Copy Editing

A copy edit (sometimes called a line edit) works at the sentence level of your manuscript, focusing on grammar, spelling and punctuation, as well as fact-checking, continuity and narrative flow. For authors seeking publication, a polished manuscript lets you present your best work to agents and publishers. And if you’re planning to self-publish, a professional copy edit is essential. Using Microsoft Word’s Track Changes feature, I’ll correct any grammatical errors, check for repetitious words and phrases and clean up any formatting issues. I’ll also suggest ways to improve the readability of your manuscript, making it more engaging for your readers. My aim is to ensure your writing looks and sounds its best.

Start a project

What's included:

  • Marked-up manuscript using the Track Changes feature

  • Corrections to grammar, spelling and punctuation

  • Enhancing the overall clarity of your manuscript

What's not included:

  • A ‘big-picture’ assessment of your manuscript

  • Suggestions about plot, character, world-building and other elements

Proofreading

Proofreading is the final stage of editing and occurs after a manuscript has been typeset for printing. A proofreader goes over the eBook or print-ready pages with a fine-tooth comb, catching any final errors that might have been missed in the copy edit or any formatting errors that may have been introduced during the design stage. I’ll proofread your typeset pages in PDF format using standard proofreader’s marks. I’ll check elements like page numbers, margins, contents pages and indents as well as being a fresh set of eyes for any grammatical errors. This final polish of your manuscript is crucial, especially for self-publishing, and ensures your work is ready to be sent out into the world.

Start a project

What's included:

  • Marked-up proof pages of your typeset book

  • Final check for errors of grammar, spelling and punctuation

  • Identifying any errors in formatting or design

What's not included:

  • A structural assessment of your manuscript and/or structural changes

  • Suggestions or corrections to narrative flow

A Note on Rates

A Note on Rates

I know that as an indie author, it can be hard to get pricing for editorial services. That's because editing isn't 'one size fits all'.

I provide a personalised quote for each project, taking into account the manuscript's genre, word count, complexity, target readership and the level of editing required. I base my rates on those recommended by the Institute of Professional Editors.

For example: a copy edit of a Young Adult fantasy, 70,000 words, of medium complexity, would be approximately $2500 AUD. This example is intended to give you a realistic expectation of the time & quality of my services.

Feel free to send me an email if you have any questions!

Start a project

Have more questions? I’ve got you!

What genres do you specialise in?

How much do your editing services cost?

Do you freelance for traditional publishing houses?

Do you edit stories made with AI?

What is the typical turnaround time for editing a manuscript?

Do you offer sample edits?

Can you pitch my book to your publishing house?

What file formats do you accept for manuscript submissions?

Can you accommodate rush orders or tight deadlines?

How do payments and invoicing work?

Are there any genres or content you don't edit?

Have more questions? I’ve got you!

What genres do you specialise in?

How much do your editing services cost?

Do you freelance for traditional publishing houses?

Do you edit stories made with AI?

What is the typical turnaround time for editing a manuscript?

Do you offer sample edits?

Can you pitch my book to your publishing house?

What file formats do you accept for manuscript submissions?

Can you accommodate rush orders or tight deadlines?

How do payments and invoicing work?

Are there any genres or content you don't edit?

Have more questions? I’ve got you!

What genres do you specialise in?

How much do your editing services cost?

Do you freelance for traditional publishing houses?

Do you edit stories made with AI?

What is the typical turnaround time for editing a manuscript?

Do you offer sample edits?

Can you pitch my book to your publishing house?

What file formats do you accept for manuscript submissions?

Can you accommodate rush orders or tight deadlines?

How do payments and invoicing work?

Are there any genres or content you don't edit?

Ready to make your writing legendary?

Let's craft a book that leaves a lasting legacy.

Book me

© Erin Middleton 2026

I acknowledge the Tharawal people on whose lands I live and work. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the land’s first and oldest storytellers. This was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.

Ready to make your writing legendary?

Let's craft a book that leaves a lasting legacy.

Book me

© Erin Middleton 2026

I acknowledge the Tharawal people on whose lands I live and work. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the land’s first and oldest storytellers. This was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.