Book Proofreading and Editing Services
Find Your Perfect Book Editor
Discover the right editor for your manuscript by exploring our network of professionals, each offering specialized editing services tailored to your book’s genre and style.
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+ 52 Editors
Novel Proofreading and Editing Services
Children's Book Proofreading and Editing Services
Horror Proofreading and Editing Services
eBook Proofreading and Editing Services
Developmental Editing Services
Copy Editing Services
Substantive Editing Services
Line Editing ServicesHow It Works
Have your book edited in three steps
Browse profiles of accomplished editing professionals.
Send your files and provide any details regarding the project.
Receive the edited manuscript before your requested due date.
Precision in Manuscript Editing
What our book editors will do for you
As an author, you're not just looking for corrections—you want a partner who understands your voice, your story, and your goals. Our book editors work with care and precision to elevate your manuscript, enhancing clarity and style without compromising your unique tone. Whether you need deep developmental insight or a focused final polish, we'll help you strengthen plot, character, pacing, and language—so your book is ready for readers, agents, and publishers alike.
Your Pathway to Publication
Elevating your book to meet publishing standards
Our editors specialize in fine-tuning manuscripts to capture the attention of both major publishing houses and indie presses. By improving narrative flow, deepening character development, and ensuring structural clarity, we help your book stand out. With industry insight into market trends and editorial standards, we position your manuscript for success—boosting its chances of publication and broader reader appeal.
Subject Matter Experts
An editor for every book genre
At ServiceScape, you'll find a marketplace of editors with the experience and subject-specific expertise to bring out the best in your book. Whether you're writing a memoir, crafting a fantasy novel, developing a self-help guide, or publishing Christian literature, we have professionals who truly understand your genre. Each editor's profile highlights their background, specialties, and track record—helping you choose the ideal partner to elevate your manuscript.
Uncompromised Quality
What sets our book editing apart
Exceptional book editing begins with exceptional editors. That’s why every professional in our marketplace is selected for their qualifications and deep understanding of the publishing industry. We stand behind every book we edit with an unwavering commitment to quality and author satisfaction. With ServiceScape, your manuscript is in expert hands—refined with care, elevated with precision, and always true to your voice.
Affordable Editing Within Reach
Transparent book editing rates for every budget
When it comes to pricing, our editors’ rates are clearly listed on their profiles, making it easy to find services that fit your budget. ServiceScape removes the guesswork of complex, multi-tiered pricing models. Your book editing cost is based solely on your project’s deadline—not its subject, your writing level, or the type of editing needed. No matter the scope, our straightforward rates ensure affordability without any surprises.
Meeting Your Deadlines
Ensuring your book is ready when you need it
Whether you're facing a tight submission window or managing a long-term publishing timeline, our editors are committed to delivering polished, professional results right on schedule. You'll receive your edited manuscript within the agreed timeframe—no delays, no surprises. With ServiceScape, you can move forward with confidence, knowing your work is being handled with attention to detail and respect for your deadlines.
Communicate With Your Book Editor
Contact your editor anytime, about anything
Effective editorial work relies on clear, consistent communication. With ServiceScape, you can connect directly with your editor through messages and teleconferencing to discuss your narrative, ask questions, exchange feedback, and share ideas. This ongoing dialogue ensures your voice and intentions are fully understood, making the editing process a true collaboration—one that strengthens your vision and elevates your manuscript.
Our Editing Service Marketplace
Choose your own book editor
With ServiceScape, you can handpick your own book editor from a curated selection of skilled professionals.
Many of our book editors:
- Hold Ph.D. or Master's degrees
- Offer decades of book editing experience
- Have hundreds of client ratings and reviews
- Are experts across a wide range of genres
Medical Editor at HCA Healthcare
611 Pages Edited
M.A. in Public Health from UMass Amherst
311 Client Reviews
16,355 Pages Edited
Editor at Elsevier Inc.
71 Client Reviews
1,858 Pages Edited
M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University
117 Client Reviews
9,492 Pages Edited
Ph.D. in Political Science from Claremont Graduate University
37 Pages Edited
Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Connecticut
4,575 Client Reviews
250,828 Pages Edited
Ph.D. in History from the University of Virginia
M.A. in Journalism from Harvard University
856 Client Reviews
32,034 Pages Edited
Director in Medical Policy at Aetna
332 Client Reviews
10,444 Pages Edited
B.A. in English from the University of North Carolina
Learn More About Us
What makes ServiceScape work for you
Your Questions, Answered
FAQ
At ServiceScape, our book editing services are crafted to refine every aspect of your manuscript, ensuring it stands out in the publishing world:
- Comprehensive Language Refinement: Correcting grammar, syntax, and sentence structure for polished and professional prose.
- Punctuation and Spelling Precision: Addressing spelling mistakes and punctuation errors, vital for readability and a professional presentation.
- Detailed Editing: Focusing on the finer details of language to remove typographical errors and inconsistencies for a flawless finish.
