Editing that makes the book work, not just tidy
Three distinct levels of edit, each doing a different job. We tell you which one your manuscript actually needs — sometimes that is the cheapest one.
What does professional book editing cost and which type do I need?
Book editing costs £900–£3,500 depending on level. A developmental edit fixes structure, a line edit fixes prose, a copy edit fixes accuracy and consistency. Most finished manuscripts need at least a copy edit. Arkedia provides a free 1,500-word sample edit so the level can be chosen on evidence.
- From£1,250
- Free sample1,500 words
- LevelsDevelopmental, line, copy
- Turnaround2–6 weeks
Most manuscripts arrive at us over-edited in one direction and untouched in another: the commas are perfect and the second act collapses, or the structure sings and every sentence is twenty words too long.
We start with a free sample edit of 1,500 words and an honest assessment of which level of editing the manuscript needs. If you are about to pay for a line edit on a book whose structure is not yet settled, we will tell you — and save you the money.
Fixed price, quoted in GBP before you commit. Milestone payments.
- Free 1,500-word sample first
- Mutual NDA signed before we start
- Two revision rounds included
- Full rights and royalties stay yours
Everything in the Book Editing service
Developmental edit
Structure, pacing, argument, character, and whether the book delivers what its premise promises. Delivered as an editorial report plus in-manuscript notes.
Line edit
Sentence-level rhythm, clarity, voice and repetition. This is where prose stops being competent and starts being readable.
Copy edit
Grammar, consistency, house style, fact-flags, timeline continuity and a full style sheet you keep.
Proofread
The final pass on the typeset file — typos, bad breaks, widow and orphan lines, running heads.
Editorial report
A written assessment of what is working, what is not, and the specific changes that would raise the book most.
Free sample edit
1,500 words edited before you commit, so you can see exactly how your editor works.
How book editing works, step by step
You approve before we proceed. Every time. No stage begins until you have signed off the one before it.
Send the manuscript
Any format. We read a representative section, not just the opening pages.
Free sample edit
1,500 words edited at the level we believe the book needs, with our reasoning.
Agree scope
You choose the level and we fix the fee and the date. No hourly billing surprises.
The edit
Your editor works through the manuscript with tracked changes and margin notes.
Editorial report
A written report covering what works, what does not and what to prioritise.
Revision support
One round of questions answered after you have worked through the edit, included.
What authors say afterwards
I came with eleven years of workshop notes and no idea how to make a book out of them. The outline stage alone was worth the fee — it was the first time I could see the shape of what I actually knew. The finished book reads like me on a good day.
I had three self-published titles that were not selling. They showed me my covers side by side with the top forty in my category at thumbnail size and I understood the problem in about four seconds. New covers, re-optimised listings, and the back catalogue started moving.
Writing about my mother's illness was not something I could do alone. The interviews were handled with real care, and they were clear from the start about what would be in the book and what would not. My family have all read it. That matters more than sales.
Book Editing — your questions answered
Which level of editing do I need?
If you are unsure the story or argument works, you need a developmental edit. If the structure is settled but the prose feels flat, you need a line edit. If the book is finished and you want it clean and consistent, you need a copy edit. The free sample edit exists to answer this question properly rather than guess.
Will you change my voice?
No. A good line edit removes what is getting in the way of your voice — the padding, the hedging, the repetition — and leaves the voice itself alone. Everything is tracked, so you accept or reject every single change.
Do you edit fiction and non-fiction?
Both, with different editors. We do not give a literary novel to someone who edits business books, or vice versa. Your editor's recent credits in your genre are shared before you commit.
What if the edit says the book needs major work?
Then you have found that out for the price of an edit rather than the price of a failed launch. The editorial report always includes a prioritised list — the three changes that would raise the book most, rather than forty things you cannot act on.
Services that pair with this one
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Print interiors typeset by a human and reflowable eBooks tested on real devices — not an automatic conversion.
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Print, eBook and global distribution set up properly — in your name, with your ISBN, and 100% of royalties paid to you.
Learn moreTell us about your book
A 45-minute call, no charge and no pressure. You will leave with a realistic timeline, a fixed price and an honest view of whether the book is worth writing.