Fiction Editing Services for Novels, at Every EFA Level
Fiction editing with AuthorWings is priced by level and word count. Proofreading starts at $160 and developmental editing at $330 for the first 10,000 words, then a per-word rate. An 80,000-word novel costs $1,280 to proofread or $8,320 for all four levels. Start with a $49 sample edit.
- $49 sample edit
- Editors matched to your genre
- Middle grade and YA at fiction rates
One lead editor who knows your genre, a fixed price in line with EFA rates, and a fresh proofreader for the final check.
Fiction editing prices
Fiction editing prices by novel length
Drag the slider to your word count. Each card prices one editing level for your novel: a set price up to 10,000 words, then a per-word rate. Every edit comes back as tracked changes in Word, done by a human editor.
Level 1 · Deepest
Developmental editing
Plot, character arcs and pacing
$2,640
$330 up to 10,000 words, then $0.033 a word
An 8 to 20 page editorial letter, plus chapter notes in the manuscript
15 to 25 business days
Choose developmentalLevel 2
Line editing
Voice, rhythm and point of view
$2,480
$310 up to 10,000 words, then $0.031 a word
Tracked changes, with comments explaining each rewrite
7 to 12 business days
Choose line editingLevel 3
Copy editing
Grammar, continuity and timeline
$1,920
$240 up to 10,000 words, then $0.024 a word
Tracked changes, plus a style sheet of every name and decision
5 to 10 business days
Choose copy editingLevel 4 · Final
Proofreading
The final typo and layout pass
$1,280
$160 up to 10,000 words, then $0.016 a word
Corrections marked on your final file or typeset pages
3 to 7 business days
Choose proofreadingMost novels need more than one level, in this order. Not sure which? Start with a $49 sample edit and we’ll tell you.
Need it sooner? Rush delivery is +15%, subject to availability.
Flexible, milestone-based payments, set out in your agreement before work starts.
Over 150,000 words? Quoted on your call.
All prices in USD, excluding tax.
| Editing level | 60,000 words | 80,000 words | 90,000 words | 100,000 words | 120,000 words |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Developmental editing | $1,980 | $2,640 | $2,970 | $3,300 | $3,960 |
| Line editing | $1,860 | $2,480 | $2,790 | $3,100 | $3,720 |
| Copy editing | $1,440 | $1,920 | $2,160 | $2,400 | $2,880 |
| Proofreading | $960 | $1,280 | $1,440 | $1,600 | $1,920 |
| Line, copy and proofreading | $4,260 | $5,680 | $6,390 | $7,100 | $8,520 |
| All four levels | $6,240 | $8,320 | $9,360 | $10,400 | $12,480 |
Copy editing comes with a style sheet, and developmental editing with an 8 to 20 page editorial letter. Non-fiction rates are on our non-fiction editing page, and memoir rates on our book editing services page.
The AuthorWings Specialist Network
Editors and proofreaders.
