Choosing your editing services
The first step in the editing process doesn't involve editing at all, but rather deciding the type of editing you need for your book. Are you prone to spelling or grammar errors? Does it feel like your characters could be a bit more fleshed out or that your plot might not be as tight as it could be? Do you panic at the thought of sending a pitch to an editor? The right editing services can fix these issues, plus give you the surge of confidence you've been missing!
Copy editing
Copy editing is a detailed word-by-word pass that goes deep into your manuscript, correcting not just grammar, but also tightening your phrasing, cleaning up word usage quirks, and keeping consistency on point. This type of editing is done with tracked changes on, so you can agree (or disagree) with each change before your work goes to proof.
Line editing
Line editors look at pacing, tone, and flow. They'll also check your prose to see if it works as intended. They'll note any redundancies, suggest more powerful word choices, and help your story shine without muddling your voice or rewriting entire chapters.
Proofreading
Having you been using "their" instead of "they're" in your writing? Are misplaced commas driving you insane? Do you have rogue typos that gnaw away at your credibility and authority? Proofreading gleefully squashes all of those things. Proofreading is generally the last step before your book moves onto printing
Query letter and synopsis editing
If you're going the traditional publishing route, you'll want to make sure your manuscript catches an agent's eye despite the absolute flood of submissions they receive. BookBaby's query letter and synopsis editing service will refine your pitch materials so that your one-page query letter and your 3–5 page synopsis will like page-turners.
And yes, you can mix and match different editing services! If you've already heavily edited your book on your own, but you want an extra set of eyes as a safety net, go straight to proofreading. Or if you want deep structural feedback before you even think of typos, start with line editing and work your way down.
Creating an editorial style sheet
If this is your first time publishing a book or you're curious as to how editors can keep all of your characters, places, and names consistently in their heads, we'll share a bit of behind-the-scenes magic:
They use an editorial style sheet.
A style sheet is like the DNA of your manuscript. It's a living document that your editor creates to help track every little detail. Generally, editorial style sheets include things like:
- Character names and place/name spellings: Was that McAllister or MacAlister? New York City or NYC? Your style sheet is where official spellings are nailed down so that your reader never gets jolted out of the story wondering who "Brandon" is, when you've spelled it "Brendon" for the majority of the chapter.
- Abbreviations and acronyms: The stylesheet decides, once and for all, whether you write or spell out various abbreviations. It also lists any industry-specific acronyms or terms, as well as where they were first used.
- Dialogue punctuation and quotes: Do you use single quotes or double quotes? Does punctuation consistently go inside or outside the quotation marks? Your editor will make a note of your preference (or follow the Chicago Manual of Style) so that every dialogue line reads consistently.
- Numbers and dates: Is it June 16, 2025 or 16 June 2025? Do you consistently write 1000 or 1,000? These tiny choices add up, particularly in nonfiction books.
- Style notes: Many style sheets contain special notes such as how Latin phrases appear (et al, vs.) or the use of trademark symbols, hyphenation rules, and preferred font styles for headings, among other things.
If your editor has created such a sheet, it's a good idea to get a copy of it and share it with proofreaders, designers, and any future editors so that your book keeps its unified look and voice from start to finish. Having a unique style guide for your book to organize all the decisions about word usage and abbreviations is one of the core features that set BookBaby's editing services apart.
Getting your manuscript submission-ready
Before you submit your manuscript to the BookBaby editing team, make sure you've done everything you need to in order to format it correctly. This doesn't just help keep turnaround time on track, but it also helps you sidestep surprise fees. Here's what you need to know:
- File Type: Word document (.doc or .docx)
- Page Size & Margins: 8.5×11″ with 1″ margins all around
- Font & Spacing: Times New Roman, 12-point, double-spaced
- Track Changes: Turned off (no comments or embedded fonts)
The upload and final manuscript check
Once you upload your Microsoft Word file and send it to BookBaby, you'll get a prompt that asks "Is this your final manuscript?" This is the moment of truth. If you're still thinking of doing major rewrites or significant changes, finish those first before you submit it. If everything is good to go, select "Yes, this is my final manuscript." This locks in your content and sends it into the editorial queue.
Keep in mind that BookBaby charges extra for post-proof edits, so be careful with how you plan out your editing and feedback rounds.
What happens once I upload my manuscript?
