Book Editing Services
Editing that protects your voice.
Developmental editing, copy editing and proofreading from professional US book editors. Free 5-page sample edit, Chicago Manual of Style, honest flat quotes.
Book Editing Services
What's the difference between developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading?
Developmental editing fixes the big picture — structure, pacing, plot, and argument. Copy editing fixes the sentence level — clarity, grammar, consistency, and style. Proofreading is the final pass that catches typos and layout errors before publication. A professionally edited book needs all three, in that order, and Bradbury Publishers offers each as a separate service or as one complete editing package.
Good editing isn't rewriting your book — it's finding the shortest distance between your intention and your reader. Our editors are working professionals who edit to The Chicago Manual of Style and mark what works before they mark what doesn't. Every change comes with a reason, and every note respects the one thing we never touch: your voice.
Start with a free sample edit of five pages — a real edit, not a teaser — so you can judge the fit before you spend a dollar. Then your editor reads the entire manuscript before touching a word, delivers big-picture notes first and line notes second, and stays reachable while you revise. If we don't think your book needs a service you asked for, we'll tell you and quote the smaller one.
What's included in our book editing services
Developmental edit
Structure, pacing, character and argument — the big moves, delivered with a full editorial letter and margin notes.
Line & copy edit
Sentence-level clarity, rhythm and consistency, tracked in Word so you accept or reject every change.
Final proofread
The last net before print or upload: typos, punctuation, formatting and layout errors caught on typeset pages.
A real style sheet
Your spellings, capitalizations, hyphenations and character details documented, so every future book stays consistent.
One-hour query call
A live session with your editor to walk through the notes together and prioritize your revision.
Post-edit support
Questions while you revise are included — you'll never pay extra to ask what an editor meant.
Who are our editing services for?
First-time novelists preparing an Amazon launch, nonfiction experts protecting their credibility, and authors polishing a submission — every one of them deserves an editor who tells the truth kindly.
- First-time authors
- Indie authors pre-launch
- Nonfiction & business writers
- Memoirists
- Querying to agents
- Self-published relaunches
Why choose us
Why US authors choose Bradbury for editing & proofreading
4.9/5 average author rating
Chicago Manual of Style, always
US publishing standard, applied consistently — agents and reviewers notice the difference.
Editors who argue back
You get honest pushback with reasons, not a yes-person. That's what you're paying for.
Flat, honest quotes
Priced by word count and edit level, quoted up front. The sample edit tells you exactly what you're buying.
Your voice is untouchable
We edit around your style, not over it. If a change flattens your personality, we cut the change.
Frequently asked questions about book editing
How much do book editing services cost?
Editing is priced per word by level: proofreading is the least expensive, copy editing sits in the middle, and developmental editing is the deepest. After your free sample edit we send one flat, itemized quote — no hourly meters. Call us or request a quote online and you'll have your number within one business day.
What level of editing does my manuscript need?
If readers would stumble over structure, pacing or plot, start with a developmental edit. If the story works but sentences wobble, choose copy editing. If it's already polished and you need a final safety net, proofreading is enough. Send us the first five pages and we'll tell you honestly which one your book actually needs.
How long does editing take?
A typical 70,000-word manuscript takes two to four weeks for copy editing and four to six for a developmental edit, plus your revision time. Rush schedules are available for launch deadlines — ask and we'll map the calendar with you before you commit.
Do you edit to a specific style guide?
Yes — The Chicago Manual of Style, the US publishing standard, plus Merriam-Webster for spelling. Genre exceptions (sci-fi terminology, dialect, house styles) are captured in your book's style sheet so every editor and proofreader stays consistent.
What if I disagree with an edit?
Then you reject it — every change is tracked, and the final call is always yours. Editors here mark what works before they mark what doesn't, and the one-hour query call exists precisely so you can argue, ask and decide with the notes in front of you.
Can you edit a book that's already self-published?
Absolutely — relaunches are some of our favorite projects. We re-edit, refresh the cover and metadata, and help you push the new edition across Amazon KDP and other platforms. Many relaunched titles see their strongest sales in the weeks after a clean re-release.
Send five pages today — the sample edit is free, and the honesty is included. Call now or request your editing quote online.
More ways we help authors
Your book deserves a fair launch
Tell us where you are — an idea, a draft, or a finished manuscript — and we'll map the shortest honest route to published.