Showing 18 professionals
EditorDawn M. BarclayVetted EditorSuspense, Romance
United StatesEnglish (US)Beyond editing, as of October, 2026, I’ve written seven novels, three nonfiction books, and edited nine crime fiction anthologies. My work has won the Agatha, Macavity, Chanticleer, Maxy, and Lowell Thomas Gold Awards, and I have been a finalist for the Anthony and Silver Falchion…Manuscript assessmentCopy editingQuery letter and synopsis review+8 more30 yrs20+ booksView profile →
EditorCortni MerrittVetted EditorHistorical fiction, Self-helpUnited StatesEnglish (US)I began freelance editing in 2010 and launched SRD Editing Services in 2018, where I work mostly with self-publishing writers. I also provide white-label editing services to traditional imprints. I hold an MA in English literature, editing certificates from Florida State University and Poytner Institute,…Copy editingDevelopmental editingProofreading+1 more16 yrs200+ booksView profile →
EditorJudith ArnoldVetted EditorMemoir, Fiction
CanadaEnglish (US)I’m a ghostwriter, editor, author coach and author. I enjoy writing and editing memoir, literary and women’s fiction, romance of all heat levels, romantasy, fantasy and speculative fiction, mysteries and cozies. I’m particularly drawn to true-life stories and mixed-genre mashups told with strong and interesting…Manuscript assessmentDevelopmental editingLine editing+11 more20 yrs50 booksView profile →
EditorKerry AbermanVetted EditorFiction, NonfictionUnited StatesEnglish (US)I am a full-time book editor with nine years’ experience specializing in developmental and line edits. Books I’ve edited have won numerous awards and reached New York Times best seller status. I also offer professional proofreads, manuscript evaluations, and query and synopsis packages. When I…Manuscript assessmentDevelopmental editingLine editing+13 more9 yrs117 booksView profile →
EditorJenny BowmanVetted EditorMiddle Grade, Children's BooksUnited StatesEnglish (US and UK)Jenny Bowman is Children’s Book Editor with over fifteen years experience providing developmental editing and children’s book coaching for Picture Books, Chapter Books and Middle Grade Novels. She works with authors from around the world, and has edited books on the New York Times bestselling…Developmental editingQuery letter and synopsis reviewChildren's book coaching16 yrs100+ booksView profile →
EditorGinny RuthsVetted EditorMemoir, Narrative nonfictionUnited StatesEnglish (US)As a substantive, developmental, and line editor for 30+ years, I’ve collaborated with clients around the world in both fiction and nonfiction, from memoir and spirituality to fantasy and thriller to children’s picture books. Business clients include Paralyzed Veterans of America, Infinity Foundation, US Soccer,…Manuscript assessmentCopy editingQuery letter and synopsis review+15 more36 yrs30+ booksView profile →
EditorKayinat KashifThriller, Mystery
PakistanEnglish (US and UK)I am an editorial specialist with experience supporting authors, publishing imprints, and academic clients through manuscript development, structural and line editing, copyediting, proofreading, and academic writing support. I work with a client-focused approach to editorial planning, style-guide consistency, project coordination, and preparing clear, polished work…Manuscript assessmentDevelopmental editingLine editing+4 more5 yrs20 booksView profile →
EditorDana AlsamsamVetted EditorLiterary Fiction, PoetryUnited StatesEnglish (US)I help authors bring their vision to life! ❤️🔥 I'm a professional book editor, published poet and writer, and MFA graduate with experience working with authors across a wide range of genres, including literary fiction, genre fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, and poetry. I offer developmental…Manuscript assessmentCopy editingQuery letter and synopsis review+4 more10 yrs500+ booksView profile →
EditorMark GardnerVetted EditorChristian Fiction/Fantasy, Science FictionUnited StatesEnglish (US and UK)I am an editor and proofreader with more than nine years of experience working with independent authors, small presses, and self-publishing professionals. I have edited 40 books and 200 academic papers. My projects have included fiction and nonfiction books, memoirs, self-help titles, business books, true…Line editingCopy editingProofreading+3 more9 yrs40 booksView profile →
EditorScarlett R. AlgeeVetted EditorHorror, Science FictionUnited StatesEnglish (US)I hold a B.A. in English, with honors, from Lambuth University and have extensive professional experience as a freelance editor, including work for JournalStone Publishing, Stars and Sabers, and Sley House, as well as maintaining my own independent imprint, Cold War Radio Press. I specialize…Developmental editingLine editingCopy editing+5 more13 yrs200 booksView profile →