- Style and Voice Refinement: Customizing the manuscript's style and voice to resonate with its genre and audience, enriching the reading experience.
- Copyediting for Consistency: Ensuring consistency in style, terminology, and formatting throughout the manuscript to maintain coherence.
- Feedback and Recommendations: Offering constructive feedback and specific recommendations for improvements to elevate the quality of your work.
- Adherence to Publishing Standards: Guiding your manuscript to comply with the specific standards and expectations of your chosen publishing path, be it through traditional publishers, indie platforms, or self-publishing avenues.
- Manuscript Formatting for Submission or Publication: Tailoring the manuscript's presentation, including layout and formatting, to match the precise submission or publication specifications required, across print and digital formats.
- Narrative Structure Enhancement: Revising the manuscript's framework to improve pacing, plot progression, and thematic expression, making your story engaging and coherent.
- Blurb Writing and Optimization: Crafting or refining a compelling book blurb or back cover description to attract readers.
- Genre Conformity and Innovation: Ensuring the manuscript aligns with genre expectations while encouraging innovative elements that set your book apart.
- Market Alignment Evaluation: Assessing the manuscript's alignment with current market trends and reader preferences to boost its commercial appeal.
- Reader Engagement Strategies: Implementing techniques to increase reader engagement and emotional investment throughout your book.
- Dialogue Optimization: Revitalizing dialogue to feel authentic and impactful, crucial for character and plot development.
- Character Arc Development: Intensifying the complexity and growth of characters to enhance reader connection and drive the narrative.
- Sensitivity Reading: Evaluating the manuscript for cultural sensitivity, inclusivity, and representation, offering insights for improvement.
- Worldbuilding Analysis: For fiction, enhancing the depth and believability of your story's setting and world.
- Non-Fiction Clarity: For non-fiction, ensuring arguments, explanations, and data are presented clearly and persuasively.
Our editors, equipped with vast experience and an eye for detail, dedicate themselves to elevating your manuscript above industry standards. Choosing ServiceScape means partnering with professionals committed to your book's success in the competitive world of publishing.
Book editing ranges from surface-level corrections to deep developmental guidance. Choosing the right level depends on your manuscript's stage, genre, and how much refinement it needs. Here's an overview of the primary levels of book editing and what each one provides:
Book Proofreading Services
Proofreading is the final stage of book editing. It focuses on catching surface-level errors such as:
- Spelling mistakes
- Grammar and punctuation errors
- Typos or missing words
- Minor formatting issues in the manuscript
This level is ideal when your book is nearly ready for publication and simply needs a final polish before printing or uploading.
Book Copy Editing Services
Copy editing improves clarity, consistency, and correctness while preserving your narrative voice. A book copy editor focuses on:
- Improving sentence clarity and readability
- Correcting grammar, punctuation, and usage
- Ensuring consistency in style, terminology, and formatting
- Basic fact-checking for names, dates, and references
- Applying appropriate style guides (such as Chicago Style) or aligning with genre conventions
This level is recommended when your manuscript needs a thorough language cleanup to sound professional and polished.
Book Line Editing Services
Line editing goes deeper into the craft of your writing. It focuses on the emotional and stylistic impact at the sentence and paragraph level. A line editor enhances:
- Voice, tone, and narrative flow
- Sentence rhythm and pacing
- Emotional resonance and expression
- Transitions between scenes and paragraphs
- Stylistic consistency throughout the manuscript
This service is ideal when you want your prose to be more engaging, expressive, and compelling for your readers.
Book Substantive Editing Services
Substantive editing strengthens the overall clarity, organization, and logic of your book. It focuses on improving the manuscript as a whole. Substantive editors help with:
- Restructuring chapters or sections for better flow
- Clarifying themes, ideas, and messages
- Improving pacing and narrative progression
- Eliminating redundancies and inconsistencies
- Strengthening scene structure or nonfiction argumentation
This level is recommended when your book needs significant improvement beyond grammar or style.
Book Structural Editing Services
Structural editing evaluates the architecture of your manuscript and how the major components fit together. A structural editor reviews:
- Chapter order and overall book structure
- Plot or argument development from beginning to end
- Placement and timing of major events or sections
- Openings, endings, and turning points
- Character arc progression and scene arrangement (for fiction)
This level is especially useful for authors who want stronger pacing, clearer structure, and better organization across the entire manuscript.
Book Developmental Editing Services
Developmental editing provides high-level, big-picture guidance and is typically the earliest stage of book editing. Developmental editors work with you on:
- Concept development and story direction
- Plot structure, stakes, and narrative logic
- Character arcs, motivations, and relationships
- Themes, voice, and genre alignment
- Worldbuilding depth and consistency (for fiction)
- Chapter outlines, argument structure, or idea sequencing (for nonfiction)
This level is ideal for manuscripts in the early or middle stages that need deep conceptual support, structural shaping, or significant storytelling refinement.
