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Book Editing Services for Your Manuscript

TUW's book editing services cover corrections, sentence improvements or structural feedback through Essential Editing, Line Editing and Developmental Editing. You choose your editor, with standard prices from $2.30 to $3.10 per 100 words.

Post a Project Browse editors
Essential EditingI need someone to catch the errors.$2.30per 100 wordsLine EditingMy sentences don't read as clearly as I'd like.$2.70per 100 wordsDevelopmental EditingI'm not sure my book holds together.$3.10per 100 words
Post your project, then review the profiles of editors who request it. You choose who edits your manuscript.
4.9/5Overall editor quality rating
42,000+Completed orders involving our editors
24,000+Books written by TUW

Customers on their book edits

TUW editors have an overall score of 4.9 out of 5 across 10,853 quality ratings.

Evelyn is an excellent editor. I always enjoy working with her. Another job well done!
Kelly C.Line Editing customer
I'll be working with Gracie through the series and any other books I might write. She's the best.
Barbara W.Line Editing customer
During the process, he showed he cared. He kept me up to date on where he was in the editing. He gave me options to consider and ultimately, I had a great edited document.
Paul M.Line Editing customer
If I could give 6 stars on communication and schedule I would! Great work by Genevieve - strongly recommend!
Amanda B.Line Editing customer
I loved working with Caroline, it was a wonderful collaboration and made the whole process so easy! I can't wait to work with her again. Having someone like Caroline to bounce ideas off so that a product could be created to the highest standard is invaluable! Thank you so much for your help Caroline!
Jane C.Line Editing customer
Mable is the best!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, we have done a few books together now, but this one is very special to me.
Alesandra F.Line Editing customer
An absolute joy to work with. This is my second project and I hope to work with her on many more.
Steve C.Line Editing customer
Frankie was incredible to work with. I appreciate his prompt replies to all my questions, inquires, and recommendations. I plan to work with him on future projects.
Doug G.Essential Editing customer
I love Genevieve's work! Super accommodating, quick and efficient.
Wendi Ruth M.Essential Editing customer
Thank you for your great work! It is so nice to work with an editor who turns in such high quality work.
Suzanne D.Essential Editing customer
Great attention to detail and great communication. She did a great job overall.
Kirstie C.Essential Editing customer
Incredible work. Such an excellent communicator and talented developmental editor. Erin helped me restructure a mess of a book and provided terrific tips and guidance on making changes. I will be back again for sure!
Magen H.Developmental Editing customer

Which editing does your book need?

Choose the level that matches the work your manuscript needs, from correcting errors to reviewing the whole book's structure.

I need someone to catch the errors.

Essential Editing

Your editor corrects spelling, grammar, punctuation and typos, and checks word choice, consistency, quotations and citation details.

Explore Essential Editing

My sentences don't read as clearly as I'd like.

Line Editing

Your editor improves clarity, phrasing, transitions and flow while keeping your voice. The same editor also copy edits and proofreads your manuscript.

Explore Line Editing

I'm not sure my book holds together.

Developmental Editing

Your editor reviews structure, focus, audience and market fit, inaccuracies and balance. You receive manuscript comments and a written whole-book assessment.

Explore Developmental Editing

Compare book editing services and prices

Essential and Line revision rounds cover editing, never new content. Times are recent order medians, not promises.

What you getEssential EditingCopy editing and proofreadingLine EditingDevelopmental Editing
Price per 100 words$2.30 standard ($2.10 Insider)$2.70 standard ($2.40 Insider)$3.10 standard ($2.80 Insider)
50,000-word manuscript$1,150 standard$1,350 standard$1,550 standard
Spelling, grammar and punctuationIncludedIncludedNot included
Sentence flow, clarity and wordingNot includedIncludedNot included
Structure, focus and audienceNot includedNot includedIncluded
What you receiveEdited manuscriptEdited manuscriptManuscript comments and written whole-book assessment
Editing revision roundsUp to 2 roundsUp to 2 roundsNone
Typical order-to-finish timeAbout 11 daysAbout 10 daysAbout 11 days
Included with TUW book writingIncludedNot includedNot included
Best suited toManuscripts ready for final correctionsManuscripts needing clearer, smoother sentencesManuscripts needing structural feedback
Essential Editing Line Editing Developmental Editing

Essential EditingCopy editing and proofreading

  • IncludedSpelling, grammar and punctuation
  • Not includedSentence flow, clarity and wording
  • Not includedStructure, focus and audience
  • IncludedIncluded with TUW book writing
Price per 100 words
$2.30 standard ($2.10 Insider)
50,000-word manuscript
$1,150 standard
What you receive
Edited manuscript
Editing revision rounds
Up to 2 rounds
Typical order-to-finish time
About 11 days
Best suited to
Manuscripts ready for final corrections
Essential Editing

Line Editing

  • IncludedSpelling, grammar and punctuation
  • IncludedSentence flow, clarity and wording
  • Not includedStructure, focus and audience
  • Not includedIncluded with TUW book writing
Price per 100 words
$2.70 standard ($2.40 Insider)
50,000-word manuscript
$1,350 standard
What you receive
Edited manuscript
Editing revision rounds
Up to 2 rounds
Typical order-to-finish time
About 10 days
Best suited to
Manuscripts needing clearer, smoother sentences
Line Editing

Developmental Editing

  • Not includedSpelling, grammar and punctuation
  • Not includedSentence flow, clarity and wording
  • IncludedStructure, focus and audience
  • Not includedIncluded with TUW book writing
Price per 100 words
$3.10 standard ($2.80 Insider)
50,000-word manuscript
$1,550 standard
What you receive
Manuscript comments and written whole-book assessment
Editing revision rounds
None
Typical order-to-finish time
About 11 days
Best suited to
Manuscripts needing structural feedback
Developmental Editing

The Line Editing upgrade for TUW-written books costs $0.95 per 100 words ($0.80 Insider).