EditorTaylor MelendyVetted EditorFiction, FantasyUnited StatesEnglish (US)I’m an editor with 11 years of experience and have worked on 165 books for independent authors and hybrid publishers, including MindStir Media, Manhattan Book Group, and Seacoast Press. I edit fiction and fantasy, memoir, nonfiction, and children’s books, with a special interest in projects…Manuscript assessmentDevelopmental editingLine editing+2 more11 yrs165 booksView profile →
EditorSue TothVetted EditorFiction, MemoirUnited StatesI am a developmental editor and book coach. My specialty is working with fiction authors in the genres of romance, mystery, thriller, psychological thriller, and suspense. When you work with me, we will look at the big picture of your book together. I'll help you…Manuscript assessmentDevelopmental editingBook coaching20 yrs500 booksView profile →
EditorLorraine WhiteleyVetted EditorNon-fiction, Academic
South AfricaAfrikaans, English (US and UK)As a lifelong avid reader with a sharp eye for detail, I am a certified Copyeditor and Proofreader dedicated to delivering flawless, high-quality content. I recently formalised my lifelong passion by earning my certification from SA Writers' College in April 2026. However, my editorial roots…Copy editingManuscript assessmentFact-checking+5 more15 yrs100 booksView profile →
EditorPaul MartinVetted EditorHistory, Education
United KingdomEnglish (UK, US) +1I am a passionate and meticulous education resource developer and History specialist editor (fiction/non-fiction; trade, academic), with over 20 years’ experience across a range of subjects and audiences. I worked first in-house for UK education publishers and for the last 10 years as a full-time…Manuscript assessmentCopy editingFact-checking+2 more24 yrs100s booksView profile →
EditorJoelle NanulaRomance, FantasyUnited StatesEnglish (US)I am a professional proofreader and copy editor with over six years of experience in the field of editing. After graduating with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, I worked as both a creative copywriter and academic editor before falling in love with the world…Copy editingProofreading6 yrs25+ booksView profile →
EditorVicky HaygoodVetted EditorScience Fiction, FantasyUnited StatesEnglish (US)I am a freelance editor and publishing professional with 7+ years of experience providing developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, proofreading, and book production support. I specialize in fiction and author services, with experience across romance, romantasy, fantasy, science fiction, horror, speculative fiction, LGBTQ+ fiction, literary/upmarket…Copy editingProofreadingDevelopmental editing+6 more7 yrs40 booksView profile →
EditorTenesha L. CurtisVetted EditorFiction, Self-HelpUnited StatesEnglish (US)I have an academic and professional background in psychotherapy for addictive diseases, and currently work full-time as the publishing manager at Get Book Help. As an indie author myself, I have real-world, first-hand experience with exactly what my clients are experiencing—no theories, no hearsay, I…Manuscript assessmentQuery letter and synopsis reviewDevelopmental editing+25 more26 yrs300 booksView profile →
EditorBlessing Oluebube OguwikeVetted EditorWriting, Editing
NigeriaEnglish (US)Results-oriented Editor, Author Support Specialist on Webnovel Platforms, Acquisitions Editor, Cleva U.S. Bank Ambassador, and Certified AI Specialist with over five years of experience supporting authors, improving manuscript quality, managing publishing operations, and promoting brands across leading digital publishing platforms. Demonstrated expertise in manuscript acquisition,…Manuscript assessmentDevelopmental editingLine editing+16 more5 yrs35 booksView profile →No one matches these filters.
Choosing your editor: Standard pricing assigns the best available editor for your genre. Named Specialists, including professionals with bestselling titles to their name, work to their own schedules, so their pricing and start dates are confirmed on your consultation call.
Choosing a level
Which edit does your novel need? Match it to the biggest problem left
Book the edit that fixes the biggest problem still in the draft. Fixing structure after a copy edit means paying for the copy edit twice, so the deeper levels come first.
Beta readers lose interest in the middle, or the ending doesn’t land
Developmental editing
You’re not sure the draft needs a full edit yet
Editorial assessment, $180 then $0.018 a word
The story works, but sentences feel flat or wordy
Line editing
A character’s eye color, a street name or a day of the week keeps changing
Copy editing
The book is formatted and ready to upload
Proofreading
A developmental editor reads for structure, character and pace; our developmental editing page shows what the letter holds. The editorial assessment fee is credited toward a full edit booked within 60 days.
Unsure where one level ends and the next starts? See line editing vs copy editing and copy editing vs proofreading. Before you pay for any level, a few self-editing passes lower what’s left to fix.
