Manuscript evaluation

An evaluation is an integral part of our take-on process when publishing under the Quickfox imprint, and may take the form of either an express review or a full evaluation, depending on the nature of your project.

A full evaluation will typically include:

• An overview of strengths and weaknesses, from both a reader’s and publisher’s perspective
• Assessment of structure and flow, including organisation, pacing and chapter order
• Comments on style and readability, focusing on tone, clarity and narrative voice
• Identification of recurring grammar, punctuation or consistency issues
• Feedback on plot, concept or character development (if applicable)
• Evaluation of market suitability, including target audience and publishing potential
• Recommendations for next steps to prepare your manuscript for editing or publication

For Yes!Press clients, manuscripts are typically already edited when they come to us for publishing. However, if this is not the case and editorial input is still required, a manuscript evaluation can be added to your package at an additional cost.

Express review

An express review offers general guidance on writing quality, recurring grammatical issues, and other surface-level concerns that may need attention before submitting the manuscript for full evaluation or editing. This review typically covers a few sample chapters or the first 30–50 pages of the manuscript. Feedback may be provided as in-text comments, in a brief 1–2 page report, or both, depending on the evaluator.

A limitation is that an express review cannot identify issues that arise later in the manuscript, such as:

• A weak or unresolved ending
• Inadequate development of concepts or plot
• Weak character arcs
• Timeline inconsistencies
• Structural or content problems

However, these issues are often addressed in a developmental edit, therefore this review carries no cost for Quickfox and YesPress clients using one of our developmental editors.

Full evaluation

A full evaluation provides a complete and thorough assessment of all elements listed above before entering the publishing process.

The more work you do upfront to refine your manuscript, the lower your editing and proofreading costs are likely to be. A full evaluation provides valuable, professional insight, allowing you to see your work through another lens and make informed improvements.

Because the entire manuscript is read and thoroughly assessed — with clear feedback and specific examples — this is a more in-depth and time-intensive process. It carries a fee, but it’s a worthwhile investment for serious authors or those unsure whether their manuscript is ready for publication.

Editing and proofreading

It goes without saying that before you enter a publishing process, your manuscript must undergo professional editing.

Here we will address the four main editorial services available to authors, each of which addresses different aspects of a manuscript. It is important to understand these differences so that you select the right editorial service and have realistic expectations of your chosen editor.

 

Developmental editing

Developmental editing, also known as a substantive or structural editing, is usually the first stage in the editing process and it looks at the ‘big picture’. It focuses on the manuscript’s intended use and target market, as well as the internal organisation, structure, style and flow of information or narrative.

Here’s what it typically includes:

1. Structure and organisation

• Reordering or restructuring chapters or sections for better flow
• Improving narrative pacing or progression
• Ensuring a strong introduction, coherent middle and satisfying conclusion
• Removing repetition or filler content

2. Content development

• Identifying gaps in information, logic or argument
• Suggesting areas for expansion or reduction
• Checking the consistency of facts, timelines or plot elements (for fiction)

3. Tone and voice

• Ensuring tone matches the target audience and genre
• Maintaining consistency in author voice or point of view

4. Characterisation (for fiction and narrative non-fiction)

• Strengthening character development and dialogue
• Checking consistency of character behaviour, motivation and arcs

5. Clarity and readability

• Rewriting awkward or confusing sentences
• Eliminating jargon or overly complex language
• Enhancing sentence and paragraph flow for better reader engagement

A developmental editor may provide:

• In-line comments and suggested edits
• A summary report with broader recommendations
• Ongoing feedback and guidance during rewrites

 

Line editing

Line editing focuses on enhancing the overall quality of the writing and typically takes place after a developmental edit but before copyediting. Many developmental editors also incorporate line editing into their service.

Line editing looks at how you communicate your ideas – the stylistic construction of your story or content. The editor will point out sections that can be improved, phrases that have been over-used or incorrectly used, and inconsistent writing style. They will correct sentences that are too long and make the text easier for the target audience to understand.