Use our book editing cost calculator to check pricing for your word count and editing level.

How your book editing project works

Post a Project

Posting a project is free. Your price is based on word count, and you see it before paying.

1

Share your manuscript details

Enter your word count, audience, themes and whether you've self-edited. Essential and Line also offer US or UK English.

Editing levelLine Editing
Word count52,000
AudienceAdult mystery readers
2

Choose your editor

Editors request your project. Review their profiles, ratings and completed orders, then choose your editor.

Evelyn Waters★ 4.94Choose editor
Genevieve Wilcox★ 4.97Choose editor
Bailey Anns★ 4.96Choose editor
3

Follow the work

Your editor works in a live online document. Follow along and chat as the work progresses.

She made the decision to leave before the arrival of the rain. She decided to leave before the rain arrived.

CustomerThis reads more clearly and still sounds like me.
4

Review the result

Review your edit or assessment. With Essential or Line, approve it or highlight text and comment for editing revisions.

After the storm passed, Mara opened the shutters.

Request revisionApprove edit

Choose your professional book editor

Browse editors

Browse editor profiles with ratings and completed orders before choosing your editor.

Compare freelance and TUW editing rates

Compare rates by editing level and what's included. TUW charges the same standard rates for fiction and nonfiction, including novel editing services.

Editing levelFreelance cents per wordTUW cents per word
Essential EditingFiction 2.0 to 2.7, nonfiction 3.0 to 4.02.3 for fiction and nonfiction, including copy editing and proofreading
Line EditingFiction 2.7 to 3.5, nonfiction 3.5 to 5.02.7 for fiction and nonfiction, including copy editing and proofreading
Developmental EditingFiction 3.0 to 3.5, nonfiction 4.0 to 5.03.1 for fiction and nonfiction

Freelance rates come from the Editorial Freelancers Association 2026 rate chart. Freelance copy editing usually excludes proofreading.

Having TUW write your book?

Every TUW Book Writing order includes Essential Editing. For a TUW-written book, you can upgrade to Line Editing for $0.95 per 100 words, or $0.80 for Insiders.

Explore Book Writing →

Common questions

What does a book editor do?

A book editor checks your manuscript at the level you choose, from spelling and grammar to sentence clarity or whole-book structure. TUW's Essential and Line Editing return an edited manuscript. Developmental Editing returns manuscript comments and a written whole-book assessment. Rewriting or adding material requires a writing package, and formatting is a separate service.

How much do book editing services cost?

TUW's standard prices per 100 words are $2.30 for Essential Editing, $2.70 for Line Editing and $3.10 for Developmental Editing. A 50,000-word manuscript costs $1,150, $1,350 or $1,550, respectively. Your total depends on word count, and you see the price before paying.

Which type of book editing do I need?

Choose Essential Editing if your manuscript needs spelling, grammar, punctuation and consistency checks. Choose Line Editing if sentences need clearer meaning, better phrasing or smoother flow. Choose Developmental Editing if you need feedback on structure, focus, audience and market fit, inaccuracies or uneven coverage.

What is the difference between copy, line and developmental editing?

Copy editing corrects language errors and consistency issues, and TUW's Essential Editing includes proofreading. Line Editing improves sentences while keeping your voice and includes copy editing and proofreading by the same editor. It does not rewrite your book or change its structure. Developmental Editing provides structural feedback through comments and a written assessment, without tracked changes, sentence editing, copy editing or proofreading.

What order should book editing happen in?

If your manuscript needs several levels, start with Developmental Editing to address structure, then use Line Editing for sentences. Essential Editing handles final cleanup, but Line Editing already includes copy editing and proofreading. You do not need a separate Essential Editing order after Line Editing.

How long does book editing take?

From order to finished edit, Essential Editing typically takes about 11 days, Line Editing about 10 days and Developmental Editing about 11 days. These are medians of recent orders, not promised delivery times.

How do I choose a book editor through TUW?

Post your project for free with your manuscript details. Editors request your project, and you review their profiles, ratings and completed orders before choosing your editor. You can follow the work in a live online document and chat with your editor.

Is editing included when TUW writes my book?

Every TUW Book Writing order includes Essential Editing. For TUW-written books, the Line Editing upgrade costs $0.95 per 100 words, or $0.80 for Insiders. Line Editing includes copy editing and proofreading by the same editor.

Choose the editing your manuscript needs

Post your project for free, choose your editor from the profiles of those who request it, and see your price before paying.

Browse editorsPost a Project