The Fine-Toothed Comb

My signature service is an an above-and-beyond edit I call The Fine-Toothed Comb. It’s an exceptionally thorough, high-value edit that bundles line editing and copy editing—normally two separate services—into a single, in-depth pass, with some developmental editing insights even included along the way.

You’re trusting me with something personal, and I don’t take that lightly; every page gets the same careful attention, sentence by sentence.

It’s a persnickety review that gets rid of errors at the word and sentence levels. But it’s not just about cleaning up commas. 🧼 I also identify and suggest fixes for any bigger-picture issues that might call for reconsideration or rewriting. Some things I fix outright; others I flag for you to review later.

🧭 My lodestar is always “Do no harm.”

I meticulously preserve your voice, your style, your message, and all the elements that make your book uniquely yours.

That’s part of why I use Microsoft Word’s Track Changes feature to mark every edit. Track Changes keeps you in control of your writing, allowing you to accept or reject my edits as you choose, empowering you to take what’s helpful and leave the rest.

I’ve honed The Fine-Toothed Comb over more than two decades, working with thousands of writers. I’m excited to bring my professional expertise to your book, giving it the exact same attention to detail and quality editing I’ve given to dozens of bestsellers.

What’s included

📖 If you’re like me, you like clarity and knowing what to expect, so let’s make sure we’re on the same page (pun intended).

What I’ll fix for you:

In my pass through your manuscript, I will:

✓  apply stylistic consistency using The Chicago Manual of Style style guide and Merriam-Webster dictionary, the gold standards for book editing

✓  correct issues with grammar, syntax, and mechanics, including spelling, punctuation, capitalization, numbers, and more

✓  reword sentences and rearrange sentence structure where needed to improve clarity, readability, and flow

✓  remove awkward phrasing, small-scale repetition, overused words and phrases, and wordiness

✓  identify potentially problematic language and suggest alternative phrasing

✓  fix unintentional sentence fragments or run-ons

✓  smooth transitions and keep paragraphs focused

✓  correct unintended point-of-view or tense shifts

✓  polish dialogue, including speech tags, for clarity and naturalness while preserving voice

✓  verify your table of contents entries

✓  provide light fact-checking (see FAQ below for details)

✓  offer feedback on believability, emotional impact, and how well your book connects with its target audience

✓  comment on what’s working great and what isn’t working as well—a friendly blend of encouragement and insight

✓  address specific questions you have about your book

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

What I’ll flag but can’t fix for you:

Some issues are more complex or call for decisions only you can make as the writer; those are yours to address once our collaboration is finished. I’ll leave a comment anywhere deeper revision may strengthen the book. I will flag:

✓  areas where readers may need additional context, explanation, or transition

✓  sections that may benefit from restructuring, trimming, expansion, or clarification

✓  internal inconsistencies

✓  gaps in your narrative, argument, or logic

✓  issues with organization

✓  overuse of jargon or overly technical terms

✓  issues with pace or flow

✓  unintentional shifts in voice or tone

✓  missing transitions

✓  formatting issues

✓  significant repetition—you decide whether it’s intentional or unnecessary

✓  permission requirements

✓  any major issues beyond the scope of this edit that I believe deserve your attention

This focused feedback helps you efficiently target further refinements.

Custom style sheet

The Fine-Toothed Comb includes a style sheet I create just for your book: a record of the style choices you made while writing and I made while editing. It lists where your manuscript deviates from Chicago style and covers anything unique to your book that Chicago doesn’t address. It’ll guide your future revisions so you don’t introduce inconsistencies, and it’s an invaluable reference for any proofreader you may work with. It’s typically two to three pages—small but mighty.

After the edit

At the end of The Fine-Toothed Comb, you’ll have a professionally polished manuscript you can share with confidence and pride.

You’ll be able to view the edited file two ways, switching between them as you like: with all edits showing or as a clean copy with no markup.

When edits are showing, they’ll appear as crossed-out or added words and punctuation, with comment bubbles in the margins holding questions, explanations, suggestions, and my reactions as an editor and reader. These comments are just for your guidance and self-reflection; replying to them isn’t part of the process, since there’s no back-and-forth with the manuscript—once I return it to you, our collaboration will be complete.

That said, I’ll be on hand afterward with up to two hours of follow-up support for questions about the edit (for example, Can you give an example of what you meant here? or I rephrased like this; does this work better now?). Revisiting every single suggested change, though, would be beyond the scope of our collaboration.

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

FAQs

What does The Fine-Toothed Comb editing service cost?

🏷️ Nobody likes sticker shock. Expect a premium service price point—and major bang for your buck. A 60,000-word book starts at $2,925.

Tell me about your book—I’d love to hear all about it, from your word count to your writing goals—and I’ll create a custom estimate. For the most precise estimate, please send me your complete manuscript. I’ll keep it completely confidential.

Can I get a sample edit?

Yes! I completely understand wanting to get a sense of an editor’s style before committing. That’s why I’m happy to offer a sample edit for a discounted rate—and if you hire me for the full book, that fee will be credited toward the total cost. 

I give every project, no matter the size, my complete and careful attention and professional expertise. You can try a paid sample to see The Fine-Toothed Comb in action and to feel confident I’m the editor for you. Your investment will give you a focused, high-quality preview while also covering the professional time I put into creating it. Let me know if a paid sample edit interests you, and we can arrange for that.

What is “light fact-checking”?

I will:

✓  verify as many statements of fact as possible (for example: It was a five-hour drive to NYC; The Olympics were in Atlanta that year)

✓  leave a comment letting you know when I can’t confirm a statement of fact

✓  take your word for it regarding personal facts (for example: My sister was born in 1977)

✓  assume cited facts are accurate (for example: According to Psychology Today…)

✓  leave a comment when a statement or source doesn’t seem to make sense

✓  leave a comment or insert a blank endnote for missing sources that you’ll need to add

I won’t:

✕  dig into any referenced studies or sources to verify facts

✕  look for or add missing sources

✕  comment on the quality or primacy of a source

✕  confirm any existing citations conform to Chicago, unless we specifically agree to this

Beyond my expectations

“Working with you on something this personal meant a great deal to me, and I’m deeply grateful for the seriousness and respect you gave both the story and the voice behind it. You’ve elevated the book beyond my expectations. I’m seeing things now that I never would have seen on my own. Thank you for the way you handled the manuscript with both precision and heart.”

—Derrick Smith, memoir author, Without Compromise