Which level of book editing should you choose? Choose proofreading if your book is nearly final; choose copy editing for clarity and consistency; choose line editing for stronger prose and narrative flow; choose substantive editing for major improvements in clarity, organization, and overall logic; choose structural editing to refine pacing, chapter order, and the large-scale organization of your book; and choose developmental editing for high-level guidance on plot, characters, themes, or overall story structure.
ServiceScape editors have proudly contributed to the publication success of authors across a wide range of genres, both fiction and non-fiction. Our clients' works have been accepted by various publishing houses, including:
- Penguin Random House
- HarperCollins
- Cambridge University Press
- Oxford University Press
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Tor Books
- Scholastic Inc.
- Simon & Schuster
- Wiley
- SAGE Publishing
- Elsevier
- Routledge
- Hachette Book Group
- McGraw-Hill Education
- Johns Hopkins University Press
- Baen Books
- Berkley Books
- Hay House
- Zondervan
- Palgrave Macmillan
- Algonquin Books
- Chronicle Books
- Candlewick Press
- Peachtree Publishers
- InterVarsity Press
- Skyhorse Publishing
- The MIT Press
- Beacon Press
- DK Publishing
- Jossey-Bass
You can hire an editor by just browsing our marketplace of editors, clicking on the "View Profile" button of an editor you want to hire, and clicking on the "Hire Me" button. After your payment method has been processed, your editor will get to work and will deliver the edited version before your due date.
A list of prices and due dates can be found within each editor's profile. Just find your editor and click on the "View Profile" button.
Our fastest delivery option is one hour using our Express Delivery service.
Sure! Many ServiceScape editors provide free samples. You can submit a free sample request by just browsing our marketplace of editors, clicking on the "View Profile" button of an editor you want to request a free sample from, and clicking on the "Free Sample" button. If the editor accepts your free sample request, you will receive the sample edited version within a couple of days.
You can send a message to an editor by just browsing our marketplace of editors, clicking on the "View Profile" button of an editor you want to contact, and clicking on the "Send Message" button. We will email you a notification as soon as your editor replies to your message.
You can schedule a teleconference call by just browsing our marketplace of editors, clicking on the "View Profile" button of an editor you want to contact, and clicking on the "Teleconference" button. We will contact you right away about availability and set up the teleconference for all parties involved.
You can find ratings and reviews from past clients within most editor profiles. Just find your editor and click on the "View Profile" button to see them. You can also read thousands of ServiceScape ratings and reviews on eKomi.
In addition, ServiceScape has been featured in several publications and websites, including The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, UpWork, HuffPost, and The Ladders.
Many editors have portfolios which feature their editing. Just find your editor and click on the "View Profile" button to view these edited versions.
Yes, we provide editing certifications. Simply request the document when you hire an editor. When your project is delivered, you can download the editing certification by clicking on your project and clicking on the "Certification" button. These signed declarations certify that a document has been professionally edited by a ServiceScape editor.
Our Testimonials and Experience
What we bring to the table
ServiceScape is built on 25 years worth of experience, working on over 348,000 projects with over 99,000 clients. Our book editing and proofreading services are rated 4.9 out of 5 stars, based on 3,133 reviews. Join the thousands of people who have chosen ServiceScape to find the best and brightest talent.
"My freelancer's attention to detail and commitment to quality exceeded my expectations. Every aspect of the project was handled with utmost professionalism."
"I was amazed by the promptness and efficiency of the person I hired. The project was completed well ahead of the deadline, without compromising on quality."
"The level of creativity and innovation in his approach was outstanding. He truly transformed my ideas into something extraordinary!"
"Exceptional service! The professional was incredibly responsive and attentive to all my requirements, making the entire process seamless and enjoyable."
"I highly recommend her services. The professionalism and expertise displayed by the freelancer were top-notch, and the results were simply superb."
"The quality of work delivered was impeccable. Every detail was carefully considered and executed to perfection. Absolutely thrilled with the service!"
"Her ability to understand and adapt to my specific needs was remarkable. The final product was exactly what I was hoping for, and more."
"Prompt, professional, and passionate about her work. She went above and beyond to ensure the project's success."
"The service was outstanding from start to finish. Communication was clear and frequent, keeping me in the loop at every stage."
"Truly impressed by the quick turnaround time. This professional managed to deliver a high-quality result in a remarkably short period."
"His commitment is evident in his work. He made sure I was completely happy with the final outcome."
"A blend of professionalism, skill, and creativity. This individual brought a fresh perspective to the project that was both inspiring and effective."
"The freelancer's expertise in his field is unmatched. He provided invaluable insights and suggestions that greatly enhanced the project."
"I appreciated his attention to detail and dedication to delivering a product that not only met, but exceeded my expectations."
"Her approach to the project was both thorough and innovative. She managed to capture the essence of my vision perfectly. Thank you so much!"
"Remarkable service! The quality of work was consistently high, and her ability to meet tight deadlines was impressive."