Book Editing

During the course of WordsRU book editing, the overall balance, structure, characterization and plot development are considered and your editor will make suggestions or comments about these aspects. It is always the intention of our book editors to enhance your words, to preserve your voice and to unify that which may be in conflict — unresolved issues, extraneous sub-plots, inconsistencies and lapses in continuity — to ensure your manuscript is given the best possible presentation.  

 

WordsRU - Book Editing

 

“Call me Ishmael. Some years ago — never mind how long precisely — having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen, and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off — then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can.”

Moby Dick
– Herman Melville (1851)

 

 

In the words of Paul LaRocque, this famous opening passage from Moby Dick “glides on a rhythm of sentences, repetition, and parallel structure.” With its semi-colons, repetition, corresponding structure, and list of moods leading to the decision that it is time to “get to sea,” the mesmerizing 87 word-long sentence remains remarkably readable.  Any effort to rework the passage would lead to a complete breakdown in the very rhythm and mood that make it work so well. To quote LaRocque again, “if words float by like notes of a catchy song, then let them float — as long as they are pleasing. It’s the sour and monotonous notes that need an editor’s torch.”

 

It is not the intention of WordsRU professional editors to take the torch to your work, though they will make every effort to illuminate it wherever possible. They will strengthen and rework your sentences to benefit the flow and readability of your manuscript. Along with a grammar check, our manuscript / book editors will ensure the work is free from spelling and typographical errors.  Given its importance in creating rhythm and readability, particular attention is paid to punctuation and so to the other crucial elements of word choice, syntax and paragraph structure.  

 

WordsRU’s professional book editing service is available for all types of manuscripts including the following:

 

Our professional book editing experience tells us that a sentence that is unclear after a first reading is a sentence that needs some editing.  This may not necessarily involve the number of words per se, but rather the number of words that do not contribute anything to the meaning of the sentence. Rhythm is an important aspect in structuring sentences; long sentences with rhythm can be clearer and more pleasing than short sentences without a rhythmical flow, but there is no magic number to sentence length.   Poor word choice can lead to sentences that are often difficult to read. Often there are simply too many unnecessary and inappropriate words.

 

WordsRU’s online editors know all about readability indexes and statistical studies that advocate a specific number of words per sentence but these gauges do not guarantee readability.  Sentence length can be used as a guide but not as a rule — readability is always the criterion.    

 

Book Editing - A Testimonial

 

 

The work Wordsru did for me was on time and on budget! They didn't lose my voice in the process. If you need something fast, their turnaround rate has been fabulous.
* Elaine Allison, Author - The Velvet Hammer, PowHERful Leadership Lessons for Women Who Don't Golf
www.thevelvethammer.com

 

* All testimonials have been supplied with the approval of the writers.

View our book testimonials from published authors.

WordsRU Writer Services:

 

 

WordsRU editing will ensure that your book is edited in a way that will attract the highest possible quality outcomes.

 

 

 


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