Line Editing

Essential
Spanish & English
Translations and Editing

English/Spanish Line Editing

Professional bilingual line editing

My service is dedicated to stylistic editing — traditionally known as line editing — in English and Spanish, English copy editing, Spanish copy editing, English proofreading and Spanish proofreading. Developmental editing is another earlier step in the editing process. While not usually part of my service, it is good to explain that step in the editing process first.

Developmental editing refers to editing that aims to improve the content and overall structure of a manuscript. This is very different from the steps that follow, stylistic editing, copy editing and proofreading — types of editing that ensure that a manuscript’s grammar, punctuation and spelling are in accordance with rules codified in reference books such as the Chicago Manual of Style and The AP Stylebook.

In contrast, developmental editing takes on topics such as pacing, plot, characterization and setting. There are no set rules to abide by. Developmental editors draw upon their instincts, experience, and love of reading — and, hence, good editing — to help a manuscript reach its fullest potential.

Most published books go through at least one round of developmental editing. It is not for the fainthearted, though, since it can lead to major changes in a book. Characters can be changed or merged, entire plots can be tossed out, settings can change and so forth. But, in the end, it’s all worth it. Books that haven’t gone through developmental editing can seem unwieldy and lack focus.

After the developmental edit has been completed, that is where my steps, stylistic editing, copy editing and proofreading come in. I am what is referred to as an “immersion” editor — I really get into my work, your book, your characters. When I am hired to do a stylistic edit, I do that, as well as a thorough copy edit, leaving just a light proofread to be done, if the author would like to have it done. When I am hired to do a copy edit, as I just mentioned, I do a thorough job. If a proofread is what you need, I will catch any errors that slipped through the cracks in the previous steps.

I gained valuable experience using all these skills when I decided to not only translate from English to Spanish the twenty-five novels I have published, but also to do all the research and investigating of the text, and then the line/stylistic editing, copy editing and proofreading of the translated text. The fact that I can do English line editing as well as Spanish line editing is a big plus for many of my clients.

As well, I have copy edited or proofread numerous novels for independent authors and publishing companies big and small — the links for some of which you can see on this page — with many more to come, in English and Spanish!

Are you looking for some professional English line editing?

Do you need funding for the expansion of your publishing business?

Contact 7 Figures Funding today!

What is stylistic/line editing?

In stylistic, or line editing, I do my best to improve your writing style while maintaining your personal voice. The focus will be on the words and how they’re put together — with the goal of inducing emotions in the reader so they will want to keep reading your book!

Traditionally, a line edit comes after a developmental edit. Or, if you are confident that the content is where you want it to be, you can forgo the developmental edit and go ahead with the line edit. The overall structure of the book should be well established before starting a line edit and you should be happy with the plot and characters.

Line editing involves editing a book sentence by sentence (or line by line, hence the term “line editing”) to help improve your writing, always keeping craft in mind. A line edit ensures that your book’s content is consistent while its language is creative and concise. Why is line editing necessary? Well, your goal as an author is to make sure the premise of your book is executed as effectively as possible, and a line editor helps make that happen.

As far as what I do in English line editing and Spanish line editing, it really is an extensive, detail-oriented review of your manuscript — sort of like a copy edit on steroids. The things that I will be looking at are:

Spelling
Grammar
Punctuation
Capitalization
Syntax
Flow
Readability
Word Choice
Consistent voice
Language
Style
Wordiness
Redundancy
Repetition
Consistent tense
Point of view
Content
Presentation
Ambiguity
Clarity
Awkward phrasing

A line editor will help make sure the syntax is clean and concise and words aren’t wasted. One of the most difficult parts of editing is cutting sentences and even whole passages, but that’s what a line edit is for.

As an example of how a line editor will help, here is some unedited text:

“Pedro was on his way to the internet engineers’ union meeting when he saw colorful flyers being passed out on every street corner that clearly had something to do with the union busting Maria was investigating, even if he could barely see the lettering. Maria’s investigation of union busting was not going well at all. Pedro’s union meeting was also now more than likely going to be similarly derailed.”

Now, let’s take a look and see what improvements can be made:

• The first sentence is long and unwieldy. Make it easier for readers to read, break it up and condense the language. Maybe something like: “While walking to the internet engineers’ union meeting, Pedro noticed colorful flyers being passed out on every street corner. He wasn’t able to clearly make out the lettering, but could tell it had something to do with Maria’s investigation of union busting.”

• Unnecessary repetition. You don't need to write “Maria’s investigation of union busting” right after mentioning “the union busting Maria was investigating.” Also, since we know Pedro is the subject in the passage, we don’t need to repeat his name in the last sentence.

• As well, in the last sentence there is no need to have “also” and “similarly.”

Here is what a more concise stylistic edit of the passage could look like:

“While on his way to the internet engineers’ union meeting, Pedro noticed colorful flyers being passed out on every street corner. He wasn’t able to clearly make out the lettering but could tell it had something to do with Maria’s investigation of union busting. He knew her investigation had been compromised and suspected the union meeting was about to be similarly derailed.”

To discuss your English line-editing job, contact me today.

Detailed Spanish Line Editing

Spanish line editing works on the same principles as English line editing; however, you need an in-depth knowledge of the Spanish language to be successful. I began studying Spanish close to 40 years ago and have been in love with the language ever since.

Over my years as a line editor, I’ve line edited various Spanish novels, journals, and web pages, and I’ve even completed Spanish projects with large publishers, such as HarperCollins Publishing. You can trust me to handle your line editing as well.

To discuss your Spanish line editing needs, contact me today.

Read about how I can help you with my Spanish and English copy editing service.

My Spanish and English proofreading service just might be what you’re looking for.

If you would like your novel translated to Spanish, I can do that too.

Or, if you’re ready to move forward, contact ÉSETE today!

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Yes, editors do have style!

Style guides

In order to do line editing, as well as English copy editing and Spanish copy editing (not to mention English proofreading and Spanish proofreading), we need guides to make sure we are producing your best work. Different projects can require different style guides.

The English-language style guides I use are:

Chicago Manual of Style (novels)
Associated Press Stylebook (website and journalism work)
MLA Handbook or the APA Publication Manual (scholastic works)

As well, I use the collegiate version of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

My go-to style guides for the Spanish language are:

Ortografía de la lengua española
The website for the Real Academia de la Lengua Española, (the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language)
Diccionario de la lengua española
Diccionario panhispánico de dudas

Having a copy of the Spanish adaptation of the Chicago Manual of Style, the Manual de estilo Chicago-Deusto is also a great help.