MIDNIGHT Tier
Work With an Editor
Not Sure Which Edit You Need?
The most common question authors ask is: “What type of editing do I actually need?”
Answer these four questions and you’ll know in under a minute.
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Developmental Editing
Big-Picture Shaping Before You Polish a Single Sentence
Developmental editing addresses the fundamental architecture of your manuscript: Does the story work? Are the stakes clear? Does the structure support the story you’re trying to tell? This is the edit that transforms a good draft into a book that readers can’t put down.
What We Look at
- Overall structure and chapter order
- Pacing—where it drags, where it rushes
- Character arcs and emotional depth
- Plot logic, gaps, and unresolved threads
- Point of view consistency
- Scene-level tension and stakes
- Market positioning and genre fit
What You Get
- Full manuscript read with track changes and margin comments
- Detailed 20-35 page (depending on length) editorial memo with revision priorities
- 60-minute call to discuss findings and plan your revision
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Line Editing
Sentence-Level Clarity That Enhances Your Voice
Line editing is where your prose gets its edge. Working sentence by sentence, we focus on clarity, rhythm, word choice, and flow—making sure every line earns its place and sounds unmistakably like you.
What We Look at
- Sentence rhythm and variety
- Word choice and precision
- Repetitive phrasing and filler
- Voice consistency throughout
- Dialogue flow and attribution
- Paragraph transitions and momentum
What You Get
- Full manuscript edited in track changes
- Margin notes explaining significant changes
- Short editorial summary on voice and style patterns
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Copyediting
Clean, Consistent, Ready for the World
Copyediting is the technical layer—the edit that catches what revision misses. Grammar, punctuation, consistency, timeline, style. By the time we’re done, your manuscript is clean, cohesive, and ready for final proofing or publication.
What We Look at
- Grammar and punctuation
Spelling and capitalization consistency - Timeline and continuity errors
- Character name and detail consistency
- Style guide adherence (Chicago, AP, or house style; The Chicago Manual of Style is the traditional standard followed by our editors)
- Repetitive word patterns across chapters
What You Get
- Full manuscript edited in track changes
- Margin notes explaining significant changes
- Style sheet documenting key decisions for consistency
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Short editorial summary on voice and style patterns
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Proofreading
The Final Pass Before Your Book Meets the World
Proofreading is the last set of professional eyes before your manuscript goes to a formatter, an agent, or a publisher. This is not revision; it’s a precision sweep for anything that slipped through earlier edits.
What We Look at
- Typos and misspellings
- Punctuation errors
- Formatting inconsistencies
- Any remaining continuity or consistency issues
What You Get
- Full manuscript proofed in track changes
- Short summary of patterns found
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The Pro Package
The Full Publishing House Experience, In One Package
This is the edit your manuscript would receive at a traditional publishing house. Three stages, no shortcuts, no time pressure between rounds.
The Pro Package combines line editing, copyediting, and proofreading into a single seamless process, mirroring exactly how major publishing houses bring a manuscript to market. Each stage builds on the last, and there are no time limits between rounds. Take as long as you need to revise before moving forward.
The Three Stages
- Stage 1—Collaborative Line Edit: Sentence-level clarity, voice, rhythm, and flow. Includes editorial memo and 60-minute call.
- Stage 2—Copyedit: Grammar, consistency, style, and technical clean-up after your revisions.
- Stage 3—Final Proofread: The precision sweep that catches anything that slipped through. Your manuscript, publication-ready.
Add-on:
Power Up Publishing Consult
Available with any Midnight tier service
Your Manuscript Is Getting Edited. Your Publishing Plan Should Be Getting Built.
Editing and publishing strategy don’t have to be separate conversations. Add a 60-minute Power Up Consultation customized to your book and publishing goals and walk away from the editing process with both a polished manuscript and a clear path to publication.
What We Cover
- Overview of publishing paths—traditional, hybrid, small/independent, self-publish
- Distribution basics and where your book should live
- Simple launch framework to start thinking about now
- Clear if/then guidance: if you want an agent, here’s what to consider and how to query; if you want to self-publish, here’s a timeline map, cover design memo, etc.
- Follow-up with templates, introductions, transcript, and more
Add-on:
Metadata Creation or Review
Your Book Could Be Exactly What a Reader Is Searching For. Make Sure They Can Find It.
Metadata is your book’s search engine. Title, subtitle, description, keywords, categories—this is the behind-the-scenes information that determines whether your book shows up on Amazon, in libraries, and on retail sites. A beautifully edited manuscript with poor metadata is an invisible book.
Choose Your Option
- Metadata Creation: We build your full metadata package from scratch: title strategy, subtitle, book description, keyword research, key selling points, comp titles, BISAC category selection, and much more.
- Metadata Review: If you already have metadata established, we can audit it, identify gaps, and optimize what you have for better discoverability.
