Book Editing Services
Book editing gets your manuscript ready for readers. We edit for self-published authors at four levels: a developmental review, line editing, copyediting and proofreading. Editing is part of our publishing packages: proofreading from Complete, copyediting and proofreading from Premium (up to 60,000 words), and a developmental and editorial review from Rockstar (up to 80,000 words).
Editing is included in our publishing packages
We don't charge by the word. Tell us about your manuscript and we will recommend the package that fits, or compare the packages and prices.
Get a quoteThe types of book editing we do
Developmental review
What it fixes: The big picture: structure, argument or plot, pacing, gaps and what a reader will struggle with.
Choose it when: Your draft is complete but you are not sure it works as a whole.
Included from Rockstar (up to 80,000 words)
Line editing
What it fixes: How the book reads, sentence by sentence: flow, clarity, rhythm, tone and word choice.
Choose it when: The structure is right but the prose feels flat, wordy or uneven.
Ask us for a quote
Copyediting
What it fixes: Grammar, spelling, punctuation, consistency of names and facts, and one house style throughout.
Choose it when: The book is finished and you want it correct and consistent.
Included with proofreading from Premium (up to 60,000 words)
Proofreading
What it fixes: The final check of the typeset pages: typos, missed words, and layout slips before printing.
Choose it when: Always, as the last step before your book goes to print.
Included from Complete
What does a book editor do?
A book editor reads your manuscript the way your readers will, and removes whatever stops them: a structure that wanders, sentences that trip, inconsistent names and dates, or a typo on page 212. Good editing is invisible. Readers simply find the book easy to trust and hard to put down.
Editing happens in order, from the biggest changes to the smallest: developmental work first, then line editing if the prose needs it, then copyediting, and proofreading last, on the laid-out pages. Doing it in that order means no one polishes a chapter that is later cut.
Which edit does your manuscript need?
| If this sounds like your book | Start with |
|---|---|
| Readers say the middle drags, or the argument loses its thread | Developmental review |
| The story or argument works, but sentences feel clunky | Line editing |
| You are confident in the writing but want it correct and consistent | Copyediting |
| The book is laid out and ready to print | Proofreading |
Not sure? Tell us about your manuscript when you ask for a quote and we will recommend the edit and the package.
How editing fits into publishing your book with us
- Send your manuscript (Word .docx): any genre, any length.
- We edit it at the level your package includes, and format it into a professional interior.
- We design your cover and assign the ISBN and barcode.
- You approve the final files, and we print your copies and publish your eBook.
A full package takes 4–6 weeks standard; occasionally up to 8 weeks. After editing, see book formatting and cover design.
Editing Christian and faith books
We edit devotionals, Bible studies and ministry books, and we can check the Bible verse references in your manuscript so each quotation matches the passage it cites. If you quote a modern translation at length, read our guide to Scripture permissions, and see Christian book publishing.
Authors in the UK, Canada and Australia
Editing happens online, so where you live doesn't matter. In the UK, Canada and Australia your finished book prints on demand through Amazon KDP and IngramSpark; we don't run local print shops there. Country guides: UK, Canada, Australia.
Some of the books we've published
Love Lessons & Group Chats
Shajuan Connell
Vitamin D: Kingdom Leadership
C.C. Giambrone
Knowing Your Knowing
L. Anthony Loman
Leading from the Heart as A Social Worker
Ionica Moldovianu
Beyond the Cross
Jonathan Fajembola
What Love Left Unfinished
Esther Okuru
See every title in our author gallery.
What authors say
- ★★★★★
“I was very pleased with my end product! My book looks amazing and exactly as I had envisioned. The quality is excellent and my website is also very professionally done. Id recommend Harmony Publishing for any new author starting out on their writing journey.”
Shajuan Connell, United States · Sep 15, 2026 · Verified
Read on Trustpilot - ★★★★★
“As a first-time author, I am truly grateful for my experience with Harmony Publishing. They helped make the process of publishing my first books both successful and rewarding. … Whenever I had questions, the Harmony Publishing team was very responsive and always provided thorough, helpful answers. … I would gladly recommend Harmony Publishing to other first-time authors who are looking for guidance and support in bringing their books to life.”
C.C. Giambrone, United States · Sep 5, 2026
Read on Trustpilot - ★★★★★
A Meaningful Start to My Author Journey
“Harmony Publishing helped publish all three books in my Vitamin D collection: Daily Doses of Faith, Kingdom Leadership, and Military Edition. As a first-time author, seeing my words become published books was a meaningful milestone. I also appreciate their help with promoting my books and making them available online, giving more readers the opportunity to discover them. I’m grateful for their role in helping me share messages of faith, encouragement, and leadership. — C.C. Giambrone”
Book editing FAQs
What does a book editor do?
A book editor reads your manuscript as your future readers will and fixes what gets in their way. Depending on the edit, that means the structure and pacing (developmental), how each sentence reads (line editing), correctness and consistency (copyediting), or the last typos on the typeset pages (proofreading).
How much does book editing cost?
We don't sell editing by the word. Editing is part of our publishing packages: proofreading from Complete, copyediting and proofreading from Premium (up to 60,000 words), and a developmental and editorial review from Rockstar (up to 80,000 words). See the packages page for each package's price.
What's the difference between copyediting, line editing and proofreading?
Line editing works on how the prose reads. Copyediting makes it correct and consistent. Proofreading is the final check of the typeset pages before printing. Most books need copyediting and proofreading; line editing helps when the writing itself needs work.
Do I need developmental editing?
Get a developmental review if you are unsure the book works as a whole: the structure, the argument or plot, or the pacing. If early readers are happy with the shape of the book, start with copyediting instead.
Can you check Scripture references in a Christian book?
Yes. We can check the Bible verse references in your manuscript as part of editing, so each quotation matches the passage it cites.
How long does it take?
A full publishing package takes 4–6 weeks standard; occasionally up to 8 weeks.
Do I keep the rights to my book?
Yes. You keep 100% of your rights and royalties.