Here’s what line editing typically involves:

• Improving sentence structure and rhythm e.g. varying sentence length, fixing clunky phrasing
• Enhancing clarity and flow e.g. rewriting for smoother transitions or better expression of ideas
• Refining tone and voice e.g. ensuring the tone suits the subject, genre and audience
• Eliminating redundancy or wordiness e.g. cutting unnecessary words or repetitive phrases
• Strengthening word choice e.g. choosing more precise, impactful or natural-sounding words

Line editing doesn’t focus on big-picture structure (that’s developmental editing). It also doesn’t usually handle spelling or grammar fixes in isolation (that’s copyediting), though a good line editor will correct these if they see them.

Line editing helps your sentences read beautifully, clearly and with impact, while keeping your original voice intact.

 

Copy editing

Once the overall structure, flow and writing quality have been fixed, the copy editor will focus on the document at a more technical level. They will ensure completeness, accuracy, consistency, conciseness, readability, and most especially clarity – everything must be so clear that it cannot be misunderstood. The line editor also focuses on punctuation, grammar and spelling. They do not change the content or structure.

What copyediting typically includes:

• Correcting grammar, spelling and punctuation
• Fixing typos and syntax errors

Ensuring consistency in:

• Capitalisation
• Hyphenation and number formatting
• Terminology and style (especially for nonfiction)
• Checking for clarity and readability on a sentence level
• Verifying internal consistency (e.g. character names, timelines, facts)
• Applying a style guide if required (e.g. New Hart’s Rules: The Oxford Style Guide, Chicago Manual of Style)

What copyediting does not include:

• Restructuring content or chapters (that’s developmental editing).
• Rewriting sentences for tone or style (that’s line editing).
• Final page checks after layout (that’s proofreading).

In short: Copyediting is about correctness and consistency — polishing your manuscript so it’s clean, professional, and ready for design or proofreading.

 

For self-publishing authors, a copy edit is the minimum recommended level of editing required for publishing.

 

Proofreading

Proofreading is the final step in the editing process. It happens after your manuscript has been fully edited, laid out, and prepared for print or digital publication.

What proofreading includes:

• Correcting typos, spelling and punctuation errors

Fixing formatting inconsistencies, such as:

• Double spaces
• Incorrect line or paragraph breaks
• Misaligned text or page numbers

Catching layout errors, like:

• Orphans and widows (stray words on lines or pages)
• Broken headings or awkward page breaks
• Ensuring all final changes were applied correctly
• Checking consistency in fonts, spacing, italics, bold text and captions

What proofreading does not include:

• Rewriting or restructuring content
• Editing for tone, clarity or grammar beyond surface-level errors
• Making major changes — those should be handled in earlier editing stages

In short: proofreading is the last quality check before your book is published — it ensures the final, formatted version is error-free and polished for readers.

How long does editing take?

The editorial process can take anywhere from one to four months, depending on the length and complexity of the manuscript, the scope of work required, the level of editing being performed, and the quality of the writing. The average timeline is around one to two months for a reasonably well-written and structured book. Developmental editing is the most time-consuming, as it involves deeper content revisions.

Remember: good, accurate editing takes time and should not be rushed. Also remember when planning your project that the turnaround time is affected by the availability of our editors.

 

How much does editing cost?

Editing costs vary depending on the level of editing required and the quality of the manuscript. As a rough guide, you can expect the following:

• Substantive editing: 45c – 60c per word
• Medium copy-editing: 30c – 45c per word
• Light copy-editing: 25c – 30c per word
• Proofreading: 20c – 30c per word

TIP: YES!PRESS clients on a tight budget but eager to publish can save on editing costs by choosing a junior editor (2–3 years of experience) or an intermediate editor (4–8 years of experience).

Factors that influence the editing rate include:

• Manuscript quality (well-written text may require only light editing)
• Genre and complexity (e.g. fiction vs academic or technical content)
• Turnaround time / deadlines
• Experience level of the editor

 

How do I obtain an editing or proofreading quote?

To receive a quote for editorial services, either email us or complete the online quote request and provide the following information:

• Three representative chapters (or the full manuscript depending on the service required; kindly request a non-disclosure document if you’d prefer one)
• Table of contents
• Synopsis of the book
• Total word count of manuscript
• Intended target audience

Editing quotes take approximately 2 working days to generate.