What we check
What a fiction editor checks beyond grammar
A fiction editor checks the story’s internal logic as well as its sentences. These five checks matter most in a novel.
Point of view
Each scene stays inside one character’s head unless the book is written to move between them. A slip into another character’s thoughts gets flagged.
Timeline and continuity
Days, ages, seasons and travel times add up. A character who is 34 in chapter 2 isn’t 36 a month later.
Pacing and chapter endings
Each chapter gives the reader a reason to turn the page, and slow stretches are marked.
Dialogue
Each character sounds like themselves, tags are clear, and punctuation follows one style.
The style sheet
The copy editor records every character name, invented word, spelling choice and timeline fact, so the proofreader and your next book follow the same rules.
Checks by genre
Readers of each genre expect certain things, and your editor checks for them. Your lead editor is matched to your genre, so these checks are part of the edit at no extra cost.
Romance
The love story stays at the center, the heat level stays consistent, and the ending pays off the promise to the reader.
Mystery and cozy mystery
Every clue the detective uses is shown to the reader before the reveal, and alibis hold up against the timeline.
Thriller and suspense
Stakes rise from chapter to chapter, and short chapters end on a pull forward.
Fantasy and science fiction
Invented names are spelled the same every time, magic or technology follows its own rules, and the map matches the text.
Historical fiction
Words, objects and attitudes fit the period, and dates match real events.
Literary fiction
Voice and sentence rhythm, where the line edit does most of the work.
Middle grade and young adult
The narrator’s age, vocabulary and content fit the category. See middle grade vs young adult.
Novellas and story collections
Priced like a novel. In a collection, names and style stay consistent from story to story.
A fiction edit, up close
One passage, before and after
Here’s a short passage from Steeped in Secrets, a cozy mystery by our example author Maya Ellison, a retired librarian in Harbor Falls, Oregon. Her sleuth, tea shop owner Nora Pike, is the point-of-view character.
BeforeChapter 7
On Tuesday morning, the day after the funeral, Nora set the green teapot on the counter. Detective Hale came in out of the rain. He wondered if she knew more than she was telling. “You’re open early,” he said. Nora poured two cups and didn’t answer.
AfterTracked changes
On Tuesday Thursday morning, the day after the funeral, Nora set the green blue teapot on the counter. The bell over the door rang, and Detective Hale came in out of the rain. He wondered if she knew more than she was telling. shook the rain off his coat. He was watching her the way he watched suspects. “You’re open early,” he said. Nora poured two cups and didn’t answer.
| Line | Problem | Caught at |
|---|---|---|
| “On Tuesday morning, the day after the funeral” | The funeral was on Wednesday in chapter 6 | Copy edit (timeline, logged in the style sheet) |
| “the green teapot” | The teapot is blue in chapters 2 and 9 | Copy edit (continuity) |
| “He wondered if she knew more than she was telling.” | Point-of-view slip: Nora can’t know what Hale is thinking | Line edit |
| “Detective Hale came in out of the rain.” | A flat entrance, shown instead through what Nora sees and hears | Line edit |
Style sheet entryFuneral: Wednesday, chapter 6.Teapot: blue (chapters 2, 9, 14).
Your editor suggests each change in tracked changes with a comment explaining why. You accept or reject every change.
Novel proofreading
Novel proofreading, the last check before you publish
Novel proofreading catches typos, missing words, and layout errors such as bad page breaks, wrong running heads and stray single lines at the top of a page.
- $160up to 10,000 words, then $0.016 a word
- $1,280for an 80,000-word novel
- 3 to 7business days
A proofread doesn’t fix structure or sentences, so book it after any other edits. It works best on the formatted pages; see editing vs proofreading for why.
How a fiction edit works, from sample to final pages
Sample edit
Send up to 1,000 words for $49. You get them back with tracked changes and comments, plus a note on which edit your draft needs.
Fixed quote
A written price for your word count and level. Flexible, milestone-based payments, set out in your agreement before work starts.