Once you've uploaded your manuscript, you'll go through the following steps:
Confirmation & quote
You'll choose the editing services you want and you'll get an immediate price quote. Once your payment is submitted, your project moves into the editing queue.
Editor assignment
BookBaby matches you with an editor who has experience working with your specific genre, be it fiction, memoir, business, romance, fantasy, or any of the other many genres we work with.
Editing phase and timeframes
Depending on the service you chose, here's an approximate timeframe for how long things take:
Proofreading: Expect your "clean" file in about 7–11 business days for manuscripts up to 125,000 words.
Copy editing: Usually 8–15 business days, depending on length.
Line editing: Roughly 8–17 business days for deeper, structural feedback.
These are general timeframes. Your project dashboard will show you the specific ETA for your word count and the package you've chosen.
Now let's take a closer look at each type of editing so that you can more accurately choose the type that's right for you.
Copy editing
When your manuscript reaches the copy editor, they'll roll up their sleeves and go word by word, looking for issues spanning grammar and usage, consistency, and style mechanics. For example:
- Are you mixing British and American spelling? Do your verbs and subjects agree?
- Do character timelines match? Are settings constant? Is the terminology uniform?
- Do you consistently use Oxford commas and serial semicolons? Copy editors make sure your punctuation style is the same, page after page.
If a sentence isn't clear, or it meanders too much, your editor will suggest tweaks to tighten it up, without muffling your voice or writing style. Copy editing also lets you see tracked changes so you can approve/deny them accordingly.
Line editing
You can think of line editing as a narrative tune-up. It covers flow and pacing, tone and voice, repetition, and emotional impact. If it feels like there are gaps between scenes, or your narrator doesn't sound consistent, your line editor will let you know. Also, if lines are too repetitive or redundant, you'll see those flagged as well. If a climactic moment lacks punch, you'll also receive notes on how to make it more impactful.
Line editing makes your manuscript feel like a well-oiled machine with every sentence humming and every chapter driving the story forward.
Proofreading
Proofreading is one last safety net against typos and mechanical issues. Here, your editor will address any misspellings, punctuation, capitalization, verb tense, or other inconsistencies. A professional proofreader is a fresh set of eyes that looks for errors while making sure typos don't detract from your story. It's the perfect way to catch any lingering errors before your book goes to print or before your eBook is converted.
What to know when working with your editor
Although you won't be able to directly go back and forth with your editor on revisions, it's still a good idea to have a built-in feedback loop as part of the editing process. Most importantly, you'll want to treat Tracked Changes as your conversation. Every edit will come through as a tracked change, as well as margin comments. Read each note, then accept, reject, or reply directly in the Microsoft Word file. This keeps everything organized in one clear, concise, threaded history.
It's also a good idea to "batch" your questions. Rather than emailing to ask one question, collect all your questions into one list and drop them into a single document or email. This also helps you cut back on resubmission fees and stay true to your deadline.
If an edit or comment seems off-brand or not entirely like you, check the shared style sheet first. Usually the answer is right there. If it's not, flag it so that your editor can clarify. If something honestly doesn't make sense, BookBaby's support channels are here to help. Contact our support team — we're here to help!
Once you approve the final proof, changes can add up in terms of extra charges. Be sure that you go through all of the edits with a fine-toothed comb and make note of the changes.
When you treat edits like a structured dialogue and lean on the style sheet for greater consistency, you'll find that editing is more of a collaborative journey than a one-way street.
Pitch-ready materials
Beyond manuscript editing, BookBaby also offers services that refine your marketing materials which you use to pitch your book to agents, editors or publishers. Our query letter service focuses on creating a compelling one-page pitch that highlights your book's premise, themes and your credentials as an author.
Synopsis editing provides a 3–5 page overview of key plot points, character arcs, and more. With this service, authors get feedback on structure, persuasive hooks, and more details that will improve response rates from publishers, agents, and editors, making it easier for your book to stand out in a crowded landscape where everyone is vying for a slice of attention.
The turnaround time for query letter and synopsis editing is around 8–10 business days, giving you a solid timeframe to plan ahead for your submission deadlines.
eBook proofing
If you're producing a digital version of your book, BookBaby's eBook proofing process makes sure that your ePUB file looks great across a variety of eBook reading devices including Amazon Kindle, Apple iPad and Barnes & Noble Nook.
First, we convert your source file into a standard ePUB file, which is then followed by a proof copy for any revisions you need. Our conversion specialists spot any font size or formatting issues in advance while working alongside you to finalize them before the proof is ready.
