Substantive
& Stylistic Editing

Once your manuscript is written, substantive and stylistic editing is typically the first step after that. The intention here is to clarify or reorganize the content and structure of a manuscript at a macro level and identify strengths, weaknesses, and solutions for the work as a whole, assessing its suitability for the intended audience, medium, market, and purpose. I will also look at the meaning at the paragraph and sentence level, eliminating jargon, smoothing transitions, and any concerns regarding tone, vocabulary, and style. The goal here is to look at what the manuscript presently is and effectively imagine what it could be, building on what's there to deliver on its potential.