The Fine-Toothed Comb

My signature service is an above-and-beyond copy edit I call The Fine-Toothed Comb.

You’ve poured yourself into your book, and I honor that by pouring my expertise into it, too. I never do things by halves, and you and your book get to benefit. Not to ruin the surprise, but the writers I work with are usually astounded by just how thorough this edit is. 

🕯️Can you get a basic copy edit elsewhere for less? For sure, but it won’t hold a candle to The Fine-Toothed Comb, which I’ve honed over two decades, working with thousands of writers. I’m excited to bring my professional experience to your book, giving it the exact same attention to detail and quality editing that I’ve given to dozens of bestsellers, increasing its potential for success.

In The Fine-Toothed Comb, I make one (very) thorough pass of your manuscript, a painstaking process that gets rid of errors at the word and sentence levels. But it’s not just about cleaning up commas. I also surface and make suggestions for any bigger-picture issues that might involve reconsideration or rewriting.

🧭 Throughout all this, my lodestar is always to “do no harm,” which means I meticulously preserve your unique voice while enhancing clarity and flow. 

In part, that’s why I use Microsoft Word’s Track Changes feature to mark all my edits. Track Changes keeps you in control of your writing, allowing you to accept or discard my suggestions and comments as you choose, empowering you to take what’s helpful and leave the rest.

📖 If you’re like me, you like clarity and knowing what to expect, so just so we’re on the same page (pun intended), here’s what you get:

What you get

A next-level copy edit that addresses:

  • issues with spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, syntax, and mechanics
  • anything that’s unclear to the reader
  • internal inconsistency
  • wordiness and weird phrasing
  • table of contents verification
  • adherence to The Chicago Manual of Style (or other style guide of your choice). CMOS is the standard guide for editing most published books in the U.S. 
  • basic fact-checking. I’ll note inconsistencies and things I happen to know or can confirm with quick research. I’ll take your word for it regarding many of the statements in your book, since it’s your story and/or your memory of events. But if, say, I know that you’ve misspelled a famous person’s name, misremembered the distance between two places, or given the wrong date for a historical event, I’ll fix that for you.
  • citation and reference checking, if needed 
  • Americanization, if desired 
  • your success in connecting with your book’s target audience
  • what’s working great and what isn’t working as well in your book. Expect a friendly blend of encouragement and insight.
  • specific questions you have about your book

Ultimately, this detailed pass makes certain your manuscript is professional, credible, and reader-friendly.

What my edit will note for you to address later, after my work is finished:

  • ways to improve your writing beyond what’s on the page (What’s missing?)
  • gaps in your narrative or argument
  • issues with organization
  • use of jargon or overly technical terms
  • issues with flow
  • significant repetition. You decide whether the repetition I’ve noted is intentional or unnecessary.
  • areas that need more significant rephrasing and restructuring
  • permission requirements
  • any major issues beyond the scope of this edit that I believe should still be considered

This focused feedback helps you efficiently target further refinements.

Note: If you have something in mind that you don’t see here and that would make you feel better about our work together, just let me know—I happily customize each writer’s editing experience.

At the end of The Fine-Toothed Comb, you’ll have a professionally polished manuscript ready to captivate readers—and publishers, if you choose to go that route. I’ll also be on hand offering follow-up support for questions you may have about the edit.

You’ve done the hard work. Now things couldn’t be easier! I look forward to partnering with you to make your book shine. ✨

📘 Tell me about your book!

“I wanted to let you know how many times I’ve said to myself when going through your edits: Wow, she nailed it! I’m SO glad she caught that! How in the world did she think of that? Where did she find that tidbit of info? I love the funny things she adds. What a good researcher she is! She is soooo patient with me. and more!”
—Laurie M.

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