Keep in mind that if you request any additional editorial or formatting changes after the first proof, added fees will apply. Editorial changes may also extend the proofing timeline by 5–6 days per round of revisions.
Approving your digital print proofs
When you order printed books from BookBaby, we provide a live digital proof of both your cover and the interior of your book after you save your quote (assuming that you've uploaded production-ready files).
Thanks to our easy-to-use system, you can review proofs online and approve the layout of your book. Once that's done, we take care of the printing process. Approving your print locks in the page design and author-approved text, so your book will match the exact proof you were shown. This is where all of the pieces come together and your book starts taking shape!
Fees and revision rounds
What happens if you've approved a proof and you need to make changes? Any time you submit a corrected file, whether that's for editorial fixes or design adjustments, you'll have to pay a resubmission fee. You might also incur fees for the extra labor.
- ePUB or formatting proof typos: $50 base charge + $2 per editorial change/typo per round.
- Design changes: Additional charges may apply, depending on complexity.
- Dynamic eBook re-submissions: $100 per file.
- Fixed layout eBook re-submissions: $499 per file.
For this reason, we highly recommend that you consolidate your edits before moving through each proof stage to keep costs down and avoid lengthening the timeframe until the launch of your book.
Final approval and distribution
Once all of the edits are done and proofs are signed off on, your printed book moves on to the Print On Demand presses, where it's printed, packaged, and ready to ship worldwide. If you've chosen an eBook, your eBook gets packaged with appropriate metadata and then sent to retailers like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Apple Books, and Barnes & Noble.
At that point, it's time to consider how you want to market your book. You'll be glad to know that BookBaby offers a wide range of marketing services including:
Metadata optimization
Metadata optimization is like your book's "secret handshake" with search engines and retailers. BookBaby experts will craft your title, subtitle, author bio, description, BISAC codes, and keywords -- everything a potential buyer needs in order to find you on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Google.
Ads for Authors (online and display)
Ads for Authors include social ads as well as ads on the extensive Google Display network. Custom social ads are placed on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn. Our expert team handles the creative work, audience targeting, and campaign management while you're in charge of how much you spend.
BookBaby Bookshop promotion
For $399, you can promote your title on the BookBaby Bookshop: our curated storefront visited by thousands of indie book lovers every month. We'll feature your title on our homepage as well as in a dedicated email blast and social media shout-outs to help drum up buzz and interest in your new release!
Marketing consultation services
If you need a strategy mapped out to help you with your next marketing steps, we can help there as well! BookBaby works with top promotion and marketing agencies to deliver one-on-one marketing coaching that covers everything from social strategy to Amazon algorithms, press releases, and much more.
Physical promotional tools
Don't neglect the power of physical tools as well! We offer custom bookmarks and posters at affordable prices. These add-ons are perfect for signings, readings, or handing out to bookstores and libraries.
Blogger and influencer outreach
We can also help you reach out to relevant bloggers and influencers by providing tips on crafting a memorable pitch and tracking your coverage to build up the buzz about your new book.
Getting started with BookBaby editing
Editing your book isn't optional and it isn't something that's just "nice to have." It's how good writing transforms into something truly outstanding. By partnering with BookBaby, you'll work one-on-one with editors who have helped to shape New York Times bestsellers. Plus, with our transparent pricing and timelines that are designed to fit nearly any budget, you'll know precisely what the costs will be -- no hidden fees and no surprises.
You'll also maintain full control every step of the way -- from tracked changes to proof approval. Whether this is your first book or you're a seasoned professional, the editing process turns a nice manuscript into a book that commands attention on the shelf.
Visit our editing services page and tell us more about your book and your needs. Our free, easy-to-use quote page will help you narrow down what level of polish your book needs and you'll know the price up front, as well as an approximate timeframe. Once you elect to have your book professionally edited, whether you choose copy editing, line editing, proofreading, or a combination, you'll get a more accurate timeframe within your project management portal.
From there, simply sit back and let our editing team work their magic! Your book deserves to shine and the editing process can give you the complete attention and dedication your book deserves. We invite you to learn more about the editing process or contact us directly if you have any questions at any stage. Join the hundreds of thousands of authors from a vast number of genres who trust the experts at BookBaby for professional, polished editing that turns good manuscripts into great books. Let's make your book the next shelf-worthy read!