Substantive editing moves your manuscript one step closer to finished.

When we’re too close to our books, funny things can happen. Characters can change names or go missing. Interactions can come off as surprising or inappropriate. Hints at answers to come are forgotten or misdirected. Terms and new tech can feel somehow . . . off. To prevent this, my team and I at Spoonbridge Press now offer substantive editing for fiction authors.

In the margin comments, tracked edits, and accompanying notes, you’ll find suggestions for deepening character development, tightening up your content, and improving your language. Then, after you’ve had a chance to review the substantive edit and weigh in, a final copyedit will smooth things out and help your manuscript conform to the Chicago Manual of Style.

Substantive Editing

Substantive editing for fiction can add that extra oomph your writing needs.

One round of substantive editing

At the chapter and paragraph level, I’ll offer suggestions on how to make sure your book is unfolding to your readers just as you intend it to. At the sentence level, I’ll suggest tighter phrasing, smooth out dialog, and hunt for sticky bits we might need to clarify, condense, or otherwise enhance.

This extra focus on phrasing and language makes content editing a valuable services for authors who are new to writing, or who are moving from nonfiction into fiction for the first time.

Broader scope than a copyedit

Since a copyedit deals with technical details like grammar, syntax, spelling, punctuation, and accuracy/clarity of language, copyeditors are zoomed in to their manuscripts at the sentence, word, and character level. They aren’t considering the forest at all; they’re focusing exclusively at the trees.

When we can save copyediting until a later stage, a focused round of substantive editing allows an editor to take a step back from those details and instead look for ways for the content to come together in deeper, clearer ways. We’re not uprooting any trees in the process; we’re just landscaping them a bit so the forest is a little easier to navigate.

Perfect for new fiction authors

Because of the extra time available for me to focus on how sentences flow and offer suggestions for smoothing out language, content editing can be especially valuable for authors new to writing fiction—or new to writing in general.

I can help give your manuscript that extra nudge toward more reader-friendly phrasing and word order, helping to clarify your scenes and chapters without obliterating your own unique voice.

Substantive Editing FAQ

Who should order substantive editing?

Substantive editing isn’t right for authors looking for deep structural feedback or fundamental suggestions on story alterations—that’s developmental editing (or, alternatively, a comprehensive editorial assessment).

It also isn’t right for authors only looking for a final check for spelling, grammar, and syntax—that’s copyediting. (Copyediting may be included in some cases, but in other cases, even one round of substantive editing for fiction might be overkill.)

However, substantive editing is perfect for those who want a more creative approach to the editing process than copyediting allows but specifically are not looking for potentially disruptive structural feedback.

What Others Are Saying

“

Sarah turned out to be exactly what I was seeking in an editor: knowledgeable about the rules, gentle enough to allow my voice to shine through, and always willing to keep the story in mind.

David BrunsScience Fiction Author, Weapons of Mass Deception
“

Whether it’s proofing a back cover blurb or providing thoughtful feedback in a content editing capacity, Sarah’s diverse talents greatly enhance every project’s potential for reaching and connecting with its audience.

Michelle BrownSenior Account Executive, Mill City Press
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I truly have appreciated your insight and perspective. You have a graceful way of presenting suggestions with a nonthreatening demeanor that has helped me embrace the suggestions without feeling like the manuscript is lacking.

Beth KloosFantasy Author
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I thoroughly enjoyed your input and the areas where you asked me to clarify or show you more. I miss a lot of that when I’m trying to finish a book and it was nice to have someone point out opportunities to give things a second look.

Eric CattaniYA Author, Winter Nova Saves the World
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Sarah always seemed to know the exact points in my story where a little more could be said, as well as those other moments where we could leave well enough alone. Her mastery of the English language and the rules of grammar is of course excellent—but more importantly I think, she has a very innate feel for the flow of a story and how people may tend to read it.

Robert H. LanganScience Fiction Author, The Icons of Man

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Get in Touch

If you’re ready for editing, the editorial team at Spoonbridge Press is here to help. Use the link below to tell us a little bit about your project, and our project manager will get back to you soon with ideas for moving forward.

Thanks, and happy writing!

Contact Us