The edit
Your lead editor works through the manuscript in tracked changes, with the editorial letter or the style sheet.
Your revisions
You review every change and revise in your own time.
Final proofread
A fresh proofreader who hasn’t seen the book checks the final pages against the style sheet.
Edit, design and publish
Author-Polished fiction bundles from edit to launch
If you want the novel edited, designed and published on one contract, an Author-Polished bundle covers it. Editing in every bundle is charged at full fiction rates. One contract, one team, one timeline.
Author-Polished Starter
Finished novels where the structure is already sound
$2,659
For 20,000 words · 4 to 6 weeks90,000-word novel: $7,629
- Line, copy and proofreading
- Print-Ready cover
- Ebook, paperback and hardcover formatting
- Online Stores publishing
Author-Polished Growth
Most popularNovels needing all four editing levels
$3,319
For 20,000 words · 5 to 7 weeks90,000-word novel: $10,599
- Everything in Starter, with:
- All four editing levels
- An 8 to 20 page editorial letter
Author-Polished Authority
The deepest edit, an illustrated cover, and the widest reach
$4,143
For 20,000 words · 5 to 8 weeks90,000-word novel: $11,423
- Everything in Growth, plus:
- Illustrated cover
- Global publishing
- 30 days of support after launch
Other lengths are quoted for your word count. See the full Author-Polished bundle comparison, or what fiction publishing covers once the edit is done.
Not ready for an edit?
When fiction editing is the wrong first step
Editing works on a finished draft. In these four cases, something else should come first.
The draft isn’t finished
A book coach helps you get to the end on a deadline.
You’d rather someone wrote it
Fiction ghostwriting includes all four EFA editing levels.
It’s a picture book or chapter book
Children’s book editing is priced by book type, with a read-aloud pass.
It’s non-fiction or memoir
See non-fiction editing for expert books. Memoir rates are on the book editing page linked in the price table above.
Fiction editing questions novelists ask first
If your question isn’t here, the contact options at the bottom of the page reach a real person.
How much does it cost to edit an 80,000-word novel?
For an 80,000-word novel, proofreading costs $1,280, copy editing $1,920, line editing $2,480 and developmental editing $2,640. Line, copy and proofreading together cost $5,680, and all four levels cost $8,320. Each price is fixed before work starts, and a $49 sample edit tells you which level your draft needs.
Do you edit middle grade and young adult novels?
Yes. Middle grade and YA novels use the fiction rates, and they’re edited by editors who work in those categories. The editor checks that the narrator’s age, vocabulary and content fit the reader, alongside the usual story checks. Illustrated books such as picture books and chapter books go through children’s book editing, which is priced by book type.
Do you edit novellas and short story collections?
Yes. A novella or a story collection is priced the same way as a novel: the base price covers the first 10,000 words, then the per-word rate applies. A 30,000-word novella costs $480 to proofread or $990 for a developmental edit. In a collection, the editor also checks that names and style stay consistent from story to story.
Can you edit book two of my series to match book one?
Yes. Send book one’s style sheet if you have one, and the editor works from it so names, spellings and timeline facts carry over. If book one was never copy edited, the copy edit on book two builds a style sheet that covers the series. A series bible from your own planning helps too.
Can you add test readers to a fiction edit?
Yes. Test readers read the draft as ordinary readers and report where they got bored, confused or hooked. A beta read with 5 readers costs $599, and 8 readers costs $849. They work best before a developmental edit, or before you decide whether you need one.
Start with a $49 sample edit of your novel
Send up to 1,000 words from any chapter. Within 3 days, you get them back edited with tracked changes and comments, plus a short note on which level your novel needs and what it will cost. The $49 comes off your edit if you book within 60 days.
Your $49 sample editBack in 3 days
How the sample works
- SendUp to 1,000 words from any chapter
- EditedYour 1,000 words, with every change shown
- RecommendedA short note on which level your novel needs
- CreditedThe $49 comes off your edit within 60 days
You keep 100% of the rights to your work, and nothing is signed until you decide.
